History · Baku · Azerbaijan
6 historic sites to see in Baku
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Nick Taylor, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Old City (İçərişəhər), Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 8–10 hours across 4 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 8–10 hours
- Areas
- Old City (İçərişəhər), Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue and Surakhani
Historic sites in Baku
Neighbourhood · Old City (İçərişəhər)
1.Old City (İçərişəhər)
The double walls and gates such as the Double Gates (Qoşa Qala) date mainly from the 12th century onwards.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Landmark · Old City (İçərişəhər)
2.Maiden Tower
Inside, a museum tells its legends and history across several levels, and the roof gives views over the Old City and the bay.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
Palace · Old City (İçərişəhər)
3.Palace of the Shirvanshahs
The 15th-century palace complex of the Shirvanshah rulers stands at the highest point of the Old City and includes the palace, a mosque, a mausoleum, a bathhouse and a divan-khana pavilion with carved stonework.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue
4.Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
It explains the patterns and techniques that distinguish regional styles.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Religious site · Surakhani
5.Ateshgah Fire Temple
A flame burns in the central altar, and the cells around the courtyard hold exhibits on the temple's history.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Fountain Square and Nizami Street
6.National Museum of History of Azerbaijan
The restored mansion rooms, with their gilded and painted interiors, are as impressive as the collections.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old City (İçərişəhər) | Old City (İçərişəhər), Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs | Half a day + 45 minutes + 1–1.5 hours |
| Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue | Azerbaijan Carpet Museum | 1–1.5 hours |
| Surakhani | Ateshgah Fire Temple | 1 hour |
| Fountain Square and Nizami Street | National Museum of History of Azerbaijan | 1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 1 free, 5 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Old City (İçərişəhər); group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Old City (İçərişəhər)): Old City (İçərişəhər) → Maiden Tower, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Old City (İçərişəhər), Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue and Surakhani): Palace of the Shirvanshahs → Azerbaijan Carpet Museum → Ateshgah Fire Temple, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Fountain Square and Nizami Street): National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- January: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 6 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Cold and windy, with occasional sleet or snow; good for museums and tea houses.
- February: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 6 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Cold and quiet, with strong winds; the lowest prices of the year.
- November: highs of 14°C (57°F), about 6 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cool and windy; quieter, with low prices.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Old City (İçərişəhər) — Walled medieval quarter of caravanserais, carpet shops and boutique hotels
- Fountain Square and Nizami Street — Pedestrian shopping streets of oil-boom mansions, cafés and bars
- Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue — Luxury hotels facing the Caspian along the city's main promenade
More of Baku
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Baku?
Old City (İçərişəhər). Baku's walled historic core, UNESCO-listed with the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, is a maze of stone lanes, caravanserais, mosques and small museums.
+Which of these are free in Baku?
Old City (İçərişəhər).