Things to Do in Baku

About Baku

Baku's eternal gas fires have burned for thousands of years—long before anyone built fire temples around them or skyscrapers nearby. The Caspian Sea sits next to this city where Persian design, Soviet buildings, and new money from oil create an unlikely mix. The UNESCO-listed Old City has narrow cobblestone streets. Walk through them and you'll hit Zaha Hadid's Flame Towers, which look like they belong on a different planet. Medieval meets modern. The Maiden Tower watches over ancient walls. It has for centuries. A few blocks away, the Heydar Aliyev Center curves and flows in ways that seem impossible—because they nearly are. Locals still serve tea in traditional armudu glasses and play mugham music. You'll hear calls to prayer, then turn a corner into streets busy with new construction and designer shops. East and west don't blend here so much as collide. The city earned its nickname honestly. Wind off the Caspian cuts through every street. But Azerbaijani hosts won't let you leave without tea, and probably dinner too. This is where silk road trade routes left their mark, then Soviet planners did, then oil wealth transformed everything again. The layers don't always sit comfortably together. That discomfort makes Baku interesting.

Travel Tips

Transportation: The Baku Metro costs 0.30 AZN ($0.18) per ride with BakiKart - stations feature Soviet-era art worth seeing. Purple city buses cost 0.30 AZN ($0.18). Bolt is the main ride-hailing app at 3-8 AZN ($1.76-4.70). Taxis have meters starting at 1 AZN ($0.59). The H1 airport express bus costs 1.30 AZN ($0.76) to 28 May station. Walking Icherisheher (Old City) is the only way - cars are restricted inside the fortress walls.

Money: Azerbaijani manat (AZN) at about 1.70 to $1. ATMs at Kapital Bank and Pasha Bank work with international cards. Cards accepted at most Baku restaurants and hotels. Budget $35-55 daily in Baku. The Flame Towers are free to view from the Highland Park terrace. Tipping 10% at restaurants is standard. Exchange USD or EUR at International Bank ATMs for best rates. Avoid money changers on the street.

Cultural Respect: Baku is cosmopolitan but respect mosque etiquette - cover shoulders and legs, women cover heads. Remove shoes at mosque entrances. Azerbaijanis are exceptionally generous hosts - tea refusals are met with genuine confusion. Avoid discussing Armenia. Don't photograph military or government buildings. At dinner, the tamada (toastmaster) leads structured toasts - wait for your turn and drink when the group drinks.

Food Safety: Lula kebab at Sahil or Dolma restaurants costs 5-10 AZN ($2.94-5.88). Shah plov for the table runs 15-25 AZN ($8.82-14.70). Qutab (herb or meat flatbread) from Old City vendors costs 1-3 AZN ($0.59-1.76). Black tea in armudu glasses at Chay Bagh No 145 costs 1-2 AZN ($0.59-1.18). Pomegranate juice from Fountain Square vendors runs 2-3 AZN ($1.18-1.76). Piti soup (lamb in a clay pot) at Firuze costs 8-12 AZN ($4.70-7.05).

When to Visit

Baku shines brightest during spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November) when temperatures hover between 15-25°C and rainfall stays minimal at 20-40mm monthly. These shoulder seasons offer 20-30% lower accommodation prices than peak summer months. Summer (June-August) brings intense heat reaching 35°C+ and strong Caspian winds, but also lively outdoor life and extended daylight until 8 PM – expect peak pricing and crowds. Winter (December-March) sees temperatures drop to 5-10°C with occasional rain, offering the best deals (40-50% savings) and fewer tourists, perfect for museum exploration and cozy tea house visits. March celebrates Novruz (Spring Equinox) with spectacular festivities from March 20-24, while the Baku Jazz Festival occurs in mid-October. Formula 1 fans should book well ahead for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix (typically late April/early May), when prices skyrocket 200-300%. Culture ensoiasts will love the mild October-November period for walking the Old City, while beach lovers should target late May-June for pleasant Caspian coastline weather before the summer heat peaks.