Smart Self-Managed Tours

City guide · Azerbaijan

Baku

A photograph of Baku
Photograph · Ludvig14 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Baku's visitor core is compact around the UNESCO-listed Old City, the oil-boom centre and the Caspian waterfront, but several major modern sites sit beyond that walkable triangle. Icherisheher, Fountain Square and the Boulevard combine well on foot. Highland Park rises above the bay, while the Heydar Aliyev Center and outer peninsula sites require metro, bus or taxi connections. Wind and elevation should shape the order of an outdoor route.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · SSMTour Travel Editor

Practical information
Language spoken
Azerbaijani
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+994
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Turn this list into a plan

Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.

Plan Baku

Planning a visit

Suggested stay
Not recorded
Getting around
Walk, metro, bus and taxi
  1. January: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  2. February: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  3. March: good time to visit
  4. April: best time to visit
  5. May: best time to visit
  6. June: good time to visit
  7. July: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  8. August: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  9. September: best time to visit — current month
  10. October: best time to visit
  11. November: good time to visit
  12. December: viable with meaningful trade-offs
  • Best time
  • Good time
  • Viable with trade-offs
  • Difficult conditions

Sources

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

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Category

Typical visit duration

Interests

  1. Green Bazaar
    01 45 min

    Green Bazaar

    Yaşıl Bazar

    Yashil Bazaar, or Yaşıl Bazar, is Baku’s best-known produce market and one of the city’s most concentrated encounters with Azerbaijani food culture.

    • Must see
    • Market
  2. Sharg Bazaar Sharg Bazaar
    02 45 min

    Sharg Bazaar

    Şərq Bazarı

    Sharg Bazaar, also known locally as Şərq Bazarı, is a restored domed market hall in Baku.

    • Must see
    • Market

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

How the city is laid out

Icherisheher forms the walled historic core around the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs. Immediately north and east, the nineteenth-century oil-boom streets lead through Fountain Square toward the waterfront. Baku Boulevard follows the Caspian shore, with funicular access toward Highland Park and the Flame Towers. The Heydar Aliyev Center lies northeast of the centre, while Ateshgah, Yanar Dag and Gobustan are separate excursions beyond the compact urban core.

Checked 2026-08-26

Getting around

Walk between Icherisheher, Fountain Square and central sections of Baku Boulevard, then use metro, bus or taxi for outer districts. Azerbaijan Travel states that Baku has the country's metro system and that buses and taxis also operate across the capital; airport buses use BakuCard. The funicular is useful for the elevation toward Highland Park when operating. Confirm current routes and service notices before building a timed connection or peninsula excursion.

Checked 2026-08-26

Common questions

How many days should I plan for Baku?

No fixed stay length is recorded. Plan the Old City and central waterfront first, then allocate separate time to modern districts and any Absheron or Gobustan excursion.

Which Baku areas combine naturally on foot?

Icherisheher, the oil-boom streets around Fountain Square and central Baku Boulevard form the most coherent walking sequence.

Does Baku have a metro?

Yes. Azerbaijan Travel identifies Baku as the country's city with a metro system and also lists buses and taxis as local options.

How do I reach Highland Park?

It rises above the waterfront near the Flame Towers. Walk uphill or use the funicular when operating, and check current service information before relying on it.

Are Ateshgah, Yanar Dag and Gobustan central Baku sights?

No. They are outer or regional excursions and need separate road planning rather than being appended to an Old City walking route.