Baku’s Flame Towers Dominate the Skyline — and Their Nightly Light Show Is One of the City’s Top Attractions
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Photographing the Flame Towers, admiring the views from the Maiden Tower, and exploring Heydar Mosque are among the best things to do in Baku, Azerbaijan. Generally speaking, Baku is an underrated capital city, welcoming only a few million people yearly. That needs to change!
In Baku, there is something for every traveler to do, whether you love history, sports, food, or shopping. There are also plenty of family-friendly tourist attractions, such as Baku Zoological Park. To show you what you’re missing, here are 12 must-see attractions in Baku.
We consulted expert recommendations and traveler reviews to create this list. If you’re looking for your next city break adventure, stay tuned.
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Highlights at a Glance
Admire the Views from Maiden Tower
Maiden Tower is one of the most historic tourist attractions in Baku. Known locally as Qız Qalası, this UNESCO-listed stone tower may have been built as early as the 6th century BC. However, most of the current structure was built in the 12th century.
Admittedly, the tower itself isn’t much to look at, but the views from the top are incredible. Despite only being 97 feet (30 meters) tall, it offers outstanding city and the Bosphorus Strait views. Its location in the Old City also lets you enjoy panoramic views of Baku’s historic center.
Although ticket prices vary, you can expect to spend approximately 15 AZN ($8.83) to climb the tower.
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Explore Heydar Mosque
Located in Baku’s Binəqədi raion, Heydar Mosque is the largest mosque in Azerbaijan. It was constructed between 2012 and 2014 on the orders of President Ilham Aliyev. The Heydar Mosque features a stunning stone facade with a Shirvan-Absheron architectural style.
It features four 311-foot (95-meter) tall minarets, two domes, and intricately carved stonework. Inside, the mosque’s walls are adorned with vibrant mosaics and verses from the Quran. The mosque is open to visitors outside of prayer times, so make sure you take a look inside.
Entry to Heydar Mosque is free, but visitors must dress moderately, including covering their knees and shoulders. If you visit the mosque at night, you can see its facade lit up with bright lights.
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Have Fun at the Baku Zoological Park
One of the best family-friendly things to do in Baku is to have fun at Baku Zoological Park. First opened in 1928, this 10.5-acre (4.25-hectare) zoo is the oldest zoo in Azerbaijan. Home to over 1,370 animals, it’s an excellent place to see and learn more about the animals of the world.
Inside the zoo, you’ll find some of the most famous species of animals from every continent. Highlights include the leopard, Amur tiger, red-necked wallaby, and the Caucasıan brown bear. The zoo also has a lecture hall with animal masterclasses, a children’s playground, and a pony ride zone.
Entrance tickets cost 7 AZN ($4.12) for adults and 2 AZN ($1.18) for children.
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Visit Bazar Square
If you love history, you must visit Bazar Square in Baku. Located in Baku Old City, this impressive archaeological site dates back to the 12th and 13th centuries. It sits below street level and was once a lively hub of culture, local charm, and shopping.
You can peer down into the former city square from above, but we strongly recommend walking through the site, too. Walk down the stairs and through the stone cloisters to truly get a sense of what this square was once like. You’ll also find carved sculptures, tombs, and old artifacts on display in the center of Bazar Square.
It’s worth noting that the square is free to enter, which is perfect if you’re on a tight budget.
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Pay the Miniature Book Museum a Visit
The Miniature Book Museum is one of Baku’s most unique tourist attractions. It is also the world’s only museum dedicated to miniature books. Opened in 2002, this fascinating museum houses over 5,800 miniature books from around the world.
The museum has almost 40 glass showcases, so you’ll want plenty of time to explore it. The collection includes books published in Azerbaijan, religious books, and rare books. The rarest books in the museum’s collection are four micro books published by the Toppan publishing house in Tokyo, Japan.
The Miniature Book Museum also features a selection of Shakespeare’s major works and a 17th-century copy of the Quran. Admission is free, but donations are welcome.
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Watch a Soccer Match
One of the most entertaining things for sports fans to do in Baku is watch a soccer match. Baku has two successful Azerbaijani soccer teams: Neftçi PFK and Qarabağ FK. At the time of writing, Qarabağ FK is first, and Neftçi PFK is seventh in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Furthermore, the Azerbaijan international soccer team plays at Baku Olympic Stadium, a stunning 68,700-capacity stadium. Therefore, there’s a good chance you can catch a game during your visit. Neftçi PFK plays at Neftçi Arena, an 11,000-capacity soccer ground.
