Plan trips like this one. Open by request.Request access
Photo: Presidential Press and Information Office, CC BY 4.0
Destinations / Azerbaijan

Baku

Medieval walls beside flame-shaped skyscrapers

architecturehistoryfoodluxury
Plan your trip to BakuSee the top 10
2,300,000Population
2.6 millionMetro area
Azerbaijani, RussianLanguage
AZNCurrency
4 daysIdeal stay
$120-200Typical day

Baku is Azerbaijan's capital on the Caspian Sea, where a walled old town sits beside oil boom architecture like the Flame Towers. The seaside boulevard and modern museums are highlights. Nearby are mud volcanoes and fire temples. Check current advisories before going.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. The walled medieval core of the city, with caravanserais, mosques and narrow lanes. It is a UNESCO site.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free to walk; museums charge separate fees.

    Tip. Go early or at dusk for softer light.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. A mysterious stone tower of uncertain age at the edge of the old city. Its roof looks over the bay.

    45 minutesTime needed
    about $3-6Cost
    noBook ahead

    Ticket price in manat, 2026 estimate.

    Tip. Go late afternoon for views.
    See on the map

  3. A 15th century royal complex of palace, mosque and tombs. It is the finest monument in the old city.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $3-6Cost
    noBook ahead

    Ticket price in manat, 2026 estimate.

    Tip. Ask about audio guides.
    See on the map

  4. A long seaside park along the Caspian, with promenades and cafes. It is busiest in the evening.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free.

    Tip. Walk at sunset.
    See on the map

  5. Three flame shaped towers whose LED facades light up at night, seen best from the Highland Park terrace. The park also holds a memorial.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free from outside.

    Tip. Go after dark.
    See on the map

  6. A flowing white building by Zaha Hadid used for exhibitions and concerts. Its shape is the attraction.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    about $5-10Cost
    noBook ahead

    Ticket price varies, 2026 estimate.

    Tip. Photograph the outside in daylight and at night.
    Official siteSee on the map

  7. A museum of Azerbaijani carpets in a building shaped like a rolled carpet. It holds hundreds of pieces.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $3-6Cost
    noBook ahead

    Ticket in manat, 2026 estimate.

    Tip. Ask for a guide.
    Official siteSee on the map

  8. A historic fire temple once used by Hindu and Zoroastrian worshippers. It sits on the Absheron peninsula.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $3-8Cost
    noBook ahead

    Separate small tickets, 2026 estimate.

    Tip. Go at dusk for Yanar Dag.
    See on the map

  9. A hillside where natural gas has burned for decades. It is most striking after dark.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $3-8Cost
    noBook ahead

    Separate small tickets, 2026 estimate.

    Tip. Go at dusk for Yanar Dag.
    Official siteSee on the map

  10. A UNESCO site with thousands of prehistoric rock carvings, near bubbling mud volcanoes. Tours combine both.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. Tour about 1 hour each way.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
TOURSTours and tickets are shown to Hodolog members. Request access
Make it yours

Turn Baku into your plan

Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.

Plan day by dayAdd any place here to a day of your trip, with times and costs.
Bookings from emailForward flight and hotel confirmations. They land in your trip.
Weather for your datesForecast and usual weather for your exact days, in your units.
Share with your peopleInvite family or friends, split costs, keep one plan.
Request access
Hodolog is open by request for now. Each request is reviewed.
Short on time?

Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Baku in three days

Day one old city, day two modern Baku, day three Gobustan.

  1. Old City (Icherisheher)2 hours · Free
  2. Maiden Tower45 minutes · about $3-6
  3. Palace of the Shirvanshahs1 hour · about $3-6
  4. Baku Boulevard1.5 hours · Free
  5. Flame Towers and Highland Park1 hour · Free
  6. Heydar Aliyev Center1.5 hours · about $5-10
  7. Carpet Museum1 hour · about $3-6
  8. Ateshgah Fire Temple1 hour · about $3-8
  9. Yanar Dag1 hour · about $3-8
  10. Gobustan and Mud VolcanoesHalf day
Beyond the city

Day trips

Sheki

Silk road town with a khan palace.

186 mi · Bus or car, about 5 hours

Shamakhi

Wine area and mosque.

75 mi · Car, about 2 hours

Quba

Mountain scenery and apple orchards.

106 mi · Car or marshrutka, about 2.5 hours

Absheron Peninsula beaches

Summer beach spots on the Caspian.

25 mi · Taxi, about 45 minutes

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: April to June and September to October. Mild weather.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.6JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

46°F
Typical daily high
Average43°F
Rain0.6 in
About2 rainy days
Sun strength1.7 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Mar

Novruz

Around March 20 to 21

Spring new year festival.

Oct

Baku Jazz Festival

Usually October

Concerts around the city.

Sep

Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Usually September

Street race through the old town.

Going on specific dates? A Hodolog trip shows the forecast and the usual weather for your exact days. Request access
Know before you go

At a glance

3/5
Safety

Azerbaijan is at US State Department Level 3 (reconsider travel); citing terrorism and other risks; avoid the Armenian border area.

4/5
Walkability

The center and boulevard are walkable.

4/5
Public transport

Metro and buses using a BakiKart.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
1234

1. Old City (Icherisheher)

$$$

Best for: first-timers

Historic center.

2. Fountain Square

$$

Best for: first-timers

Central.

3. Seaside Boulevard

$$$

Best for: luxury

Sea views.

4. Yasamal and Narimanov

$

Best for: budget

Cheaper options with metro access.

Getting there and around

Main airportHeydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD), 16 mi from the center
To the centerThe H1 airport express bus runs 24 hours to 28 May station in about 30 minutes (1.30 AZN).
Around townMetro and Bolt; walk the old town.
Ride appsBolt, Uber
Taste it

What to eat

Plov

Saffron rice dish.

Dolma

Stuffed leaves.

Qutab

Thin stuffed flatbread.

Pakhlava

Layered nut pastry.

Tea with jam

Served in tea houses.

Good to know

PlugsType C and F, 230 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingRounding up or about 10 percent in restaurants is appreciated.
PaymentsCards are widely accepted; keep a little cash for markets.
EtiquetteDress modestly in religious sites and greet people with a simple hello.
  • A visa is usually needed; check the e-visa system.
  • Avoid photographing government sites.
  • Most visitors need an e visa, so apply before arrival.
  • The Armenia land border has long been closed; check the latest rules.
  • Taxi drivers may overcharge, so use an app.
  • Bring small cash for markets.
  • Gobustan is closed some days, check ahead.

A short history

Baku's walled old town grew around the Maiden Tower and the 15th century palace of the Shirvanshahs. The Russian Empire took the city in 1806, and an oil boom from the 1870s made it one of the world's main oil producers, funding grand mansions. It was part of the Soviet Union until Azerbaijan regained independence in 1991. New oil and gas wealth paid for modern landmarks such as the Flame Towers. The old city is a UNESCO site.

Found your base? Add it to a trip with Hodolog.
Request access

Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Baku