Old Town (Icheri Sheher) (Baku)
Old Town or Old City is the historic and cultural center of Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. It is commonly known as "the castle" or "citadel". Old Town was first settled during Bronze Age and in the 8th- 9th century it was a densely settled city. In the 15th century Shirvan Shah moved his capital here. It grew in splendor and size. After Baku kingdom was annexed by the Russian Empire and discovery of oil in the region the city grew past its historic city walls of Icheri Sheher. In 2000 several structures including the Palace of the Shirvan Shahs and Maiden's Tower were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.
The Palace of the Shirvan Shahs (Baku)
Malaya Krepostnaya Str, 46/11
Open: 10am- 5pm daily
Entrance fee: 2 AZN
The Palace of the Shirvan Shahs is a former royal residence of Azerbaijani shahs or rulers. They began construction of their palace shortly after moving their capital from Shirvan to Baku. In 2000 the palace of the Shirvan Shahs was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The whole complex consists of the main building of the former palace, mausoleum of Sayyid Yahya Bakubi, Divankhana, mosque with a minaret, baths and remains of a medieval mosque. Unfortunatey most of original interior was stolen after The Palace of the Shirvan Shahs was captured and looted in the 16th century.
Maiden's Tower (Giz Qalasi) (Baku)
Prospekt Neftyanikov
Open: 10am- 7pm
Entrance fee: 0.5 AZN
Maiden's Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in the Old City of Baku. Its name is surrounded my many legends. One state that old Shah of Baku separated her daughter from a man she loved and locked her up in the tower. Other claim that it was her brother who didn't want her sister to marry a commoner. Regardless of the story they all end the same. Young maid threw herself from the top into waves of the Caspian Sea. Back then the sea level was higher so the tower once stood in the water.
The current tower constructed in the 12th century on a site of much older structure that served fire worshippers in the 8th and 7th century BC. It was part of the defenses of the old city. Some parts of the old medieval wall still survives adjacent to the Maiden's Tower.
Another legend claims that Maiden's Tower was also the site of martyrdom of one of the Twelfth Apostles of Jesus Christ, Saint Bartholomew. According to a legend he was crucified upside down by the orders of Astyages, brother of the king of Great Armenia Polymius. Chapel of Saint Bartholomew was constructed on a site of a proposed execution by the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1936 the chapel was destroyed by the Communists so only foundation of the shrine still persists here. On an old picture on the left you can see the chapel of Saint Bartholomew and the walls of the Maiden's Tower behind it.
1 Isa-bey Hajinsky House, Neftchiler Avenue (Neftçilər prospekti) 23
(according to another numbering 103) (South-eastern edge of the Old
City, near the Maiden Tower). The house was built in 1912 and is one of
the best examples of eclecticism in Baku. The facades facing the Maiden
Tower and Neftchiler Avenue are rich in detail and also differ from each
other. Don’t miss the mosaics with golden figures on a blue background.
2 Ismailiyyə Sarayı Charity Society Building, Istiqlal/İstiqlaliyyət 10
(Near the Old City Wall). The building was designed by engineer Iosif
Ploshko in 1907-1913. The construction was paid for by one of the
richest Baku oil industrialists, Musa Nagiyev, in memory of his son
Ismail, who died early (hence the name). He also sent Ploshko to Italy
for ideas. The ideas were expressed in a neo-Renaissance building with a
huge number of details on the facades. Now the Academy of Sciences is
located in the building.
3 Muhammad Fuzuli Institute of Manuscripts
(Məhəmməd Füzuli adına Əlyazmalar İnstitutu), Istiqlal/İstiqlaliyyət 8.
You are unlikely to be able to get inside, but the building in which the
institute is located is remarkable in itself. It was built in 1900
according to the design of Josef Goslawski with money from oil
industrialist Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiev. Before the revolution, the Baku
Muslim Girls' School, the first educational institution of its kind in
the Caucasus, was located here, and from 1918 to 1920, it was the
parliament of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, an independent state
that emerged during the collapse of the Russian Empire. After the
liquidation of the republic and the formation of the USSR, the Supreme
Council of the Azerbaijan SSR was located here, and since 1929, the
Institute of Manuscripts. The building is designed in the
neo-Renaissance style, with clear references to Italian architecture.
