Baku travel guide: the Old City, the Flame Towers and the Caspian

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, sits on the Caspian Sea and mixes a medieval walled city with bold modern architecture. It is a short flight from Iraq and a popular choice for a long weekend or a family holiday.

Top things to see

• Icherisheher, the walled Old City (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), with the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs
• The Flame Towers — best seen lit up at night from the seaside promenade
• Baku Boulevard, a long seaside park along the Caspian, ideal for an evening walk
• The Heydar Aliyev Center, the flowing white building designed by Zaha Hadid
• Highland Park for the view over the bay and the city

Day trips

• Gobustan, about an hour south, with ancient rock carvings and nearby mud volcanoes
• Yanar Dag, a hillside where natural gas has been burning for decades — most impressive after sunset
• The Absheron peninsula's beaches in summer

Getting around

From Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) the airport express bus and taxis reach the centre in around 30–40 minutes. In the city, the metro is cheap and fast; buy a BakuCard for metro and buses. Ride-hailing apps are widely used and usually cheaper than street taxis.

Money, visa and weather

• The currency is the Azerbaijani manat (AZN). Cards are accepted in most shops and restaurants.
• Many nationalities can apply for an e-visa online — check the official Azerbaijan e-visa portal for your passport before booking.
• The best months are April to June and September to October. Baku is known as the "city of winds", so bring a light jacket even in spring.