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Baku Holiday Review: Check Out Why Baku is Great to Visit

Is Baku Good for a Holiday?

Baku is not visited by many people from the UK, making it feel quite undiscovered. It’s in the earlier stages of tourism development giving it a unique feel. It is very easy to explore on foot and public transport. The history of Baku is really interesting and there is fantastic food and drink too. The people in Baku are friendly and welcoming. All of these things make a Baku holiday a great idea.

Read my review of a 4 night tip as a solo female traveller to Baku. It was a wonderful trip which I have very fond memories of.

Let’s start with where Baku is. It’s in Azerbaijan on the Eastern coast. The map below shows Azerbaijan.

map of the world showing azerbaijan baku holiday the professional traveller

1. Baku Holiday – Weather in Baku

As you can see from the annual average weather chart below it can get quite cool in the winter and quite hot in the summer.

Something to consider is the wind that comes off the sea in Baku as well. It’s location means that the wind can be quite strong and quite cold, so whilst a temperature of 8 degrees might seem OK the wind factor can make it much colder.

I visited Baku at the end of October. The weather was pleasant and I didn’t need a coat or extra layer until it got dark and then only because the wind was making it cooler. It was pleasant for sitting outside during the daytime too.

Below is the current weather in various places across Azerbaijan.

shows buta airways plane in framed box at baku airport and baku city centre in the background

2. Baku Holiday – Getting to Baku from the UK

Baku is fairly straightforward to get to from the UK, with direct flights from London with Azerbaijan Airlines.

For my trip I did a reverse flight search. As a result I managed to find a really cheap flight from Istanbul to Baku. It was with the budget branch of Azerbaijan Airlines, called Buta Airways.

It was easy to book the flight online and to book luggage as well. The flight cost worked out to around £45, which given the flight time is 2 hours and 45 minutes away, seemed very reasonable.

Having found my flight route to get to Baku I decided to do a two stop trip, spending 4 nights in Istanbul before heading to Baku for 3 nights. Check out my Istanbul City break details, which include where I stayed, getting and where I visited.

Buta Airways flies from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) airport in Istanbul. This is not the main newer airport. It is easy to reach this airport by bus from the city centre, and it takes around 1.5 hours to get there.

I ended up staying at the Sabiha Gokcen Airport Hotel which was great and made it a much less frantic and early start to the day.

Sabiha Gokcen Airport is like many airports, in that everyone entering the airport has to scan their belongings at the entrance.

The airport has a good selection of cafes and shops for something to eat before the flight.

The flight to Baku was on an Embraer aircraft. It was clean and comfortable, although I appeared to be the only non local person aboard.

Check out flight costs for the year from London to Baku,

The schedule below gives you an idea of the flight schedule from London to Baku each day, so you can see what airlines fly and the days they operate.

The schedule below shows the prices for getting from Istanbul to Baku for the year.

The grid below shows the schedule of flights each day from Istanbul to Baku.

3. Baku Holiday – Getting a Visa

You do need a visa to enter Azerbaijan. This is very easy and simple to get through the E-Visa service.

The cost is $24 and once you have filled in the application online and paid you simply download your visa.

You need to apply at least 3 days before you enter the country.

4. Baku Holiday – Arrival into Baku Airport and Getting to the City Centre

Arriving into Baku was relatively easy. The airport is very new and modern – it’s the Heydar Aliyev airport.

Passport checks were speedy. The luggage was prompt too.

There is a place to get Baku currency in the airport and I would recommend doing this. I didn’t and it caused quite a few problems later in the day.

Just before going through into the arrivals hall there is a taxi desk where you can book a transfer into the city if you haven’t done already.

The airport was very large, clean and modern.

There is a bus which runs throughout the day from the airport terminals to the city centre. Tickets bought using a Baku Kart at 1.50 AZN. You would need to buy your card in the airport first. It doesn’t say on the airport details if you can buy your ticket on the bus.

Read more information on Heydar Aliyev Airport.

It takes about 30 minutes to reach the city centre from the airport. The map above shows the distance from the airport to the Baku city centre.

The drive into Baku is very interesting – there are some fantastic buildings along the way including one that looks like a giant candle complete with holder!

5. Baku Holiday – Baku Currency

The currency in Azerbaijan is Azerbaijan New Manats. The exchange rate is around 2.5 AZN to the £1.

6. Baku Holiday – Holiday Accommodation

There are plenty of hotels to choose from in Baku, with prices and facilities to suit all budgets.

Check out the map below to find the best prices across the city.

If you click on the price box you can see the name of the hotel, guest rating and a picture. Check prices to see more information and get details for your dates of travel.

Below are the best hotel deals for Baku – these are the most popular hotels for visitors.

photo shows jireh apartments in baku

7. Baku Holiday – Jireh Baku Royal Apartments

My apartment was at the top of a large block of flats. There were 3 blocks in the development and at the bottom of one block was a convenience store.

