3 Days in Baku: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Get ready for a city where thousand-year-old history sits right next to glass towers shaped like flames. Baku fits medieval lanes, a seaside boulevard on the Caspian, bold modern buildings and hills that actually burn into one compact city break that’s easy to love. Three days is just right. You can see the big sights without rushing and still have time for tea, people-watching and sunset walks.

This plan suits first-timers, couples, friends and families who like a relaxed but full pace. Days 1 and 2 stay in the city, mostly on foot and by metro. Day 3 heads out onto the Absheron Peninsula for the famous fire sites. We checked every price and opening time below on official sources on 24 October 2026. If we couldn’t confirm a number, we tell you to check the official site.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Icherisheher (Old City) and Seaside Boulevard	Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Old City museums, sunset on the Caspian
2	Central and modern Baku	National Museum of History, Heydar Aliyev Center, Highland Park views of the Flame Towers
3	Absheron Peninsula	Ateshgah fire temple, Yanardag “burning mountain” at dusk

Day 1: The Old City and the Caspian shore

Get ready to happily lose yourself today! Icherisheher, Baku’s walled Old City, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the perfect place to start. The lanes are free to wander and the main sights are only a few minutes’ walk apart. Put the map away now and then and just explore.

Morning

Get to the Maiden Tower when it opens at 10:00. The Icherisheher reserve administration says the oldest parts of the tower date back to the 6th to 7th centuries BC. It stands 28 metres high over 8 floors. It has been a museum since 1964 and opens every day from 10:00 to 19:00. A ticket for foreign adults costs AZN 19. Climb to the top for views over the Old City rooftops and the bay.

From the tower, walk uphill through the lanes to the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. It’s about 10 minutes at a gentle pace. This 15th-century complex includes the main palace, the Divankhana (courtroom), a royal mausoleum, a palace mosque and a bathhouse, all built from golden local limestone. It opens every day from 10:00 to 19:00. The foreign adult ticket for the Shirvanshahs Palace & Treasure is AZN 24. Allow at least an hour and a half.

Afternoon

Have lunch in one of the Old City’s tea houses or courtyard restaurants, then pick a few of the smaller museums. The Icherisheher reserve runs all of these:

• Museum of Holy Relics in the Beyler Mosque: Quran manuscripts from different periods. Open daily 10:00 to 19:00, free entry.
• Sirataghli religious-architectural complex: dug-up medieval remains just north of the Maiden Tower. Open daily, free entry.
• Underground Bath: AZN 10 for foreign adults.
• Miniature Art museum: AZN 5 for foreign adults.
• Teapot Treasury Museum: open daily 10:00 to 19:00, AZN 10 for foreign adults.

New this month: the immersive Time Pavilion museum opened inside the reserve on 19 October 2026. Trend News Agency reports a tourist ticket of AZN 28. Opening hours hadn’t been published when we checked, so ask at the entrance.

Evening

Walk out through the Old City gates to the Seaside Boulevard, which runs right next to the Maiden Tower. This long waterfront promenade is where Baku comes for its evening stroll. Watch the sun go down over the Caspian, then turn around. Once it’s dark, the three Flame Towers on the hill above the city light up. Have dinner back in the Old City or around nearby Fountain Square.

Day 2: Museums, curves and city views

This is a day of wonderful contrasts: it pairs a classic museum with Baku’s most famous modern building, then ends high above the bay. One thing to check: the National Museum of History is closed on Mondays. If Day 2 falls on a Monday, swap it with Day 3.

Morning

Start at the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan, a short walk from the Old City. It opens 10:00 to 17:00 and is closed on Mondays. It also closes on the last Tuesday of every month for cleaning. Tickets for foreign visitors cost AZN 15. Taking photos costs an extra AZN 2, so decide before you go in.

Afterwards, walk back down to the Seaside Boulevard. If you like carpets, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is on the waterfront too. We couldn’t verify its current hours or prices, so check its official site before you go.

Afternoon

Take a taxi or ride-hailing car to the Heydar Aliyev Center, the flowing white building designed by Zaha Hadid’s studio. Even if you don’t go inside, the sweeping outside and the landscaped grounds make wonderful photos. The exhibitions inside change regularly. We couldn’t verify opening days, hours or ticket prices on the centre’s official channels, so check the official Heydar Aliyev Center website before you set off. Don’t assume it’s open every day.

