Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, a Caspian Sea port where a walled medieval Old City, Belle Epoque oil-boom mansions and the glass-and-steel Flame Towers share one crescent-shaped bay. Visitors come for the UNESCO-listed Icheri Sheher, the Heydar Aliyev Center, a seafront boulevard, mud volcanoes and rock art at Gobustan, and a tea-and-plov food culture at very low prices.
Accommodation overview
Baku offers a wide range of hotels, from international five-star towers on the Caspian seafront to small boutique inns inside the walled Old City. The most convenient bases are the Old City (atmosphere, cobbled lanes, restaurants), the Seaside Boulevard and Fountains Square area (central, metro and nightlife), and Azadliq Avenue (larger business hotels at lower rates). Prices are in Azerbaijani manat (AZN) with US dollar equivalents at roughly 1 USD = 1.70 AZN. Rates jump during the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and the May-June and September-October peaks.
- Budget
- AZN 40-120 per night (approx $24-71): hostel dorms and simple guesthouses
- Mid-range
- AZN 120-300 per night (approx $71-176): three- and four-star hotels and Old City boutique inns
- Luxury
- AZN 340-1100+ per night (approx $200-650+): international five-star hotels on the Boulevard and Flame Towers
- Where to stay
- Old City and Fountains Square for first-time visitors; Seaside Boulevard for sea views; Azadliq Avenue for lower rates and a taxi ride to the centre. Rates converted at 1 USD = 1.70 AZN.
Hotels by budget
Find accommodation that fits your travel budget.
Budget-friendly
Museum Inn Baku
A small boutique hotel with about eight individually designed rooms inside the walls of the Old City, beside the Maiden Tower. The setting is the main draw; rooms are small and the lanes outside are cobbled.
Check rates on Booking.comMid-range
Park Inn by Radisson Baku
A well-known mid-range tower on Azadliq Avenue with a rooftop bar and restaurant, 24-hour reception and a fitness centre. Good value for a four-star, with taxi access to the centre in 10-15 minutes.
Check rates on Booking.comLandmark Hotel Baku
A high-rise hotel on Nizami Street, a few minutes from Fountains Square, with a sky-high restaurant and bar and views over the old town and bay. Good for travelers who want shopping and restaurants at the door.
Check rates on Booking.comLuxury
Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers
Fairmont Baku occupies one of the three Flame Towers above the bay, with city and Caspian views from most rooms, a spa, several restaurants and the Highball lounge. It sits uphill from the Old City, so a taxi or the funicular is the usual way down to the Boulevard.
Check rates on Booking.comFour Seasons Hotel Baku
Four Seasons Baku stands in a Belle Epoque-style building facing the Seaside Boulevard, a short walk from the Old City and Fountains Square. It has a full spa, an outdoor pool in season and several restaurants.
Check rates on Booking.comJW Marriott Absheron Baku
A large five-star on Azadliq Square a few minutes from the Heydar Mosque and the Boulevard, with a spa, indoor pool and several restaurants. A comfortable business and leisure base with good metro and taxi access.
Check rates on Booking.comHilton Baku
Hilton Baku is a tall hotel on Azadliq Avenue with a rooftop 360 Bar, a spa and fitness centre and large rooms; rates are often lower than the seafront luxury hotels. Taxi to the Old City takes 10-15 minutes.
Check rates on Booking.comHyatt Regency Baku
Hyatt Regency Baku is a modern business hotel with a spa, pool and several restaurants. It is farther from the Old City than the seafront hotels, so budget for taxis, but rooms are spacious and rates are among the lowest of the international chains.
Check rates on Booking.comExcelsior Hotel & Spa Baku, Curio Collection by Hilton
A boutique-style hotel on Heydar Aliyev Avenue with a spa, indoor pool and restaurant, positioned between the centre and the Heydar Aliyev Center area.
Check rates on Booking.comBaku Marriott Hotel Boulevard
A Marriott in the Khatai district close to the Seaside Boulevard, with a spa, indoor pool and restaurants. A short taxi to the Old City and within walking distance of the waterfront.
Check rates on Booking.comBest neighborhoods to stay
Choose your base based on your interests and travel style.
Icheri Sheher (Old City)
Walled UNESCO core with boutique inns, restaurants and the Maiden Tower; atmospheric but hilly and cobbled.
Best for: All travelers
Seaside Boulevard and Neftchilar Avenue
Sea views, parks and the Four Seasons; 10 minutes' walk to the Old City.
Best for: All travelers
Fountains Square and Nizami Street
Central pedestrian area with shops, cafes and metro access.
Best for: All travelers
Azadliq Avenue
Business-hotel strip with lower rates and quick taxi links to the centre.
Best for: All travelers
Our top picks
Handpicked recommendations for every type of traveler.
Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers
Fairmont Baku occupies one of the three Flame Towers above the bay, with city and Caspian views from most rooms, a spa, several restaurants and the Highball lounge. It sits uphill from the Old City, so a taxi or the funicular is the usual way down to the Boulevard.
Check rates on Booking.comFour Seasons Hotel Baku
Four Seasons Baku stands in a Belle Epoque-style building facing the Seaside Boulevard, a short walk from the Old City and Fountains Square. It has a full spa, an outdoor pool in season and several restaurants.
Check rates on Booking.comJW Marriott Absheron Baku
A large five-star on Azadliq Square a few minutes from the Heydar Mosque and the Boulevard, with a spa, indoor pool and several restaurants. A comfortable business and leisure base with good metro and taxi access.
Check rates on Booking.comHilton Baku
Hilton Baku is a tall hotel on Azadliq Avenue with a rooftop 360 Bar, a spa and fitness centre and large rooms; rates are often lower than the seafront luxury hotels. Taxi to the Old City takes 10-15 minutes.
Check rates on Booking.comHyatt Regency Baku
Hyatt Regency Baku is a modern business hotel with a spa, pool and several restaurants. It is farther from the Old City than the seafront hotels, so budget for taxis, but rooms are spacious and rates are among the lowest of the international chains.
Check rates on Booking.comPark Inn by Radisson Baku
A well-known mid-range tower on Azadliq Avenue with a rooftop bar and restaurant, 24-hour reception and a fitness centre. Good value for a four-star, with taxi access to the centre in 10-15 minutes.
Check rates on Booking.comBooking tips
Get the best deals and avoid common mistakes.
Book 4-8 weeks ahead for May-June and September-October, and several months ahead for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, when prices rise sharply
Choose a hotel within about 10 minutes' walk of a metro station (Icheri Sheher, Sahil, 28 May, Nizami or Ganjlik) to avoid daily taxi costs
Check whether breakfast and airport transfer are included; many Baku hotels include breakfast
Old City hotels sit on cobbled, sloping lanes with steps; taxis can drop guests at the Gosha Gala gate but not at every door, so confirm luggage access with the hotel before arrival
Compare rates on Booking.com, Hotels.com or the hotel's own site; five-star rates fluctuate widely by date
Keep a printed or offline copy of the hotel address in Azerbaijani script for taxi drivers
Alternative accommodations
Beyond traditional hotels, consider these options.
Guesthouses
Family-run guesthouses offer authentic local experiences and often include home-cooked meals. Great for cultural immersion.
Serviced apartments
Ideal for longer stays or families. Kitchen facilities help save money and provide flexibility.
Hostels
Budget-friendly option for solo travelers. Dorms and private rooms available with social common areas.