Azerbaijan has long been famous for its intellectual minds and respected and intelligent people, be it writers, artists, scientists, or researchers. That is why in Baku you can find many places to explore the great culture of this country. The entrance fees for a majority of the museums in the country are extremely low or even non-existent, giving you a great opportunity to get to know more about the Land of Fire. In addition, here you can find museums that will immerse you in historic Azerbaijan and help you explore the country’s new realities. If you’re interested in learning more about the nation’s history, I’ve prepared a guide on the top museums in Baku, Azerbaijan, which you can check out to fill up your bucket lists.
1. Heydar Aliyev Center
Heydar Aliyev Center is a valuable symbol for the entire population of Azerbaijan, and bears the name of former President Heydar Aliyev. It is one of the most popular places in Baku, which is not surprising because the museum building is famous around the world for its elegance and extraordinary structure. It was designed by one of the greatest architects of our time - Zaha Hadid.
At this spot, you can relax, learn something for yourself, enjoy the aesthetics and, of course, take amazing photos. At night, the facade of the building changes with the help of lighting. The lights are directed from the inside to the outer surfaces and help unfold the formal composition, revealing its content and maintaining harmony between the interior and exterior.
The building consists mainly of three parts: the museum, exhibition halls, and the auditorium. The nine-level section of the exhibition area consists of halls and offices as well as a restaurant and cafe. In addition, the complex includes underground parking and a park area with two ponds and an artificial lake. If you are in Baku in the summer, then this will be an ideal place to spend the hot summer hours. However, note that a couple of hours will not be enough for you to explore all that the place has.
Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center
Address: Heydar Aliyev Avenue, Baku, AZ1033 Baku
Website: Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 11am - 7pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 6pm (closed on Mon)
Price: starts from 15 AZN (8.82 USD)
2. Baku Museum of Modern Art
The unique structure of this museum is designed in an avant-garde style and offers a lack of a rigidly set framework in its exposition. Even the two floors of the structure themselves seem like an integrated space, which can also be called an art object. I often come here to be inspired by the wonderful works of my compatriots.
In this museum, you can find the works of representatives of figurative art, one of which is my favorite artist, Tahir Salahov. The core of the museum houses a collection of the best paintings and sculptures by Azerbaijani avant-garde artists from the second half of the 20th century to the present. Currently, the museum includes about 800 exhibits.
Be sure to take your time here if you love contemporary art as much as I do because important exhibits of the era of contemporary art are collected here. The building also houses a children’s art room, a library, a video room, a restaurant, and an art cafe.
Baku Museum of Modern Art
Address: 5 Yusuph Safarov, Bakı 1025
Website: Baku Museum of Modern Art
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 8pm (closed on Mon)
Price: 5 AZN (2.94 USD)
3. Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Azərbaycan Milli Xalça Muzeyi - Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum on Thursday, November 21, 2019
Baku will never cease to amaze you with its unusual museums. This museum on my list is also distinguished by its visuals since the Carpet Museum in Baku has the shape of a wrapped carpet. In Azerbaijan, from time immemorial, the carpet has occupied a special place in people’s lives. In dwellings, floors and walls were covered with carpets.
The largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets, which are an integral part of Azerbaijan, is located in this museum. At first, it seems that all carpets are the same - but it is not. Each carpet weaving center has its unique ornaments and colors. In the museum, you can see not only carpets but also various objects of decorative and applied art, archaeological finds, and national costumes, of which more than 13,500 are kept in the museum. The building has three floors, where the first floor is dedicated to the development of Azerbaijani carpet and its role in local traditions, the second floor to the school of Azerbaijani carpet weaving, and the third floor to modern carpet weaving.
Entering this museum, you feel as being inside some kind of pipe or carpet itself. There is a beautiful view of the Caspian Sea from the upper floors of the building, as this museum is located near Baku Boulevard. By the way, if you want to buy a carpet for yourself but are not ready to spend a lot of money, you can buy yourself a small decorative carpet. These are sold in the Old City in souvenir shops, and I already have one for myself.
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Address: 28 Mikayıl Hüseynov Prospekti, Bakı 1000
Website: Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 10am - 6pm; Sat - Sun: 11am - 7pm (closed on Mon)
Price: From 7 AZN (4.12 USD)
4. Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature
The Nizami Museum in Baku is an architectural gem of this city and attracts the eyes of not only tourists but also locals like me who pass by it almost every day. The facade of this museum is decorated with turquoise and blue majolica ornaments.
It is located in the heart of the city, near the Old City and Fountain Square. This is the main center of exhibition of the written culture of the country.
Among the exhibits of the museum, you can see more than three thousand manuscripts, rare printed editions, paintings and sculptures, book illustrations, memoirs, and more. One of the pearls of the museum’s collection is the manuscript of the poem “Iskander-nama”. It is worth noting that wonderful people work here who are ready to tell you a lot of interesting facts and stories about the literature of Azerbaijan.
Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature
Address: 53 Istiglaliyyat, Baku 1005, Azerbaijan
Website: Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 11am - 5pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 10 AZN (6 USD)
5. Palace of the Shirvanshahs
The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is one of the most important examples of the architectural heritage of Azerbaijan. It is the former residence of the rulers of Shirvan located in the heart of Baku. The amazingly beautiful complex, in addition to the palace, includes the Divankhane, tombs, bathhouse, and the mausoleum of the court scholar Seyid Yahya Bakuvi. This palace and museum are located in my favorite part of Baku, the Old City, so you definitely shouldn’t miss it.
The Palace of the Shirvanshahs was built in the 15th century. If you look far from the sea, you can see that the Palace complex descends in steps from the top of Baku Hill, that is, the three main buildings of the palace lie on three levels. The buildings of the entire complex are crowned with domes with slender portals decorated with unique patterns of deep carvings and magnificent stone masonry. All this pleases the eye of everyone who comes here to admire the creations from the hands of medieval masters.
Better come here in the morning hours as part of the museum is located in the open air, so in the morning hours you will still have a chance to hide from the sun. In addition, from my own experience, it is in the early hours that there are the fewest people around.
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Address: Zamkovskaya Side-street, 76 Old City, Baku
Website: Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Opening hours: 10am - 6pm (daily)
Price: 2 AZN (1 USD)
6. Museum of Miniature Books
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
The originality of the museums in Baku does not end with its buildings. The Museum of Miniature Books collection contains about 7000 books, the size of which does not exceed 100 millimeters (3.93 inches) in length and width.
The museum’s collection was recognized as the largest of its kind in the world and was included in the Guinness Book of Records. The collection contains books from 64 countries of the world. It looks very aesthetically pleasing!
The smallest books are only 0.75 millimeters (0.02 inches) in length and width. You will also get a reading lens using which you can gauge the books’ content. Visitors can not only get to know the rarities better but also donate similar small-sized books to the museum. I have never found such small books in any of the countries I have been to.
Museum of Miniature Books
Address: 67, 1st Castle Lane, Icherisheher, Baku
Website: Museum of Miniature Books
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 11am - 5pm (closed on Mon)
Price: Free
Choose a museum worth visiting from this list
Considering the number of museums located in Baku, there are a lot of opportunities for you to explore the nation’s history. Luckily, these museums cover different topics, be it of diverse cultures or different eras, so you will always have a wide choice. All you need to do is to choose the area of your interest and head out and explore.
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