My route
Sign in
WorldAzerbaijanBakuAteshgah Fire TempleMy routeRoute

Ateshgah Fire Temple, Baku

Stone fire altar with a burning flame in the centre of the walled courtyard of the Ateshgah temple in Surakhani
Photo: Jesper Ahlin Marceta, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
15 AZN for foreign visitors
Hours
10:00–19:00, per the official ticket seller
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
1 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Foreign visitors
15 AZN
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Azerbaijani citizens
2 AZN; students at Azerbaijani universities 1 AZN
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Foreign children under 12
Free
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Ateshgah + Yanar Dag
25 AZN per person, valid 72 hours from first entry
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Ateshgah + Yanar Dag + Mud Volcanoes
35 AZN per person, 72 hours
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Guide on site
10 AZN in English and other languages (3 AZN in Azerbaijani); the Russian page says 5 AZN
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Open
Every day, including weekends and holidays
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Where to buy
Ticket desk at the gate or a QR ticket on iTicket.AZ
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Parking
Car 1 AZN, bus 2 AZN, up to 3 hours
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Address
Atamoghlan Rzayev Street, Surakhani, Baku AZ1049
officialConfirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Coordinates
40.41556, 50.00861YesGo MapGoogleApple
Getting there
Metro to Koroğlu, then bus 184 to the last stop, ≈ 35 min; taxi from the centre 30–40 min
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.

Key facts

17th–18th centurywhen Indian pilgrims built the present temple; it took its final shape by the early 1800s
2 sourcesAteshgah Temple ReserveEnglish Wikipedia, Ateshgah of Baku
Piped gasfeeds the flame today — the natural vents died out in 1902 or 1969, depending on the source
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia, AtashgahEnglish Wikipedia, Ateshgah of Baku
17 inscriptionsover the cells: 14 Hindu, 2 Sikh and 1 Persian
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Pentagonthe plan — a courtyard behind a crenellated wall with an entrance portal and cells around the edge
3 sourcesAteshgah Temple Reservereserve description on iTicket.AZRussian Wikipedia
Chahartaqthe central altar: a dome on four pillars, open on all sides, over a fire pit
2 sourcesRussian Wikipediareserve description on iTicket.AZ
“Home of fire”the meaning of the name Ateshgah
2 sourcesAteshgah Temple ReserveEnglish Wikipedia
1683German traveller Engelbert Kaempfer described the “eternal fires” here
2 sourcesAteshgah Temple ReserveEnglish Wikipedia
1858Alexandre Dumas visited and met Indian ascetics living in the cells
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
≈ 30 kmfrom central Baku, on the edge of Surakhani, inside the city limits
2 sourcesReserve description on iTicket.AZRussian Wikipedia
1998nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage List
2 sourcesReserve description on iTicket.AZEnglish Wikipedia
19 Dec 2007declared a State Historical-Architectural Reserve by presidential decree
2 sourcesAteshgah Temple ReserveEnglish Wikipedia

Ateshgah tickets and opening hours

Foreign visitors pay 15 AZN; Azerbaijani citizens pay 2 AZN. Children of foreign visitors under 12 get in free. The reserve is open every day, including weekends and holidays, and the official ticket seller lists entry from 10:00 to 19:00. The foreign rate rose from 9 AZN in January 2026, so older blogs quote less.

Going to Yanar Dag as well? The combined ticket is 25 AZN, covers one person and stays valid for 72 hours after the first scan, so the second site can wait until another day. A 35 AZN version adds the Mud Volcanoes complex near Gobustan.

Pay at the gate or buy a QR ticket on iTicket.AZ, which activates on the day you visit. Entry is priced in manat; bring some cash in case the card terminal is down. A guide on site costs 10 AZN in English.

How to get to Ateshgah Fire Temple

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

Loading the map…

destinationStreet view

Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. From the Old City, walk out through the Double Gates (Qoşa Qala) to İçərişəhər metro and ride the red line to Koroğlu.
  2. Outside Koroğlu, take bus 184 to the last stop by Suraxanı station — about 35 minutes. The reserve also lists buses 191, 113 and 213 from Qara Qarayev metro and 104 from Həzi Aslanov.
  3. Walk about 5 minutes to the gate on Atamoghlan Rzayev Street.
  4. By Bolt or Uber from the centre it is 30–40 minutes without traffic; ask the driver to wait if Yanar Dag is next.
  5. Coming from Heydar Aliyev Airport, take the Aeroexpress H1 bus to 28 May or a taxi into town first — about 30 minutes.

