This Baku city guide shows how to plan a stay in the Caspian capital with confidence: where to sleep, what to order, which doors to walk through and what each one costs. Baku is a city of contrasts that fit together well. A medieval walled quarter sits beneath three flame-shaped towers, a long seaside boulevard follows the water, and a flowing white cultural center by Zaha Hadid rises above its own gardens. Give it three days and it opens easily.
Prices last updated October 2026. Rates move with season and exchange rates, so treat every figure here as a planning guide and let official sites and venues have the final word. Manat (AZN) amounts are converted at roughly 1 US dollar = 1.70 AZN.
Baku city guide at a glance
- Currency: Azerbaijani manat (AZN), steady at about 1.70 per US dollar. 10 AZN is about US$5.90.
- Language: Azerbaijani. Russian and English are widely used in hotels and restaurants.
- Plug: Type C and F, 220V.
- Time zone: UTC+4 all year.
- Airport: Heydar Aliyev International, about 20 to 25 km from the center. The H1 Aero Express bus costs about 1.30 to 1.50 AZN (under $1) and takes roughly 30 minutes. A pre-booked taxi is about 30 to 35 AZN ($18 to $21), and Bolt typically shows about 15 to 25 AZN ($9 to $15). There is no metro line to the airport.
- Best months: April and May, then September and October.
When to go
Spring and early autumn are the sweet spots. April and May bring gentle light and open-air terraces, while September and October keep the evenings warm enough for a late tea on the Boulevard. July and August are hot, with highs around 30°C (86°F) and above, so plan museums for the afternoon and walks for sunrise and sunset. Winter is cool and bright, with a Caspian breeze that makes a warm tea room especially welcome, and it is also the season of the lowest hotel rates. Big events, including the Formula 1 weekend, lift rooms across the city, so book early if your dates overlap.
Where to stay
The Old City (Icherisheher) is the heart of any visit, with boutique hotels in restored stone houses. Fountain Square and Nizami Street are the pedestrian center, lined with cafés and shops. The Boulevard and the Flame Towers area carry the grand hotels, while the Yasamal and Port Baku districts suit travelers who prefer a modern, quieter base.
- Four Seasons Hotel Baku (seafront): the city’s grand address. From about US$200 (about 340 AZN).
- JW Marriott Absheron Baku (Azadliq Square): a polished business and leisure hotel with a full spa. From about US$180 (about 305 AZN).
- Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers: the skyline hotel, with a spa, hammam and pool. Luxury rooms run from about 150 to 500 AZN ($90 to $295), depending on the season and room.
- Shah Palace Luxury Museum Hotel (Old City): a boutique stay among stone lanes. From about US$70 (about 120 AZN).
- Mid-range hotels near Nizami Street and the Old City: about 50 to 100 AZN ($30 to $60).
- Budget: dorm beds at about 8 to 15 AZN ($5 to $9) and private rooms from about 50 AZN.
Where to eat and drink
Start with tea. Black tea arrives in small pear-shaped armudu glasses with jam and sugar cubes, and a lovely place to try it is a tea house near the Maiden Tower such as Çay Bağı 145. For the story behind the ritual, read our guide to Azerbaijani tea culture.
Breakfast with tendir bread, cream and honey is a feast at about 8 to 15 AZN ($5 to $9). A coffee is about 4 to 6 AZN ($2.40 to $3.50). Street qutab, the thin stuffed flatbread, costs about 1.50 to 4 AZN a piece, and the greens version is the local favorite.
For a sit-down lunch or dinner, the traditional dining rooms around Fountain Square are reliable. Firuze (Nizami Street area), open since 1986, serves dushbara dumplings, piti stew and plov. Nərgiz keeps late hours. At Nərgiz, dushbara is about 9 AZN ($5.30), three-sisters dolma about 13 AZN ($7.60) and traditional plov about 21 AZN ($12). Piti at Nuxa, which specializes in Sheki cooking, is about 10 AZN ($5.90). Qaynana in the Old City is the place for shah plov, saffron rice baked in a pastry crust. Sumakh, for a special evening, is about 40 AZN per person ($24). Our guide to where to dine in Baku covers six more tables.
As a rule, a café lunch is about 10 to 20 AZN ($6 to $12), and a restaurant dinner about 30 to 50 AZN ($18 to $29). Local wine is typically 15 to 25 AZN a bottle in restaurants, so check the menu. Cash is handy at markets and small cafés, particularly Taza Bazaar, the main food market, which is best visited between 9 and 10 a.m.
What to see
The most memorable sights are close together.
- Old City (Icherisheher): a UNESCO-listed walled quarter. Walking its lanes is free.
- Palace of the Shirvanshahs: a fifteenth-century royal complex in honey-colored stone. Adult tickets are about 15 to 24 AZN ($9 to $14).
