Top Things to Do in Baku

Three to four days gives you time to cover the Old City, the Flame Towers area, and the Boulevard waterfront without rushing. If you want day trips to Gobustan's petroglyphs (60 km south) or the mud volcanoes, add another day or two. Many visitors combine Baku with Sheki or Gabala in the north for a week-long trip.

April to June and September to early November offer mild weather and fewer crowds. Summers (July, August) are hot, often above 35°C, but evenings along the Caspian are breezy. Winter is cool and windy, though the city looks beautiful lit up at night, and hotel rates drop considerably.

Baku is pricier than Tbilisi or Yerevan but still reasonable by European standards. A decent sit-down meal runs 15, 25 AZN (about $9, $15), and a taxi across the city center costs 5, 8 AZN. International-brand hotels near the Flame Towers are expensive. Guesthouses in the Old City or Nasimi district offer better value.

The airport is 25 km northeast of downtown. The express bus (line 116) runs every 30 minutes to Koroğlu metro station for 1.30 AZN; from there, take the metro into the center. Taxis cost 20, 30 AZN to Fountains Square or the Old City and take about 30 minutes outside rush hour.

Yes, it's clean, fast, and inexpensive (0.30 AZN per ride with a BakıKart, available at stations). The two main lines cover most tourist areas: Icheri Sheher station for the Old City, Sahil for the Boulevard, and 28 May for Fountains Square. Station names are shown in both Azerbaijani and English.

Women should bring a headscarf for mosques like the Bibi-Heybat or Taza Pir. Some provide loaners at the entrance. Shoulders and knees should be covered for both men and women. Baku is quite secular compared to neighboring countries. But modest dress is appreciated at religious sites.

Yes, Icheri Sheher (the Old City) and the waterfront Boulevard are well-lit and heavily patrolled. Baku has low crime rates for tourists, though standard precautions apply. Avoid unlit side streets late at night, and watch for pickpockets in crowded areas like Fountains Square on weekends.

For plov and kebabs, locals recommend Firuze or Şirvanşah Muzey Restoranı near the Old City. Dolma Bar specializes in stuffed grape leaves and other dolma varieties. Avoid the tourist traps on Nizami Street, walk two blocks off the main drag and you'll find better food at half the price.

The towers themselves are mostly luxury apartments and the Fairmont Hotel, there's no public observation deck. The best views are from the funicular ride up to Martyrs' Lane or from the Upland Park (Dağüstü Park) at sunset. The towers light up after dark with a dramatic LED show visible across the city.

Gobustan is about 60 km south, roughly an hour's drive. You can hire a private driver for 80, 100 AZN round-trip or join a group tour for 30, 40 AZN per person that includes the petroglyphs and nearby mud volcanoes. The site museum has English signage, but a guide helps interpret the rock carvings, which date back 10,000 years.

The Azerbaijani manat (AZN) is the currency; 1 USD ≈ 1.70 AZN. ATMs are widespread, and major hotels and restaurants accept credit cards. Exchange offices (sərraflar) near Fountains Square offer fair rates, avoid exchanging money at the airport unless necessary, as rates there are poor.