One day in Baku: an itinerary in the best order
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- 2 of 4 free; paid: Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs
- Duration
- 7 h 20 min · 09:30–16:53
- Start and finish
- Maiden Tower → Flame Towers and Highland Park
- On foot
- ≈ 23 min in total
- Transport
- none — all on foot
- Lunch
- around 13:18
- With kids
- fine: short walks
- Best time
- Spring and autumn. See the Flame Towers in the evening, when the façades light up.
The plan, stop by stop
Times include walking and lunch. Drag a stop by ≡, remove it with the cross or add one nearby — the plan updates.
Baku09:30–16:53 · 4 places · 7 h 20 min
Maiden Tower
· 45 min · 19 AZN for foreign visitors
- 3 min on foot
Old City (Icherisheher)
· 3 h · Free
- Lunch · 1 h
- 4 min on foot
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
· 1 h 15 min · 24 AZN for foreign visitors
- 16 min on foot
Flame Towers and Highland Park
· 1 h · Free
Add nearby
Places near the plan — Yes puts one into the day and the times update.
What the route costs
2 of 4 are free; 2 charge entry — prices below, check them on site.
| 1 | Maiden Tower | 52 | 45 min | 19 AZN for foreign visitors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Old City (Icherisheher) | 51 | 3 h | Free |
| 3 | Palace of the Shirvanshahs | 45 | 1 h 15 min | 24 AZN for foreign visitors |
| 4 | Flame Towers and Highland Park | 43 | 1 h | Free |
| Total | 6 h | 2 of 4 free |
Tips for each stop
- 1
Maiden Tower. A round tower about 28 m high with a museum on eight levels: 19 ₼ for foreigners, open from 10:00.
- 2
Old City (Icherisheher). Icherisheher — a walled town on a hill by the Caspian. Walking is free at any hour; lunch is here too.
- 3
Palace of the Shirvanshahs. A 15th-century complex: the palace, the Divankhana, a mausoleum, a mosque and a bathhouse. 24 ₼ for foreigners, 10:00–19:00.
- 4
Flame Towers and Highland Park. Finish in Highland Park by the three glass towers: a free view over the whole bay.
Who this route is for
- First time in Baku with one day
- On foot, without a tour
- You want the old town and the views
- Gobustan, Ateshgah and Yanar Dag are trips out of town
- The Flame Towers are not open to visitors as a sight
Spring and autumn. See the Flame Towers in the evening, when the façades light up.
What to see in Baku in one day
The morning and middle of the day are in the Old City: the Maiden Tower, the lanes and the palace are 3–4 minutes apart. After lunch walk up to Highland Park and the Flame Towers, about 16 minutes on foot.
The tower and the palace open at 10:00 — if you start earlier, walk along the walls of Icherisheher first. Remove or move any stop and the times recalculate.
Where to have lunch
Lunch in the plan is in the Old City, in the cafés along the lanes of Icherisheher.
What to do in the evening
In the evening the Flame Towers light up — they look best from Baku Boulevard by the Caspian. Next to the boulevard is the Carpet Museum in a building shaped like a rolled carpet (10 AZN for foreigners, closed on Mondays).
Is one day in Baku enough?
For the Old City, yes. Gobustan with its rock art and mud volcanoes, the Ateshgah fire temple and the burning hillside of Yanar Dag are half-day trips — see the 2- and 3-day itineraries.
How to do it right
- The Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs are open 10:00–19:00.
- Tickets cost more for foreigners: the tower 19 ₼, the palace 24 ₼.
- You can ride the funicular up to Highland Park or walk.
- Azerbaijan uses the manat (AZN, ₼). Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Baku; small cafés and markets in Sheki want cash.
- See the Flame Towers in the evening, when they are lit up.
Questions
Is one day in Baku enough?
For the Old City and the view over the bay, yes. The boulevard, the museums and the trips out of town need two or three days.
What to do in Baku in one day?
The Maiden Tower, Icherisheher, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Flame Towers with Highland Park.
Can I see Baku on my own?
Yes: the Old City and Highland Park are all on foot.
How much is the Maiden Tower?
19 ₼ for foreigners; open daily 10:00–19:00.
How much is the Palace of the Shirvanshahs?
24 ₼ for foreigners; daily 10:00–19:00.
How much does this itinerary cost?
About 43 ₼ for the tower and the palace; the Old City and Highland Park are free.
Can I go inside the Flame Towers?
Not as a sight: they hold a hotel, apartments and offices. People see them from outside and from Highland Park.
Where is the best view of Baku?
From Highland Park by the Flame Towers — over the whole bay.
Is it good with kids?
Yes: the Old City and the tower are interesting for children.
Is it good in summer?
Yes, but Baku is hot and windy — drink plenty of water.
Sources and fact-check
- Prices, opening hours and time on site come from each place's page, with its own sources and check date
- Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve: Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs
- Wikipedia: Icherisheher, Flame Towers
