Baku

Understand

Baku is on the coast of the Caspian Sea on the southern coast of the Absheron Peninsula. There are three major divisions in Baku: İçəri Şəhər (the Old Town), the Soviet-built city, and the newest part of the city. The population in 2020 was 2.3 million. The city of Baku is on the semi-arid and dusty Absheron peninsula. The center of Baku is a patch of green in a largely brown area because of the many liters of water that is piped daily to the city. The city has a metro, a well-developed bus and minibus network, and a large area for walking, including the Inner Walled City, The Boluvar, and Fountain Square. Reading the book Ali and Nino is a good way to get into the mood.

Climate

A curious fact about Baku is that its average year-round temperature (14.2°C/57.6°F) matches the average temperature of the entire landmass of the earth to within a tenth of degree. However, seasonal temperature variations are less than in many continental regions at this latitude (about 40 degrees north) owing to the presence of the Caspian Sea. Summers are hot and dry, winters cool, moderately wet and breezy. There is frequent night frost and occasional snowfall during winter. Baku averages 200 mm (8 in) and is the driest place in Azerbaijan. Baku is very breezy most of the year.

Getting there

As of Jan 2026, Azerbaijan's land borders with its neighbours remain closed to civilian traffic. The only legal way into the country is through an international airport. Land crossings are exit only, and only for non-citizens.

By plane 1 Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD IATA former Bina International Airport, Azerbaijani: Heydər Əliyev adına beynəlxalq hava limanı), Khazar, Absheron peninsula (Xəzər, Abşeron yarımadası) (25 km (15 mi) from Baku city center), ☏ +994 12 497 2727. It is served by major airlines such as Aeroflot, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways, and many smaller airlines. This is the hub for Azerbaijan Airlines, which serves a number of major airports in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The country's flag carrier put aside, in 2025 the only destinations not located on the Asian continent or in Russia are Athens (Aegean Airlines), Podgorica and Tivat (Air Montenegro), Minsk (Belavia), Warsaw (LOT Polish Airlines), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), Budapest and Rome (Wizz Air). Getting there and away:

By bus – T1 Airport Express runs between the airport and the railway station (the bus waits across the street from the station) with an intermediate stop at Koroglu metro station. The ride costs 1.30 manat with BakiKart; contactless local and international bank cards and mobile wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay also work, but a Visa card was charged 1.52 manat in July 2026. The bus runs every 30 minutes. Additionally, N16 runs between the airport and Samed Vurgun Park, in the heart of Baku. The trip costs 1 manat and takes approximately 40–60 min. Service runs every 30 minutes beginning from early in the morning until late night. The bus leaves outside the airport building, across the parking area. The service terminates at 2 Samed Vurgun's Park on 28 May Street. By minibus – No. 135 runs between the airport traffic circle (15-min walk from the airport) and the 28 May Metro Station. The journey takes an hour and costs 0.40 manat. By taxi – Getting a smooth ride from the airport to town can be a hassle. The lowest price you can get for a taxi to the center should be around 15 manat (old Lada, unmarked taxi). Only one taxi company is permitted to do business at the airport. This monopoly drives up the price to nearly 50 manat and many times it leaves you with no other options, especially when arriving at late hours. Police occasionally force out all cab drivers trying to do business on the fringes of the airport, leaving you stuck with a high fare. Taxis don't have meters so you must negotiate in advance. If you are not fin

Getting around

On foot There are pedestrian alleys and streets around the Fountain Square, the seafront, and the old town. You can walk to other places, too, but you might have to cross busy streets since there aren't always pedestrian tunnels available. The zebra crossings work with an "I'm feeling lucky" principle and aren't usually exactly safe, especially at night. At night, use your phone screen (not your flashlight) to indicate to the approaching cars that you are crossing the street, and follow other people.