Is Ateshgah Fire Temple worth visiting?

Yes, if religious history or the Silk Road interests you: a Hindu-built fire temple on the Caspian is unique, and the inscriptions, altar and cells tell a coherent story in under an hour. With a guide, it comes alive; without one, the courtyard can feel small.

Be honest with yourself about the trade-off: the journey takes longer than the visit, and the flame is piped gas. On a one-day stopover, stay in the Old City. On a second or third day, Ateshgah plus Yanar Dag make a good half-day out of town, and kids tend to like the fire and the figures in the cells.

Zoroastrian or Hindu? What the temple really is

The short answer: the building you see was raised by Hindu and Sikh traders and pilgrims from northern India, with Parsi Zoroastrians visiting too. Of the 17 surviving inscriptions, 14 are Hindu, 2 are Sikh and only 1 is Persian, and a trident — a Shiva symbol — tops the altar.

The site's fire-worship roots may be older. The reserve links the first fire temples of Absheron to the era when Zoroastrianism was the main faith, and the 10th-century Arab geographer Istakhri wrote of Zoroastrian villages near Baku. Kaempfer saw the eternal fires in 1683; Alexandre Dumas found an old hermit and two young Indians here in 1858. Pilgrims stopped coming in the late 19th century, the Soviets made it a museum, and since 2007 it has been a state reserve.

What to see inside

  • The central altar — a domed chahartaq on four pillars with the flame burning in a pit. Reserve rules keep you at least a metre from the fire.
  • Pilgrims' cells around the walls, several fitted out as a museum with figures of ascetics and scenes of temple life.
  • Inscriptions over the cell doors in Sanskrit (Devanagari), Punjabi (Gurmukhi) and one in Persian.
  • The entrance portal and balakhana — the guest room above the gate.
  • Small fire vents at the corners of the altar, around the main flame.
  • The reserve's exhibition hall, with exhibits on the pilgrims and the temple's history.

Ateshgah and Yanar Dag: one half-day trip

The two sites tell one story: the temple shows how people worshipped fire, and Yanar Dag, a hillside that burns on its own, shows the fire itself. Do the temple in daylight and reach Yanar Dag at dusk, when the flames look best.

Gobustan's rock art and the mud volcanoes lie the other way, south of Baku. A taxi or tour can link all four in a day, but it is a long one; most travellers split it into two half-days.

Ateshgah vs Yanar Dag

Ateshgahyou are here17th–18th-century temple, museumPiped gas, in the altar15 AZN25 AZN, 72 hoursDaily 10:00–19:00Daytime
Yanar DagNatural fire on a hillsideFrom the ground, always burning15 AZN25 AZN, 72 hoursDaily 10:00–19:00Dusk

Prices and hours from the Ateshgah and Yanar Dag reserve websites; Ateshgah's hours are still being verified. If you pick one, choose Ateshgah for history and Yanar Dag for the spectacle — the combined ticket makes both easy.

Before you go: checklist

Ready: 0 of 6

Tick what is ready — your ticks stay in this browser.

Baku's historic sights compared

Every historic place in Baku rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Maiden Tower5245 min19 AZN for foreign visitors15.5 km
Old City (Icherisheher)513 hFree15.7 km
Palace of the Shirvanshahs451 h 15 min24 AZN for foreign visitors15.8 km
Flame Towers and Highland Park431 hFree16.7 km
Baku Boulevard421 h 30 minFree15.8 km
Heydar Aliyev Center411 h 30 min15 AZN; classic cars +10 AZN12.2 km
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum371 h 30 min10 AZN for foreigners, students 3 AZN15.9 km
Ateshgah Fire Templeyou are here281 h15 AZN for foreign visitors—
Gobustan rock art and mud volcanoes193 h≈ 10–15 AZN, volcanoes extra62.9 km

Absheron's two fires in half a day

The fire temple by day, the burning hillside at dusk, then the Heydar Aliyev Center and an evening on the boulevard on the way back. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Ateshgah Fire Templeyou are here1 h · 15 AZN for foreign visitors
  2. 239 min walk from the previous stopYanar Dag45 min · 15 AZN foreigners, under-12s free
  3. 208 min walk from the previous stopHeydar Aliyev Center1 h 30 min · 15 AZN; classic cars +10 AZN
  4. 81 min walk from the previous stopBaku Boulevard1 h 30 min · Free

4 places · about 13 h 33 min with walks · 528 min on foot in total

Go · my route

How to do it right

  • Buy the combined ticket with Yanar Dag: cheaper than two singles and valid for three days.
  • Read the dates over the cell doors — they use the Indian Samvat calendar, the earliest from the 17th century.
  • Take the bus in the morning, see the temple, then a taxi to Yanar Dag for dusk.
  • A guide is worth the few manat: without the stories you will be done in 15 minutes.
  • Visit the Maiden Tower first — one theory links it to fire worship too.
  • In summer come at opening time: the stone courtyard heats up fast.

