Baku

Alley of Honor

Azerbaijani: Fəxri Xiyaban, Honorary Alley

This is a public cemetery and memorial in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Alley includes burials of famed Azerbaijanis and Azerbaijan-affiliated expatriates, including several Presidents, scientists and artists. There are 242 burials in total.

Art exhibition

On a reformed old factory, two free art exhibitions in two adjacent buildings. Free English-speaking guide.

Free

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum

State Museum of Azerbaijan Carpet and Applied Art

The museum hosts a wide range of carpets, both old and new. It moved to its current location in 2014 (on the waterfront). The building itself is shaped as a carpet.

Tue-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat Sun 10:00-20:00·10 manat

Baku Boulevard

Dənizkənarı Milli Park

Seaside promenade with museums, parks, cafes, restaurants, and other attractions.

Baku Entertainment Center

Bakı Əyləncə Mərkəzi

Baku Entertainment center has been around for more than half a decade. It has a shopping center, bowling alley certified by the AMF, health club, conference venue with a capacity of 350 people, and various restaurants and clubs.

Baku Funicular Railroad

Runs from the square on Neftchilar Avenue up to the Alley of the Marytrs.

1 manat

Baku Olympic Stadium

This also hosts big games, such as the 2019 UEFA Europa League Finals.

Baku TV Tower

Azerbaijani: Televiziya Qülləsi, Телевышка

Built in 1996, is a free-standing concrete telecommunications tower. With a height of 310 m, it is the tallest structure in Azerbaijan and the tallest reinforced concrete building in Caucasus. The tower is one of the most prominent hallmarks of Baku. - A rotating restaurant on the 62nd floor (175 m) of Azeri TV Tower was opened in 2008. Friendly staff.

20 manat

Bibi-Heybat Mosque

Azerbaijani: Bibiheybət məscidi)

This is a historical mosque built in the 1990s, and is a recreation of the mosque with the same name built in the 13th century by Shirvanshah Farrukhzad II Ibn Ahsitan II, which was completely destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936. The Bibi-Heybat Mosque includes the tomb of Ukeyma Khanum (a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad), and today is the spiritual center for the Muslims of the region and one of the major monuments of Islamic architecture in Azerbaijan. It's locally known as "the mosque of Fatima" The old mosque was situated in the southern part of the tomb, while there was a 20 meter high minaret in the west part of the mosque. Later a crypt and two niches were added to the mosque to the south of the minaret. On the niches there were inscriptions containing the name of Fatali Khan, whose tombstone marble slab is now in the Azerbaijan State Museum of History. From 1305 to 1313, Mahmud Ibn Saad built the mosque's minarets. Western women can enter, when wearing a veil.

Free

Flame Towers

Ismailiyya Bldg, Azerbaijani: Alov Qüllələri

These are the tallest skyscrapers in Baku, Azerbaijan with a height of 190 m (620 ft). They consist of apartments, a hotel and office blocks. The estimated cost of Flame Towers was around US$350 million. Construction began in 2007, with completion in 2012. The facades of the three Flame Towers are turned into gigantic display screens with the use of more than 10,000 high-power LED luminaires, supplied by the Osram subsidiary Traxon Technologies and Vetas Electric Lighting. Definitely worth seeing from the old town.

Former Church of the Saviour

German: Erlöserkirche, German Kapellhaus, Azeri:Xilaskar Kilsəsi

Built with a German donation. This was a Lutheran church, opened in 1899. Now it is a concert hall. The Gothic style church features a portal crowned with a decorated pediment. In 1898, a 213-kg gilded cross was raised atop the church. In early 1899 a bell and an organ were installed.

Fountain Square

Fəvvarələr meydanı, Parapet sq

This is a downtown pedestrian street in the center of Baku lined with shops, hotels and restaurants. It is a public gathering place, especially after business hours and during the weekend. It hosts public festivals, shows and celebrations.

Gulustan Palace

Azerbaijani: Gülüstan sarayı, Gulustan Wedding Palace Complex

The complex during the Soviet era is the main state convention center of the Azerbaijani government. From here overlooking the city of Baku and Baku Bay. The palace hosts formal events of governmental and non-governmental organizations. It is notable for having hosted such important events as the Contract of the Century and other significant oil and gas contracts, signing of TRACECA project, the wedding of Leyla Aliyeva, the daughter of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, international and state conferences, etc.