By bicycle Baku is a great town to get around in by bicycle. Except for the up-town, the city, including old town (İçəri Şəhər) and down-town is fairly flat, and though there are some streets that are dangerous to ride, there is almost always a safe, fast route to your destination. While there are no separate bike lanes on the streets, and cars and cyclists often share narrow streets of Baku, the city is very bike-friendly. While cycling on the street, be very careful watch out for other cyclists, always keep closer to foot-walk side of the street, and show other traffic where you are going (e.g., by holding out your hand) in order to avoid accidents and smoothen the traffic flow.

MyBike, Asef Zeynalli Street, Ichari Shahar. A bicycle rental shop. Make sure to get a good lock (or two), and to use it. If you want to know the best routes, you should get a copy of the beautifully designed Baku by Bike plan, which is available at all bike rental points of MyBike. A passport or identity card must be shown and a refundable deposit is required. While this service is quite convenient, be sure to bring ID or passport and contact information, including hotel phone number, to speed up the paperwork. 10-20 manat per day.

By bus/minibus

Buses and minibuses cost 0.60 manat per person and can take you to almost any place within Baku. Destinations are usually posted on the front and the right side of the bus. Newer buses (the red ones) only accept electronic cash in the form of metro cards, available at any metro station. Some larger bus stations have machines to top-up cards, but not to buy new ones. There are some buses which cost 0.65 manat, e.g. the one to Bibi Heybət Mosque in the south. This makes charging disposable electronic cards a challenge: if you buy the single use tickets, they might not be sufficient if you just load them with 0.80 manat, thinking of going forth and back once.

By metro The metro goes many places throughout Baku and it costs only 0.60 manat. It is the least expensive way to get around Baku besides walking. Ask a cashier or atten

See

Old Town (Icheri Sheher) There are a number of interesting sites within Baku's walled fortress, the Old City (a UNESCO World Heritage site), which can all be seen on foot in one day:

1 The Palace of the Shirvan Shahs (Shirvanshahs' Palace; Azerbaijani: Şirvanşahlar sarayı, Russian: Дворец Ширваншахов), Sabayil (Metro Icherisheher 200 m), ☏ +994 12 492-1073, fax: +994 12 437-1246, [email protected]. Daily: Apr-Oct 10:00-19:00, Nov-Mar 10:00-18:00. The medieval palace of the Shirvan Shahs is the highlight of the Old City and a must see for any tourist in Baku. The complex contains the main building of the palace, Divanhane, the burial-vaults, the shah's mosque with a minaret, Seyid Yahya Bakuvi's mausoleum, a portal in the east - Murad's gate, a reservoir and the remnants of the bath-house. The main building of the complex was started in 1411 by Shirvanshah Sheykh Ibrahim I. The two-storey building of the palace numbers about 50 different dimensions and outlines of the constructions connected with 3 narrow winding staircases. Foreigners 10 manat, locals 2 manat, 2 manat to take photos. (updated Oct 2017)

2 Saray Mosque (Palatial mosque, Shahs-khans mosque, Azerbaijani: Saray məscidi, Russian: Дворцовая мечеть). Plan of the mosque is rectangular. There is a small hall, small prayer room for women and serving rooms. The northern portal, rotated to a burial vault of Shirvanshahs is more solemn than the eastern one. The latter, which was coming down to underground exit, was intended for habitants of the palace. - Interior. Two-tier windowed prayer room is covered with cupola with spherical sails. Mihrab is located in the southern end of the palace. Cupola area over one a tier women's prayer room ceding to cupola of the hall with its dimensions and replacing its outlines. Aperture of the mosque's portal is clearly described on the severe background of prismatic volume, ended with two cupolas with slightly sharpening calottes. - Minaret. Trunk of the minaret is surrounded by an inscription, a ligature of which has a date of 845 (1441/42). Details of sherefe's stalactites are subtly modeled.

3 Maiden's Tower (Giz Qalasi, Девичья башня), Qüllə (Metro Icherisheher 500 m east). Daily 10:00-19:00. This mysterious and eccentric tower was built somewhere between the 7th and 12th centuries and may have served as a fire beacon, defensive fortification, astronomical observatory, or Zoroastrian temple.The tower, which is Baku's most distinguished landmark, described as the "most majestic and mysterious monument of Baku, the Gyz Galasy", built on a solid rock founda

Do

In the evening, go to the national opera on Nizami street. Otherwise, go to the rooftop bar at Sultan Inn in the Old City for a drink and excellent views of the Maiden Tower, Caspian sea and the TV tower.

