Baku, Azerbaijan: travel guide
Azerbaijan's cosmopolitan capital on the western Caspian coast, where flame-shaped towers rise behind a UNESCO-listed medieval walled city and a sweeping seaside boulevard.
- Country
- Azerbaijan
- Currency
- AZN
- Time zone
- Asia/Baku
- Nearest airport
- GYD
Top places to visit in Baku
Baku Funicular
Activity · 4.2 rating · about 0.3 h · entry AZN 0
Historic funicular railway linking the seaside boulevard to the Highland Park viewpoint.
Baku Boulevard
Nature · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h
A 3.75-km Caspian Sea promenade with fountains, Little Venice canals, a Ferris wheel, and bike paths.
İçərişəhər (Old City)
Heritage · 4.7 rating · about 3 h
A UNESCO World Heritage Site — Baku's medieval walled city with the Maiden Tower, caravanserais, mosques, and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs.
Heydar Aliyev Centre
Museum · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · entry AZN 15
Zaha Hadid's 2012 masterpiece — Design of the Year 2014 — housing Azerbaijani history, culture, and arts exhibitions.
Maiden Tower (Qız Qalası)
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · entry AZN 15
Baku's most iconic landmark — a 12th-century 29-metre tower with 8-floor history museum and panoramic rooftop views.
Flame Towers
Viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 0.5 h
Three 182-metre flame-shaped skyscrapers with a nightly LED fire animation — best from Highland Park at dusk.
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · entry AZN 10
A 15th-century royal palace — the finest Azerbaijani medieval architecture: divan-khana, mosque, bath house, and mausoleum.
Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape
Heritage · 4.6 rating · about 2.5 h · entry AZN 10
UNESCO World Heritage prehistoric rock carvings and mud volcanoes south of Baku.
Martyrs' Lane (Highland Park)
Viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h
Memorial park and panoramic viewpoint overlooking Baku Bay, reached via the funicular.
Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain)
Nature · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · entry AZN 2
Natural gas fire that has burned continuously on a hillside since ignited decades ago.
Heydar Aliyev Park & Baku Crystal Hall
Viewpoint · 4.3 rating · about 1 h
Waterfront park and events arena built for Eurovision 2012, Caspian shoreline views.
Ali and Nino Statue (In Love)
Viewpoint · 4.3 rating · about 0.3 h
Kinetic steel statue of two figures that rotate to meet and part, on Baku Boulevard.
Things to do
- Fire Temple & Mud Volcanoes Day Tour Cultural · 4 h · from AZN 57 per person
- Old City (İçərişəhər) Guided Walking Tour Cultural · 2.5 h · from AZN 32 per person
- Caspian Sea Sunset Boat Cruise Adventure · 1.5 h · from AZN 45 per person
- Gobustan Rock Art & Mud Volcanoes Half-Day Tour Cultural · 4 h · from AZN 45 per person
- Baku Funicular & Highland Park Sunset Tour Sightseeing · 1.5 h · from AZN 15 per person
- Baku Old City Tea & Craft Experience Cultural · 1.5 h · from AZN 20 per person
- Absheron Peninsula Fire & Faith Full-Day Tour Cultural · 6 h · from AZN 55 per person
- Baku City Segway Tour Activity · 1 h · from AZN 35 per person
Day trips and tours
- Absheron Peninsula Full Day (Ateshgah + Gobustan + Mud Volcanoes) 8 h · from AZN 38
- Baku Old City & Heydar Aliyev Centre Half-Day 4.5 h · from AZN 28
- Baku by Night — Flame Towers, Boulevard & Baku Eye 3 h · from AZN 32
Where to stay in Baku
- İçərişəhər (Old City) about AZN 250 per night
UNESCO-listed medieval walled city — the most atmospheric base in Baku. Boutique hotels occupy restored caravanserais and merchant houses. Cobblestone lanes put you seconds from Maiden Tower and Palace of the…
- Sahil & Baku Boulevard about AZN 320 per night
The central waterfront strip. Modern hotels face the Caspian promenade — ideal for evening strolls, the Baku Eye Ferris wheel, and easy metro access. Mid-range to luxury options abound.
- White City (Ağ Şəhər) & Narimanov about AZN 480 per night
Baku's upscale modern district north-east of centre. Home to luxury apartment hotels, international restaurants, and the SOCAR Tower. Quieter than the historic core with excellent road links to the airport.
Hotels
- Fairmont Baku at Flame Towers 5-star · AZN 400 to AZN 1,200 per night
- Four Seasons Hotel Baku 5-star · AZN 200 to AZN 500 per night
- JW Marriott Absheron Baku 5-star · AZN 180 to AZN 450 per night
- Shah Palace Hotel 4-star · AZN 180 to AZN 420 per night
- Hilton Baku 5-star · AZN 130 to AZN 320 per night
- Baku Marriott Hotel Boulevard 4.5-star · AZN 110 to AZN 260 per night
Where to eat
- Çay Evi Tea House Azerbaijani, Tea House · about AZN 12 per person
- Neftchi Restaurant Azerbaijani, Caucasian · about AZN 35 per person
- Şirvanşah Muzey-Restoran Azerbaijani, Caucasian · about AZN 30 per person
- Nar Restaurant Azerbaijani, International · about AZN 45 per person
- Mugam Club Azerbaijani · about AZN 120 per person
- Fisincan Azerbaijani, Modern Caucasian · about AZN 80 per person
- Firuza Restaurant Azerbaijani · about AZN 25 per person
- Old City Kebab House Kebab, Azerbaijani · about AZN 15 per person
Getting around
- Metro main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Taxi main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking
Every city has walking. 2.5 km ceiling is a placeholder default, not a researched per-city figure -- Singapore is sheltered and air-conditioned, Bangkok often has no pavement.
Safety and scams to avoid
Airport taxi overcharging
Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) arrivals hall
Unlicensed drivers approach arrivals offering "cheap taxi". They quote a price in AZN verbally but demand 3–5× more on arrival, sometimes claiming currency confusion or "special airport rate".
How to avoid it: Use only official metered taxis (painted yellow) from the designated rank outside arrivals, or pre-book via the Bolt or Uber apps. Agree on fare before entering any unofficial vehicle.
Currency exchange short-change
İçərişəhər bazaars and unofficial exchange booths near Fountains Square
Unofficial money changers distract tourists with rapid counting and sleight-of-hand to short-change the AZN amount, or quote a rate then hand back a different one.
How to avoid it: Use only licensed bank branches or official Kapital Bank / ABB exchange offices. Rates vary little between official bureaux. Count notes before leaving the counter.
Old City carpet seller pressure
İçərişəhər (Old City) alleyways and carpet shops
Vendor insists you enter the shop for "free tea and look". After extended hospitality, social pressure is applied to buy; prices quoted to tourists can be 5–10× the local price.
How to avoid it: Feel free to enter shops and accept tea — it is genuine hospitality. Politely decline purchase if not interested. If buying a carpet, compare prices at the official Azerbaijan Carpet Museum shop first.
Fake police checkpoint stop
Downtown Baku streets, occasionally on road out of city
Rare but reported: individuals in police-lookalike uniforms stop tourists, demand to inspect bags, and impose an on-the-spot "fine" for fabricated violations.
How to avoid it: Real Azerbaijani police always carry valid ID. Ask to see credentials. Go to the nearest police station to pay any fine — do not hand cash on the street. Report incidents to tourist police (+994 12 493 0474).