4 Mukhtarov Palace (Azerb. Səadət Sarayı, Palace of Happiness).
5 Alley of Honor (Azerbaijani: Fəxri Xiyaban) is a cemetery located in
the mountainous part of Baku in the form of an alley, where prominent
Azerbaijani figures of culture, science, literature, art, Heroes of the
Soviet Union, politicians, as well as those who distinguished themselves
in various fields of economics and agriculture and earned honorary names
are buried.
6 Alley of Martyrs (Azerbaijani: Şəhidlər Xiyabanı). A
mass grave in Baku where martyrs are buried: heroes of the struggle for
the independence of Azerbaijan, victims of the Black January tragedy of
1990 (126 people) and those who died for Karabakh. There is an unmarked
grave in the Alley in which body parts of unidentified victims are
buried.
7 Baku Zoo (Azerbaijani: Bakı Zooloji Parkı). The oldest zoo
in Azerbaijan, opened in 1928.
8. Baku TV Tower (Azerbaijani: Azəri
Televiziya Qülləsi). The tallest structure in Azerbaijan is 310 m high.
It is ranked 34th in the world's tallest television towers.
9.
Parachute Tower (Azerbaijani: Paraşüt Qülləsi). A 75 m high structure on
Primorsky Boulevard.
10. Fountain Square.
11 Church of St. Gregory
the Illuminator (Bakı Erməni Grigor Lusavoriç Kilsəsi). An Armenian
church built in 1887. In 1990, the church suffered from arson, and since
2002, the building has housed the Presidential Library. The church is
locally designated as "Albanian".
12 Seaside Boulevard. The
boulevard appeared at the beginning of the 20th century and has
undergone many changes since then. Now it is more of a park on the shore
of the sea bay with attractions and fountains. A favorite recreation
area for Baku residents and visitors. Free Wi-Fi is available.
13 Panorama point. The viewpoint can be reached by funicular.
14 Bibi-Heybat Mosque (Azerbaijani: Bibiheybət Məscidi). A Shiite
mosque located on the shore of Baku Bay. The current building was
constructed in 1999 on the site of a 13th-century mosque of the same
name, destroyed in 1936. The mosque was designed by architect Sanan
Sultanov in the style of Shirvan architecture. The area in front of the
mosque offers impressive views of the Caspian Shipping Company's
buildings.
15 Tezepir Mosque (Azerbaijani: Təzəpir). A mosque in Baku.
Construction of the mosque began in 1905 under the patronage of
philanthropist Nabat-khanum Ashurbeyova by architect Ziver bey
Akhmedbeyov. After the death of the philanthropist, construction was
suspended. However, it soon continued under her son and was completed in
1914.
16 Ajdarbek Mosque (Əjdərbəy məscidi, Blue Mosque, Ittifaq
Mosque), Samed Vurgun Street, 76 (about 20 minutes walk from Nizami
metro station). This mosque was built in 1912-13 according to the design
of the same Ziver-bek Akhmedbekov, and the construction was sponsored by
Ajdar-bek Ashurbekov, from whom the name of the mosque comes. During
construction, the location was chosen very well - in the middle of a
one-story private building, on a hillside from which almost the entire
city was visible. Akhmedbekov decided to make a large dome for the
mosque, and even put it on a drum, so that a feeling of high volume
appeared, usually not characteristic of Azerbaijani and Turkish
architecture. The building is located at an angle to Samed Vurgun Street
(former Krasnovodskaya), which emphasizes its volume. Next to it is one
sharp minaret. The walls are covered with carvings. Unfortunately, the
mass development of Baku has reached here, creating several multi-story
and not particularly aesthetic buildings as a backdrop for the mosque.
The mosque is active.
17 The Cathedral of the Holy Myrrh-Bearing Women (Azerbaijani:
Müqəddəs Mürdaşıyan Zənənlər Başkilsəsi) is a Russian Orthodox cathedral
dedicated to the Myrrh-Bearing Women. It was built in 1909 by the
architect F. M. Verzhbitsky with funds allocated by the Ministry of War.
