Sights of Baku and the surrounding area that are worth seeing | The Guide Club

What can a tourist see in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, and where should he go during his vacation? Baku is a large ancient city, the first mention of which was found in written sources of the 5th century. Numerous sights remind of the past epochs, and nowadays new interesting objects continue to appear. Medieval fortress walls, beautiful mosques, buildings in the Stalinist Empire style and the fantastic architecture of Zaha Hadid — all this can be seen in one or two days. But it’s better to come at least for a week — you definitely won’t get bored. And in order not to miss anything, read our top sights of Baku with names, photos and descriptions! Reveal the content

Icheri Sheher — old town

The historical district of Icheri Sheher is built on a hill above the Caspian Sea and is surrounded by a three-meter-thick fortress wall. From this quarter, the city began to grow, where more than two million people now live. The best sights of Baku and Azerbaijan are concentrated in Icheri Sheher: mosques, towers, ancient houses, baths and caravanserais. An episode of The Diamond Hand was filmed on one of the local streets, in which Semyon Gorbunkov slipped and broke his arm. The whole area is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Let’s list a few of its main attractions:

• The Palace of the Shirvanshahs. More than a thousand years ago, the state of Shirvan was formed on the territory of Azerbaijan. At first, its capital was in the city of Shamakhi, it was from there that the Shamakhan queen from Pushkin’s fairy tale came. But after a strong earthquake, the court moved to Baku, and in the XII-XV centuries a beautiful palace complex was built here. Now ancient coins, carpets, weapons, musical instruments and other interesting things are on display in the residence of the rulers of Shirvan.
• The mausoleum of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi. A small mausoleum of the XV century is located in one of the courtyards of the palace complex. A philosopher and astrologer who lived at court and took part in the upbringing of princes was buried here. The mausoleum looks modest, but attracts attention with its unusual architecture. In shape, it looks like a wide sharpened pencil with the tip pointing upwards. In the past, this building was adjacent to the mosque, but it eventually collapsed, and the mausoleum has survived to this day.
• Maiden Tower. There is a 28 m high tower with a museum and an observation deck in the center of the Old City of Baku. The plaque on it says that this is a 12th-century building, but in fact no one knows its exact age or original purpose. The legend tells about the beautiful daughter of the shah, who did not want to marry the unloved one and threw herself from this tower into the sea. Then it was just reaching the foot of the tower. In the happy version of the legend, the princess was saved by mermaids, and she was able to connect with her lover.
• The Mosque of Muhammad. This landmark of Baku is definitely worth a look, because the Muhammad Mosque is one of the oldest architectural monuments in the city. It has been preserved since the XI century. The structure is built on an elevation, and from here you can enjoy a beautiful view. The mosque’s minaret is damaged and is not being restored. This is not an accident. It is believed that the damage was sustained during the Russian-Persian War of the 1720s. As soon as the shell hit the minaret, a strong wind rose, and Peter the Great’s fleet was forced to withdraw. Although the city was eventually taken, the minaret has remained intact ever since as a symbol of the divine protection of the city.
• Baku caravanserais. Trade routes connecting East and West have been passing through Baku since ancient times. Caravanserais were built here, designed for merchants to relax. Some of them can be seen in Icheri Sheher. The most famous is the Bukhara caravanserai near the Maiden Tower. Merchants of the Central Asian direction stayed there. Merchants from India built the Multani caravanserai opposite it. Now you can dine here in a restaurant with national cuisine. It is also worth visiting the most ancient Khan’s caravanserai of the XII century and the largest – a two—storey one.
• Shamakhi Gate. To protect Icheri Sheher, powerful defensive structures were built: walls eight meters high, numerous gates and towers. The main entrance was the Shamakhi Gate, located on the north side. They are now in excellent condition, as they were renovated in 2019.

Architectural landmarks

In the past centuries, Baku flourished because it was located on the Great Silk Road. Since recently, majestic buildings have been built at the expense of income from oil fields. One area of the city evokes fantasies of oriental fairy tales, the other resembles the modern Arab Emirates. Sometimes ancient and new buildings can be seen at the same time. For example, tall skyscrapers and flaming towers above the fortress walls of the old city are a fantastic sight. Let’s list what you must see in Baku from architecture.

Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center

In 2012, a futuristic building was built in Baku, designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid. Two years later, it received the prestigious London Design of the Year Award. For its bizarre shape without straight lines, this building has been compared to the fluttering white skirt of Marilyn Monroe, it also looks like a wave. Inside there are exhibition halls with antiquities, miniature replicas of famous landmarks and historical photographs. The Heydar Aliyev Center is surrounded by a large park where you can take a walk and take a souvenir photo.

