Azerbaijan Landmarks: Old City, Palaces, Rock Art

October 18, 2026

Advice from governments. The British FCDO recommends against all travel within 5 km of Azerbaijan’s Armenian border, and against all but essential travel to the south-western districts of the 2020 and 2023 conflicts, where mines and unexploded munitions remain. The US lists Azerbaijan at Level 3, Reconsider Travel. Land crossings with Armenia and Russia are closed, so travellers fly in. The landmarks here are in and around Baku, the north-west and the mountains. Read gov.uk and travel.state.gov before you go.

Azerbaijan’s landmarks fall into two groups: sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and other sights that make a day worthwhile. Fees are in manat (AZN) for a foreign adult, at about 1.70 to the US dollar.

World Heritage sites

Walled City of Baku (2000). Inside the walls stand the Maiden Tower, 28 m high with eight floors and a museum since 1964, and the 15th-century Shirvanshahs’ Palace Complex with its Divankhana, mausoleum, mosque and bath. The tower costs 19 AZN and the palace 24 AZN, both open daily from 10:00 to 19:00. The Siratagli complex is free. Also inside are the Bukhara and Multani caravanserais and the Juma and Mohammed mosques. The Tourist Information Center is at Boyuk Qala Street 55; fees are on the Icherisheher site .

Gobustan Rock Art (2007). About 60 to 70 km south-west of Baku, with more than 6,000 carvings. The ticket is around 10 AZN, with a few listings quoting 15. Opening hours differ between sources, so check, and arrive by about 15:00. Keep to the marked trails and do not climb, touch or chalk the carvings.

Historic Centre of Sheki (2019). The Khan’s Palace sits in the old fortress, and its shebeke windows are the main draw. A foreign adult pays 15 AZN, and interior photography is restricted. The bus from Baku takes 6 to 6.5 hours, so stay overnight.

Khinalug and the Koc Yolu route (2023). A mountain village at about 2,350 m whose people speak Ketsh. It is 50 to 60 km above Quba, by taxi or 4x4. Stay overnight if you can.

Other sights

Heydar Aliyev Center. Zaha Hadid’s building is a free exterior sight. Museum admission and hours vary between published sources, so see the centre’s site .
Highland Park terrace. Funicular, about 1 AZN, with a free view of the bay and the Flame Towers.
Shamakhi. The rebuilt Juma Mosque, about 120 km west of Baku, and the cliffside Diri Baba Mausoleum near Maraza (15 AZN).

Guided options

If you want commentary, compare Baku sightseeing tours for what each includes.

Martyrs’ Lane

Martyrs’ Lane (Shehidler Khiyabani) is the national cemetery on Highland Park above the city. Those buried there include victims of the January 1990 Black January crackdown and soldiers killed in the Karabakh wars, and an eternal flame burns. Treat it as a place of remembrance. Dress modestly, speak quietly and ask before taking photographs. The FCDO warns that conduct there can lead to police action, and access may be limited around 20 January. It should not be mixed up with Fountains Square, a separate pedestrian square with cafes.