It is currently part of the Baku and Azerbaijan Diocese of the Moscow
Patriarchate.
18 The Church of the Savior. A Lutheran church built
in 1899 in the neo-Gothic style, designed by Adolf Eichler.
19 Government House of Azerbaijan. Built in 1951.
20 Residential
Building of Scientists, Neftchilar Avenue, 67. The building was built in
1946 according to the design of architects Sadykh Dadashev and Mikael
Useynov. It is considered a significant milestone in the development of
Azerbaijani architecture.
21 Press Palace (Azerneshr), Azerbaijan
Avenue, 4. The building with pronounced features of constructivism was
built in 1932 according to the design of S.S. Pen, the author of another
avant-garde monument, the Moscow printing house club "Red Proletarian".
Consisting of three buildings, Azerneshr was built in the city center
and was once a single printing complex, where everything necessary for
publishing was located, including publishing houses, printing shops,
warehouses for raw materials and finished products, a bookstore and even
premises for workers' services. The Printing Palace was lucky in life,
it was practically not rebuilt and has reached us in the forms conceived
by the architect, although hidden by overgrown trees. The building is
among the hundred most famous monuments of the Soviet avant-garde and is
considered a symbol of Baku constructivism.
22 The building of the
Physiotherapy Institute, Khatai Avenue, 3. The complex of buildings,
executed in the spirit of constructivism, was built in 1929-1930
according to the design of the architect G.M. Ter-Mikelov. This building
was one of the few appeals of this successful architect to the
avant-garde.
23 State Bank building, corner of Nizami Street and Bulbul
Avenue. Constructivist monument, designed by Ter-Mikelov.
24 AzINH
(University of Oil and Industry) building, Azadlyg Avenue, 16.
Constructivist monument.
25 House of the Dynamo Sports Society,
Rashid Behbudov Street, 2. A slightly rebuilt constructivist monument,
converted into a hotel.
26 Volodarsky Sewing Factory. Constructivist
monument, 1931-32.
27 House of State Bank Employees (House of Bank
Employees), ul. Buniat Sardarova, 12. A building at the junction of
constructivism and national style (1926-27), architect G. Ter-Mikelov.
28 Nizami Cinema, Bulbul Avenue, 20. Built in 1934 according to the
design of Sadykh Dadashev and Mikael Useynov. One of the latest
monuments of constructivism in Baku.
29 Residential building of the
Buzovnyneft trust. 1945, design by Sadykh Dadashev and Mikael Useynov.
30 Intourist Hotel, Neftyanikov Avenue, 63. The hotel was built in 1934
according to the design of the famous architect A.V. Shchusev in the
then fashionable constructivism style. In the 1970s, after another
Intourist appeared in the city, later renamed Azerbaijan, the Shchusev
hotel was nicknamed the "old Intourist" and, according to rumors, it was
one of the cult places of Soviet Baku. In 2000, the building was
severely damaged by an earthquake, and after the fire of 2005, it was
decided to demolish it, and in its place they built a new luxury hotel,
preserving the spatial composition of the old building. True, the
location of the new hotel has changed somewhat: it moved several hundred
meters, settling down next to the fire station building in Bailovo. The
new version of the hotel looks harmonious and is practically
indistinguishable from the original monuments of constructivism. Its
neighbor, a fire station of indeterminate age, was renovated in the
2000s and also looks good.
31 Café "Pearl" (Mirvari), Primorsky
Boulevard. For this unusual building, working in the catering industry
is a thing of the past. The café was built in 1962 on the very shore of
the Caspian Sea and, according to rumors, the prototype for it was the
restaurant "Los Manantiales" built by Felix Candela in Xochimilco. The
café is made of reinforced concrete and, apparently, for this reason it
is sometimes classified as constructivism, although its curvilinear
forms indicate a later bio-tech style. After the retreat of the Caspian
Sea in the 1970s, the "Pearl" was washed ashore and since then it has
not been going through the best of times. In 2008, the café was
restored, but judging by its appearance, 10 years later it still has not
found its place in the city's economy, retaining only the role of an
exquisite tourist attraction.