- Maiden Tower: the Old City’s symbol, with views across the bay. About 10 to 15 AZN ($6 to $9).
- Heydar Aliyev Center: Zaha Hadid’s flowing white landmark. About 15 AZN ($9). Open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays. The exterior and its gardens can be enjoyed freely.
- Azerbaijan Carpet Museum: a building shaped like a rolled carpet. About 7 to 10 AZN ($4 to $6), closed Mondays. For shopping afterward, see our guide to carpet shopping in Baku.
- Flame Towers: best seen after dark, when the facades turn to moving fire. An observation deck has been listed at about US$5 to $10, so confirm on arrival.
- Caspian Boulevard: a long, pleasant seaside promenade, free at any hour.
A short itinerary
Day one: the Old City. Enter at sunrise, climb the Maiden Tower, spend a long morning at the Shirvanshahs’ Palace, and lunch on dolma. In the evening, walk Nizami Street and have tea on a rooftop.
Day two: modern Baku. Visit the Heydar Aliyev Center in the morning, ride up to the Flame Towers viewpoint for sunset, and finish with dinner at a Boulevard restaurant. Our 48 hours in Baku lays out a similar route in more detail.
Day three: Gobustan. The rock-art reserve about 65 km from Baku holds thousands of ancient carvings, and the nearby mud volcanoes bubble gently on the plain. Entry is about 10 AZN ($6), and a guided half-day trip is typically about 50 to 100 AZN ($30 to $59).
Getting around
The center is walkable, and the metro and ride-hailing fill the gaps.
- BakiKart: a reusable card costing about 2 AZN ($1.20), topped up at metro stations and machines.
- Metro and city bus: about 0.60 AZN ($0.35) a ride, though some sources still quote lower fares, so check station notices.
- Bolt, Uber or Yango: a typical central ride is about 3 to 8 AZN ($1.80 to $4.70), and the app shows the price before you confirm.
- Taxi: agree the fare before you leave or use an official taxi stand.
- H1 Aero Express: about 1.30 AZN with a BakiKart.
- Intercity buses to Sheki: about 10 to 25 AZN ($6 to $15).
Shopping and craft
Carpets, silk kelaghayi scarves, copperware and saffron fill the shops of the Old City and the streets off Nizami. Prices at souvenir markets are flexible, and a friendly bargain is part of the pleasure, though restaurant menus are fixed. When buying a larger carpet, ask the shop about export paperwork.
Day trips
Gobustan and the Absheron Peninsula are easy half-day trips. On the peninsula, the Ateshgah Fire Temple, a historic pilgrimage site, and Yanar Dag, a hillside where natural gas burns, are lovely at dusk. Guided tours of Gobustan, the Ateshgah and Yanar Dag combine well, and private day tours are often priced around US$55 to US$65. For something farther afield, spend a day or two in Sheki, a Silk Road town of stained-glass windows and honeyed halva. Our day in Sheki explains how.
Practical notes
- Entry: most visitors apply for an e-visa through the official evisa.gov.az portal. The standard fee is about US$25, processing takes about three business days, and stays are up to 30 days. Eligibility differs by passport, so check the official site before you travel.
- Tipping: restaurants may add a 10 percent service charge. If not, 5 to 10 percent is welcome. Taxi tips are optional.
- SIM and eSIM: Azercell, Bakcell and Nar sell SIMs and eSIMs at the airport and in town. A local SIM with data starts around 40 AZN ($24). Bring your passport.
- Dress: relaxed in the city. Carry a scarf for mosques and the Fire Temple, and wear comfortable shoes for the Old City cobbles.
- Cash: carry some manat for markets and small cafés.
Price guide, per person per day
| Style | Budget | Comfortable | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Room (twin share, per person) | 25 to 50 AZN | 50 to 85 AZN | 300 to 500+ AZN |
| Food and drink | 20 to 35 AZN | 50 to 90 AZN | 100 to 250 AZN |
| Local transport | 3 to 8 AZN | 8 to 20 AZN | 30 to 60 AZN |
| Sights and tours | 10 to 25 AZN | 25 to 50 AZN | 60 to 130 AZN |
| Typical daily total | About 60 to 120 AZN ($35 to $70) | About 130 to 245 AZN ($75 to $145) | From about 490 AZN ($290) |
Prices last updated October 2026. Rates change with season, events and exchange rates, so confirm with hotels, venues and official ticket pages before you travel.
Insider tips
Visit the Old City at sunrise, when the stone turns amber and the lanes are almost silent. Order food in rounds, since portions are made for sharing. Ask for the bill with a simple “hesab.” Take the evening stroll along the Boulevard when the towers light up. And finish any meal with tea, which here is as much a pause as a drink.
