Where to Stay in Baku, Azerbaijan as a tourist

The Old City of Baku is where history and culture are preserved. This is a place you can visit again and again during your time in Baku, not just for the tourist attractions, but also for its architecture and food. You can find all that you need inside the old walled city, and it is one of the best places to live culturally, in the middle of it all.

Apart from the vibe, the old city is also located at the heart of the city. So it is super convenient to travel to most attractions from here. In fact, you can simply walk to most places. You can find legacy restaurants, desert places and tea houses inside the old city itself. 

Nizami Street is in the city centre of Baku. This is the beating heart of downtown with pedestrianised shopping streets, cafés, terraces and a lively evening scene. It is also a popular spot with tourists, so you won’t have many issues in locating and coming back to your hotel. The public spaces may host seasonal fairs and events that make a great place to catch up on local festivities and food. You will also find some of the best traditional restaurants in the vicinity that are accessible within walking distance.

Since the area is popular with tourists, taxis are also easily available. You can also find several local tour agencies operating in the area that offer tour packages for sightseeing in and around Baku. Most tourist attractions are also located nearby. While some are accessible by walking, others may require a short cab or metro ride.

Here are some popular hotels in Nizami Street and nearby areas that you may like:

Boutique Hotels: Seven Boutique Hotel Baku, OLF Hotel, Theatrum Hotel Baku

Luxury Hotels: Sapphire City Hotel, Winter Park Hotel Baku, Courtyard by Marriott Baku

Apartments and Homestays: Prestige Aрartment near F1 track, ISR city view by Bakuapart, Papa Jons apartment by Bakuapart

Places near Nizami Street:

1. Fountain Square

2. Old City

3. Baku Boulevard

4. Baku New Central Park

5. Təzəpir məscidi

6. National Museum of History of Azerbaijan

7. Khagani Garden

Closest Metro Station – Sahil (10 minutes walk)

What to Note – Since Nizami Street is a popular tourist area, the prices at restaurants and cafes might be slightly higher than what you will find at the outskirts. Be sure to visit a few restaurants to get a sense of the prices. The prices at the local grocery stores are also steep, so consider shopping at a hypermart instead. Traffic could be an issue during peak hours and during periods of rainfall. Expect a delay in movement.

I personally love this one, especially if you can get a room with a view of the Caspian Sea. The Baku Boulevard is huge, but the walkability on the promenade is fantastic. There are also several upscale hotels located on the road opposite the Boulevard. The best thing is that you can still walk to most tourist hot spots like the Old City and Nizami Street. You may have to take a short cab ride to others, but you do get a beautiful boulevard for a morning and an evening walk if that is something you enjoy.

Baku Boulevard is located next to the Baku Circuit, so if you are there to watch the F1, this is a great place to stay (with a balcony view). Attractions like Little Venice, Carpet Museum, the Puppet Theatre and Baku Eye are also easily accessible through the promenade. This is a great place if you are looking to enjoy the contemporary side of the city with great connectivity.

Here are some hotels on the Baku Boulevard that you may like:

Boutique Hotels: ART Gallery Boutique Hotel, Boutique 19 Hotel

Luxury Hotels: JW Marriott Absheron Baku, Hilton Baku, Intercontinental Baku Hotel By IHG

Apartment & Homestays: Sahil city view, Avenu Apartment, Maiden apartment

Places to visit near Baku Boulevard:

1. Baku Promenade

2. National Museum of History, Azerbaijan

3. Old City

4. Caspian Sea Cruise

5. Little Venice

6. Carpet Museum

7. Baku Eye

8. Nizami Street

9. Flame Towers

10. Highland Park

Closest Transit: Sahil Metro Station is 5 5-minute walk. You can find several Bus stops on Neftchilar Avenue.

What to Note: While the location is impeccable, you may have to walk a bit towards the old city or city centre to explore eateries and restaurants. The downtown restaurants may also appear pricier.

Just a little beyond the city centre, or the Nizami street, lies the Nasimi area. You can also identify it as the area near the 28th May Station. While the area isn’t very popular with tourists, this is where the residential and commercial centre of Baku is. Several offices and commercial buildings are located in the area, making it perfect for people travelling for business purposes.

The cost of living, rent, along restaurant prices in this area are also lower than in the peak tourist areas. This makes it a practical choice for people who are attending meetings, are on a tighter budget or looking to live longer in the city. The connectivity is great with several metro and bus routes in the area that connect them to the major tourist attractions and commercial areas nearby.

Here are some hotels in the Nasimi area that you may like:

Boutique Hotels: Karat Inn Boutique Hotel, Amea Baku Hotel, Home Boutique Hotel

Luxury Hotels: Hilton Garden Inn Baku, Hyatt Regency Baku, Midtown Hotel Baku

Places to visit near Nasimi:

1. Nizami Street

2. Yasil Bazaar

3. Russian Orthodox Church

4. Baku Zoological Park

5. 28 Mall

Closest Transit: 28 May Metro Station (10-minute walk)

What to Note: Since this area is a little farther from the city centre, you will have to spend a little time and energy travelling to the tourist destinations. You can do this using the green line metro that connects with the red line and travels to the city centre. Taxis may take some time to arrive.