Baku pairs a UNESCO-listed walled Old City with the ultra-modern Flame Towers — three flame-shaped skyscrapers that dominate the skyline and put on a nightly LED light show visible from across the city. The metro (0.60 AZN a ride, using a rechargeable BakıKart) makes getting between the two easy.
Icherisheher: the Old City
Baku’s walled Old City (Icherisheher), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to two standout sights:
| Sight | Entry | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Maiden Tower (Qız Qalası) | ~10 AZN adults, ~2 AZN students, free under 6 | Daily 10:00-18:00 (seasonal variation) |
| Palace of the Shirvanshahs | General admission ticket (check current price on-site or online), family discounts available | Daily 10:00-18:00 |
The Maiden Tower is 29.5 meters tall with eight interior levels connected by a spiral staircase, ending at a rooftop viewing platform over the Old City and the Caspian shoreline. Beyond these two headline sights, the Old City’s narrow lanes, caravanserais-turned-restaurants, and carpet shops reward simply wandering for an hour or two.
Flame Towers
The three Flame Towers are office, residential, and hotel buildings (one houses the Fairmont Baku) rather than a paid attraction — there’s no ticketed “visit” as such. The best experience is simply seeing them: the towers are covered in LED screens that run a flame-and-flag animation after dark, visible from the Baku Boulevard waterfront, Highland Park, or pretty much anywhere along the city’s skyline.
Getting around Baku
The Baku metro runs 06:00-00:00 with a flat 0.60 AZN fare per ride. You’ll need a BakıKart (3 AZN for the card, cash-only top-ups — no credit) to ride; buy and load it at station kiosks. For anywhere off the metro grid, taxis and ride-hailing apps are inexpensive and widely used.
FAQ
Can you go inside the Flame Towers?
Not as a sightseeing visit — they’re functioning office, residential and hotel buildings. They’re best appreciated from outside, especially at night when the LED facade lights up.
How much does the Maiden Tower cost?
Around 10 AZN for adults, 2 AZN for students, and free for children under 6.
How do I pay for the Baku metro?
With a BakıKart, a rechargeable card costing 3 AZN, topped up with cash at station kiosks; each ride costs 0.60 AZN.
Photo: Avisadehh, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons