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Palace of the Shaki Khans, Sheki

Palace of the Shaki Khans: façade painted in red, ochre and blue with shebeke windows, a stone pool and plane trees
Photo: Ludvig14, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Hours
Daily ≈ 9:00–18:00; some sources say from 10:00
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.
45 min
With kids
Fine with kids
Entry (foreign adult)
15 AZN — new rate from 1 January 2026 reported by Report.az; previously 9–10 AZN
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Online tickets
iTicket.AZ: QR ticket in the app or paper ticket from city box offices, 1–15 AZN by category, non-refundable
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Student ticket
Only for students enrolled in Azerbaijan (iTicket.AZ rule)
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Closed
No weekly closing day — iTicket.AZ lists sessions every day
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Photos inside
Not allowed; the façade, pool and courtyard are fine
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Time needed
30–45 minutes for the palace and courtyard
Getting there
From Sheki bus station, marshrutka up to Yukhari Bash (route numbers vary — check locally) or a taxi — ≈ 10 min
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Address
Sheki Fortress, top end of Mirza Fatali Akhundov Avenue
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Coordinates
41.20441, 47.19760YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

18th centurytraditionally dated 1762; the Maddei-tarikh chronicle says building began in 1789/90 and was finished by 1797
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian WikipediaWikidata Q1740560
2019listed by UNESCO as part of the Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan's Palace (no. 1549)
2 sourcesEnglish and Russian Wikipediareserve description on iTicket.AZ
Shebekecoloured glass set in wooden lattice assembled without nails or glue covers most of the south façade
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
32 × 8.5 mfootprint of the building; about 10 m high
SourceEnglish Wikipedia (Russian Wikipedia: 31.7 × 8.5 m)
2 floorseach with a central hall and side rooms, divided by narrow iwans
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Hunts and battlespainted in the upper-floor halls; flowers in vases below
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
Abbas Kuliand masters from Shamakhi and Shusha — Mirza Jafar, Usta Gambar, Ali Kuli, Kurban Kuli — signed the paintings
SourceEnglish and Russian Wikipedia
2 plane treesstand by the pool in front — already described as tall in 1834
2 sourcesRussian Wikipedia (Kornilovich, 1834)English Wikipedia
2002–2004the last full restoration, backed by the World Bank
2 sourcesEnglish WikipediaRussian Wikipedia (work began September 2002)
Yukhari Bashthe state historical and architectural reserve the palace belongs to
2 sourcesRussian Wikipediareserve description on iTicket.AZ

Palace of the Shaki Khans tickets and opening hours

There is no official price list from the Yukhari Bash reserve online. Tickets are sold through iTicket.AZ at 1–15 AZN depending on category — a QR ticket in the app, or a paper one from city box offices. They can't be refunded or exchanged, and the student rate is only for students enrolled in Azerbaijan.

Foreign adults pay 15 AZN: Report.az (18.12.2025) says that from 1 January 2026 the foreign-visitor rate at the palace — as at the church in Kish — rose to 15 AZN. Older guides still quote 9–10 AZN, the pre-2026 rate. We haven't seen an official price list by category, so treat this as unofficial. The iTicket.AZ schedule shows the palace open every day, 9:00–18:00; some guides give 10:00–18:00, so arrive by 17:00 to be safe.

Payment: carry Azerbaijani manat in cash for the ticket desk, the marshrutka and tea afterwards. If you'd rather pay by card, buy the QR ticket on iTicket.AZ before you go.

Is the Palace of the Shaki Khans worth it?

Yes — it is the one thing in Sheki you shouldn't skip, and one of the finest interiors in the Caucasus. Be ready for how small it is: a couple of halls on each floor, seen in well under an hour. The value is density, not size: every surface is painted, gilded, mirrored or glazed.

It is not worth a five-hour drive from Baku on its own if you hate long days. Make it a night in Sheki and pair the palace with the fortress walls, the Upper Caravanserai and the old Albanian church in Kish. If you only want painted rooms, Shakikhanovs' House is a quieter add-on.

What the palace is and when it was built

This was the summer residence of the khans of Shaki, and the only surviving building of the khan's court inside Sheki Fortress. The winter palace, family houses and servants' quarters were gone by 1851; the palace, its pool and the plane trees remain.

The date is disputed. The traditional one is 1762, under Huseyn Khan Mushtaq, and that is what the reserve uses. Historians lean on the Maddei-tarikh chronicle, which says work began in 1789/90 and ended by 1797 under Muhammad Hasan Khan. Officials and petitioners were received downstairs; the khan's family and guests used the upper floor.

What to see inside and out

  • The south façade — a mosaic of coloured glass in shebeke lattice, plus blue, turquoise and ochre tiles and peacocks flanking a tree of life.
  • Upper-floor halls — hunting and battle scenes, the richest paintings in the palace.
  • Muqarnas vaults over the iwans: gilded downstairs, set with mirror fragments upstairs.
  • Shebeke from the inside — when the sun is out, the coloured glass throws patches of light across the floor.
  • Lower rooms — flowers in vases and floral patterns by several different hands.
  • The pool and the two plane trees — stand behind them to fit the whole façade in one frame.

How to get to the Palace of the Shaki Khans

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On foot

More tips

  1. From Baku: bus or minibus from Baku International Bus Terminal (Avtovağzal) to Sheki bus station — about 5 hours.
  2. From Sheki bus station: a marshrutka up Akhundov Avenue to Yukhari Bash, or a taxi — about 10 minutes. Guides give different route numbers (11, 7, 22), so treat them as unofficial, check locally and ask the driver for "Xan Sarayı".
  3. Get off at the fortress gate at the top end of Mirza Fatali Akhundov Avenue; the Upper Caravanserai is on the same avenue, an easy stop on the way back.
  4. Walk through the gate and along the lane inside the walls — the palace is behind a fence with a pool and two plane trees, a few minutes on foot.
  5. Buy a ticket at the entrance or show your iTicket.AZ QR code, and keep the camera away once you're inside.