Flame Towers

Three skyscrapers in the shape of flames are built on a high hill and are clearly visible from different points of the city. They look especially impressive at night when the backlight is on. This complex has become a well-recognized symbol of Baku. Three flames are depicted on the city’s coat of arms — this is a reference to the ancient traditions of Zoroastrianism and fire worship. The height of the three towers is 140, 160 and 190 m. They contain a five-star hotel, a cinema hall and office space. You don’t have to get close to the buildings to admire them. They look best from the outside.

Gulistan Palace

Baku is located in a mountainous area with uneven terrain. In the 1980s, a monumental structure was built on one of the gentle slopes, which became, as it were, an extension of the mountain. Large-scale official events are held in the Gulistan Palace, but anyone can visit it. It is cooler here in summer than in other parts of the city. There are restaurants and bars on the territory of the palace. From the large terrace you can see the city, the sea and the mountains.

Isa-bek Gadzhinsky’s House

Isa-bek Gadzhinsky, a rich oil industrialist and philanthropist of the early 20th century, built a large building in 1912, where he lived with his family and kept an office. By his order, the architect designed an unusual structure in the Gothic and Baroque styles, decorated with mosaics in the style of ancient Assyria. Although the size of the house is quite impressive, it looks light and fabulous. This effect is provided by turrets, balconies and numerous narrow windows. During the Soviet years, the building gradually deteriorated, but in 2007 it was put in order. Now Isa-bek Hajinsky’s house is one of the unusual tourist places in Baku that are worth seeing.

Government House of Azerbaijan

The Government House was designed by architect Lev Rudnev, who created the main building of Moscow State University on Vorobyovy Gory. Although the project was ready in the 1930s, it turned out to be implemented only in 1952. This is how another masterpiece of the Stalinist Empire appeared, but with an oriental flavor. It is impossible to get inside the building: several ministries of Azerbaijan work in it. But you can come to Freedom Square in front of the Government House and look at it from the outside. The square itself is also worthy of attention. It is the most spacious in the city, parades and festive processions are held here.

The Heydar Mosque

This mosque was built relatively recently — in 2014. But it immediately became an outstanding attraction because it looks great. It is the tallest mosque in Transcaucasia. Its minarets rise to 95 m, and the main dome rises to 55 m. 7,000 people can fit inside. The Heydar Mosque is located on the outskirts of Baku, so during construction it was possible to refine the vast space around. Now there is a large park with fountains and sculptures — a great place for a family holiday.

Azerbaijan Philharmonic Society

The Philharmonic Hall was built at the beginning of the last century. It was originally used as a nightclub and casino, so the architect traveled to Monte Carlo for inspiration and borrowed a lot from European architecture. Since 1936, the Philharmonic has been located here, and it still operates today.

In addition to the building itself, the garden around it is also of interest. It was broken up much earlier, in the XIX century. Initially, nothing grew in this place, as the soils were saline. To remedy this, Iranian merchants arriving by sea were imposed a special duty. They were obliged to bring bags of fertile black soil with them. The measure proved to be effective, and after several decades thousands of trees were already growing in this place. Now the old park with fountains is a great place to visit in Baku, especially in the summer months.

Tezepir Mosque

The Tezepir Mosque, built in 1914, is a 20-minute walk from the Old Town. It is a beautiful structure with two minarets, decorated with marble, gold and mahogany. It is noteworthy that the funds for the construction of the mosque were provided by a woman — a rich oil industrialist and philanthropist Nabat-khanym Ashurbekova. She herself did not live to see the completion of construction, but her son continued his mother’s work. In 2009, the mosque was renovated. Now it is one of the most beautiful places in Baku for tourists. The Tezepir Mosque is worth seeing both inside and outside.

Mukhtarov’s Palace

An unusual building for an Islamic country appeared in Baku thanks to the rich oil industrialist Murtuz Mukhtarov. During his honeymoon, he visited Venice, and both spouses were fascinated by the Venetian architecture. After his return, Mukhtarov turned to the famous Polish architect Joseph Ploshko to design something similar. So a building with stucco, lancet windows, carved parapets and spires appeared in the city. From a distance, it can be mistaken for a luxurious Gothic temple. In recent decades, a registry office has been operating in this palace.

