Baku Old City and Monument to Lovers and Cats Walking Tour

Experience

Discover the heart of Baku with an in-depth walking tour inside the walls of the UNESCO-listed Old City. This premium experience entrance to the two most iconic monuments - plus 20 carefully selected stops featuring mosques, caravanserais, bathhouses, ancient streets, panoramic viewpoints, and hidden courtyards. Easy to miss if you don't know it's there, the so-called Cat's House of Icherisheher(Old City) is a work of art consisting of two faux windows and sandstone sculptures: one with a pair of children, a boy and a girl, looking up with a kitten, and another with a trio of cats. The names of this installation vary, but typically referred to as either the "Monument to Lovers and Cats" or Pişiklər və Uşaqlar ("Cats and Children"). Perfect for travelers who want more than a simple walk: this is storytelling, culture, history, architecture, and panoramic photography in one unforgettable experience. Begin at Maiden Tower Square (Qız Qalası) in front of the main entrance. Head inside the Maiden Tower (Qız Qalası) for an introduction and full inside tour. Learn about the legends and history of the tower and take in the rooftop panoramic view of the Caspian Sea. Snap some photos of the Old City from this vantage point. Next, head to the Icherisheher Gate (Gənclik Gate) and the entrance square of the Shirvanshahs’ Palace. Head inside the Shirvanshahs’ Palace Complex and see the Palace Mosque, Royal Mausoleum (Tomb of the Shirvanshahs), and Divanxana. Hear stories of the Shirvan kingdom and learn about the architecture, Sufi heritage, and royal court traditions. Continue to the Miniature Book Museum (exterior), Multani Caravanserai, Bukhara Caravanserai, and Qoşa Qala Gates. Walk through a narrow alley with miniature carpet shops and see the Agha Mikayil Hammam (exterior), Juma Mosque (Friday Mosque), and “Old Men’s Square” (Kişi bağı). Take in the city wall viewpoint with a sea view and see the Art Tower (street-art building), 12th-century wall panoramic corner, Haji Gayib Hammam (exterior), and Antique Bazaar small square. Finally, head to the horse-statue viewpoint near Qoşa Qala for closing stories of the Old City. Get restaurant and museum recommendations and enjoy a photo session.