A short history of Baku
Flame Towers · Photo: Francisco Anzola, CC BY 3.0The wind rarely lets up in Baku, and the smell of the sea reaches deep into the narrow lanes of the Old City. Nobody agrees on when or why the Maiden Tower inside the walls was built, and there is no shortage of legends about it either. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs, mostly from the 15th century, shows the time when the city was the seat of a dynasty.
The real transformation came with oil at the end of the 19th century. Foreign firms, the Nobel brothers among them, drilled wells, and local oil barons built European-style mansions around Nizami Street. In the early 20th century about half of the world's oil came out of the Absheron peninsula.
The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was founded in 1918, and from 1920 to 1991 the country was part of the Soviet Union. The walled Old City joined the UNESCO list in 2000. For a look at today's Baku, go up to Highland Park in the evening, where the Flame Towers, completed in 2012, flicker with light after dark.
Baku neighbourhoods
Heydar Aliyev Center · Photo: Robot8A, CC BY-SA 4.0Highland Park is a long terrace on the slope west of the centre, looking down over the bay. You go up by funicular or on the steps, and it's busiest at sunset.
In Narimanov stands the curving white Heydar Aliyev Center designed by Zaha Hadid. The lawn and gardens in front are open to wander, and the Soviet-era apartment blocks around it show the city's ordinary side.
Bayil is a quiet stretch running south along the shore. National Flag Square is here, and it suits anyone who wants to escape the crowds of the centre and walk by the sea.
If you want to leave the city, you can fit the Ateshgah in Surakhany and Yanar Dag into the same day. Mardakan is where Baku goes for summer, with garden dachas, beaches and medieval towers about an hour from the centre.
Where to stay
- Old City (Icherisheher): Historic mansions and boutique hotels inside the walls.
- Fountain Square / Nizami: Pedestrian streets, shopping and restaurants.
- Seaside Boulevard: Caspian promenade and views.
- 28 May: Close to the train station and airport bus.
- White City / Port Baku: Modern buildings and luxury hotels.
When to visit Baku
Locals call Baku the city of winds, and they have a point. The khazri blowing from the north sometimes sweeps the streets for a whole day, so pack a light windbreaker.
With days of about 16-27 °C, April-June and September-October are the nicest time for walks along the seafront. Novruz, celebrated on 20-21 March, is the city's most colourful moment. Bonfires are lit in the squares, families make semeni and shekerbura, and the public holiday lasts several days.
July and August climb to 30-35 °C, with little shade at midday. In winter the thermometer reads 2-8 °C, but the wind makes it feel colder. In recent years the Formula 1 race has run through the city-centre streets in September, and that week roads close and hotels get expensive.
Food culture in Baku
Plov is the crown of the Azerbaijani table. The saffron rice comes on one plate and the meat, chestnuts and dried fruit on another. On special occasions you'll see shah plov, baked inside thin lavash and brought to the table whole.
When you get hungry during the day, qutab is a good choice. These thin flatbreads cooked on a griddle are filled with herbs, minced meat or pumpkin. Tiny dumplings called dushbara are served in broth, and dolma comes in many forms, from vine leaves to cabbage and aubergine. Turkish speakers can usually follow the menu and the waiter without much trouble.
Tea is a ritual of its own here. It comes in pear-shaped armudu glasses with jam, lemon or shekerbura on the side, and people sit for hours in the teahouses. Dinner is eaten between 19:00 and 22:00. If there's no service charge on the bill, a tip of around 10% is enough.
Baku trip budget
Maiden Tower · Photo: Ludvig14, CC BY-SA 4.0Baku isn't one of the region's cheap cities, and hotels and smart restaurants in the centre come close to Istanbul prices. Transport and taxis, on the other hand, are very cheap. A hostel bed plus two meals in simple eateries comes to 70-110 AZN a day in 2026. A mid-range hotel with dinners out brings that to 180-280 AZN, and in a five-star hotel the daily bill easily passes 400 AZN.
For the metro and city buses you buy a rechargeable BakuCard, and a single ride is under 1 manat. The airport bus runs on the same card and costs 1-2 manat. A Bolt ride in the centre is usually 3-8 AZN. Sights such as the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower charge foreigners roughly 10-15 AZN in 2026.
Walking the Seaside Boulevard, wandering the lanes of the Old City and taking in the view from Highland Park are all free.
Prices are approximate as of October 2026.
Hidden gems and overlooked spots in Baku
- Ateshgah of Baku — In Surakhany, this 17th-18th-century fire temple rings a pentagonal courtyard with cells around a gas-fed altar flame. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Yanar Dag — Gas seeping from a hillside on the Absheron peninsula feeds a 10 m wall of flame that is most striking after dark. (visit ≈ 40 min)
- Nizami Street — The pedestrianised main street is lined with late-19th-century oil-boom facades, along with shops and cafes. (visit ≈ 45 min)
- Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall — Just outside the Old City walls, this 1912 building modelled on the Monte Carlo casino now serves as a concert hall. (visit ≈ 30 min)
Getting from the airport to Baku
- Heydar Aliyev (GYD): Aeroexpress bus ≈ 35 min
Getting around
The centre is walkable; the metro and buses need a BakuCard. Use Bolt or Uber for taxis.
Classic places to eat
- Firuze: Plov and qutab in a cellar dining room.
- Şirvanşah Muzey Restoran: Azerbaijani food in a museum-like setting.
- Sehrli Tendir: Tandir bread and qutab in the Old City.
- Mugham Club: Live mugham music in an old caravanserai.
- Qaynana: Home-style Azerbaijani dishes.
- Dolma Restaurant: As the name says: vine-leaf, cabbage and aubergine dolma.
- Çay Bağı 145: Azerbaijani tea with jams in the Old City.
Romantic views
- Baku Boulevard (Evening): A long, breezy promenade along the Caspian shore.
- Highland Park (Sunset): The bay and Flame Towers face you, city lights below.
- Old City (Icherisheher) (Evening): Stone alleys and old walls grow quiet in the evening.
- Fountain Square (Evening): Lit fountains and a lively pedestrian area.
Football stadiums in Baku
- Tofiq Bahramov Stadium: Home of Qarabağ FK, FC Baku
- Azersun Arena: Home of Qarabağ FK
- Bakcell Arena: Home of Neftchi Baku PFC
- ASK Arena: Home of Shamakhi FK
Good to know before visiting Baku
- Fine: Drug offences carry very heavy sentences.
- Fine: Photographing military sites, borders, oil facilities and government buildings is banned.
- Fine: Crossing outside crossings or underpasses in Baku can be fined.
- Fine: Smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces.
- Warning: Travel to the Karabakh region requires special permission under official arrangements.
- Warning: People who previously visited the region without Azerbaijani permission may be refused entry.
- Emergency: 112 (police 102, ambulance 103, fire 101)
- Plugs: C/F, 220V
- Tap water: Drink bottled rather than tap water.
- Tipping: Leave about 10% if service isn't already included.
Sources: UK FCDO — Foreign travel advice: Azerbaijan, Wikivoyage — Azerbaijan, T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı — Türk vatandaşlarının tabi olduğu vize uygulamaları · For information only; rules change, check official sources before you go. Last checked: 2026-10
Build your route on the Baku map
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