Things to Do in Baku in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Baku
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Comfortable walking weather without summer's oppressive heat - you can actually explore the Old City's cobblestone streets for hours without melting. Temperatures hovering around 10-13°C (50-56°F) mean you'll be layering rather than seeking air conditioning every twenty minutes.
- Dramatically fewer tourists than the May-September peak season. The Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs become genuinely enjoyable to explore when you're not fighting through tour groups. Hotel rates drop 30-40% compared to spring, and you'll actually get tables at popular restaurants without advance bookings.
- Fire Temple and Yanar Dag visits are infinitely better in cooler weather - standing near eternal flames when it's 8°C (47°F) outside feels atmospheric rather than punishing. The flames look more dramatic against November's earlier sunsets too, which start around 5:30pm.
- Pomegranate season is in full swing. Markets overflow with fresh nar, and you'll find fresh pomegranate juice vendors on nearly every corner in the Old City selling 200ml cups for 2-3 AZN. The fruit quality in November is noticeably better than what you'll get in summer months.
Considerations
- November brings legitimately unpredictable weather - you might get three sunny days followed by two grey, drizzly ones. That 70% humidity combined with temperatures around 10°C (50°F) creates a bone-chilling dampness that feels colder than the thermometer suggests. Not ideal if you're escaping northern winters.
- The Caspian Sea is far too cold for swimming at 13-15°C (55-59°F), and beach areas along the Boulevard essentially shut down. If your Baku vision involves seaside cafes and waterfront lounging, you'll be disappointed - locals abandon the waterfront promenade except for brief walks.
- Wind off the Caspian can be brutal. Baku's nickname 'City of Winds' becomes very real in November, with gusts regularly hitting 40-50 km/h (25-31 mph). The Boulevard walkway and Flame Towers area become genuinely unpleasant on windy days, and umbrellas are useless during those 10 rainy days.
Best Activities in November
Old City Walking Tours and Museum Exploration
November weather is actually perfect for spending 3-4 hours wandering Icherisheher's narrow lanes. The cooler temperatures mean you can comfortably climb the Maiden Tower's 29m (95 ft) spiral staircase without overheating, and indoor museums like the Carpet Museum become welcome warm-up spots rather than tourist obligations. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs complex is far more enjoyable when you're not competing with cruise ship crowds that dominate May-September. Morning tours around 10am-1pm offer the best light for photography before clouds typically roll in.
Gobustan Rock Art and Mud Volcano Day Trips
The 60 km (37 mile) drive southwest to Gobustan is considerably more pleasant in November's cooler weather. Walking the 1.5 km (0.9 mile) trail through the petroglyphs site becomes comfortable rather than exhausting, and mud volcanoes are less crowded since tour buses thin out dramatically after October. The landscape looks particularly dramatic under November's moody skies. That said, bring waterproof boots - the mud volcano area gets genuinely muddy after rain, and with 10 rainy days expected, there's a decent chance you'll hit wet conditions.
Flame Towers Evening Viewpoint Sessions
November's early sunsets around 5:30pm mean the Flame Towers light show starts while restaurants are still serving dinner. The Highland Park viewpoint becomes magical in cooler weather - you can actually linger for 30-40 minutes watching the LED display cycle through fire animations without summer's heat driving you away. The funicular ride up from the Boulevard is atmospheric in November's misty evenings. Just be prepared for wind - the hilltop location catches serious gusts that can hit 40 km/h (25 mph).
Azerbaijani Cooking Classes and Market Tours
November is prime season for indoor cultural activities, and cooking classes become particularly appealing when it's grey and damp outside. You'll work with seasonal ingredients - pomegranates, quinces, chestnuts - that are at peak quality. Classes typically start with a market tour through Taza Bazaar around 10am, then 2-3 hours of hands-on cooking. Learning to make plov, dolma, and pakhlava in a warm kitchen while rain patters outside feels genuinely cozy. Plus, you're learning techniques using ingredients actually available in November rather than out-of-season substitutes.
Sheki and Lahij Mountain Village Day Trips
The 325 km (202 mile) drive northwest to Sheki becomes spectacular in November as the Caucasus foothills show autumn colors lingering into early winter. Temperatures in Sheki run 3-5°C (5-9°F) cooler than Baku, so you're looking at genuine cold - bring proper layers. The Khan's Palace and caravanserai visits are far more atmospheric with fewer tourists, and Sheki's famous pakhlava tastes better in cooler weather. Lahij village, another 90 minutes into the mountains, offers copper-smithing workshops and genuinely traditional mountain culture. Roads can get tricky after rain though, so confirm weather conditions before booking.
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum and Traditional Craft Workshops
November's unpredictable weather makes the Carpet Museum an essential backup plan, but it's genuinely worth 2-3 hours regardless of conditions. The building itself is architecturally striking, and the collection spans centuries of Azerbaijani weaving traditions. What makes November special is that several local workshops offer hands-on weaving sessions - you'll spend 90 minutes learning basic knotting techniques from master weavers. These workshops book up during peak season but have availability in November. The museum's cafe overlooking the Boulevard provides warm refuge when wind makes outdoor walking miserable.
November Events & Festivals
Baku Jazz Festival
This multi-venue festival typically runs over 4-5 days in mid-November, bringing international and regional jazz artists to venues across the city. Performances happen at the Heydar Aliyev Center, Mugham Center, and smaller clubs in the Old City. It's become a legitimate draw for jazz enthusiasts across the Caucasus and Central Asia. Tickets range 30-150 AZN depending on venue and artist. The festival coincides with cooler weather that makes venue-hopping between evening shows actually pleasant.
Pomegranate Festival
While the main Pomegranate Festival happens in Goychay (about 170 km west of Baku), November sees pomegranate-themed events and market displays throughout Baku as the fruit reaches peak season. Taza Bazaar and the Green Market host special sections with 15-20 pomegranate varieties, tastings, and juice vendors. It's not a formal festival in Baku itself, but the fruit's cultural significance means you'll encounter pomegranate-focused events, cooking demonstrations, and restaurant specials throughout November. Fresh nar juice becomes ubiquitous - expect to pay 2-3 AZN for 200ml at market stalls.