Heydar Aliyev Palace

The concert complex with the largest stage in Azerbaijan was built in 1972. It resembles the Palace of Congresses in Moscow and accommodates more than 2,000 spectators. Over the past decades, Muslim Magomayev, Alla Pugacheva, Arkady Raikin and other Soviet, Russian and foreign stars have performed on the stage of the Heydar Aliyev Palace. Beauty contests, KVN performances and presidential inauguration ceremonies were held here. In 2008, the Palace was renovated and equipped with the latest technology. He even claimed to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, but in the end, another venue was chosen for the competition.

Ismailia Building

At the beginning of the 20th century, another oil industrialist lived in Baku, who left his mark on the architecture of Baku. His name was Musa Nagiyev. When his young son died of tuberculosis, Nagiyev decided to perpetuate his name by building a luxurious Venetian-style palace. He also turned to Joseph Ploshko, who designed a Gothic structure resembling the Doge’s Palace. The construction was completed in 1913, and since then it has been one of the main attractions of Baku. The building is now occupied by the Academy of Sciences.

Cathedral of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women

At the beginning of the 20th century, an infantry regiment of the Russian Imperial Army was stationed in Baku. A classical Orthodox church was built for him in 1909, designed by architect Fyodor Verzhbitsky. During the Soviet period, the temple was closed and made a warehouse, and in 1990 the building was partially destroyed by shells. After that, reconstruction began, which lasted ten years. In 2001, the restored and newly painted cathedral was consecrated, and since then it has been receiving believers again.

Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

The theater building, built in 1911, is an excellent example of Art Nouveau architecture. The project was developed by the Armenian architect Nikolai Bayev by order of the Mailov brothers’ patrons. There is a legend that Daniil Mailov dreamed of inviting a beautiful opera diva to Baku. But she refused to come because of the lack of a decent stage. Mailov promised to fix this as soon as possible, and a new elegant building with an auditorium for 1,200 seats was built in just a year.

Academic National Drama Theatre

The drama theater building was built in 1960. The project was developed by Gazanfar Alizadeh, who managed to harmoniously combine the features of traditional Azerbaijani architecture and European classicism. Tall columns and arched windows give the theater a solemn look. The interior, decorated with stucco and marble, supports this atmosphere. There are seats for 740 people in the auditorium. On the square in front of the theater there is a bronze monument to the poet of the XVI century Fuzuli. The granite pedestal is decorated with a scene from his poem “Leyli and Majnun”.

Places for walking and recreation

The capital of Azerbaijan is a beautiful city with exquisite architecture, views of the sea and mountain ranges. There are many pedestrian streets and parks where it is convenient to walk. We tell you which places in Baku are worth visiting during your vacation.

Little Venice

The park with numerous canals, islands and bridges appeared in Baku in the 1960s. There was nothing like this anywhere in the USSR. In 2012, Little Venice was reconstructed, and now it is one of the best places in Baku where you can have a good time. You can ride gondolas along the canals, just like in real Venice. Fountains, flower gardens and cafes with Oriental and European cuisine are located on the islands.

Nagorny Park

There is a hill in the center of the city, where a landscaped park with terraces, alleys and panoramic platforms is arranged. It is called Nagorny. To enjoy the best view, you need to climb to the very top of the hill. From here you can see the quarters of Icheri Sheher, and Primorsky Boulevard with a Ferris wheel, and the Flame Towers. You can climb to the Upland Park by funicular or by stairs. In addition to places to relax, there are many attractions in the park. For example, the Gulistan Palace or the Shahid Mosque.

Primorsky Boulevard

The Baku embankment, which stretches for many kilometers, has turned into a great place for walking with cafes, restaurants, fountains and street attractions after recent reconstruction. The most interesting sights of Baku are visible from Primorsky Boulevard or are located nearby. For example, a 60-meter Ferris wheel that can make a turn in 10 or 30 minutes. An impressive view opens from the height.

Fountain Square

Baku’s first square appeared in the 19th century, and now it is surrounded by beautiful old buildings. The square itself is often called a public garden due to its good landscaping. There are many flowers, trees and exotic plants here, so it is a suitable place to relax in the summer heat. After reconstruction in the 1980s, fountains appeared, giving the square its modern name. There are five of them in total — some classic, others of unusual shape. There are many shops and restaurants around the square.

Hagani Garden

A small cozy garden near Fountain Square is one of the oldest park areas in Baku. It was named after the 12th-century Persian poet Khagani Shirvani. There are many shady corners with benches in the garden, there are flower beds and a playground. In the central part, among the trees, there is a fountain decorated with elegant sculptures of the three graces.

