Baku is the capital and most populated city of the Caucasus. Located on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, this city consists of two main parts: the urban center and the inner city. The center with the Palace of the Shirvanshah and the Maiden’s Tower was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in the year 2000.

The architecture in Baku varies completely, from the base of the old city to the modern buildings and the spacious design of the port of Baku. Many of the most impressive buildings in the city were built during the twentieth century, when the architectural elements of European styles were combined in an eclectic style. Baku, therefore, has an original and unique aspect, which has earned it to be known as the “Paris of the East”.

The Old City of Baku, also known as the Walled City of Baku, refers to the ancient settlement that developed in the Azeri capital. This area is picturesque, with its labyrinth of narrow streets and ancient buildings: the cobbled streets pass through the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, it has two caravans, baths and the Juma Mosque.

Art Nouveau in Baku began to appear in the 2000s. With the important economic development, buildings with entire glass walls have appeared around the city; the most outstanding examples are the SOCAR Tower and the Flame Towers. Thousands of buildings from the Soviet era have been demolished causing the city to grow dynamically and at full speed giving way to a green belt on its shores, parks and gardens filling the beaches of Baku Bay.

Walking along Baku Boulevard we can visit the Bulvar Park, a shopping center with futuristic architecture. We will see from the outside in the international center of the Mugham of Azerbaijan, which is a center of art and music of Azerbaijan as well as the Baku Chrystal Hall. This building hosted the 6th Electronic Sports World Championship.

Next we will explore the futuristic architecture of Baku. The exterior of the Baku Olympic Stadium in addition to the futuristic Socar New Management Building and the Azersu office tower. We will also observe from the outside the “Palace of Happiness” by the architect Iosif Ploshko.

We will visit the ancient Tower of the Maiden (12th century), the Shirvanshah Palace and explore the exterior of the Flame Towers. They are a trio of skyscrapers in Baku, one of them is the highest in the country, with a height of 182 meters.

We will see the Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by the Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid. This building is distinguished by its unique architectural style that avoids any sharp angle.

Local transport includes the Baku subway, a rapid transit system that, like those in many cities of the former Soviet Union, is notable for its art in the stations in the form of murals, mosaics, chandeliers and large ornaments.

Choose between one of our tours in Baku oriented to design, urban planning and architecture in Baku, or request that one of our architects prepare a customized itinerary. All our guides are professional architects.