Baku City Tour with Guide: Palace, Tower & Carpet Museum
Walk the 12th-century Maiden Tower, then climb the Baku Ferris Wheel for views across the Caspian.
A guided city tour of Baku covering the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Maiden Tower, Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, Baku Ferris Wheel and Little Venice, with entrance tickets, a professional guide in English, Arabic, Russian or Turkish, bottled water, air-conditioned transport and complimentary photography. Pickup is included; the tour runs three to four hours and suits all fitness levels.
3h–4h
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Baku's historic and modern sites
- Visit Baku Museum of Miniature Books
- Tour Palace of the Shirvanshahs
- Explore Maiden Tower and museum
- Visit Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum
- Ride Baku Ferris Wheel for views
- Enjoy gondola ride at Little Venice
The Experience
The tour starts with a walk through Baku's walled Inner City, where you'll visit the Baku Museum of Miniature Books—the world's only museum dedicated to books small enough to hold in your palm and holder of a Guinness World Record. From there you move to the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a 1400s complex with five distinct sections: the grand portal, the Divankhana stone pavilion in the courtyard, a mausoleum designed by architect Memar Ali, the Palace Mosque built in the 1430s, and a bathhouse with 26 rooms. Your guide will walk you through each, explaining the architecture and the region's history as you go.
The Maiden Tower comes next—a 12th-century UNESCO World Heritage site rising from the walled city's center. You'll enter the museum inside to learn about the tower's past and the city's revolutionary history, then climb the stairs to the top for views of the Caspian Sea and the skyline. After that, the tour takes you to the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, which holds around 10,000 items including one of the world's largest collections of rugs and tapestries. The museum also displays approximately 600 carpets from the Shusha Museum of History, each one a record of Azerbaijan's weaving traditions and materials. Entrance to all these sites is included in your ticket.
The final stops are the Baku Ferris Wheel on the Caspian Boulevard—built for Eurovision 2012 and now one of the city's most recognizable landmarks—and Little Venice, a mini-town of islands connected by stone bridges where gondolas drift through water channels. You can ride the gondola and eat at one of the two restaurants serving Western and Eastern cuisine. Throughout the day, a professional photographer captures your moments at no extra cost, and the air-conditioned vehicle keeps you comfortable between stops. Water is provided to keep you hydrated.
What’s included
- Walking tour of the walled city and Palace of the Shirvanshahs.
- entrance to the Baku Museum of Miniature Books, Maiden Tower, Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, Baku Ferris Wheel and Little Venice.
- air-conditioned vehicle transport.
- live guide in English, Arabic, Russian or Turkish.
- bottled water throughout.
- professional photography service.
- pickup included.
Operated by Baku Life Travel
Is this one for you?Book this if you're visiting Baku for one morning or afternoon and want a guide-led walk that covers the palace, tower, and carpet museum with professional photos included.
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Top questions
What's inside the Maiden Tower museum?
The Maiden Tower museum, located inside the 12th-century UNESCO site, offers insights into the tower's history, the walled city's culture, and its revolutionary past. Visitors can climb the stairs to the top for views of the Caspian Sea and surrounding cityscape.
How many items does the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum hold?
The Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum showcases around 10,000 items, including one of the world's largest collections of rugs and tapestries. The collection also features approximately 600 carpets from the Shusha Museum of History, representing Azerbaijan's weaving heritage.
What languages does the tour guide speak?
The live guide speaks English, Arabic, Russian and Turkish, so you can choose the language that works for you when you book.
Is the Baku Ferris Wheel included in the tour?
Yes, a ride on the Baku Ferris Wheel is included. Built for Eurovision 2012, it sits on the Caspian Boulevard and offers panoramic views of the city and coastline.
What happens at Little Venice?
Little Venice is a mini-town on Baku Boulevard with islands linked by stone bridges and gondolas gliding through water channels. The tour includes a gondola ride, and two restaurants on-site serve both Western and Eastern cuisine if you want to eat there.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes walking through the walled Inner City and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs complex, plus climbing stairs inside the Maiden Tower. The operator notes that 30 minutes is considered walking time for near destinations, and the tour suits all physical fitness levels.
Baku City Tour with Guide: Palace, Tower & Carpet Museum
3h–4h · EN · AR +2 · at your hotel
from US$ 47 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.6422 reviews
