Private Baku City Tour: Shirvanshahs Palace & Old Town
The Shirvanshahs Palace sits inside a 15th-century complex UNESCO recognized as a masterpiece of world architecture.
A private guided tour of Baku covering Highland Park, the Shirvanshahs Palace complex, Old City Icherisheher and Baku Boulevard over four to five hours, with hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. The tour is customized to your pace and interests, and the guide adjusts the route based on what your group wants to see.
4h–5h
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Baku's main attractions
- Visit Highland Park viewpoint
- Tour Shirvanshahs Palace complex
- Explore Baku Old City
- See Little Venice in Seaside Park
- Walk along Baku Boulevard
The Experience
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in an air-conditioned car and starts at Highland Park, the highest point in Baku, where you see the Flame Towers, National Flag Square and Crystal Hall spread across the skyline. From there the tour moves to the Shirvanshahs Palace, a 15th-century complex that took about ten years to build and now sits on UNESCO's list as one of the world's architectural masterpieces. The palace grounds hold the main palace building, a mosque, tombs, a bath and a hunting lodge—each one a separate structure within the walled complex.
Next is the Old City, Icherisheher, where narrow lanes pass through the Double Gates, Chain House and Cat House, then open onto Bazaar Square. The guide shows you the remains of St. Bartholomew church, the Lazgi and Juma mosques, and the Miniature Books Museum if time allows. The Maiden Tower stands nearby, one of Baku's oldest landmarks. The route includes the Multani and Bukhara caravanserais, trading posts that once moved goods across Central Asia.
The tour ends at Baku Boulevard, the seafront park that runs along the Caspian Sea. The boulevard fills with street musicians and crowds in the evening, and the section called "Little Venice" has water features and landscaping that echo the Italian city. Your guide times the visit to fit your interests—some groups spend more time at the palace, others linger on the boulevard or in the Old City bazaar. The whole day stays flexible because it's just your group and your driver.
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
- air-conditioned car with experienced driver.
- professional English-speaking guide.
- visits to Highland Park, Shirvanshahs Palace complex, Old City Icherisheher (including Double Gates, Chain House, Cat House, Bazaar Square, St. Bartholomew church remains, Maiden Tower, Lazgi and Juma mosques, Miniature Books Museum, Multani and Bukhara caravanserais), and Baku Boulevard.
Operated by Private Tours Baku
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a private guide who adjusts the route and timing to your group's interests rather than following a fixed schedule. The customization means you can spend an extra hour at the palace complex, skip the museum, or end the day watching street musicians on the boulevard—whatever suits your day.
Traveler reviews
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Top questions
What is the Shirvanshahs Palace and why is it important?
The Shirvanshahs Palace is a 15th-century complex recognized by UNESCO in 2000 as a masterpiece of world architecture. It took about ten years to build and includes the main palace, a mosque, tombs, a bath and a hunting lodge, making it one of Baku's oldest and most significant landmarks.
Can I customize the tour to spend more time at certain stops?
Yes, the tour is customized to your needs and pace. Your guide adjusts what you see and how long you spend at each stop based on what interests your group, so you can linger at the Old City bazaar, the palace complex or the boulevard as you prefer.
What is included in the tour price?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned car with an experienced driver, and a professional English-speaking guide are included. Entrance fees to museums, food and drinks, and personal expenses are not included.
Does the guide speak languages other than English?
The guide speaks English and Russian, so you can request the language that works best for your group when you book.
What is "Little Venice" on Baku Boulevard?
Little Venice is a section of the Seaside National Park designed to remind visitors of Venice, Italy, with water features and charming scenery. It's one of the most beautiful parts of Baku Boulevard, which stretches along the Caspian Sea coast.
Private Baku City Tour: Shirvanshahs Palace & Old Town
4h–5h · EN · RU · at your hotel
from US$ 65 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.7229 reviews
