Visit
How to reach the tower, what is inside and what you can see from its roof.
Getting there
The Maiden Tower is in Icherisheher, in the southern part of the Old City of Baku, near the Seaside Boulevard. The nearest metro station is named after it — 'Icherisheher' (İçərişəhər); from there it is a few minutes on foot through the fortress gates.
A museum over eight storeys
Today there is a museum inside the tower. A stone staircase leads up through eight storeys to the rooftop viewing platform. Along the way is an exhibition on the history of the tower and the Old City, the well, and the theories of its purpose.
To make the most of your visit
Go to the top
The roof offers a panorama of the Old City, the Caspian and Baku Bay — the best viewpoint in the quarter.
Come in the morning
Mornings are quieter and the light is soft; the tower's stone is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset.
Comfortable shoes
The staircase inside is steep and stony, and the streets of Icherisheher are cobbled — choose comfortable shoes.
Combine your route
The Shirvanshahs' Palace, the bazaar square and the baths are nearby — allow at least half a day for the Old City.
The essentials, briefly
In Icherisheher — the Old City of Baku, near the Seaside Boulevard. The nearest metro is 'Icherisheher'.
The exact date is unknown. The upper part is dated to the 12th century, the lower perhaps to the early Middle Ages or even pre-Islamic times. Debates over its age continue.
'Qız' means both 'maiden' and 'unconquered'. The name is linked to the legend of a girl who leapt into the sea and to the fact that the tower was never taken.
There is no single answer. Theories include a fire temple, an observatory, a fortress, a lighthouse and a water store.
Yes. The Caspian once reached the very tower; as it retreated, land emerged around it on which the Old City rose.
The Church of St. Bartholomew (1892), built on the site of the apostle's martyrdom. Demolished in 1936; its ruins were found in 1964.
Climb the tower — and you will see the sea, the city and the legend meet at a single point.