Boat tours of Baku. Offered from the Baku Blvd. Lasts 40 minutes. 6 manat. 1 Pantomima theatre (Pantomima Teatrı), 49 Azadliq Ave, ☏ +994 12 4414756. Offered from the Baku Blvd. Lasts 40 minutes. 6 manat. 2 National Opera and Ballet (Opera Və Balet Teatrı), 95 Nizami St, ☏ +994 12 4931651. 3 Baku Funicular Railroad. Runs from the square on Neftchilar Avenue up to the Alley of the Marytrs. 1 manat. 4 Aqua Park Baku, Rashid Behbudov, 59, ☏ +994 12 4470303. US$19 for ages 7 and up. 5 Baku Entertainment Center (Bakı Əyləncə Mərkəzi), Khatai District, F. Bayramov St, 1130/33, ☏ +994 12 490-22-22, fax: +994 012 490-22-05, [email protected]. Baku Entertainment center has been around for more than half a decade. It has a shopping center, bowling alley certified by the AMF, health club, conference venue with a capacity of 350 people, and various restaurants and clubs. 6 Mini-Venice. 10:30-23:30. A charming little complex of man-made waterways accessible on a boat. There are also some restaurants in the immediate proximity. The ticket booth is 10-15 meters to the right when coming from the north. It is cheap but the signage to the ticket booth is lacking. (updated Jun 2018) Football. The men's national team play soccer at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, capacity 31,000. Five clubs in the city play in the Premier League, Azerbaijan's top tier. (updated Jul 2023) 7 Azersun stadium. Qarabağ FK. Capacity 5,800. (updated May 2019) 8 ASK Arena (Inter Arena, Shafa stadium). Keşla FK (formerly Inter Baku). Capacity 8,200. (updated May 2019) 9 Bakcell Arena (Eighth Kilometer District Stadium). Neftçi. Capacity 11,000. (updated May 2019) Zira Olympic sports complex. Zira FK (updated Jul 2023) Asco Arena. Sabail FK. (updated Jul 2023) 10 Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium (1 km north of city centre, metro Ganjlik). As the previous stadia are small by European standards, big club games may transfer to this stadium. E.g. a host venue for the Euro 2020 tournament. 11 Baku Olympic Stadium. This also hosts big games, such as the 2019 UEFA Europa League Finals. (updated May 2019) Baku City Circuit. A 6 km on-street motor-racing circuit along the shore used for Formula One and other events. The next F1 races are 19-21 Sep 2025 then 25-27 Sept 2026. (updated Jun 2025)

Baths Hamam Mehellesi (Public Baths (Hamamlar)) (Hamam Mehellesi is in the Old Town. From the station, enter th

Buy

Money Bankomats (ATMs) are available all around the city, mainly in downtown and metro stations exits. If you have a cell phone with either a Bakcell or Azercell SIM card, you can recharge your account balance using various ATMs. The International Bank of Azerbaijan has a list of their ATMs in Baku. Some of them have euros and US dollars available. It is advisable to withdraw in US dollars and change it to AZN in an exchange house, which usually gives a far better rate.

Shopping

What Antiques from Old City (İçəri Şəhər) Rugs Apples from Quba Tea and Talish stockings from Lankaran Halva from Sheki Traditional dolls created by ladies' groups in Barda

