Things to Do in Baku, Azerbaijan: Walking Guide

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is a destination where ancient Caspian history meets bold futuristic design. Stone fortifications, medieval alleys, and oil-era mansions stand alongside striking contemporary skyscrapers and museums. For travelers planning what to see in Baku, the city offers a dynamic architectural contrast that bridges centuries of culture, trade, and petroleum wealth.

To help you navigate the city, Neywo provides a free audio guide for Baku featuring 137 narrated places, making it easy to discover the capital at your own pace.

What to See in Baku: Key Landmarks and Museums

Palace of the Shirvanshahs

A short walk into the walled historic area of İçərişəhər brings you to the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, one of the city’s most remarkable historic ensembles. Built between the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries when the Shirvanshah state capital moved from Shamakhi to Baku, the complex includes the Divanhane courtyard, the Shirvanshah burial vault, the Shah’s Mosque with its minaret, a bathhouse, a reservoir, Murad’s Gate, and the mausoleum of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi.

Maiden Tower

Rising from the Old City near the boulevard, the 12th-century Maiden Tower is one of Azerbaijan’s most recognizable national emblems. Standing 28 metres high with walls up to five metres thick, this UNESCO-listed monument features eight storeys connected by central ceiling openings and a single arched entrance positioned above former ground level.

Paired Fortress Gates

The Paired Fortress Gates, also known as Gosha Gala Gapysy or the Shamakhi Gates, serve as a main entrance to Icherisheher. The structure unites a 12th-century gate built under Manuchahr III the Great with a 17th-century gate added during the reign of Shah Abbas I, which was relocated next to the original entrance in the late 19th century.

Bukhara Caravanserai and Multani Caravanserai

Located along former trade routes within the old town, the late 15th-century Bukhara Caravanserai once offered lodging to Central Asian merchants and now operates as a restaurant. Directly opposite stands the 14th-century Multani Caravanserai, built with a square plan and traditional balconies for merchants who traveled from Multan.

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum

Positioned along the Baku seafront park in a building shaped like a rolled carpet, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum preserves more than 6,000 carpets. Established in 1967 by carpet artist Latif Kerimov, the collection showcases regional weaving traditions from across Azerbaijan, including Karabakh carpets and Kasimushagi designs.

National Art Museum of Azerbaijan

Housed in two 19th-century buildings—De Burun Palace and the Mariinsky Women’s Gymnasium—the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan holds a collection of over fifteen thousand works. Founded in 1936 and later named after theater artist Rustam Mustafayev, it displays paintings, sculptures, and drawings from the Ancient East, Russia, and Western Europe across sixty rooms.

National Museum of History of Azerbaijan

Occupying the former residence of oil magnate and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, this museum was designed by Polish architect Józef Gosławski. It preserves material connected to Azerbaijani history and culture, featuring archaeological finds, ethnographic objects, and the preserved residential rooms of the Taghiyev Memorial House-Museum.

Flame Towers

Dominating the skyline, the Flame Towers comprise three skyscrapers reaching up to 182 metres. Designed in flame-like shapes to reference Azerbaijan’s identity as the Land of Fire, the complex houses 130 residential apartments, a 250-room Fairmont hotel, serviced apartments, and office spaces.

Baku TV Tower

Standing 310 metres tall (about 480 metres above Caspian Sea level), the Baku TV Tower is a free-standing concrete telecommunications landmark. Construction began in 1979 and was completed in 1996, later gaining a revolving restaurant at 175 metres that offers panoramic views over the city.

Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater

Designed in 1911 by architect Nikolai Bayev at the request of Daniel Mailov, this historic venue hosts national opera and ballet performances. Originally known as the Mailov Theatre, it has held academic status since 1959.

Baku Museum of Modern Art

Opened in 2009 with a design by artist Altay Sadigzade, the Baku Museum of Modern Art focuses on Azerbaijani avant-garde art from 1905 onward. Its collection contains over a thousand works, including paintings, sculptures, installations, and photography.

Azerbaijan Railway Museum

Housed inside the historic Sabunchu Railway Station near 28 May metro station, this museum opened in 2019 to display the history of Azerbaijan’s railways within its original transportation setting.

Isa bey Hajinski’s House

Situated at number 103 Neftchilar Avenue near the Maiden Tower in the Sabail district, Isa bey Hajinski’s House is an architectural landmark designed by architect Misak Ter-Krikoryants.

Holy Myrrhbearers Cathedral

Built in 1909, the Holy Myrrhbearers Cathedral serves as the center of the Baku diocese and is officially recognized as a protected local historical and cultural monument.

Baku Zoo

Established in 1928, Baku Zoo is Azerbaijan’s oldest zoological park. Spanning 4.25 hectares in the Narimanov district, it houses more than 125 animal species, with flamingos serving as its symbolic resident.

Explore Baku with Neywo

If you are looking for a practical way to plan a Baku self-guided walking tour, download Neywo and let the app guide you through the city. The app includes 4 walking tour(s), 1 bus route(s), and 1 bike route(s), covering distances from 1.11 km to 9.5 km across 5 to 11 narrated stops per route.

As you move through the capital, the app tells the story of each place automatically as you reach it, allowing you to explore at your own pace with no tour groups and no rigid schedules. Narration is available in 11 languages. Extend your travels by exploring nearby destinations like Sheki and Ganja.