32 Cultural Center of the State
Security Service of Azerbaijan. The building of the Dzerzhinsky Palace
of Culture was built in 1948 and is a notable representative of the
Stalinist Empire style. It was erected on the site of a spectacular
Catholic church that was demolished in the 1930s. It was built in 1912
according to the design of Iosif Ploshko, who worked a lot in Baku (in
particular, he designed the Ismailia building). In 2008, the Palace of
Culture was handed over to the country's security service, which carried
out a complete reconstruction of the building, trying to maintain it in
the original style. It turned out pretty well.
33 "Flame Towers". Three high-rise buildings resembling tongues of
flame were built in 2012 and have since become the tallest structures in
Azerbaijan. The towers are surprisingly good even in daylight, but are
especially impressive with night lighting.
34 "Death Star" Hotel.
The building is still under construction and is being built by Hareem
Architects, a company famous for its skyscrapers in the United Arab
Emirates. They promise something mind-blowing, 160 meters high, with an
equally mind-blowing interior. The same company is building another
high-rise building nearby, the "Half Moon" Hotel.
35 Monument to Sabir.The monument to the famous Azerbaijani poet and
satirist Mirza Alakbar Sabir (1862-1911) is installed at the side facade
of the Ismaili building. Its current version, the second one, was
created in 1958 by sculptor D. Garyagdy and architects A. Ismayilov and
G. Alizade. The first version of the monument was erected on the tenth
anniversary of Sabir’s death, but turned out to be artistically unsound.
36 Monument to Nizami Ganjavi. Before the advent of Heydar Aliyev, Abu
Muhammad Ilyas ibn Yusuf, better known as Nizami Ganjavi, was perhaps
the most famous person in Azerbaijan, on whose territory he had the good
fortune to be born. The number of monuments to the world-famous medieval
Persian poet around the world is enormous, although it is probably still
inferior to the number of monuments to Heydar Aliyev in modern
Azerbaijan. However, the time has not yet come to draw a final
conclusion in this competition. The opening of the monument to Nizami in
Baku took place in 1949 (authors - sculptor F. Abdurakhmanov and
architects S. Dadashev and M. Useynov). It is made in the form of a
bronze statue installed on a pedestal, which is itself a work of art.
The pedestal is made of red labradorite and decorated with stone
carvings in the style of the Nizami era. The bronze bas-reliefs used for
the pedestal cladding are based on the poet's works.
37 State Flag Square (Azerbaijani: Dövlət Bayrağı Meydanı) is a
square in the city where the national flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan
is located. On September 1, 2010, the grand opening of the square, where
the world's tallest flagpole with the flag of Azerbaijan is located,
took place.
38 Bibi-Heybat Power Plant (Krasin State District Power
Plant). A monument of industrial architecture of the early 20th century,
now a museum of stone chronicles.
39 Factory-kitchen, Kurban Abbasov
Street, 29. Factory-kitchen No. 4 was conceived as a giant food
processing plant, designed for as many as 60,000 people. Its building
was built in 1931-1933 in the constructivist style. The authors of the
building project are the prolific Azerbaijani architect M.A. Useynov
(1905-1992) and his friend and son-in-law S.A. Dadashev (1905-1946). A
distinctive feature of Useynov's works are exploitable roofs, and the
roof of the factory kitchen could be transformed from a terrace
overlooking the sea into a summer canteen. Over time, the factory
kitchen changed its specialization and now operates as a maternity
hospital.
40 Mosaic panel on a space theme, Kurban Abbasov Street,
76. The panel is made on the side wall of the house, almost closely
adjacent to the neighboring building (No. 74), which is why it is almost
impossible to see it normally. However, you can only notice it by
accident.
41 Villa Petrolea (Nobel Brothers Museum).
42 Shaumyan Palace of
Culture. A constructivist building (1929) designed by the Vesnin
brothers; possibly heavily rebuilt. Across the street is the fire
station building, also constructivist.
