This Baku Travel Guide features the city’s top sights, museums, restaurants, shops, and more!
For more on Azerbaijan, check out Top 10 Things to Do in Baku and Azerbaijani Food: 8 Must-Try Dishes.
Sightseeing
Historic Old City
Spend a day wandering the UNESCO-listed Walled City of Baku (İçәri Şәhәr). Highlights include the 12th- to 15th-century Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower, which features in many historical Azerbaijani fairy tales! Notice the 12th-century defensive walls enclosing the city and the ancient hammams (bathhouses), mosques, and caravanserais (large guesthouses along the ancient Silk Road for traveling merchants and their caravans). Step into the small art galleries like QGallery off a leafy plaza.
Modern Landmarks
In central Baku, head down pedestrian shopping avenue Nizami Street toward Fountains Square. The leafy streets nearby are filled with cafes, restaurants, and great people-watching! For a quintessential Baku experience, join families and couples for a stroll down the Bulvar (promenade) along the Caspian waterfront at night. You’ll notice Baku’s three sky-high Flame Towers that characterize the city’s skyline. They’re most impressive at night when there’s a light show you can see from almost anywhere in Baku. Architecture lovers shouldn’t miss the Heydar Aliyev Center, a wave-like architectural wonder designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. While far from the center, it’s a symbol of modern Baku.
Heydar Aliyev Center; Photo Credit: Iwan Baan
Bulvar; Photo Credit: Azerbaijan Travel
Eating
Old City
My favorite restaurant in the Old City for local food is La Quzu. Casual and cozy Qaynana, which means mother-in-law, is another great traditional restaurant that’s frequented by tourists. Mugam Club is an upscale, atmospheric spot serving great food inside an old caravanserai. It’s popular with locals for celebratory events and caters to larger parties, rather than 1-2 people. Fine dining Art Club Restaurant stands out for presentation and service, more than its food. Some dishes are served with ancient, handmade copperware (pictured below), an art form recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Central Baku
Otdix, with its outdoor courtyard, is loved by locals. The food is delicious, but note that only a few waiters speak English (check out my resources page for translation on the go). Restaurant Shah, Namlı Kebap (for kebabs), and fine dining Sumakh are other great options for Azerbaijani food. On the Bulvar, pricey SAHiL is great and serves individual-sized shah plov, a traditional rice dish that’s usually only prepared for groups.
Drinking
You can’t beat the stellar location of teahouse Çay Bağı 145, where you can sit outside on top of ancient bathhouses or upstairs for the best view of Maiden Tower! Try black tea with thyme and clove, a local favorite. Note that hookah is smoked both inside and outside of the teahouse.
United Coffee Beans and Coffee Moffie both have quality coffee, desserts, and lovely balconies for sitting outside. United Coffee Beans is best for food and has a diverse breakfast menu.
To try local wines, including Azerbaijan’s unique pomegranate wine, head to popular KEFLI Local Wine & Snacks. The area around Fountains Square, just a few blocks from KEFLI, is great for bar hopping. There you’ll find Hops Pub Baku, a popular spot with over a dozen other bars nearby.
Photo Credit: Çay Bağı 145
Museums & Galleries
Baku’s Museum of Modern Art has an incredible collection of Azerbaijani avant-garde, with 800+ works of art from the mid-20th century until now. Art lovers shouldn’t miss it and plan to stay for a few hours! YARAT Contemporary Art Space hosts art exhibitions by international and local artists to explore and showcase contemporary art in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus. While YARAT is far from the center, its thought-provoking and cutting-edge installations are well worth a visit.
The National Carpet Museum provides an introduction to Azerbaijani carpet-making, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The museum has a superb collection of rugs, but because the building is shaped like a rolled carpet, many rugs are awkwardly hung from a distance.
Hammams
Hammams have traditionally been a place for Azerbaijanis to relax, bathe, and socialize since the Middle Ages, though they’re not as central to today’s modern culture. The Azerbaijani hammam experience entails a soak, steam, and full-body scrub. Massages are an add-on service.
The Old City’s 18th-century Agha Mikayil Hammam, Baku’s oldest functioning hammam, offers a simple and authentic hammam experience. It’s open to women on Mondays and Fridays and men all other days. For a modern and luxurious hammam, drive 15-minutes out of town to HamamBath.
Shopping
There’s perhaps no better place for shopping (and people-watching) in Baku than upscale, pedestrianized Nizami Street. It has tons of local and international shops and boutiques.
Head to Brothers’ Carpets in the Old City for high quality, handmade Azerbaijani carpets and excellent customer service. Foreign Ambassadors are known to buy their carpets there!
Yaşil Bazaar, Baku’s largest food market, has spices (like Azerbaijani saffron), tea, and baklava you can buy packaged to take home. At the bazaar you’ll find carefully stacked produce, vendors playing nərd (the local version of backgammon), and cups of tea carried on silver platters. For better gift wrapping, you can buy Azerbaijani saffron, tea, and baklava at Sheki Sweet Home in the Old City.
Handicraft Showroom by Port Baku has handmade souvenirs made by local artists and designers.
Note for Travelers
Some of the leading banks in Azerbaijan (and the museums, restaurants, etc. that use them) do not accept American credit cards. This may be the case for credit cards from other Western banks too. You can bypass this using Google Pay or Apple Pay on your phone, but always carry cash just in case, as this workaround has been disabled during times of conflict.
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