Baku Old City Map: Top Sights in Icherisheher
Icherisheher, the Old City of Baku, is the walled historic heart of the capital and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. The map below numbers 22 key sights: tap a marker or choose “Show on map” in the list.
Interactive map
- Historic landmarks
- Mosques and places of worship
- Caravanserais and bathhouses
- Museums and galleries
Historic landmarks
1. Maiden Tower
This 29-metre cylindrical tower is the symbol of Baku. Inside is an exhibition on its history, and the roof offers views over the Seaside Boulevard and the Caspian.
Show on map2. Palace of the Shirvanshahs
A complex built in the 15th century, when the Shirvanshahs moved their capital to Baku: the palace, the Divankhana, a mausoleum, the palace mosque and bathhouse. It stands on the highest point inside the walls.
Show on map3. Double Gates (Gosha Gala Gapisi)
The main entrance to the Old City. The Shirvanshah coat of arms above the twin arches — lions over bulls’ heads — is the most photographed detail of the fortress.
Show on map4. Palace of the Baku Khans
An 18th-century palace complex that served as the residence of the Baku Khanate. Since its restoration, the courtyard and exhibition halls have been open to visitors.
Show on map5. Hajinski House
A wealthy Baku family’s mansion from the early 20th century, near the Maiden Tower. Charles de Gaulle is said to have stayed here in 1943, on the eve of the Tehran Conference.
Show on map6. Ismailiyya Palace
A building in Venetian Gothic style (1913). Today it houses the Presidium of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.
Show on map7. Ancient Bazaar Square
A medieval market square uncovered by archaeological excavations. Stone columns and old tombstones are displayed in the open air.
Show on map8. Kahriz Water System
An excavated section of the underground canal system that supplied the fortress with drinking water — a rare example of medieval Baku engineering.
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Mosques and places of worship
9. Muhammad Mosque (Siniggala)
Dating from 1078, it is the oldest dated mosque in Baku. Its minaret was damaged by Russian naval cannon fire in 1723, hence the name “Siniggala” — the Broken Tower.
Show on map10. Juma Mosque
The main mosque of the Old City. The current building went up in 1899 on the site of an ancient mosque, while the minaret survives from the 14th century.
Show on map11. Beylar Mosque
A mosque built in 1895. At various times it has also hosted exhibitions of the Icherisheher reserve.
Show on map12. Seyid Yahya Murtuza Mosque
A small neighbourhood mosque in the southern part of the fortress — one of the quiet corners you come across while wandering the narrow lanes.
Show on map13. Ruins of St. Mary’s Church
Church foundations uncovered during excavations at the foot of the Maiden Tower, a reminder of the fortress’s multi-faith past.
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Caravanserais and bathhouses
14. Multani Caravanserai
A 14th-century caravanserai built for merchants from India. Today its courtyard is home to a restaurant serving Azerbaijani cuisine.
Show on map15. Bukhara Caravanserai
A 15th-century building opposite the Multani Caravanserai, where Central Asian merchants stayed. Its cells are arranged around a square courtyard.
Show on map16. Small Caravanserai
A caravanserai in the south-east of the fortress; its arched cells and stone courtyard preserve traces of the medieval trade route.
Show on map17. Underground Bathhouse
A domed bathhouse sunk into the ground near the Double Gates. It was deliberately built below ground level to retain heat.
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Museums and galleries
18. Museum of Miniature Books
The world’s only museum devoted entirely to miniature books. The collection holds several thousand tiny editions from more than 60 countries. Admission is free.
Show on map19. Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography Exhibition
Archaeological finds from Azerbaijan — ceramics, jewellery and tools — gathered in a small but rich exhibition.
Show on map20. Baku Photography House
A small venue showing photography exhibitions and a photo archive of old Baku.
Show on map21. Tahir Salahov House Museum
A museum in the house where People’s Artist Tahir Salahov was born, preserving his works and his studio.
Show on map22. Ali Shamsi Studio
The open studio-gallery of contemporary artist Ali Shamsi. The installations on its walls make for some of the most distinctive photos in the Old City.
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Explore Baku with a guide
Browse city tours of the Old City and around Baku from local operators.
City tours →Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to explore the Old City?
You can see the main sights — the Maiden Tower, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the caravanserais and the Double Gates — in 2–3 hours. If you want to go inside the museums, allow half a day.
How do I get to the Old City?
The easiest way is Icherisheher metro station (Red and Green lines): the exit is right opposite the fortress walls. From the Seaside Boulevard it is a 5-minute walk to the Double Gates.
Is there an entrance fee for the Old City?
Entry to the walled area is free. Museum sites such as the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs require separate tickets; some smaller museums, like the Museum of Miniature Books, are free.
Why is the Old City on the UNESCO list?
Together with the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower, Icherisheher was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 as a rare example of urban heritage bearing traces of Zoroastrian, Sasanian, Arab, Persian, Shirvan, Ottoman and Russian cultures.
Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Official tourist brochure: azerbaijan.travel.