43 Church of the Immaculate
Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Azerbaijani: Bakirə Məryəmin
Məsum Hamiləliyi şərəfinə kilsə). The church was built in 2006 and is
the only functioning Catholic church in Azerbaijan. The Baku Catholic
parish is under the pastoral care of the Catholic Mission sui iuris in
Baku.
1 Azerbaijan State Museum of Musical Culture (Azerb.
Azərbacan Musiqi Mədəniyyət Dövlət Muzeyi), Neftchilar Avenue, 123a.
2 Azerbaijan State Museum of Art (Azərbaycan Milli İncəsənət Muzeyi),
Niyazi 9/11 (Icheri Sheher metro station). 10 manat. The main art museum
of Azerbaijan. The exhibition will first show you a secondary collection
of European art (don't miss the few worthy works by famous authors lost
there), then a good collection of Russian art (only the 18th and 19th
centuries). The entire second and third floors are occupied by an
exhibition of Azerbaijani art — first ceramics, metalwork and carpets,
then some Iranian miniatures, early (before 1917) Azerbaijani painting,
and then a small but interesting collection of Azerbaijani painting of
the Soviet and post-Soviet period — solid socialist realism coexists
with truly interesting and non-trivial things. The museum is not spoiled
by a large flow of visitors, and is not particularly designed for them —
for example, you will have nowhere to sit while viewing the exhibition.
3 Azerbaijan Carpet Museum (Azərbaycan Xalça Muzeyi), Mikayıl Useynov
pr-ti, 28 (on the embankment west of the old city). Tue–Sun
10:00 – 21:00. 7 manat. The museum was founded in 1967, but since 2007
it has been housed in a new building specially built for it, which
itself has the shape of a carpet and is a good example of modern Baku
architecture. Inside, they will tell you everything you need to know
about Azerbaijani carpets - types of carpets, the symbolism of the
patterns, the manufacturing process, and also show you a couple of
hundred carpets and at the same time a sufficient number of decorative
and applied art items and demonstrate how carpet-making machines work.
4 Nizami Ganjavi Museum of Azerbaijan Literature (Azerbaijani: Nizami
Gəncəvi adına Azərbaycan ədəbiyyatı muzeyi). The museum is one of the
largest and richest treasuries of Azerbaijani spiritual culture.
5 Heydar Aliyev Center (Azerbaijani: Heydər Əliyev Mərkəzi). The
cultural center, built on Heydar Aliyev Avenue, is a complex structure
that includes an auditorium, a museum, exhibition halls, and
administrative offices. An example of modern Baku architecture, it won
the Design of the Year award in 2014.
6 History Museum of
Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan Tarixi Muzeyi). Wikidata item
Tue–Sun 10:00–18:00. for foreign citizens 10 AZN. Founded in 1920.
7 Modern Art Museum (Azerbaijani: Müasir İncəsənət muzeyi). Tue–Sun
11:00–21:00. 5 AZN. The museum contains over 800 works by Azerbaijani
artists and sculptors, mostly working in the avant-garde style.
8 Ferris Wheel. Mon–Sun 10:00–23:00. The wheel, located right on the
shore, offers beautiful views of the bay and the city. In the evenings,
light shows are held here. The cabins are designed for 8 people, and one
rotation takes 15 minutes.
9 Stone Chronicle Museum.Wikidata Element
Among other things, the museum displays rock paintings brought from the
Gobustan archaeological complex and the Gala ethnographic museum.
10 Azerbaijan Opera and Ballet Theatre named after M.F. Akhundov.
11 Azerbaijan Theatre of Young Spectators named after M. Gorky.
12 Azerbaijan State Russian Drama Theatre named after Samad Vurgun.
13 Puppet Theatre named after A. Shaig.
14 Baku State Circus.
15 Yug Theatre. Avant-garde theatre with unconventional interpretations
of familiar plays.
16 Azerbaijan State Philharmonic, 2 Independence
Avenue. Located in the former Public Assembly building, built in 1912.
17 Crystal Hall, National Flag Square. Sports and concert complex built
for the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest and used to host major
international events since then.
Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Since 2017, Baku has hosted one of the stages of the Formula 1 World Championship. During the event, countless fans of this entertainment flock to the city, and Baku itself goes into a state of siege: the streets are covered with protective nets and stands, which creates serious problems for both motorists and pedestrians when moving around the center.
By plane
Heydar Aliyev International Airport (IATA: GYD). A
spacious modern airport located 25 kilometers east of the city center. A
high-speed highway leads from the city to the airport. It is the base
for the national carrier AZAL - Azerbaijan Airlines. The airport
building itself (terminal 1) is architecturally interesting; next to it
is an old building (terminal 2).
The departure and arrival halls are
combined: on the first floor there are a couple of exchange offices (the
rate is not very good, but not extortionate), car rental, and check-in
counters; on the second floor there is McDonald's and a Sky coffee shop
(a complete analogue of the Moscow chocolate bar in terms of both
assortment and prices). Prices are average or slightly higher than the
city average, in the international departure area there are several more
cafes, a little more expensive, but still at reasonable prices. Counters
open two hours before departure, that is, in the departure area before
boarding you will have a maximum of an hour. There is free, stable, but
not very fast Wi-Fi throughout the airport building, and plenty of free
seats.
You can get to the city from the airport:
Bus H1
Airport Express stops right in front of the terminal exit and goes to
the railway station (28 May metro station) with an intermediate stop at
Koroglu metro station - here you can transfer to the metro without the
risk of getting stuck in a traffic jam in the city center. Payment by
BakiKart cards (the kiosk with cards is immediately to the right of the
exit). The interval is once every half hour during the day, once an hour
at night, the journey from the station is the same half an hour,
adjusted for traffic jams and general eastern leisureliness.
By bus
16 - goes to Samed Vurgun Square (city center). The trip costs 1AZN and
takes an hour.
Minibus 135 goes to 28 May station. The journey takes
about an hour and costs 0.40 AZN
A taxi to the center will cost about
30 AZN.
By train
You can get to Baku from Russia by train.
From Moscow from Kursky railway station by direct train #055Ч, departure
schedule: Saturday, travel time: 52 hours (2017) a foreign passport is
required, a visa or invitation is not required. Only citizens of Russia
and Azerbaijan can cross the border by train. The journey by train is
actually tiring, especially in the southern republics of Russia. If you
do not have any special considerations, doing this is unreasonable: the
plane is faster, cheaper, besides, the train conductors take as many
people without a ticket as they can physically seat in the carriage, and
there may not be a seat left for you, even if you honestly bought a
ticket. From May to October, the Rostov-on-Don - Baku train runs once
every four days. From Moscow to Baku with a transfer in Rostov-on-Don, a
ticket is slightly cheaper, but takes slightly longer.
Baku-Passazhirskaya Station (Bakı Dəmir Yolu Vağzalı) (Metro 28 May).
Only long-distance trains depart from here. Of the rather large complex
of buildings, the most interesting is the building of the former Tiflis
railway station, built in 1883 in the Moorish style, architect Khrisanf
Vasiliev.
By bus
You can get to Baku by bus from different
countries. The main countries on this list are Russia, Turkey, Georgia,
Ukraine and Iran.
Intercity bus station (northwestern outskirts,
the final station of the purple metro line).
Koroglu bus station
(metro station Koroglu, last car from the center). An open to all winds
square, divided by fences into several platforms, from where buses
depart for the villages of the Absheron Peninsula. No infrastructure.
Buses to Ateshgah depart from platform 2, to Yanardag - from platform 3.
By ship
From the port of Baku there is a railway and passenger
ferry on the Caspian Sea to Turkmenbashi, the duration of the ferry is
12 hours. A visa is required to visit Turkmenistan.
In the Baku metro and city buses, including express buses to the
airport, you need a BakiKart smart card to pay for travel. There are two
types of cards: hard refillable cards with a one-time cost of 2 manat,
onto which you can add any amount to pay for travel, and soft
non-refillable paper cards (BakıKart Məhdud istifadə üçün) costing 0.20
manat, onto which you can add no more than 0.8 manat at the time of
purchase. If you plan to take at least a few trips on public transport,
take a refillable card.