Evening

Go up to Highland Park, on the hill above the boulevard, for the classic view over the bay, the city and the Flame Towers. Get there for golden hour and stay until the towers light up. You can take a taxi up the hill. The park also holds the Alley of Martyrs, a solemn memorial, so keep your voice down and be respectful there.

Day 3: Fire temples and the burning mountain

Save the most dramatic day for last! Azerbaijan calls itself the Land of Fire, and today you’ll see why. Both fire sites are on the Absheron Peninsula outside the city. The easiest way to reach them is by taxi, ride-hailing app or a pre-booked driver. Traffic can be slow, so leave plenty of time for each trip.

Ticket tip: the Yanardag reserve sells a combo ticket for Yanardag and Ateshgah at AZN 25 per person. A bigger combo that adds the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex costs AZN 35. Combo tickets are valid for 72 hours after your first entry, so you can spread them over two days. Buy them through the ticket link on the official Yanardag website.

Morning

Start at Ateshgah, the fire temple at Surakhani. It’s a walled courtyard of small cells around a central altar, where flames once burned on natural gas. Use your combo ticket here. We couldn’t verify Ateshgah’s own opening hours or a single-site price, so check before you go if you’re not buying the combo.

Afternoon

Have a relaxed lunch, then carry on to Yanardag, a hillside where natural gas keeps flames burning along the slope. The reserve opens every day from 10:00 to 19:00. On its own, a ticket for foreign visitors costs AZN 15, and foreign children under 12 get in free. Guided tours last about two hours and cost AZN 10 in languages other than Azerbaijani. You can only see some spots with a guide, such as the Qirmaki Valley viewpoint and the sulfur springs. There’s a small museum, a café and a souvenir shop on site.

Evening

Stay at Yanardag into the late afternoon. The flames look much more dramatic as the light fades, and the reserve is open until 19:00. Then head back to the city for a farewell dinner. If you still have energy, one last walk along the boulevard is a lovely way to end the trip.

Swap option: if rock art and mud volcanoes appeal more than fire, swap today for Gobustan, the UNESCO-listed rock art landscape south of Baku. We couldn’t verify its ticket price or hours on an official site, so check the official site or ask a licensed tour operator before you go.

Getting there and getting around

Airport to the city

The H1 Airport Express bus links Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) to the centre and runs 24/7. Here’s what the airport and the bus operator publish:

• Fare: AZN 1.30 per trip.
• Route: Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, Surakhani Bridge, Koroglu metro station, then 28 May metro station next to the central railway station.
• Journey time: about 30 minutes to the railway station, according to the airport. Traffic and weather can change this.
• Frequency: the airport lists buses every 20 minutes from 06:00 to 23:15 and every 45 minutes overnight. BakuBus says every 15 minutes. Either way, you won’t wait long.

You pay with a BakuCard (BakıKART), sold at the card machines near the bus stops outside the terminal exits. The card costs AZN 2 and never expires. A group can share one card: just load enough money for everyone.

You can also get a taxi at the airport. Agree on the fare before you set off.

Around the city

The Baku Metro is fast and cheap. A single ride costs AZN 0.60, paid with the BakuCard or a QR ticket from the station machines. The fare went up to AZN 0.60 on 1 October 2025, so ignore older guides that quote less. City buses also take the BakuCard, and their fares depend on the route.

In the Old City and along the boulevard, walking is the best way to get around. For Highland Park, the Heydar Aliyev Center and the Absheron fire sites, taxis or ride-hailing apps save a lot of time.

Where to stay

• Icherisheher (Old City): for atmosphere. You wake up inside the walls, steps from the Maiden Tower and the palace. The lanes are cobbled and some are steep, so pack light if you’re pulling a suitcase.
• Fountain Square and Nizami Street: for first-timers who want restaurants, cafés and shops on the doorstep. The Old City and the boulevard are a short walk away.
• Seaside Boulevard area: for sea views and evening walks. The Carpet Museum and the history museum are an easy stroll away.
• Around 28 May and the railway station: for practical travellers. The H1 airport bus ends here, there’s a metro interchange, and it’s handy for day trips by train or bus.

Budget

These are official ticket and transport prices for foreign adults. Hotels and food vary a lot by season and style, so check current rates when you book.

