Baku Old City walking tour: Palace & medieval streets
Medieval Baku without the maze: a guide walks you through the layers
The Baku Old City tour is a guided walk through the historic center, taking in the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Maiden Tower, City Walls, Juma Mosque and other landmarks while a professional guide explains the architecture and history spanning the 15th century to the Soviet era. The tour includes entrance to the Palace and a lunch of national Azerbaijani dishes served in the Old City, with guides available in English, Russian or Turkish.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Baku Old City and lunch
- Walk through Baku Old City
- Visit Palace of the Shirvanshah
- Enjoy lunch with Azerbaijani dishes
The Experience
Baku Old City sits as a distinct place inside the modern city—a medieval quarter where oriental architecture, European oil-baron mansions from the early 1900s, Soviet blocks and contemporary hotels all occupy the same streets. A guide leads you through this layering, pointing out how the styles interrupt each other and what each one says about who held power when. The walk takes in the Maiden Tower, the City Walls, the Monument to Lovers and Cats, the Juma Mosque and the Chinese Mosque, each one a stop where the guide anchors a piece of the story rather than leaving you to guess at plaques.
The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is the centerpiece—the operator calls it the crown jewel of Baku, and you enter it as part of the tour rather than buying a separate ticket. The palace combines bright walls with what the source describes as "dark stories," a contrast the guide unpacks while you stand in front of it. After the walking portion, lunch happens in the Old City itself, a set of national Azerbaijani dishes eaten where the events the guide described actually took place, so the food and the history sit together.
The tour runs two to three hours total. A professional guide speaks English, Russian or Turkish depending on which option you book, and the route is wheelchair accessible. Children from age one are welcome, and public transportation stops are nearby if you need to reach the starting point without a car.
What’s included
- Professional guide in your choice of English, Russian or Turkish.
- entrance to the Palace of the Shirvanshahs.
- lunch of Azerbaijani national dishes served in the Old City.
Operated by Baku Day Trips
Is this one for you?Book the group tour if you want to walk with other travelers and keep the price lower; choose the private tour if you prefer the guide's full attention and a schedule built around your pace; the Turkish-speaking guide option works if that is your language and you want to hear the history in it.
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Do I need to buy a separate ticket to enter the Palace of the Shirvanshahs?
No. The Palace of the Shirvanshahs entrance is included in the Old City tour price, so you walk in as part of the guided experience rather than purchasing entry separately.
Can I do this tour if I use a wheelchair?
Yes. The Old City tour is wheelchair accessible, and public transportation options are available nearby if you need them to reach the starting point.
What kind of food is served at lunch?
Lunch includes a set of national Azerbaijani dishes, eaten in a restaurant within the Old City itself. The guide continues to share stories about the area while you eat.
What languages does the guide speak?
The tour is available with a guide who speaks English, Russian or Turkish. You choose the language when you book.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes. Children are welcome from age one, though infants must sit on an adult's lap during the walk.
Baku Old City walking tour: Palace & medieval streets
2h–3h · EN · RU +1
from US$ 15 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.9763 reviews





