Things to Do in Baku in February
February weather, activities, events & insider tips
February Weather in Baku
Is February Right for You?
Advantages
- Genuinely quiet tourist season - you'll have the Old City's cobblestone alleys mostly to yourself, and major sites like the Maiden Tower rarely have lines. Hotels drop rates 30-40% compared to spring and autumn shoulder seasons.
- Baku Wind season means clearer skies between storms - the Khazri wind blows pollution out toward the Caspian, giving you those crisp, sharp days when the Flame Towers actually gleam. Photography is exceptional when the light cooperates.
- Novruz preparation season brings the city alive with cultural authenticity - from late January through February, you'll see locals preparing wheat grass (samani) in shop windows, bazaars stocking special nuts and sweets, and craftspeople making traditional items. It's Baku at its most genuinely Azerbaijani, not performing for tourists.
- Indoor attractions are at their absolute best - the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Heydar Aliyev Center, and Museum of Modern Art are never crowded, staff actually have time to chat, and the heating makes them genuinely pleasant places to spend 2-3 hours when the weather turns.
Considerations
- The Caspian wind is relentless and bone-chilling - that 7°C (45°F) feels like -2°C (28°F) when the Khazri is blowing off the sea, which happens 12-15 days per month in February. The wind funnels through Baku's streets and the waterfront Boulevard becomes genuinely unpleasant for more than 20-minute stretches.
- Daylight is limited and the weather is genuinely unpredictable - sunrise around 7:30am, sunset by 6pm, and those 10 rainy days are scattered randomly. You might get three beautiful days followed by four grey, drizzly ones. Outdoor plans need flexibility built in.
- Some seasonal attractions simply close or reduce hours - the Gobustan mud volcanoes tour operators run limited schedules (weekends only for many), and the Highland Park funicular sometimes shuts down in high winds. The beach promenade cafes that make summer evenings magical are mostly shuttered.
Best Activities in February
Old City (Icheri Sheher) walking exploration
February is actually ideal for wandering the UNESCO-listed Old City because the summer heat that makes those narrow stone passages feel like ovens is completely absent. The 2°C to 7°C (36°F to 45°F) range means you can comfortably walk for 2-3 hours exploring the maze of alleyways, caravanserais, and medieval architecture without overheating. The low tourist numbers mean you can actually photograph the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs without crowds. Go mid-morning (10am-1pm) when temperatures peak and before afternoon winds pick up. The stone walls actually provide wind shelter, making the Old City warmer than the modern waterfront.
Heydar Aliyev Center and modern architecture tours
Zaha Hadid's masterpiece is February-perfect because it's entirely climate-controlled and the exhibitions are never crowded. Spend 90 minutes exploring the flowing interior spaces and rotating exhibitions on Azerbaijani culture. February 2026 should feature the semi-permanent Azerbaijan history exhibition plus rotating contemporary art. The building itself is the attraction - those impossible curves photograph beautifully in the flat winter light. Combine it with the nearby Carpet Museum (another 90 minutes) for a full indoor cultural day when weather is poor.
Gobustan petroglyphs and mud volcano day trips
The UNESCO rock art site 60 km (37 miles) southwest of Baku is less crowded in February and the cooler weather makes the exposed hillside walking actually pleasant. Summer heat here is brutal. That said, mud volcanoes are less active in winter (the bubbling slows in cold), and tour operators run limited schedules - mostly weekends only, with 10am departures. The site itself stays open, but you'll need a car. The petroglyphs dating back 40,000 years are fascinating regardless of season, and February's lower UV index (though still 8, so wear SPF 30+) means less sun exposure during the 2-hour outdoor exploration.
Azerbaijani tea house culture and indoor cafes
February is when you truly understand Baku's tea culture - locals retreat to traditional chaykhanas (tea houses) when the wind howls, and you should too. The ritual of black tea in pear-shaped glasses (armudu), served with jam, nuts, and sweets, is best experienced when you're genuinely seeking warmth. Head to the tea houses in and around the Old City between 2pm-5pm when locals take afternoon breaks. Pair it with trying pakhlava (the Azerbaijani baklava variant) and shekerbura cookies that appear everywhere in February as Novruz approaches. This is cultural immersion that costs 5-15 AZN and provides 60-90 minutes of genuine warmth and people-watching.
Baku Boulevard and Caspian waterfront walks (weather permitting)
The 25 km (15.5 mile) seaside promenade is Baku's pride, but February requires strategic timing. Go between 11am-2pm on days when wind forecasts are light (check weather apps morning-of). The section from the Flame Towers viewpoint to the Carpet Museum (about 3 km or 1.9 miles) is the most interesting stretch. You'll see locals doing their daily walks, fishermen on the piers, and the Little Venice boat area (though boats don't run in winter). The newer western extension toward the National Flag Square is more exposed to wind - save that for genuinely calm days. When the Khazri wind is up, skip the Boulevard entirely and do indoor activities instead.
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum deep dive
This is February-perfect: entirely indoors, climate-controlled, genuinely fascinating, and never crowded in winter. Budget 90-120 minutes to properly appreciate the collection spanning centuries of Azerbaijani carpet-weaving tradition. The building itself (shaped like a rolled carpet) is architecturally interesting, and the exhibitions explain the regional differences, symbolism, and techniques. February's low tourist numbers mean you can actually spend time examining the intricate details without crowds pushing you along. The museum shop sells quality carpets if you're interested, with staff who actually know the craft and won't pressure you.
February Events & Festivals
Novruz preparation season
While Novruz (Persian New Year) itself falls in late March, February is when Baku prepares and you'll see the most authentic cultural activity. Locals grow samani (wheat grass) in homes and shops as a spring symbol, bazaars like Taza Bazaar fill with special nuts, dried fruits, and sweets, and you'll spot craftspeople making traditional items. The Taza Bazaar on Sundays becomes especially lively with families shopping for Novruz supplies. This isn't a tourist event - it's daily life with cultural significance, which makes it more interesting than staged festivals.