Where Mega Memi. A chain for second-hand clothes, which has a few outlets around Baku, offering a good range of second-hand clothes at fairly low prices (1.5-manat scarf, 5-manat shirt, etc.). (updated Mar 2019) 1 Chiraq bookstore, Istiqlaliyyat 47, (Zərgərpalan, Улица Истиглалият) (near M: İçəri Şəhər (Old City)). Phrasebooks, maps and guides can be found here. Taza Bazaar (On Samad Vurgun street near the state circus). A huge famous food and spice market. Nonetheless, very much a market for the locals rather than tourists. Haggle to your heart's content (best to know a couple of phrases in Russian for this one). Sabunchu Flea Market (Take the red line metro to Nefchilar, and from there catch the no. 40 bus to Sabunchu. Stay on the bus until you see an indoor food market; the main flea market is through this on the left). A huge flea market next to some oil fields, seems to be mainly Azerbaijani families selling off old stuff from their homes. Some great finds to be had but it does take a while to sift through all the mounds of odd clothing and random bits of scrap metal. Women visiting alone should be more cautious than in central Baku, foreigners attract attention here and being followed isn't unheard of. AF MALL, in the heart of the city just off the Torgovaya on Samed Vurgun St 34, ☏ +994 12 5965506. This mall has many trendy shops, a summer lounge with a tropical garden and a rooftop pool. Park Bulvar Shopping Mall, Along the boulevard, right across Park Inn Hotel. This mall has many trendy shops, a cinema, a planetarium, a bowling alley and many cozy cafes. There are many famous fast food chains, including KFC and Sbarro.

Eat

There are many restaurants in Baku and kebab shops can be found easily for a quick meal.

Budget

In the city centre 1 Half Way Inn, 6, 28 May St (Bus 2, 61, 85, 88, 90, 95 to Milli Bank), ☏ +994 12 5980905. International cuisine. 5-10 manat. 2 Nergiz Restaurant, Fountain Square, 9 Tərlan. (updated May 2022) 3 Bizim Ev Restaurant & Cafe, 7 Khagani Street. (updated May 2022) 4 Doner House, 16/21 Azadliq Ave. (updated May 2022)

Around the historic city centre 5 Lavas Bistro / Fasali Cafe (Right outside Icherisheher metro, on the left). Two take-away places, one next to the other, run by the same people. Do a wide range of usual Azeri/Turkish take-away food - but good quality, very popular with the locals, expect to queue! 3 manat for a kebab/pancake which will completely fill you up. 6 Lezzet Taste Shop, Ahmad Javad St. (updated May 2022)

Mid-range

Azerbaijani/Turkish Anadolu, Pushkin St 5 & Rasul Rza St 3/5, ☏ +994 12 498-87-58, +994 012 498-804. Turkish/European restaurant. 8-15 manat. 7 Firuze Restaurant, 14 Tarlan Aliyarbeyov, ☏ +994 503186545, +994 124939634. 12:00-01:00. Serves excellent, very filling Piti. [1]. (updated Sep 2019) Tonqal Restoranı, 82, Acad, Hasan Aliyeve St, ☏ +994 12 449-91-98. The various meat dishes include kebabs and organ-meat-based delicacies. Lido, Cnr of Nkhchivani St, ☏ +994 12 462-94-49. European and Azeri cuisine. Masal, 29/44 Mahammad Hadi Rd, ☏ +994 50 600 60 25. Kebabs, or, if you prefer, flatbreads and pizza. Mugam Club, 9 A. Rzayeva St, ☏ +994 12 492-40-85. European and Azeri cuisine. 10-15 manat. Namli Kebab, Mardanov Brothers st., 3 (close to Russian Dramatic Theatre and Austin Hotel), ☏ +994 12 493 03 98. Turkish and Azeri cuisine. 10-15 manat.

Georgian 8 U Dali, 5, Mirza Ibrahimov Street (Bus to 'Şahmat məktəbi' or M 'Nizami' 0.6km N), ☏ +994 12 4949356. Georgian cuisine. 3-6 manat.

Western Sultan Inn rooftop or Meridien hotel rooftop restaurants for European/fusion with excellent views or head back to the Fountain Square for a greater variety of inexpensive cuisine.