Nizami Street

One of the central streets of Baku is partially closed to cars, this is another suitable place for walking. There are many beautiful buildings of the XIX-XX centuries in the Gothic, Baroque and constructivist styles. Including the previously mentioned Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. There are also many restaurants, branded boutiques and souvenir shops on Nizami Street, so there is a place to have a snack or go shopping.

Baku Museums

Where to go and what to see in Baku for a tourist to get acquainted with the history, traditions and art of the region? If you come to the capital of Azerbaijan for more than a day, be sure to visit the local museums. There are many of them in Baku, and almost all of them are of interest both in their expositions and architecture.

Tagiyev House Museum and the Museum of the History of Azerbaijan

During the era of the oil boom, entrepreneur Haji Tagiyev teamed up with partners to buy a large plot of land and find an oil field there. But the search remained fruitless for a long time, so all the disappointed partners gave up their shares to Tagiyev almost for nothing. He continued to search and was rewarded a few years later. Haji Tagiyev became one of the richest citizens and built a large beautiful mansion.

Now there is an exhibition dedicated to Tagiyev himself and his family in this house. It occupies nine renovated rooms with original furniture and personal belongings. In other halls there is a museum of the history of Azerbaijan, where a huge number of coins, archaeological finds, ancient weapons and other interesting objects are stored.

National Carpet Museum

The carpet Museum in Baku is called the best in the world. It is noticeable from afar due to the unusual building in the form of a rolled carpet. The author of this project is the Austrian architect Franz Jans. Inside the museum there are more than a thousand handmade carpets from different regions of Azerbaijan and from other countries. The oldest of them was woven in the XVII century, there are several samples of the XVIII century. Additionally, the museum exhibits national clothes, embroidered tablecloths, curtains, ceramics, musical instruments, beautiful wood and glass products.

Miniature Book Museum

This museum has been included in the Guinness Book of Records, as it contains the world’s largest collection of book miniatures. The collections number more than 8,000 copies from more than 80 countries. Part of the collection is exhibited in the branches, but more than 5,500 miniature books can be seen in Baku. Some of them are so small that a magnifying glass is placed next to them. The world’s smallest book is also stored here, its size is only 2 by 2 mm. The museum was founded by Zafira Salakhova, a well—known cultural figure of Azerbaijan. Before that, she had been privately collecting miniature books for more than 30 years.

Azerbaijan Museum of Art

The country’s largest art museum occupies two 19th-century buildings and 60 halls. But even on this vast area, only a small part of the entire museum collection, which includes about 18,000 items, is on display. The oldest exhibits date back to the Antiquity era. One of the two buildings presents the art of Azerbaijan, the other — the works of Russian, European, Iranian, Turkish, Japanese masters. These are paintings, dishes, carpets, national clothes, jewelry and various objects of decorative and applied art.

Museum of Azerbaijani Literature

If you walk along Nizami Street or Fountain Square, you should also visit the Museum of Azerbaijani Literature. It is located close to the main attractions of Baku and occupies a beautiful building of the XIX century. The facade of this building is decorated with arched openings, in which statues of famous poets and writers are installed. The museum exhibits ancient manuscripts and printed publications, autographed books, illustrations, paintings and sculptures. The museum store has books in Russian and English.

Other sights of Baku

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, has many more attractions where you can take beautiful photos and have a good time. Some are suitable for exploring the culture and history of the country, others for shopping and vivid impressions.

International Mugham Center

Mugham is a kind of traditional Azerbaijani music. Since 2008, it has been included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. A special international center has been established to preserve and popularize this music. It is located on the territory of Primorsky Boulevard. The building houses a small concert hall for 350 people, rehearsal rooms and a recording studio. A collection of musical instruments is on display in the lobby.

Baku Funicular

Baku occupies a hilly area, and its highest point is the Highland Park. It will take half an hour and a lot of physical strength to get there from Primorsky Boulevard on foot. But you can use the funicular and get to the upper station in just four minutes. The lower station is located near the Carpet Museum. Before Eurovision 2012, the funicular was completely modernized. Currently, two modern silent trailers designed for 28 people run along the 455 m long route. The movement interval is 10-15 minutes.

Alley and mosque of the Shahids

Next to the upper station of the funicular there is a memorial complex called the Alley of the Shahids. Civilians who died in 1990 during the events later called Black January are buried in this place. An alley with a long stele opens onto an open area where the eternal flame is burning and there is a small single-domed mosque with two minarets. The Shahid Mosque was built with the support of Turkey and is made in the Ottoman style.