The apartment had a lounge, with a large leather couch. The TV cabinet was quite ornate but it didn’t work. There was a kitchen with a dining area which included a gas stove. The double bedroom had large storage units and the bathroom had a massive jacuzzi bath.

WIFI was included and there was a small terrace area which looked out across the main road and the sea.

For 3 nights I paid around £75 for my stay which I thought was very reasonable.

8. Baku Holiday – Getting Around Using Baku Kart

Public transport is a great way to travel when visiting anywhere really. Baku Kart, is a contactless payment card for public transport, a bit like an Oyster card in London.

All public transport in Baku is now cashless so you need to have your own Baku Kart before you board. You can buy these at the metro stations.

I hadn’t had the chance to buy one and had wrongly thought I could buy it on the bus. Thankfully a lovely local girl paid for my fare into town.

Buying a Baku Kart is relatively straightforward. The instructions are available on the machine in English.

I used the metro and buses every day and it cost me around £5 in total for the 4 days, 3 nights that I was in Baku.

A Word of Warning!

I had read on another blog that when scanning your Baku Kart some young people had pushed through the barrier at the same time to avoid paying. This happened to me, only once, with some teenage girls. I had half expected it so it wasn’t so much of a surprise.

Check out the Baku Kart page for more details on costs, passes, and routes.

The Baku Kart is the official card for public transport.

There is also a Baku Card which is a pass which offers free transport, alongwith discounted entry to various museums. A 24 hour pass costs 12 Euros and a week long pass costs 35 Euros. Like all pass schemes it is a question of whether the discounts are worth it, based on what you want to see and do.

fountain in baku promenade with metal birds

9. Baku Holiday – Things to Do in Baku

The main part of the city is very easy to explore on foot.

There is a large promenande dotted with gardens, cafes and sculptures. It is a very pleasant place to walk and see locals doing exactly the same thing.

There are various features along the promenade including the Baku Eye, a large observation wheel.

The Carpet Museum is a very large building shaped like a roll of carpet.

carpet museum building in baku

There is also a cute area called Little Venice which has some attractive water gardens.

Sculptures and interesting plants are dotted through the garden. There is an interesting display of all the Formula One racing drivers.

baku promenade showing frames with formula one drivers
tea and jam in baku
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10. Baku Holiday – Baku Tea

Many of the cafes in the gardens serve traditional Baku Tea. This is black tea, served with a variety of jams. The tea is poured into the cup and then the jam added for sweetness. There are often some snacks/cakes served with tea. This can be nice to try during your stay but it can be frustrating when all you want is a drink. The cost can be quite high too. In one cafe the cost worked out to £15.

There seemed to be an expectation that tourists would pay for the full tea service, with some cafes saying it was that or nothing.

As such it is worth checking this before you sit down, otherwise it could be quite expensive.

caravabserai in baku with trees in centre of the courtyard

11. Baku Holiday – Eating and Drinking

Eating new dishes is always a great part of travelling. Here’s where I ate during my stay;

Mugam Club – Caravanserai

Caravanserai were buildings that provided shelter, food and stabling to those travelling along the the Silk Road.

The Mugam Club is a restaurant housed in an old Caravanserai. The restaurant said it was open for breakfast but it didn’t actually have a breakfast menu.

It was no problem though – I had a meal of bread and cheeses instead.

The building was spectacular and it was worth going just for the experience of being there. I was the only person in the restaurant which made it very quiet.

It would be spectactular to go in the evening when the building was lit and there was a lively atmosphere.

baku teahouse with tea on table

Baku Holiday – Old Baku Tea House

The oldest tea house in Baku took a little finding. The entrance was quite unimposing and easy to miss.

The decor was nice with cushions and tapestries. There are little snugs and seating areas giving the place and intimate feel.

When I visited the the walls had large TV’s all over them playing pop vidoes which I found rather distracting.

house cafe breakfast with lots of small plates of food

12. Baku Holiday – The House Cafe

I absolutely loved this restaurant. It is in one of the main squares and close to the old town.

The House Cafe was very popular and busy with locals. The waiting staff were very friendly and helpful and spoke English which was great.

I had breakfast there which is shown in the photograph above. As you can see it was beautifully presented and absolutely delicious.

I enjoyed some lovely non alcoholic drinks too. The toilets were very clean and it was a lovely spot to watch locals enjoying the cafe too and also enjoying the open space of the square.

I returned the next day and had a lovely lunch with salad topped breads as shown in the picture below.

salads on bread at the house cafe baku

heydar aliyev building baku

13. Baku Holiday – Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre

When visiting Baku the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre is an absolute must.

It is easy to reach using the metro and then walking several blocks to reach the Cultural district.

The area around this space age and wonderful building is landscaped and the conference centre has an interesting design too. In the grounds there was some interesting public art.

The walk to the Cultural Centre meant walking through residential area and it was nice to see a bit more of local life.

