Baku walking route: Old City, Icherisheher and Flame Towers
The route through the historical center of Baku covers the main locations of the Old City, including narrow streets with traditional architecture, mosques and squares. The walk is about long and shows a panorama of ancient walls and picturesque alleys, where you can see authentic city life with cafes and locals.
- Mode
- Places
- Start
- Old City of Baku
- End
- Heydar Aliyev Library
- Stops
- 5
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- Old City of Baku
- Icherisheher
- Baku Metro — Subway station entrance at the edge of Old City district, providing public transport access throughout Baku.
- Flame Towers — Three iconic glass skyscrapers symbolizing fire and representing modern Baku, dominating the skyline and visible from Highland Park viewpoints.
- Heydar Aliyev Library — National Library of Azerbaijan with distinctive severe modernist architecture, located near Highland Park promenade route.
Useful for your trip
- Timing
- Bring plenty of water in summer heat. Travelers consumed 2 liters (2x500ml bottles) very quickly and found additional water would have been useful.
- Timing
- Visit Highland Park (Нагорный парк) in the evening when heat subsides. Daytime temperatures around 30°C+ make walking uncomfortable; evening is more pleasant.
- Tip
- Historic mosque in Old City closes at 19:00. Operating hours are 10:00-19:00, so plan visits accordingly.
- Transport
- Funicular in Highland Park operates on a schedule (appears to run periodically, not continuously). Walking the grand staircase is a good alternative.
- Timing
- Old City of Baku streets are highly photogenic and comfortable to explore in evening/cooler hours. Street restaurants invite visitors politely and staff are courteous.
- Tip
- Grand staircase in Highland Park is well-designed with comfortable step dimensions and width. Views of city improve with each step up.
- Tip
- Heydar Aliyev Center is surrounded by a modern park with children's zones and fountains that can be used to cool off in hot weather.
- Timing
- Summer temperatures in Baku reach around 30°C+. Heat is intense during daytime with high sun; cooler periods begin in evening.
- Food
- Shire Shah restaurant is worth visiting. The establishment is pleasant, tasty, and affordable. Consider exchanging manat currency there if you have leftovers.
- Transport
- Metro entrance is located near Old City exit. Bus #5 connects different parts of the city (e.g., from one stop to Heydar Aliyev Center area).
Video on this route
Azerbaijan. Baku. Rousseau turisto, obliko morale! Looking for locations from the movie...