Full-Day Baku City Tour: Maiden Tower, Old City & Highland Park

Six stops across Baku's old and new architecture, from the 7th-century Maiden Tower to Zaha Hadid's flowing Heydar Aliyev Center.

A full-day Baku city tour with hotel pickup and professional guide covers the Maiden Tower, Baku Old City, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Fountains Square, Heydar Aliyev Center, Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum and Highland Park in one itinerary. Transport by air-conditioned coach or minivan, bottled water and landing fees are included; you choose your guide's language at checkout. Moderate fitness level recommended; cash is useful for some museum admissions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Baku's main attractions

• Visit Highland Park for city views
• Tour State Museum of Azerbaijani Carpet
• See Heydar Aliyev Center architecture
• Walk around Fountain Square
• Explore Baku Old Town (Icherisheher)
• Visit Palace of the Shirvanshahs
• See the Maiden Tower

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel and a drive to Highland Park, where the landscaped terraces overlook Baku Bay, National Flag Square and the Seaside Boulevard — the vantage point most visitors come for. From there the coach moves through the city's landmarks: the Heydar Aliyev Center, completed in 2012 and designed by architect Zaha Hadid, with its rolling curves that made waves in architectural circles; Fountains Square, which shifts from daytime architecture to a lit-up evening atmosphere; and the Old City, or Icherisheher, where galleries and exhibition halls line the narrow streets.

Inside the Old City walls, you walk to the Maiden Tower, Baku's most recognizable symbol, possibly built as early as the 7th or 6th century BCE, and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs at the highest point of the district. The palace complex spreads across multiple structures — a reception hall, tombs, a mosque, a bath-house and gates — each marking a layer of Azerbaijan's architectural heritage. The State Museum of Azerbaijani Carpet, shaped like a folded carpet itself, houses 10,000 carpets spanning the 17th to 20th centuries, plus ceramics, metalwork and bronze-age jewelry. The museum is designed to be photogenic, and the collection is vast enough to spend time in.

A funicular ride up to Highland Park is included, and the tour runs six to eight hours depending on how long you spend at each stop. Your guide speaks one of several languages — English, Spanish, French, German or others, depending on which option you book. The coach is air-conditioned, water is provided, and hotel pickup means you don't coordinate meeting points or transport logistics yourself.

What’s included

• Transport by air-conditioned coach or minivan.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• professional guide in your chosen language.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• landing and facility fees.
• funicular ride to Highland Park.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by OM Hospitality

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want multiple sights in one day with transport and a guide handling logistics; pick self-guided exploration if you'd rather linger at individual locations or visit on separate days.

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Top questions

What's the Maiden Tower and why is it the symbol of Baku?

The Maiden Tower is the most ancient monument in Baku's Old City, possibly constructed as early as the 7th or 6th century BCE, and stands as Baku's most recognizable symbol. Its exact original purpose remains debated, but it has become the defining landmark of the city.

Does the tour include entry to the museums and monuments, or do I pay separately?

Landing and facility fees are included in the tour price, though it's recommended to bring cash for some museum admissions that may not be covered. Your guide will advise which sites require additional payment at the time.

How long does this tour actually take, and what's the pace like?

The tour runs six to eight hours total, moving between sites by air-conditioned coach with guided walks through the Old City and a funicular ride to Highland Park. Moderate physical fitness is recommended, as you'll be walking through the Old City and climbing within some of the palace structures.

Can I book this tour in a language other than English?

Yes — your guide speaks English, Spanish, French, German and several other languages. You select your preferred language when you book, and the tour is tailored to that option.

What is the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum actually like inside?

The museum is designed in the shape of a folded carpet and houses a collection of 10,000 carpets from the 17th to 20th centuries, along with ceramics, 14th-century metalwork and bronze-age jewelry. It's known for being highly photogenic and gives a thorough picture of Azerbaijani textile and decorative arts.

Is hotel pickup included, and how does that work?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour — your guide and driver collect you from your accommodation in the morning, and you return there at the end of the day. This means you don't need to arrange your own transport to the starting point.