Hadji Bani (Hajji) mosque

Hacı Bani məscidi, Мечеть Гаджи Бани

This was constructed by the architect Hadji Bani in the 16th century.

Hajji Gayyib bathhouse

Баня Гаджи Гаиба

Built in 15th century. Intake portal of the bathhouse is rectangular-shaped. The bathhouse complex is divided into 3 groups: dressing-room, changing room and a bathing area. The dressing and changing rooms have octagonal halls, surrounded by small rooms. Vaults and domes have various figured outlines and were implemented thoroughly. There is a pool with warm and cold water in the centre of the hall. Floors are covered with stone plates. Heating is provided by ceramic pipes or channels under the floors of the rooms. Warm air, produced by water heating circulates along these channels.

Heydar Aliyev Center

Heydər Əliyev Mərkəzi, Центр Гейдара Алиева

This is a 64,103 m² building complex designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and noted for its distinctive architecture and flowing, curved style that eschews sharp angles. The Heydar Aliyev Center represents a fluid form which emerges by the folding of the landscape's natural topography and by the wrapping of individual functions of the Center. All functions of the Center, together with entrances, are represented by folds in a single continuous surface. This fluid form gives an opportunity to connect the various cultural spaces whilst at the same time, providing each element of the Center its own identity and privacy. As it folds inside, the skin erodes away to become an element of the interior landscape of the center. The center houses a conference hall (auditorium), a gallery hall and a museum.

Holy Myrrhbearers Cathedral / Russian Orthodox Church

Russian: Кафедральный Собор Святых Жён-Мироносиц; Azeri: Müqəddəs Mürdaşıyan Zənənlər Başkilsəsi

This Russian Orthodox cathedral was founded in 1909. Hit by a Russian missile in 1990, it was reconstructed and reopened in 2001. It holds a shrine of the apostle St. Bartholomew.

International Mugham Center of Azerbaijan

Beynəlxalq Muğam Mərkəzi, Международный центр мугама

This is the center of Azerbaijani arts and music dedicated to promote, preserve and popularize the Azerbaijani music genre Mugam. The center covers 7,500 m² and has 3 stories. The design of the building was based on elements and shapes of Tar, an Azerbaijani musical instrument used in performing Mugham. The concert hall has a capacity of 350 people. The center also has a club, restaurant, study halls and record studios.

Ismailiyya building

İsmailiyye palace, Azerbaijani: İsmailiyyə Sarayı

This is a historical building serves as the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. - The palace was constructed in 1913, for the Muslim Charity Society by Józef Plośko, funded by millionaire Musa Naghiyev in commemoration of his deceased son Ismayil, and was named Ismailiyya after him. The building was constructed in Venetian Gothic style.

Jame mosque and minaret remains

Emir Sharaf-ad-din Mahmud mosque and minaret, Mosque Cum, Джума мечеть, Azerbaijani: Cümə məscidi

Founded in 1309-10. The mosque was repeatedly reconstructed during its existence. A new Friday Mosque was constructed on the old mosque's site, with the support of the Baku merchant Haji Shikhlali Dadashov, in 1899. A Zoroastrian temple was located on the site of the two mosques. A minaret, constructed in 1437, adjoins Friday Mosque.

Lavas Bistro / Fasali Cafe

Two take-away places, one next to the other, run by the same people. Do a wide range of usual Azeri/Turkish take-away food - but good quality, very popular with the locals, expect to queue!

3 manat for a kebab/pancake which will completely fill you up

Madrasah-mosque

Мечеть-медресе

The chapel constructed in the 15th century in the yard of Jame mosque

Magomayev Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall

Built in 1912 and inspired by the Monte Carlo Casino. Houses the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra among others.

Maiden's Tower

Giz Qalasi, Девичья башня

This mysterious and eccentric tower was built somewhere between the 7th and 12th centuries and may have served as a fire beacon, defensive fortification, astronomical observatory, or Zoroastrian temple. The tower, which is Baku's most distinguished landmark, described as the "most majestic and mysterious monument of Baku, the Gyz Galasy", built on a solid rock foundation, demonstrates right on the coast line, a fusion of Arabic, Persian and Ottoman influences. It was constructed alongside a natural oil well. It is a cylindrical eight-story structure that rises to a height of 29.5 m with a base diameter of 16.5 m. The internal space available in the tower is said to be adequate to accommodate 200 people. A long, solid projection to the main tower faces east, which is oriented towards sunrise pointing to the equinoxes, which has led to the conclusion that it was built as an astronomical tower; while the buttress faces east, the door access to the tower faces southeast. Unfortunately, there is no good view from the top, because it is barred by a glass wall, keeping your distance from the edge.