On my return journey I got off at the wrong station and ended up having quite a long walk back. This turned into an adventure when I discovered the underground shopping malls. These were in the underpasses which are a frequent part of Baku. Some have escalators but many just have steps so walking around Baku as a pedestrian often involves going under roads or over footbridges.

Azerbaijan Museum of Independence and Miniature Book Museum

Having planned to visit both these museums I failed dismally to find either. Despite going all round the block where the Independence Museum was supposedly located I could find no sign of it at all. That was disappointing given the interesting subject.

I had the same issue with the miniature book museum.

It felt like an issue with Baku being open for visitors but not quite having joined all the dots of highlighting things to do and places to visit.

flame towers baku

14. Baku Holiday – Visiting the Flame Towers

The Flame Towers are an iconic building in Baku. They stand on the hill above the bay and are a dramatic and beautiful sight. You can stay in the Towers, which as you can image is quite expensive.

The Flame Towers are worth visiting during the day, because of the viewing areas nearby which give amazing views across the bay of Baku.

They are also worth visiting at night when you get a fantastic view of the colour changing lights, which cover the Flame Towers themselves. It is really spectacular and worth seeing if you get the chance.

To reach the Flame Towers from Baku there is funicular which will take you up to the base of the towers.

Nearby are some lovely gardens. There are quite a lot of steps if you head over to the viewing terrace but it is well worth it.

Also nearby is Martyrs Lane. It shows the pictures and details of the local people killed when fighting the Russians. It’s a very moving tribute.

baku view from flame towers terrace showing bay, buildings and promenade

15. Baku Holiday – Public Transport Issues

Public transport in the evening seemed a little hit and miss. Having waited in the city to visit the Flame Towers I headed down to the main road to pick up a bus heading towards my accommodation.

Unfortunately the bus stops were in the city centre and there were not other stops along the route. As such I ended up walking along a busy road at night. I eventually found a taxi rank and got a taxi back to my hotel. The driver didn’t want to charge me and again I had to insist.

On another occassion I managed to get a bus heading in the right direction but ended up at a bus terminal where the bus route finished. This didn’t seem too far away from where I was staying. I took the opportunity to visit a local supermarket which was fab. It was packed with local items and I stocked up on some gifts for home, including Azerbaijan tea.

Having seen my accommodation I then headed off through a scrubby residential area, full of dogs running about. The roads were unmade and there were lots of ramshackle buildings. It didn’t feel like the best place to be walking through so I just kept focussed on where I was going.

I navigated past some chemical and cement works and made my way round the back of the residential buildings to the main road. It was a part of Baku that I felt most people didn’t get to see.

16. Baku Holiday – Is Baku Safe for Solo Female Travellers?

I felt very safe in Baku. On arrival I had to get a taxi into the city centre to get some money and some shopping. As I didn’t speak any of the local language, or any Russian, I had to mime to a t axi driver where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. He was lovely and drove me around for an hour, for a total cost of £10.

Having not realised that public transport was cashless I tried boarding a local bus, and a local girl paid for my ticket.

I also couldn’t find a bus later in the evening and a taxi driver took me back to my apartments, he didn’t want paying.

17. Baku Holiday – Things to Do in Baku

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Old and Modern Baku Tour

This evening tour takes in the old and new building and sights of Baku. The evening starts with a evening meal. A local guide will show the sights and help you find some great spots for a photo too.

The trip includes a funicular ride up to the Flame Towers.

This four hour tour starts from £21.69 per person.

Check availability for your travel dates

44

Gobustan and Absheron Peninsula Full Day Tour

Discover diverse attractions across the Absheron peninsula on this full-day tour from Baku, with round-trip transfer from your hotel ensuring easy access to several off-road sites. Get up close to mud volcanoes in the Gobustan National Park, explore the Bibi Heybat Mosque and Ateshgah Temple, and see the Yanar Dag flames first-hand. The small-group tour size ensures an intimate experience, with admission fees and lunch included for a hassle-free trip. Tick off several Absheron attractions in just one day Learn about Azerbaijan’s history and culture from your guide Small-group tour size ensures an intimate sightseeing experience Avoid hidden costs with transfers, admission fees, and lunch included

From £39.59 per person

18. Baku Holiday – Baku Books

9781789198577

Baku Guide Book

This handy pocket guide includes a map and itinerary for Baku

It‘s just £5.99

Further Reading

If you have found my Baku Holiday review article useful you might also like;

Istanbul City Break – a review of a 3 night stay in the this busy, bustling city

Valencia City Break – less visited than some other cities with a lovely historic centre

Riga City Break – a really lovely city with the largest food market in Europe

6 Amazing Flight Hacks – to find great deals and new destinations to visit

If you would like ideas for your next trip check out my Travel Inspiration page

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view of heydar aliyev cultural centre in baku with conference centre beside it and gardens in front