Gazelli Cafe, 93 Nizami St, ☏ +994 12 404 93 00. European cafe that does up some stylish and tasteful plates. 5-16 manat. Dolce Vita, 19 Aziz Aliyev St, ☏ +994 50 273 99 19. Italian restaurant. Offerings include a duck or meatball salad. Grand Hotel Europe, 20 Tbilisi avenue, ☏ +994 12 490-70-90. International cuisine. Cafe City Sahil, 8 Rashid Behbudov St (St closest to the L side of Park Bulvar, close to Sahil Bagi and Central Public Library), ☏ +994 12 598 88 33. Mixed cuisine cafe. Mexicana Baku, Te

Drink & nightlife

Tea houses (Çayxanalar) There are many outdoor tea houses (çayxanalar) serving tea and sweets that offer a sense of the local culture. If you are adventurous, try challenging a local Bakuvian to a game of backgammon (nard) or dominoes.

Cafés There is a good selection of cafés throughout Baku. Expect to pay Western prices for your coffee.

Aroma Cafe, 18, U. Hajibayov St, ☏ +994 12-598-07-07. Azza Cafe, 1, I. Safarli St/Fountains Sq, ☏ +994 12 437 0111, [email protected]. 12-23. They bake cakes aside from doing coffee. Baku Roasting Company, Alasgar Alakbarov Street, 12 (Near Ramstore in Elmlar), ☏ +994 12 510 98 76. Tu-Su 09:00-21:00. Here you can get a nice roast and maybe an egg burrito type of thing as well. 2.5-7 manat. Chocolates Cafe Baku, Yusif Mammadaliyev str. 4, ☏ +994 12 498 72 60. Not just coffee and chocolatey desserts, but sandwiches too.

Bars and pubs Although tea houses (çay xanalar) (found throughout Azerbaijan) serve local beer (piva) - draft at 50 qapick/glass or bottles at 70 qapick/bottle or vodka (araq) at 2 manat/bottle, for anything exotic (e.g. tequila, gin, or rum), you will have to go to a normal bar or hotel and pay Western prices there.

The Lounge & Bar, 6 Izmir St (in Hyatt Hotel), ☏ +994 12 490 12 34. A distinguished place to have a drink Caspian Bar, 20 Tbilisi Avenue (inside the Grand Hotel Europe), ☏ +994 12 490 70 90. Finnegan’s, 8 Abdulkarim Ali-Zadeh St, ☏ +994 12 498 65 64. Next to History Museum. Free wifi. Good beer prices and Happy Hour offers. Ridiculously expensive wine, however. It doesn't serve Guinness. April 2016. 360 Bar, 1B Azadlig Avenue (in the Hilton Baku), ☏ +994 12 464 50 00. Here you can have a refreshment from atop the Hilton hotel tower, or, if you prefer to stay more grounded, there is also the Sugar Lounge below offering tea, baklava and vodka. Victor's Bar, 1, Azadlig St (in the Park Inn by Radisson Baku Hotel), ☏ +994 12-490-60-00. Classy cocktails The Phoenix Bar, 10, Mammadaliyev St, ☏ +994 12 305 90 90. Lots of booze on hand here. Hops Pub Baku, 24 Tarlan Aliyarbeyov St, ☏ +994 50 700 55 37. Good for socializing and a game of snooker or pool. Caledonia Bar, 20 Qachaq Nabi, ☏ +994 50 653 05 03, [email protected]. 09:30-late. Offers a familiar pub atmosphere with photos and memorabilia from Scotland. Screens for watching sporting events.

Nightclubs 1 Otto Club, Tarlan Aliyarbekov st., 3B (close to Fountain Square), ☏ +994 55 744-63-93. Club for dancing on the weekend. Make sure to arrive after midnight if you don't want to be alone. Expect electro and dance