BakiKart cards can be bought or topped up
at any metro station in machines (there is a choice of languages). The
machine takes coins and bills, but does not give change (the entire
amount is credited to the card, from which you can no longer withdraw
it), so change large bills in advance. If you are traveling in a group,
one card is enough (for each person, apply it to the turnstiles at the
entrance, there are no turnstiles at the exit). The balance of any card
can be seen by applying it to the scanner on the card vending machine.
The cost of a ride on the metro and city buses is 0.40 manat,
express trains to the airport - 1.30 manat.
Commuter trains
(lines to Sabunchu - Sumgait and to Surakhani) were canceled in the
2000s. In 2019, quite intensive (but with a long break during the day)
traffic to Pirshagi was opened.
Metro
Currently, the Baku
metro has 25 stations, the total length of lines is 34.6 km. For a
relatively small number of stations, a rather complex train traffic
structure operates on four lines, while fork traffic is organized on the
green and red lines from the station. 28 Maya. The direction of the next
train is indicated on the board at the end of the hall, usually the
trains to Icheri Sheher and Darnagul (Dərnəgül) alternate. Key stations:
the final stop of the red line Icheri Sheher is located near the wall of
the old city, Sahil station near Primorsky Boulevard and Nizami Street,
28 May station near the railway station.
The interior of most
stations is rather modest, without any special decorations. The only
exception, which is in striking contrast to the rest of the metro, is
the transfer to the purple line at Memar Ajami station, hung with
reproductions of famous paintings, from Repin to Picasso.
The
metro stations are open for entry daily from 06:00 to 24:00. Most
stations have cellular coverage.
Bus
Baku has a well-developed
bus system, which you may need to travel around the Absheron Peninsula.
There are two types of buses: the new red Ivecos that go around the city
agglomeration and where you have to pay at the entrance with a smart
card (BakiCart), entry through the front door. The white old buses
(mostly Isuzu) usually go to Absheron. You have to pay the driver at the
exit.
Real-time bus route
Car
Baku, and not only the
center, has a completely crazy system of car traffic, when many large
streets are one-way, and most turns are prohibited, so sometimes you
have to drive several kilometers to cross the street by car. Considering
that traffic jams are not unusual, and the driving culture leaves much
to be desired, it is better not to drive in the city by car, unless, of
course, you live in Baku. If it is absolutely necessary, get a
navigator, it, at least, knows how the traffic is organized.
Taxi
According to rumors, President Ilham Aliyev visited London and was so
impressed by the London cabs that he bought a batch for Baku. These
eggplant-colored cabs are the only state taxi in the city, comfortable
and safe, but not the cheapest: expect to pay about 7 manat around the
city and 20 manat to the airport. Cabs can be hailed on the street or
called by calling 9000. There are also commercial taxi services in
regular cars that are about 20% cheaper than cabs. Finally, Uber
operates in Baku, which, however, has an oriental flavor: for example,
no one will go to the airport at Uber rates in the middle of the night.
Funicular
The funicular rises several dozen meters and connects
the square on Neftchilar Avenue and Nagorny Park. The journey takes
three minutes, the interval is 20 minutes from 10:00 to 22:00, the break
is 13:00-14:00. The fare is 1 manat, cash only.
Lower station.
Upper station.
On foot
Nothing special, except that large
streets can often only be crossed by underground passages, and the
distance between such passages can easily be a kilometer. Plan your
walking outside the old city in advance.
All kinds of souvenirs are sold in sufficient quantities in the old
town. There are no large supermarkets in the old town, and if you need
them, you need to go outside the center.
1 Bazarstore, Khoyski
Avenue 830 (near the Ganjlik metro station, western exit). A large
supermarket, mainly food. There are many of these in the city, but this
one is conveniently located right next to the metro. It does not have
anything special, but if you need specifically Azerbaijani products,
such as quince juice, quince or watermelon jam, sweets or tea, they sell
them there at quite reasonable prices.
