Top places to visit in Baku

• Baku Funicular

  transport-heritage · 4.2 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  Historic funicular railway linking the seaside boulevard to the Highland Park viewpoint.

• Baku Boulevard

  Nature · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  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 · check the fee at the gate

  A 15th-century royal palace — the finest Azerbaijani medieval architecture: divan-khana, mosque, bath house, and mausoleum.

• Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape

  unesco-site · 4.6 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  UNESCO World Heritage prehistoric rock carvings and mud volcanoes south of Baku.

• Martyrs' Lane (Highland Park)

  memorial-viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Memorial park and panoramic viewpoint overlooking Baku Bay, reached via the funicular.

• Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain)

  natural-phenomenon · 4.3 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  Natural gas fire that has burned continuously on a hillside since ignited decades ago.

• Heydar Aliyev Park & Baku Crystal Hall

  waterfront-park · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Waterfront park and events arena built for Eurovision 2012, Caspian shoreline views.

• Ali and Nino Statue (In Love)

  public-art · 4.3 rating · about 0.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  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 to Baku

Airport: Baku (GYD)

How visitors arrive in Baku

• Flight to Heydar Aliyev International Airport By air from International gateway · most visitors · unconfirmed

  Baku's international airport on the Absheron Peninsula is the way foreign visitors enter the country, with flights from Turkey, Europe and the Gulf. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Train from Tbilisi By train from Tbilisi · possible

  An overnight train from Tbilisi has resumed, but only travellers with visa-free access can use it, which excludes most foreigners. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• T1 Airport Express bus

  The T1 Airport Express runs between the airport and the railway station, stopping at Koroglu metro station. Pay with a BakiKart or a contactless bank card or phone wallet. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• N16 bus to Samed Vurgun Park

  The N16 bus links the airport with Samed Vurgun Park in the city centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Authorised airport taxi

  Taxis are not metered, so agree the fare before you set off. The guide says only one company is permitted at the airport and warns that unmarked cabs may raise the price on arrival. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Agree the taxi fare before setting off and avoid unmarked cabs. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Metro

  The Baku Metro has several lines, with transfer stations at 28 May, beside the main railway station, and at Jafar Jabbarli.

• Taxi

  Taxis in Baku can be booked by phone or through apps such as Bolt, and are used for getting around the city.

• Walking

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).

Best time to visit Baku

• Jan 7°C
• Feb 8°C
• Mar 11°C
• Apr 17°C
• May 23°C
• Jun 28°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 31°C
• Sep 26°C
• Oct 20°C
• Nov 13°C
• Dec 9°C

More in Azerbaijan

• Sheki
• Gabala
• Ganja
• Quba
• Lankaran
• Nakhchivan

Frequently asked questions about Baku

How many days do you need in Baku?

A typical trip to Baku is 2-3 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Baku?

The highest-rated places in our Baku guide are İçərişəhər (Old City), Heydar Aliyev Centre, Flame Towers, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape.

Where should I stay in Baku?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Baku: İçərişəhər (Old City), Sahil & Baku Boulevard, White City (Ağ Şəhər) & Narimanov.

How do I get around Baku?

Ways to get around Baku covered in our guide: Metro, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Baku?

Scams reported to us for Baku include Airport taxi overcharging; Currency exchange short-change; Old City carpet seller pressure. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Baku?

Average daytime highs in Baku run from 7°C in Jan to 31°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Baku?

The nearest airport to Baku has the code GYD.