Daily 10:00-19:00·Foreigners 15 manat, locals 2 manat

Martyrs' Lane

Alley of Martyrs or Şəhidlər Xiyabanı (transliterated to Shehidler Khiyabani)

Formerly the Kirov Park, it's a cemetery and memorial in Baku, dedicated to those killed by the Soviet Army during Black January and to those killed later in the Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Mini-Venice

A charming little complex of man-made waterways accessible on a boat. There are also some restaurants in the immediate proximity. The ticket booth is 10-15 meters to the right when coming from the north. It is cheap but the signage to the ticket booth is lacking.

Closed · opens 10:30 am tomorrow

Mosque of the Martyrs

Turkish Mosque, Azerbaijani: Şəhidlər məscidi

This is a mosque, near the Martyrs' Lane. It was built in the beginning of 1990s with assistance of the Turkish government. The mosque is used as an official residence of the religious attaché of the Turkish embassy. It opened in 2009. The 154th ayah from Al-Baqara chapter of Quran is written on the façade of the mosque in Arabic and Turkish: "Do not say "Dead!" about those, who died for the sake of Allah. No, they are alive! But you do not feel."

Muhammad Mosque

Siniggala Mosque, Мечеть Мухаммада

This mosque was built in the 11th century in Icheri Sheher, Baku. The mosque is also known as Siniggala, for the name of its minaret – Siniggala (“damaged tower”). The mosque acquired its second name in 1723, when a squadron of the Russian army, consisting of 15 warships and led by Admiral Matyushkin, approached the city and demanded its surrender. Russian warships began to bomb the city after its refusal. One of the shells hit the minaret of Muhammad Mosque and damaged it. But a stormy wind blew the Russian ships further out to sea. Baku's citizens interpreted it as a divine scourge sent to the occupants. From that time till the mid-19th century, the minaret of the mosque wasn't reconstructed and symbolized the persistence and courage of the defenders. - It is the first building in Azerbaijan which is related to Islam and dated for its architectural ligature. - According to Arabic inscription which was saved in front of the doorway of northern wall of the mosque, it was built by ustad-rais Muhammad the son of Abu Bakr in 471 of Hijra (1078/79). It means that the architect was not only a master-ustad, but also a rais-head of artificers' corporation. - A minaret adjoins new mosque, which was constructed on the basis of the older one's plan. The trunk of the minaret is strong and slightly thinning. It is constructed from carefully drafted stone. Coarse and flat stalactites of tabling retain the sherefe – the muezzin's balcony enclosed by stone plates. A ribbed dome completes the trunk of minaret. Narrow, winding stairs are inside the trunk. Ligature with Koranic inscription was traced under the tabling with the archaic Kufi alphabet.

Naftalan Bath

Naftalan, a city close to Ganja, is famous for oil baths. However you can also get an oil treatment in Baku, with imported Naftalan oil. It's like a small hospital and not very recreational. However it's great fun and positively strange to dip for 15 min into hot crude oil. Decide for yourself whether this is safe and healthy.

20 manat for medical checkup, 20 manat for one oil bath

National Art Museum of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Milli İncəsənət Muzeyi

The museum consists of two adjacent buildings. The museum's collection includes over 15,000 artworks. There are over 3,000 items in 60 rooms on permanent display. Seven of the rooms in the first building feature European art, and ten rooms feature Russian art. European art includes works of Italian, French, Dutch/Flemish, German and Polish painters. - The second edifice built in 1885 houses Eastern art, represented particularly by Persian, Turkish, Chinese and Japanese art. Russian art is encompassed notably by paintings of different painters. There are also restored samples of Russian avant-garde. The museum also holds easel and book miniatures of 17th-19th centuries, lacquered miniatures of 18th-19th centuries and collection of sherbet spoons, made of mulberry wood.

Tue-Sun 10:00–18:00