Item	Typical cost
H1 Airport Express, one way	AZN 1.30
BakuCard (one-time card fee)	AZN 2
Metro ride	AZN 0.60
Maiden Tower	AZN 19
Palace of the Shirvanshahs & Treasure	AZN 24
Underground Bath / Teapot Treasury Museum	AZN 10 each
Miniature Art museum	AZN 5
National Museum of History	AZN 15 (photos AZN 2 extra)
Yanardag only	AZN 15
Yanardag + Ateshgah combo	AZN 25
Yanardag + Ateshgah + Mud Volcanoes combo	AZN 35
Time Pavilion (tourist ticket)	AZN 28
Heydar Aliyev Center, Carpet Museum, Gobustan	Check the official site

As a rough guide, the sightseeing in this plan comes to about AZN 20 to 45 a day in tickets and metro rides, roughly USD 12 to 26. Not included: flights, accommodation, meals, taxis and ride-hailing, guided tours and shopping.

Practical tips

• Plan around closing days. The National Museum of History closes on Mondays and on the last Tuesday of each month. The Tahir Salahov House-Museum in the Old City closes on the last Monday of each month. The Icherisheher sights listed above open every day.
• Dress for mosques and memorials. Cover your shoulders and knees when visiting mosques such as the Beyler Mosque. Women should carry a scarf to cover their hair if asked. Keep quiet and respectful at the Alley of Martyrs.
• Money. The currency is the Azerbaijani manat (AZN, ₼). Carry a little cash for small cafés and tips, and keep your BakuCard topped up.
• SIM and eSIM. Local SIM cards and eSIMs are easy to find in the city. Check package prices with the operator directly rather than trusting old blog posts.
• Book ahead where you can. You can buy Yanardag tickets and combos online through the link on the official Yanardag site. The Old City museums sell tickets at the door.
• Visa and entry. Many visitors need a visa for Azerbaijan, and some nationalities can apply online. The rules change and depend on your passport. Check the official ASAN e-visa portal at https://evisa.gov.az before you book anything, and apply only through that official site.

Heads-up

Baku is a welcoming, easy city to explore. A few friendly warnings to keep your trip smooth:

• Use official airport transport. The airport sends arriving passengers to the H1 Airport Express and the BakuCard machines outside the terminal exits. It’s the cheapest and most predictable way into town. If you take a taxi, agree on the fare first.
• Ignore old fares. The metro fare went up to AZN 0.60 in October 2025. If someone quotes old prices, trust the official machines.
• Don’t get caught out by closing days. Museums such as the National Museum of History close on Mondays and on the last Tuesday of the month. Check before you plan a whole day around one museum.
• Follow the rules at Yanardag. The reserve asks visitors to obey all notices and safety signs, keep children supervised at all times and smoke only in marked areas. Professional photography and filming aren’t allowed unless you contact the reserve administration first.
• Watch the 72-hour clock. Combo tickets for the fire sites are valid for 72 hours after your first entry. Don’t buy them too early if your plans might change.
• Read your government’s travel advice. Before you fly, check your own government’s official travel advice for Azerbaijan for current safety information, local laws and any areas to avoid.

FAQ

Is 3 days enough for Baku?

Yes, for a first visit. Three days covers the Old City, the boulevard, the modern landmarks and one day on the Absheron Peninsula. Add a fourth day if you want to see both the fire sites and Gobustan.

How do I get from Baku airport to the city centre?

Take the H1 Airport Express bus. It runs 24/7 and costs AZN 1.30 with a BakuCard. The ride to 28 May metro station takes about 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Can I visit Yanardag and Ateshgah on one ticket?

Yes. The official combo ticket costs AZN 25 per person, or AZN 35 if you add the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex. It’s valid for 72 hours after your first entry.

Is the Old City free to enter?

Walking the lanes of Icherisheher is free, and some sights are free too, such as the Museum of Holy Relics and the Sirataghli complex. You need tickets for the Maiden Tower (AZN 19) and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs (AZN 24).

Which day of the week should I avoid for museums?

Monday, if you want to see the National Museum of History, because it’s closed that day. The Maiden Tower, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Yanardag open every day.

Do I need a visa for Azerbaijan?

It depends on your passport. Check the official ASAN e-visa portal at https://evisa.gov.az for the current rules, and apply only through official channels.