Top sights in Baku

Baku - the capital of Azerbaijan, is located on the coast of Caspian Sea. It attracts millions of tourists every year for its amazing blend of history, culture and natural beauty.

For a comfortable trip, many tourists prefer to use car rental services in advance. The average cost of renting a car in Azerbaijan is 20 euros per day. For example, in Yerevan the cost of renting the compact class car is from 11 euros per day, in Tbilisi rates nearly the same, although usually renting at the airport is cheaper, in Batumi airport you can rent a car from 6 euros a day.

Ateshgah
Ateshgah is a fire temple in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan. This ancient Persian sanctuary houses the shrines of three religions: Zoroastrianism, Islam and Christianity. It was built in the 10th century AD by the Shirvanshahs under the direction of their architect Ibrahim ibn Ahmed Shirvanshah. The name Ateshgah means "place of fire", atesh is a Zoroastrian word for fire. The complex includes caravanserais, baths, kitchens, living quarters and a mosque.
It was originally built by the Shirvanshahs (Shirvan kings) in the 15th century. Before Islamization, this place housed the temples of Zoroastrians and Christians. After Islamization, it became a mosque, and after the destruction by Shah Abbas I, it again turned into a temple of fire. During the Soviet period, its restoration began, but it was not completed due to the collapse of the USSR.

Ateshgah has always inspired artists and poets, he is often called "the pearl of the Caspian Sea". During its history, the complex has undergone several reconstructions; in recent years, it has become more and more popular with tourists due to its location near the center of Baku (15 minutes walk from the Opera).

Maiden's Tower
The Maiden Tower of Baku is a tower built by the Shirvanshahs in the Middle Ages. The tower was built on one of the hills of Baku, now located in the Old City.
The Maiden Tower is considered one of the symbols of Baku. Its height is 36 meters and it has 7 floors. It was created as a watchtower at the entrance to the city of Bail from the side of the Absheron Peninsula, protecting the city from pirate attacks. The tower was created in two stages: in the 11th century, its foundation was laid, and in the 12th century, it was completed up to 3 floors.

Bath Haji Gaiba
The Haji Gaiba Bath is an old public bath in Ganja, located in the Old Baku quarter. Built in 1826, this historic bath claims to be the second oldest in Azerbaijan after the Mardakan bath. Both baths are included in the list of the State Historical and Architectural Reserve of Azerbaijan.

The old town of Icheri Sheher
Icheri Sheher, or "Inner City", is a historical district of old Baku. It stretches over 20 km along the coast of the Caspian Sea and includes numerous architectural monuments dating back to the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

The old city is located on the flat part of the Absheron Peninsula, west of the center of Baku. It is enclosed within the fortress walls, built during the medieval period to protect against attacks by foreign invaders. The circular ramparts surrounding the Old Town were originally 4 meters high, but today only 2-3 tiers of earth and stone fortifications remain. The gates to the Old City include: Shirvanshah (1851), Sulut (formerly known as Chiglig) (1784), Dilara (1839), Bayil (1396), Binqdi (1780), Binyrli (1785), and Qarasunqal (1841). The famous Maiden Tower (11th century) is also located on the territory of Icheri Sheher.