Baku Old Town & Oil History Private Walking Tour

4.9 (238 reviews) 2 h 30 min Free cancellation Private tour

out of 5

238 reviews

4.9

Group photo — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

We explore the historic heart of Baku on a walking tour. We discover iconic landmarks starting out walk from Fountains Square and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Icherisheher (Old Town) and then into Istiglaliyyat street and back to Fountains Square.

Thematiclly, we welve into the city's rich history, from its medieval origins to its transformation under the influence of oil barons in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We will learn and have pondered understanding about the social, cultural, and political aspects of Baku's past and present.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Excellent Quality Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low

At a glance

Duration: 2 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English
Operated by: Azerbaijan Traveller

Ages: Infants (0–4 years) · Children (5–12 years) · Youth (13–17 years) · Adults (18–45 years) · Seniors (46–90 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Bottled water

Not included

Not included: Lunch
Not included: Private transportation
Not included: Admission fees: Admission fee

Itinerary

Fountain Square

10 min

Fountains Square is downtown, entertainment and leisure centre in Baku. However, this neighborhood emerged as main trading street of boom town during the first oil boom era, late XIX and early XX century. This is where we meet and end the tour.
Baku Old City

one hour

Known as Icherisheher, Old Town of Bakuis a UNESCO's World Heritage site. We will walk and stop to offer explanation without entering the sights (Museums of Shirvanshahs Palace and Maiden Tower, Miniature Book Museum Muhammad Mosque and more) with historic photos.
Istiglaliyyat Street

Passing by

Formerly Nikolayevskaya and Kommunisticheskaya, the Istiglaliyyat Street was one of the main streets of Imperial Russian time Baku. Here we will explore urban transformation that brought by oil barons and their quest for personal glory and fame. The attractions covered along Istiglaliyyat street are: Governor’s Garden, Town Hall, Philharmonic Hall, Palace of Happiness, Institute of Manuscripts of Azerbaijan, Ismaliyya Palace (Muslim Charitable Society), Literature Museum and the statue of Nizami.
Philharmonic Fountain

10 min

This is where one of the evironment built during Baku's expansion beyond the fortess wall. The story of the garden will be linked to a book titled as Ali and Nino.
Stop 5

10 min

Baku Town Hall is one of the monumental architectural landmark from Oil Boom Era. It allows to understand architectural influences from Europe and impact that cosmopolitan and diverse groups of people had on Baku.
Stop 6

10 min

This is a story about an Oil Baron and his wife whose love story retold when people get married in their mansion which serves as marriage registry today.
Stop 7

10 min

This is a story about first secular school for Muslim Women and the process of modernization in Baku and ultimately Azerbaijan's first independence.
Stop 8

10 min

This is a story of an Oil Baron who commision a Palace in the memory of his son that becomes an important architectural landmark designed in Venetian Gothic Style.
Fountain Square

10 min

The walking tour ends at Fountains Square.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

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.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.