2 Book Center "Academy", Aziz
Aliyev Street 13 (In the building of the Literary Museum). A large
bookstore, which has a sufficient amount of literature in both
Azerbaijani and Russian, including useful local history books on Baku
and Azerbaijan.
3 Caspian Waterfront Mall, Primorsky Boulevard. A
large multi-level shopping center with underground parking is located on
the southern edge of Primorsky Boulevard. The building has an unusual
architecture, reminiscent of the famous Sydney Opera House.
Cheap
1 Pirojki u Marusi, Islam Safarli Street, 7 (corner of
Nizami Street). pie — 0.20 manat. Classic Soviet pie shop, which has
somehow survived unchanged during the years of independent Azerbaijan.
Delicious pies, there are kutabs and some other pastries.
Average
price
2 Fisincan, Nigar Rafibeyli Street, 25 (at the northern end of
Fountain Square, opposite the church). per person around 10-15 manat for
a full meal. Despite the menu with names in Russian and English, this is
the best place in the Fountain Square area, and relatively inexpensive.
Large selection of dishes of both Azerbaijani (in particular, a dozen
varieties of pilaf) and international cuisine, large portions, there are
set meals for 6 manat. Live mugham performances in the evenings.
3
Araz, Islam Safarli Street, 3 (western side of Fountain Square). This
establishment, filled with tourists, is one of the few that is divided
into smoking and non-smoking areas. The menu includes Azerbaijani,
Russian, and European cuisine, pizza-pasta-sushi, and lots of alcohol.
The prices are slightly above average, and the quality of the dishes
does not always match these prices; instead of fried meat, it is better
to order dolma. The advantage of Araz is that it is open 24 hours a day;
the breakfasts here are not bad.
4 Kebab Express, Gogol Street, 4
(eastern side of Khagani Garden). Adana kebab — 11 manat. Despite the
“fast food” name, this is a full-fledged restaurant of Turkish cuisine:
chorba, tsatsik, Turkish varieties of kebabs. Nice interior.
5 Gloria
Jean's Coffees, Istiqlaliyyet 51 (in direct line of sight from the
Double Gate). Espresso 2.80. Similar to Starbucks (which is also in
Baku, but not in this area). Good espresso, pastries, free wifi. There
may be no seats at popular times, as people (mostly young) sit here for
a long time.
6 Qoc Et, Z.Əhmədbəyov 2 (near Nizami metro station).
Around 10 manat per person for a full meal. The restaurant specializes
in shashlik, with several dozen types on the menu, including various
exotic dishes. In addition, there is a sufficient variety of soups, cold
and hot appetizers, and a choice of main courses. There is Turkish
coffee. A regular restaurant with service is on the second floor, and on
the first floor you can choose meat and salads, which will be made in
front of you, and there are tables where you can have lunch, it will be
a little cheaper. The restaurant is quite far from the historical
center, and you will only need it if you need to go to this area. There
is no need to go specially from the center.
Expensive
7 Rast
Cafe (on the embankment, near the pier). The cafe is literally ten
meters from the sea, if you sit outside, you can see the entire bay. For
this, be prepared to pay more than in the city - a serving of tea (with
which you will be given a lot of sweets) will easily come to 12 manats.
8 Park Cafe, Niyazi 5 (between the art museum and the embankment). 6
manats for a double espresso. A quiet and conveniently located place.
Good espresso, you can have coffee, but the menu also includes soups and
snacks, as well as dishes of mainly European cuisine.
Baku night clubs have reached the required level both from a purely clubber's point of view and for a young man who has decided to spend a night in the company of friends in this way for a change. Some of the most popular clubs are: Enerji Club, Eleven Restaurant & Lounge, Pacifico, Pacifico Lounge & Dining, etc.
Cheap
1 ATFK Hotel, Ashiq Molla Juma (half an hour walk from
Ganjlik metro station). 30 AZN for a double room. Quite a simple hotel,
but everything you need is there - clean rooms with amenities, Wi-Fi,
breakfast and even parking. Excellent value for money.
Expensive
2 Hilton Baku, Svobody Avenue, 1