Baku Old Town and Oil History Private Walking Tour
by Azerbaijan Traveller
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$120Overview
This private walking tour in Baku covers the historic Old Town, known as Icherisheher, and the city’s oil boom heritage. The tour lasts about two and a half hours and starts at Fountain Square, the city’s main leisure and commercial area, which was also a key trading street during Baku’s first oil boom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The guide leads through Icherisheher, a UNESCO World Heritage site, explaining its medieval origins and history using historic photos without entering the main museums or sites. The route continues along Istiglaliyyat Street, formerly Nikolayevskaya and Kommunisticheskaya, which was a principal street during the Imperial Russian period. Along this street, the tour covers several landmarks connected to the city’s transformation by oil barons, including Governor’s Garden, Town Hall, Philharmonic Hall, Palace of Happiness, the Institute of Manuscripts of Azerbaijan, Ismaliyya Palace, the Literature Museum, and the statue of Nizami. Specific stops include the Philharmonic Fountain garden linked to the book "Ali and Nino," the Town Hall illustrating European architectural influence, the marriage registry mansion with an oil baron’s personal story, the first secular school for Muslim women reflecting Baku’s modernization, and a Venetian Gothic style palace built by an oil baron in memory of his son. Bottled water is included on the tour. Admission fees to any museums or buildings and private transportation are not included. The tour both starts and ends at Fountain Square.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Fountain Square
Fountain Square is the main downtown entertainment and leisure area in Baku. It was the primary trading street during the first oil boom era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The tour both starts and ends at this location.
10 min
Baku Old City
Known as Icherisheher, Baku's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour walks through this area for about one hour, offering explanations and historical context outside key sights such as the Shirvanshahs Palace, Maiden Tower, Miniature Book Museum, and Muhammad Mosque, supplemented with historic photographs.
60 min
Istiglaliyyat Street
Istiglaliyyat Street, formerly called Nikolayevskaya and Kommunisticheskaya, was a major street during Imperial Russian Baku. The tour explores how oil barons reshaped the city along this street, covering landmarks such as Governor’s Garden, Town Hall, Philharmonic Hall, Palace of Happiness, Institute of Manuscripts of Azerbaijan, Ismaliyya Palace, Literature Museum, and the statue of Nizami.
Philharmonic Fountain
This garden, part of Baku’s expansion beyond the fortress walls, features the Philharmonic Fountain. The garden’s history is linked to the book "Ali and Nino."
10 min
Town Hall
Baku Town Hall is a significant architectural landmark from the Oil Boom Era. It reflects European architectural influences and the diverse cultural groups that shaped Baku.
10 min
Marriage Registry Mansion
This mansion, formerly owned by an oil baron and his wife, is known for their love story. It now functions as a marriage registry where weddings take place.
10 min
First Secular School for Muslim Women
This stop recounts the story of Baku's first secular school for Muslim women and its role in the modernization of Baku and Azerbaijan’s early independence.
10 min
Venetian Gothic Style Palace
Commissioned by an oil baron in memory of his son, this palace is a notable architectural landmark designed in Venetian Gothic style.
10 min
Fountain Square
The tour concludes back at Fountain Square.
10 min
Meeting point
We meet out front of KFC/Pizza Hut at Fountains Square (See it here https://goo.gl/maps/2impV4G1z1uequ5c7). The guide carries a red umbrella to recognize.
End point
We meet out front of KFC/Pizza Hut at Fountains Square (See it here https://goo.gl/maps/2impV4G1z1uequ5c7). The guide carries a red umbrella to recognize.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Baku Old Town and Oil History Private Walking Tour
by Azerbaijan Traveller
Choose from 1 available option
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.$120Overview
This private walking tour in Baku covers the historic Old Town, known as Icherisheher, and the city’s oil boom heritage. The tour lasts about two and a half hours and starts at Fountain Square, the city’s main leisure and commercial area, which was also a key trading street during Baku’s first oil boom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The guide leads through Icherisheher, a UNESCO World Heritage site, explaining its medieval origins and history using historic photos without entering the main museums or sites. The route continues along Istiglaliyyat Street, formerly Nikolayevskaya and Kommunisticheskaya, which was a principal street during the Imperial Russian period. Along this street, the tour covers several landmarks connected to the city’s transformation by oil barons, including Governor’s Garden, Town Hall, Philharmonic Hall, Palace of Happiness, the Institute of Manuscripts of Azerbaijan, Ismaliyya Palace, the Literature Museum, and the statue of Nizami. Specific stops include the Philharmonic Fountain garden linked to the book "Ali and Nino," the Town Hall illustrating European architectural influence, the marriage registry mansion with an oil baron’s personal story, the first secular school for Muslim women reflecting Baku’s modernization, and a Venetian Gothic style palace built by an oil baron in memory of his son. Bottled water is included on the tour. Admission fees to any museums or buildings and private transportation are not included. The tour both starts and ends at Fountain Square.
Highlights
What's included
What's not included
Itinerary
Fountain Square
Fountain Square is the main downtown entertainment and leisure area in Baku. It was the primary trading street during the first oil boom era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The tour both starts and ends at this location.
10 min
Baku Old City
Known as Icherisheher, Baku's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The tour walks through this area for about one hour, offering explanations and historical context outside key sights such as the Shirvanshahs Palace, Maiden Tower, Miniature Book Museum, and Muhammad Mosque, supplemented with historic photographs.
60 min
Istiglaliyyat Street
Istiglaliyyat Street, formerly called Nikolayevskaya and Kommunisticheskaya, was a major street during Imperial Russian Baku. The tour explores how oil barons reshaped the city along this street, covering landmarks such as Governor’s Garden, Town Hall, Philharmonic Hall, Palace of Happiness, Institute of Manuscripts of Azerbaijan, Ismaliyya Palace, Literature Museum, and the statue of Nizami.
Philharmonic Fountain
This garden, part of Baku’s expansion beyond the fortress walls, features the Philharmonic Fountain. The garden’s history is linked to the book "Ali and Nino."
10 min
Town Hall
Baku Town Hall is a significant architectural landmark from the Oil Boom Era. It reflects European architectural influences and the diverse cultural groups that shaped Baku.
10 min
Marriage Registry Mansion
This mansion, formerly owned by an oil baron and his wife, is known for their love story. It now functions as a marriage registry where weddings take place.
10 min
First Secular School for Muslim Women
This stop recounts the story of Baku's first secular school for Muslim women and its role in the modernization of Baku and Azerbaijan’s early independence.
10 min
Venetian Gothic Style Palace
Commissioned by an oil baron in memory of his son, this palace is a notable architectural landmark designed in Venetian Gothic style.
10 min
Fountain Square
The tour concludes back at Fountain Square.
10 min
Meeting point
We meet out front of KFC/Pizza Hut at Fountains Square (See it here https://goo.gl/maps/2impV4G1z1uequ5c7). The guide carries a red umbrella to recognize.
End point
We meet out front of KFC/Pizza Hut at Fountains Square (See it here https://goo.gl/maps/2impV4G1z1uequ5c7). The guide carries a red umbrella to recognize.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.