Discover Baku through its different facets of cultural heritage: Icherisheher, historic buildings, collections and hands-on craft experiences each offer a different perspective. Mugham adds another distinct dimension through music, while the Caspian Sea and the landscape of Gobustan State Reserve reveal other sides of the city region. Cultural history and experiences ranging from listening to trying things for yourself sit side by side.
Historic sites and different periods
Icherisheher is the historic center of Baku and has been a museum reserve since 1977. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a 15th-century palace complex built during the reign of Shirvanshah Khalilullah I. The Maiden Tower has served as a museum since 1964. These sites offer different perspectives on the past: a historic city center, a palace associated with a named ruler, and a building with a museum function.
Gobustan State Reserve is home to more than 6,000 ancient petroglyphs and has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It lies between the mountains of Boyukdash, Kichikdash and Jingirdagh. Here, archaeological heritage and a clearly defined landscape setting come together.
Ateshgah Temple is located in Baku's Surakhany district and is an open-air museum. Ateshgah was built in the 17th and 18th centuries on the site of a sacred Zoroastrian temple. The dates therefore refer both to the construction of today's Ateshgah and to the site's older religious significance.
Collections, architecture and craftsmanship
The Museum of Miniature Books preserves around 8,000 tiny printed publications from 76 different countries. The collection's size and international origins provide two distinct points of interest: it includes numerous small printed works and spans many countries.
The Carpet Museum on Baku Seaside Boulevard houses more than 6,000 Azerbaijani carpets. The museum also offers live demonstrations of Azerbaijani carpet making. The collection and demonstrations offer different perspectives on carpet art: the works preserved and the process of making them. Designed by Zaha Hadid, the Heydar Aliyev Centre adds an architectural perspective to the cultural themes.
Hands-on crafts and Mugham
At Qala Reserve, participation takes center stage. Visitors can try traditional crafts such as carpet weaving, pottery and blacksmithing for themselves at the open-air complex of the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum. They can also bake lavash bread themselves at Qala Reserve. The examples range from craft techniques to preparing a traditional bread yourself.
Across the wider destination of Azerbaijan, Mugham is a traditional musical form with a high degree of improvisation, performed at venues throughout the country. In Baku, the International Mugham Center regularly hosts concerts, festivals and Mugham evenings. Mugham can therefore be understood both as a nationwide musical tradition and through a specific venue in Baku. If a concert or festival is central to your plans, check the event dates in advance.
Waterfront, water and getting your bearings
Baku Boulevard is a waterfront promenade founded in 1909 and a national park on the Caspian Sea. You can explore the boulevard using rented bicycles or electric scooters. If you plan to use one of these options, check the availability of rentals in advance.
At Baku's Seaside Boulevard, visitors can take a short boat trip on the Caspian Sea during a walk. This adds a short water-based activity to the cultural discoveries.
Following its 2024 restoration, the Central Botanical Garden has special playgrounds for families with children. Tourist Information Points in Baku help visitors plan routes and go sightseeing. These are specific points of interest for different needs: family-friendly play areas in the garden and help finding your way as you explore the city.
Discover more destinations
Discover more destinations: Baku, Nardaran, Mərdəkan, Hovsan, Khirdalan, Lokbatan, Qobu, Oghuz
For the wider travel guide: Azerbaijan.