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Meanwhile, Qarabağ FK plays at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, a 31,200-capacity sports venue. If you’re lucky, you might even visit when the two teams play each other.
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Go On an Old City Tour
One of the best ways to explore Baku Old City, known locally as Icherisheher, is on a guided tour. There is much to see and do in the Old City, so it can be challenging to know where to go and what to see first. On a guided tour, all the planning and preparation are handled for you.
Better yet, a guided tour includes an expert guide who can teach you more about the city. This Old City Icheri Sheher & City Center tour takes travelers on a four-hour tour of the city’s historic center.
You’ll explore the narrow cobblestone streets, discovering attractions like Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in a traditional tea ceremony.
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Visit the Heydar Aliyev Center
The Heydar Aliyev Center is one of Azerbaijan’s most beautiful tourist attractions. Constructed between 2007 and 2012, this iconic structure is arguably Baku’s most gorgeous and significant modern piece of architecture. Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid designed it.
Spanning a whopping 619,000 square feet (57,500 square meters), the center is described as having a “flowing, curved style” that seamlessly blends into the surrounding landscape. In the evening, the building’s bright lights create a stunning scene.
Aside from looking magnificent, the Heydar Aliyev Center hosts events, performances, and activities regularly. This includes musical performances from famous Azerbaijani musicians and unique exhibitions. You don’t have to enter the center, but at least take photographs of its unique design.
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Enjoy the Sights and Smells at Taza Bazaar
Exploring Taza Bazaar is one of the most exciting things to do in Baku. An excellent place to experience local life and learn more about Azerbaijani cuisine, this bazaar is one of Azerbaijan’s oldest street markets. The market reportedly first opened over 70 years ago.
Taza Bazaar is open daily from 8:00 to 19:00. A hive of activity, the market sells everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to exotic spices and fresh seafood. Travelers can also sample traditional Azerbaijani snacks, sweets, and teas.
Keep your eyes peeled for pakhlava, mutaki, and badam-bura. As you can probably imagine, the market’s sights, smells, and hustle and bustle are exhilarating. Don’t be afraid to haggle.
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Walk Around Dənizkənarı Milli Park
Dənizkənarı Milli Park is one of the nicest places to walk in Baku. Established in 1909, this 3-mile (5-kilometer) long boulevard, also known as Baku Boulevard, runs along the Baku seafront. As such, it’s a beautiful place to enjoy Baku’s scenic coastline and imposing city skyline.
The views of the Flame Towers from Dənizkənarı Milli Park are spectacular, so remember your camera. This recreation area is also an excellent place to relax, unwind, and enjoy the great outdoors.
Having said that, there are still several things to see and do along the boulevard. For example, you could ride the Ferris wheel or carousel with your children. Alternatively, you could visit Park Boulevard shopping mall, which features designer shops, restaurants, cinemas, and a bowling center.
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Stop By the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum
Visiting the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is one of the most interesting things to do in Baku. As you would likely expect, this unique museum contains the world’s largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets. The museum displays over 14,000 exhibits, including over 6,000 Azerbaijani carpets.
The fun starts before you step inside the museum because the building in which the museum resides is fantastic. An architectural masterpiece, the museum looks just like a rolled carpet. Make sure you take a photograph.
Inside, you’ll find a vast collection of historic and modern carpets, a jewelry exhibition, and traditional Azerbaijani clothing. Entrance to the museum costs 7 AZN ($4.12) for adults and 3 AZN ($1.76) for children.
- Join a Guided Tour for Context: I booked a guided tour at the museum entrance for a small fee. The guides explain the symbols and stories woven into the carpets, making the visit much more meaningful.
- Visit the Rooftop Café: After exploring, I relaxed at the museum’s rooftop café, which offers panoramic views of Baku Boulevard and the Caspian Sea—a perfect spot for a coffee break with a view.
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Take Photographs of the Flame Towers
Taking photographs of the Flame Towers is one of the most popular things to do in Baku. Constructed between 2007 and 2013, these futuristic buildings dominate the capital’s skyline, the tallest of the three at 587 feet (182 meters). Unsurprisingly, the three towers are flame-shaped.
They were designed like this in reference to Azerbaijan’s nickname, “the Land of Fire.” The towers look magnificent whenever you visit. However, we firmly recommend visiting at night. At approximately 8:00 pm daily, the towers display a colorful light show.
The lights are designed to make the towers look like real flames. They also light up with images of people waving the Azerbaijani flag.
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