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Sheki's palaces and khans' houses compared

Every palace in Sheki rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Sheki Fortress4440 minFree3 min walk
Palace of the Shaki Khansyou are here4145 min15 AZN for foreigners (unofficial)—
Shakikhanovs' House4030 min1–10 AZN (iTicket.AZ)11 min walk

Upper Sheki in half a day

The fortress, the Khan's palace, tea at the caravanserai, Shakikhanovs' House and a stroll through the old town. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Sheki Fortress40 min · Free; museums inside extra
  2. 3 min walk from the previous stopPalace of the Shaki Khansyou are here45 min · 15 AZN for foreigners (unofficial)
  3. 9 min walk from the previous stopUpper Caravanserai30 min · Courtyard free (unofficial)
  4. 6 min walk from the previous stopShakikhanovs' House30 min · 1–10 AZN (iTicket.AZ)
  5. 11 min walk from the previous stopSheki Old Town (Yukhari Bash)1 h 30 min · Free; museums on the way charge

5 places · about 4 h 24 min with walks · 29 min on foot in total

Go · my route

Nearby — add to your day

Sheki Old Town (Yukhari Bash)

Sheki, Azerbaijan

1 h 30 min · Free; museums on the way charge · 3 min walk

Sheki Fortress

Sheki, Azerbaijan

40 min · Free; museums inside extra · 3 min walk

Round Temple

Sheki, Azerbaijan

30 min · Free outside; museum fee not published · 3 min walk

Upper Caravanserai

Sheki, Azerbaijan

30 min · Courtyard free (unofficial) · 9 min walk

How to do it right

  • Start at the fortress gate — the palace is a few minutes' walk inside the walls.
  • Afterwards, walk down to the Upper Caravanserai; you can see its arcaded courtyard without a ticket.
  • Save the Sheki halva and tea for after the visit — sticky fingers and painted walls don't mix.
  • A day trip from Baku works, but a night in Sheki lets you add the church in Kish.
  • Want more painted rooms with fewer people? Try Shakikhanovs' House.
  • Note the price and hours posted at the desk — official figures are hard to find online.

Questions

How much is the ticket to the Palace of the Shaki Khans?

15 AZN for a foreign adult from 1 January 2026 (per Report.az, unofficial). iTicket.AZ sells tickets at 1–15 AZN by category.

What are the Sheki Khan's Palace opening hours?

Daily, roughly 9:00–18:00 according to the iTicket.AZ schedule; some guides say it opens at 10:00. There is no weekly closing day.

Can you take photos inside the Sheki Khan's Palace?

No — almost every source says photography is banned in the halls. The façade, pool and courtyard are fine to shoot.

How long do you need at the Palace of the Shaki Khans?

30–45 minutes for the palace itself. Add the fortress, caravanserai and Shakikhanovs' House for a half day.

Is the Sheki Khan's Palace worth visiting?

Yes — it is the highlight of Sheki for its painted halls and shebeke glass. It is small, so combine it with the rest of the old town.

How do I get to the Khan's Palace from Sheki bus station?

Take a marshrutka up Akhundov Avenue to Yukhari Bash (route numbers vary, so ask the driver), or a taxi — about 10 minutes — then walk through the fortress gate.

Is there a combined ticket for Sheki museums?

Some guides mention one for the Khan's Palace, Shakikhanovs' House and the crafts museum, but iTicket.AZ doesn't list it. Ask at the ticket desk.

What is shebeke?

Wooden lattice filled with small pieces of coloured glass, fitted together without nails or glue. The palace's windows are the best-known example.

When was the Palace of the Shaki Khans built?

Traditionally in 1762, under Huseyn Khan. A local chronicle dates the building to 1789/90–1797, and historians still debate it.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • iTicket.AZ: Sheki Khans’ Palace — Yukhari Bash reserve description, prices and sessions, sale rules, 02.11.2026
  • English and Russian Wikipedia: Palace of Shaki Khans / Дворец шекинских ханов; Wikidata Q1740560
  • Azerbaijan Guide (azerbaijanguide.az): Sheki Khan Palace, updated April 2026 — unofficial prices and hours
  • Travel Cost Calculator: Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace — unofficial prices, photo rule, marshrutkas
  • WhichMuseum: Palace of Shaki Khans — unofficial prices and hours
  • Museum of Wander: What to see in Sheki — photo ban, marshrutkas 11 and 7
  • Report.az: Azerbaijan introduces new museum fees for foreign visitors, 18.12.2025 — 15 AZN for foreigners from 1 January 2026
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 02.11.2026 ·
How we checkedWe found no official Yukhari Bash reserve website with prices or hours. Hours and the absence of a closing day come from the iTicket.AZ session schedule for November 2026 — every day, 09:00–18:00; some guides give 10:00–18:00. The 15 AZN foreign-visitor price comes from Report.az's report on fees from 1 January 2026 and matches the top price on iTicket.AZ; the 9–10 AZN in guides is the pre-2026 rate. There is no official breakdown by category, so prices are marked as verifying. The construction date is disputed — 1762 by tradition and Wikidata, 1789–1797 by the Maddei-tarikh chronicle — so we show both. The combined ticket appears in one guide only and is not on iTicket.AZ. Guides give different marshrutka numbers (11, 7, 22), so none is stated as fact.

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