Questions

How much is the Ateshgah Fire Temple entrance fee?

15 AZN for foreign visitors, 2 AZN for Azerbaijani citizens; foreign children under 12 are free. The combined ticket with Yanar Dag is 25 AZN, valid 72 hours.

What are Ateshgah Fire Temple opening hours?

The reserve is open every day, weekends and holidays included. The official ticket seller lists entry from 10:00 to 19:00.

How do I get to Ateshgah Fire Temple from central Baku?

Metro to Koroğlu, then bus 184 to the last stop by Suraxanı station (about 35 minutes) and a 5-minute walk. A taxi from the centre takes 30–40 minutes.

How long do you need at Ateshgah?

About an hour for the courtyard, altar and cells, plus 30–40 minutes each way from the centre.

Is Ateshgah Fire Temple worth visiting?

Yes for history lovers — there is no other Indian fire temple like it. On a one-day stopover, the Old City is a better use of time.

Is the fire at Ateshgah real?

It is a real flame, but piped mains gas feeds it; the natural vents ran dry long ago. For fire from the ground, go to Yanar Dag.

Is Ateshgah a Zoroastrian temple?

Mostly Hindu and Sikh: 14 of its 17 inscriptions are Hindu and 2 are Sikh. Zoroastrian Parsi pilgrims visited too, and the site's fire worship may be older.

Can I visit Ateshgah and Yanar Dag together?

Yes — it is the classic half-day. Use the 25 AZN combined ticket, see the temple by day and Yanar Dag at dusk.

Can you pay by card at Ateshgah?

You can buy a QR ticket online on iTicket.AZ; at the gate, carry some manat in cash in case the terminal is down.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • Ateshgah Temple State Historical-Architectural Reserve: Tours and prices (12.05.2026), Rules, How to go?, About, 02.11.2026
  • iTicket.AZ — official ticket sales of the Reserves Management Center: sessions and reserve description, 02.11.2026
  • Yanardag State Reserve: Plan your visit — hours, prices, combined tickets, 02.11.2026
  • Report.az, 18.12.2025 — new foreign visitor prices at state reserves from 1 January 2026
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Ateshgah of Baku, Атешгях; Wikidata Q754560
  • Azertag and Birbank, April 2026 — foreign contactless cards on Baku public transport
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 02.11.2026 ·
How we checkedPrices, free categories, combined tickets, parking, rules and daily opening come from the official Ateshgah Temple Reserve website (price list updated 12.05.2026) and are marked official. The temple's own site gives no clock hours, so 10:00–19:00 comes from the official iTicket.AZ sessions and the sister Yanar Dag reserve site, marked “verifying”. The guide fee differs between the reserve's English page (10 AZN) and Russian page (5 AZN); we show both. The two Wikipedias disagree on when the natural gas ran out (1902 vs 1969) and when the museum opened (1964 vs 1975): we show the first as disputed and leave the second out. Sources give different numbers of cells, so we do not state one. Bus routes come from the reserve's How to go? page and WeProject (April 2026); travel and taxi times are marked “verifying”.

Top YesGo picks: Baku

Maiden Tower

Baku, Azerbaijan

45 min · 19 AZN for foreign visitors

Old City (Icherisheher)

Baku, Azerbaijan

3 h · Free entry, museums from 10 ₼

Palace of the Shirvanshahs

Baku, Azerbaijan

1 h 15 min · 24 AZN for foreign visitors

Baku Boulevard

Baku, Azerbaijan

1 h 30 min · Free

Heydar Aliyev Center

Baku, Azerbaijan

1 h 30 min · 15 AZN; classic cars +10 AZN

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum

Baku, Azerbaijan

1 h 30 min · 10 AZN for foreigners, students 3 AZN

Yanar Dag

Baku, Azerbaijan

45 min · 15 AZN foreigners, under-12s free

All places: Baku →