A one-day route through Icherisheher (Old City), Baku

Icherisheher is an open area, so you can start your route at one of its main entrances rather than looking for a single visitor entrance. The Double Gate and Salyan Gate are two of the named entry points.

Once inside, take in the historic setting before heading to the Maiden Tower. The reserve’s notable monuments include the Double Gates and fortress walls, as well as the Muhammad and Juma Mosques and the Bukhara and Multan Caravanserais. You can use these landmarks to shape a wander through the lanes before or after the two main ticketed stops.

The Tourist Information Center at 55 Boyuk Gala Street provides visit-planning information, guide services and tourism support. It is open daily from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM; check the official site before you go for current details.

The Maiden Tower is a historic monument and museum at 99 Neftchilar Avenue, inside Icherisheher. It is one of the reserve’s most visited sites, making it a natural first museum stop on this route.

The tower stands 28 meters high, with a diameter of 16.5 meters on the first floor and walls up to 5 meters thick. Its interior has eight floors.

Researchers date its oldest parts to the 6th–7th centuries BC and believe its final formation and construction were completed in the 12th century AD. The tower has served as a museum since 1964 and joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

Admission is ticketed. According to the official museum price list, fees are 5 ₼ for local adults, 2 ₼ for local children aged 5–17 and 2.50 ₼ for local students.

For foreign visitors, the prices are 19 ₼ for adults and 9 ₼ for children aged 5–17. The tower is open every day from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM; check the official site before you go, as hours and prices are time-sensitive.

The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a 15th-century complex at 76, 1st Gasr Lane, and another of Icherisheher’s most visited historical monuments. It was built during the reign of Shirvanshah Khalilullah I, after the state capital moved from Shamakhi to Baku.

Allow time to take in the wider complex, not just the main palace building. Its grounds include Divankhana, a royal mausoleum, palace mosque, palace bathhouse, Seyid Yahya Bakuvi’s mausoleum, gate structures, a ceremonial courtyard and underground water reservoirs. The palace has functioned as a museum-reserve since 2000.

Entry is ticketed; the “Shirvanshahs Palace & Treasure” admission costs 7 ₼ for local adults, 2 ₼ for local children aged 5–17 and 3 ₼ for local students.

Foreign adult admission is 24 ₼ and foreign children aged 5–17 pay 12 ₼. The palace is open every day from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Check the official site before you go for current ticket and opening details.

Leave part of the day unscheduled for Icherisheher’s historic lanes and the monuments beyond the two main stops. The Muhammad and Juma Mosques, the Bukhara and Multan Caravanserais, and the fortress walls are among the other well-known sites identified by the reserve administration.

From the Old City, the route can also lead toward Baku’s waterfront; a broader day out can include Baku Boulevard and Highland Park. Icherisheher is about 3.9 km from Alison Hotel, a central-Baku reference point for planning the outing.

Is Icherisheher a UNESCO World Heritage site?

Yes. Baku’s historical centre, Icherisheher, is a historical-architectural reserve inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Which monuments are the main stops in the Old City?

The Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs are among Icherisheher’s most visited historical monuments. The reserve also includes mosques, caravanserais and fortress walls.

Can you enter Icherisheher without going through a single main gate?

Icherisheher is an open area with several entrances, including the Double Gate and Salyan Gate.

What does the Maiden Tower ticket include?

The Maiden Tower has its own admission ticket. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs has a separate ticket called “Shirvanshahs Palace & Treasure.”