Sleep

Budget 1 Caspian Hostel, Asef Zeynalli 29 (Old Town, around the corner from Meridian Hotel, above Thousand Camels Hostel), ☏ +994 503778444. Great location in the Old Town. 2 dorm rooms and 1 private room. Dorm bed 16 manat. 2 Guest House Inn, Harbci St? 17, Icheri Sheher (Baki Soveti metro station), ☏ +994 12 4371262, +994 55 6827714, fax: +994 12 4371263. Check-in: any time, check-out: 12:00. This hotel is in the center of Old Town in a calm area, 10 minutes on foot to the nearest metro station, very friendly staff. Room with TV, fridge, private bathroom, hot water 60 manat per person. 3 Atropat Old City Hotel Baku, 11-13-79 Magomayev Str. (walk through the hallway from the boulevard, take the stairs to the right up, and the apartment is right at the other end of the open terrace), ☏ +994 12 497 89 50. (updated Aug 2017) 4 Cheeky Carabao Backpackers Hostel, 171 Tolstoy Street 1st floor. (next to Face Studio, it's easy to miss as the outside of the building is under construction and the sign keeps getting stolen), ☏ +994 12 596 37 29. Well located upbeat hostel with Ping pong, Wii, movies on the projector, and more. Very clean has kitchen, dorms, privates, laundry service. Dorms sleep 8. (updated Dec 2017)

Mid-range Altstadt Hotel, Mammedyarov str. 3/2A (Ilyas Efendiyev str.3/2A), Icheri Sheher (exit at Icheri Sheher metro, enter the Old Town, walk uphill to the left), ☏ +994 124926402, [email protected]. A "better" two-star hotel, with buffet breakfast, spotless private facilities, A/C, Wi-Fi, TV. Offers excursions, helps with visas if necessary. Run by the very friendly Mr. Elmin (Beatles fan) who is always happy to give info and help guests. 50 manat for double/twin. 5 Consul Hotel, 92c Hasan Aliyev St (From Metro 'Ganjlik' West 1.2km), ☏ +994 12 498 6095, +994 124651282, [email protected]. This is a hotel option in the Genclik district. Twin 50 manat. Days Hotel Baku, Babek Prospect, 21/99, ☏ +994 12 310 07 20, fax: +994 12 4967500, [email protected]. 15 minutes' drive from the Heydar Aliyev International Airport and 10 minutes from the city center. 102 rooms with Wi-fi Internet access, one international restaurant, one lounge-bar and two conference rooms. 75-105 manat. Diplomat Hotel, Suleyman Rahimov St, 185, ☏ +994 12 596-11-27, fax: +994 012 596-11-28, [email protected]. Centrally located. Credit cards accepted. Double 90 manat. Empire Hotel, Xaqani St 49, ☏ +994 125982123, +994 125982128, fax: +994 125982129, [email protected]. Holiday Inn Baku Airport, Heydar Aliyev International Airport (25-min drive from

Go next

Within Azerbaijan Nabran – Relax by the Caspian on the beach or in a resort. Azerbaijan's biggest tourist destination for international travellers and a coastal city close to Xachmaz. Quba – Its urban suburb is home to the largest Azerbaijani Jewish community in the mountains and is considered one of the largest Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union. Khinalug (Xinaliq) – A scenic, remote and ancient mountain village, and the mountain of the same name nearby. Once a centre of Zoroastrianism; today the few inhabitants are an ethnic isolate believed to be descendants of the Caucasus Albanians (unrelated to modern-day Albanians of Albania). Sheki – A 7-hour bus ride to the northwest. A beautiful city in the Caucasus mountains with much to see and do. It has one of the largest densities of cultural resources and monuments that span 2,700 years of Azerbaijani history. Lahich – A cozy and remote highland village, on the way to Sheki. Famous for its copper work. Shamakhi – The former capital of the medieval state of Shirvan. Famous for its traditional dancers, Şamaxı dancers, and its impressive mosque. An ancient history and once one of the key cities along the Silk Road. Naftalan – A well-known petroleum spa resort, the centre of medical tourism in Azerbaijan. Go and enjoy the oil baths. Ganja – One of the oldest cities in the Caucasus. Nakhchivan (region) – The Baku Airport is one of the few in the world offering flights to Nakhchivan and travelers heading that way should book a flight from here.

Outside Azerbaijan If you want to go to destinations in Georgia, Russia, Iran, or Turkey overland and you don't hold an Azerbaijan passport, you can exit on foot at some border crossings. Research which one works best for you.