Free things to do · Baku · Azerbaijan
7 free things to do in Baku
Baku without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Urek Meniashvili, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Baku without paying an entry fee: Old City (İçərişəhər), Flame Towers, Baku Boulevard and Fountain Square and Nizami Street are all free. Use the BakuCard and metro; journeys cost very little.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 8
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- February
Free sights and experiences
Neighbourhood · Old City (İçərişəhər)
1.Old City (İçərişəhər)
Enter through the Double Gates near Istiglaliyyat Street and wander without a plan; the area is compact and hard to get lost in.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Architecture · Highland Park
2.Flame Towers
Watch the light show from the Boulevard or the Old City walls after dark.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Waterfront · Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue
3.Baku Boulevard
Walk it in the evening, when families come out, the air cools and the Flame Towers light up.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- After dark
- Couples
- Outdoors
Street · Fountain Square and Nizami Street
4.Fountain Square and Nizami Street
Come in the evening, then walk through the Old City gates for dinner.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- After dark
- Architecture
Religious site · Bibi-Heybat
5.Bibi-Heybat Mosque
Dress modestly; women should cover their hair, and scarves are often available at the entrance.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Views
Museum · Old City (İçərişəhər)
6.Museum of Miniature Books
Look for the smallest books in the centre cases; staff can point them out.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
- Kids
Market · 28 May and railway station area
7.Teze Bazaar
Buy saffron and dried fruit here rather than in Old City souvenir shops, and compare prices between stalls.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old City (İçərişəhər) | Old City (İçərişəhər) and Museum of Miniature Books | Half a day + 30 minutes |
| Highland Park | Flame Towers | 30 minutes |
| Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue | Baku Boulevard | 1–2 hours |
| Fountain Square and Nizami Street | Fountain Square and Nizami Street | 1 hour |
| Bibi-Heybat | Bibi-Heybat Mosque | 45 minutes |
| 28 May and railway station area | Teze Bazaar | 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Landmark · Old City (İçərişəhər)
Maiden Tower
Visit late in the afternoon for warm light on the Boulevard from the roof.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
Palace · Old City (İçərişəhər)
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Allow time for the courtyards and the mausoleum, where carved inscriptions are among the finest in the complex.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Highland Park
Highland Park and the funicular
Ride the funicular up at dusk, watch the city lights come on, then walk down the steps to the Boulevard.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Photo spot
Museum · Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Visit before buying a carpet to learn about regional styles and quality.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Religious site · Surakhani
Ateshgah Fire Temple
Combine it with Yanar Dag in the late afternoon and stay for sunset at the burning hillside.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Nature · Absheron Peninsula
Yanar Dag
Go at dusk; the flames look much more dramatic in the dark, and it can be cold and windy in winter.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- After dark
- Kids
- Photo spot
Museum · Fountain Square and Nizami Street
National Museum of History of Azerbaijan
Ask for directions to the oriental hall and the ballroom-style rooms; they show the scale of oil-boom wealth.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Architecture · Fountain Square and Nizami Street
Baku Metro stations
Buy a BakuCard and ride a few stops between Sahil, Nizami and İçərişəhər to see the station décor.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Art
More ways to save
- Use the BakuCard and metro; journeys cost very little.
- Book app taxis rather than street taxis, which may overcharge.
- Eat qutab and dovga at local cafés for very affordable meals.
- Buy saffron, dried fruit and spices at Teze Bazaar rather than in tourist shops.
- Check bills for service charges before tipping.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Baku expensive to visit?
Baku is affordable for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Baku?
Old City (İçərişəhər): Enter through the Double Gates near Istiglaliyyat Street and wander without a plan; the area is compact and hard to get lost in.