Place · Icheri Sheher (Old City)
Palace of the ShirvanshahsŞirvanşahlar Sarayı
Go at opening, 45 minutes: the courtyard, mausoleum and baths in one loop before the tour groups; closure days and last entry are not printed until verified.
go at hour · at openingadmission: unknownNot field-verified
Rules in force · 6Apply for the e-visa only on the official portal (ASAN Visa)Azerbaijan's land border with Armenia is closed to ordina…Old City lanes are cobbled, stepped and mostly closed to …
- Azerbaijan ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official portal (ASAN Visa); lookalike sites charge extra.
- Azerbaijan ↗Azerbaijan's land border with Armenia is closed to ordinary travellers, and several governments advise against travel near it and in the former conflict areas because of mines and military zones. Read your own government's current advice before you book anything outside Baku and Absheron.
- Azerbaijan ↗Do not photograph military sites, government buildings or oil and gas installations; drones need a permit.
- Absheron ↗Baku is exposed to strong northerly winds (Khazri): cliff paths and viewpoints can be closed, and hats and light bags blow away.
- Baku ↗Old City lanes are cobbled, stepped and mostly closed to cars: large suitcases go from the car to the door and never on a walk.
- Baku ↗Use a ride-hailing app or your hotel's taxi: street taxis quote high fares to visitors, and the app fare is shown upfront.
Time on site (minutes)
30
min
45
worthwhile
60
typical
90
p95
Opening hours and weekly closure day are not printed until verified for your date.
Getting in
- Stop
- Walk uphill from the Old City lanes; cars stop at the Old City gate
- Exit
- Walk down through the lanes to the Maiden Tower
- Ticket
- on site · official site
- Stairs
- palace: steps between courtyards
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Crowds and switching
- Crowd clock
- Tour groups from mid-morning; quiet at opening.
- Sensory load
- 3/5
- Exposure
- medium
- Queue rule
- Switch if the queue passes 15 min; come back when under 5.
Bailouts
- heat: Café lane inside the Old City (AC)
- rain: Inner rooms of the palace
Nearest rescue anchor: B — Palace of the Shirvanshahs courtyard (WC)
Combine in the same cluster
- Maiden Tower (same morning)
Red lines
- Do not climb on walls or tombs.
- Cover shoulders and knees inside the mausoleum and mosque rooms.
Sources
- Icherisheher State Historical-Architectural Reserve (official)
- Wikivoyage — Baku (see) (secondary)