Have you heard of Baku city Azerbaijan? There’s a lot to be discovered in this historic yet modern city. Starting with Baku Old Town, a UNESCO heritage city that is full of character and charm. Make sure to spend at least a day discovering this ancient city.
Where is Baku?
Baku is the capital city of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan borders Iran, Armenia, Georgia and Russia on the Caspian Sea. It is a Caucasus country between Asia and Europe although it considers itself Middle Eastern, according to the locals we met. Baku is an ancient city that dates back to the 12th century. It still has a city wall intact surrounding Baku Old Town.
What to do in Baku Old Town
Baku Old Town or Icherisheher which means inner city is full of traditional bazaars, mosques and cafes. It is the ideal place for a stroll around taking in the stunning architecture. The streets of Baku Old Town are really narrow. Apparently, because Baku is known as ‘The Windy City’ they built the streets close together to protect the houses from the wind. The wind in Baku does appear out of nowhere so be warned!
Our Favourite Things to do in Baku Old Town
- Baku Walking Tour – the best place to start is with a walking tour around Baku Old Town. This is a free tour, just give a tip at the end. We opted for the Baku Old Town and Oil Heritage Tour. Our guide Ziya was brilliant, very informative and knowledgeable. We met the tour at fountain square just outside Bake Old Town walls near the baths. It was a great way to find our way around the city. They depart every day from Fountain Square at 11am and 4pm – email them to reserve a spot!
- Maiden Tower is an iconic building in Baku Old Town and is on the UNESCO list. It is a museum with some history of the building and some exhibits of ancient Azerbaijan. The steps are quite high and tricky to climb. However, the view of Baku Old Town from the rooftop makes it all worth it. There are legends around its name saying that a Princess threw herself off the top of the building thus giving the name Maiden Tower. Entry costs 10AZ / 20dhs / £5 for foreigners
- Palace of the Shirvanshahs is also on the UNESCO list. It has the main building of the palace and a mosque with the baths close-by. It has a museum exhibit and you can walk around some of the palace rooms. It also offers some good views of the flame towers. Entry costs 10AZ / 20dhs / £5 for foreigners.
- Baku Old Town Art – We were pleasantly surprised to find a strong art presence in Baku Old Town. Keep an eye out for murals on the wall, small art galleries and art shops to browse.
- Gosha Gala Gapisi the original traders entrance to the Old Town still retains charm and is worth checking out.
Where to stay in Baku Old Town
Inside Baku Old Town walls are some lovely boutique hotels. These hotels still retain Azerbaijani character and charm. They are traditional buildings with a modern twist.
- Top Pick – We can highly recommend Art Club which is within the walls of Baku Old Town. It has some gorgeous rooms – try to get one with a balcony overlooking the narrow streets. They have a stunning breakfast room with a terrace and don’t miss the restaurant which is highly rated.
- Budget Friendly – Alternatively, check out Royal Antique Boutique Hotel another boutique hotel inside Baku Old Town walls. A traditional hotel with a terrace and offers family rooms.
- High End – The Merchant Baku is located right on the old wall, close to Palace of the Shirvanshahs. It has a great cocktail lounge and rooms with balconies.
If you are looking for something more luxurious. Baku is full of 5* hotels outside of the city walls. You can’t ever go wrong with the Four Seasons Hotel Baku. It is really close to Baku Old Town and offers views over the Caspian Sea. A simply stunning, opulent hotel with everything you could possibly want combined with the Four Seasons service.
The Hilton Baku is another great 5* option in Baku. It is near to Baku Old Town and faces the Caspian Sea. It is a typical city hotel and they have great family rooms. A highlight for us was the 360 degree revolving bar offering the best views of Baku at night. They even have 2 for 1 deals during happy hour too.
Booking.comHow to get to Baku
We flew into Baku airport with Wizz Air from Abu Dhabi. A driver was booked to collect us. If you are looking for a reliable, affordable driver with decent English and a comfortable van when in Baku then check out Elman. He is on Instagram so easiest is just send him a message.
Baku does have a reliable Metro System which is easy and affordable to use. You just need to get a BakıKART metro card from the kiosks next to the Metro. Icherisheher station is the closest to Baku Old Town and you can enter the gate near the palace to get inside the city walls.
When to go to Baku Old Town
Baku has cold winters and hot summers. The best time to visit Baku is between April and October. We visited in October, the weather was around 18-20 degrees dropping a little in the night. Azerbaijan is a popular place to ski so if you are looking for some snow and winter fun then November – March is the best time to go.
If you are coming from Dubai, note that summer temperatures in August reach around 30degrees. Which, although hot, is not as hot as a UAE summer!
If you have enjoyed this post on Baku Old Town then make sure to check out our post on Corfu Old Town. Also check out Gjirokaster in Albania for another similar heritage town. If you are looking for family travel inspiration then check out our Destinations page for posts on Thailand, UAE, Oman, Albania and Greece.
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