National Flag Square

This square is one of the most solemn and beautiful places in Baku. A huge flagpole with a height of 162 m is installed on it, on which the equally gigantic flag of Azerbaijan proudly flutters. Its dimensions are 70 by 35 m. The flagpole in Baku remained the tallest in the world for a long time, until in 2011 Tajikistan built a flagpole three meters taller. In addition to the flag, the square is famous for the impressive concert hall built for the Eurovision Song Contest 2012. Thanks to the backlight, the Crystal Hall looks especially impressive at night.

Baku TV Tower

The tallest building in Azerbaijan is the 310—meter TV tower in Baku. It began to be built in 1979, but was completed only in the mid-90s. The observation deck of the tower offers the most impressive view of the city. At an altitude of 175 m there is a panoramic restaurant with national cuisine. It rotates and makes a complete revolution in about an hour. The restaurant is expensive, but the magnificent views make the atmosphere unforgettable.

Green Market

The Baku travel guide cannot fail to include the largest and most famous grocery market, which is called the Green One. Fruits and vegetables from all over the country, fragrant spices, nuts, jam, delicious cheese, local tea, oriental delicacies are sold here. You can buy meat, fish and delicious black caviar. Visiting the Green Market is a real feast for the eyes and a good opportunity to please yourself with something delicious.

What to see in the vicinity of Baku?

Many sights of Azerbaijan are located in the vicinity of Baku. A day trip is enough to see them. If you come to the capital for more than a day or two, we recommend that you set aside time to visit several places:

• Bibi-Eibat Mosque (13 km from Baku). The mosque with this name has been located on the outskirts of Baku since the 13th century, but was destroyed in the 1930s. According to the surviving sketches, a new mosque was built in 1999 with mirrored windows on the outside and beautiful stained glass windows inside.
• The Eternal Flame of Yanardag (14 km from Baku). The territory of Azerbaijan is famous for natural fires that arise due to natural gas deposits near the surface of the earth. The flame is depicted even on the coat of arms of the country. The eternal flame has been burning on the slope of Yanardag Mountain for thousands of years. A wide band of flame stretched for about 15 m. It looks especially impressive at night.
• Pink lake Masazyrgel (15 km from Baku). This lake is shallow and very salty. Only certain types of algae can live in it, which give the water a pink hue. In clear weather, the local landscape looks magical and peaceful. In summer, it can be very hot on the lake, so it’s better to come in the evening.
• Ateshgah Fire Temple (30 km from Baku). The Zoroastrian temple of Ateshgah was built at the end of the XVI century by merchants from India. Its name means “House of Fire” in translation. In the past, the eternal flame was constantly burning here and hermits lived. But as a result of oil and gas extraction from the field, the fire began to fade, and the hermits left the temple.
• Mardakian (34 km from Baku). Although Baku is located on the coast, there are no good places for a beach holiday in the capital. To swim and sunbathe, you can go to the resort town of Mardakan. In addition to clean sandy beaches, it has medieval fortresses, a picturesque arboretum and the Yesenin House Museum.
• Gala Historical and Ethnographic Museum (40 km from Baku). Numerous historical and architectural monuments can be seen on the territory of the museum complex. These are ancient houses, mosques, mausoleums — a total of 216 objects. Archaeological finds are also exhibited here and master classes are held.
• Gobustan Nature Reserve with mud volcanoes (57 km from Baku). About a third of all mud volcanoes in the world are located in Azerbaijan. These volcanoes are very small, they can be visited with children. It is better to go with a guide who has a good SUV. In addition to volcanoes, Gobustan National Park is known for numerous petroglyphs. Some of the rock paintings are 40,000 years old.
• Agate mountains of Khizi (104 km from Baku). Khizi is a slate mountain, painted in red, pink, golden, orange and black shades. The landscapes in this area are completely unearthly. Walking through the Agate Mountains, you can find small fossils or pieces of onyx.

Now you know what sights there are in Baku and its surroundings. Two or three days are enough to see all the most interesting things. But if you come for a longer period, there will be time for day trips and beach holidays. The most favorable months for a trip to Azerbaijan are from May to June and from September to October. But you can also come in winter or in March, when Navruz is celebrated. Exciting tours on the Guide Club are available at any time of the year. Choose the right option and go on a journey!

Источник