Palace of the Shirvanshahs Palace

Address: Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Icherisheher (Old City), Baku, Azerbaijan

Hours: Typically daily (museum hours may vary), check local tourism sources

Admission: Entrance typically free to the complex grounds; some museum areas may charge modest fees

The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a 15th-century palace complex in Baku’s Old City, built by the Shirvanshah dynasty and recognized for its medieval Islamic architecture. The ensemble includes the main palace, a Divanhane (audience hall), a mosque, a royal mausoleum and a bathhouse.

Visitors can move through courtyards and a sequence of stone-built rooms featuring carved ornament, inscriptions and mosque architecture. The compact complex presents a range of administrative, residential and religious spaces preserved within the Old City.

Constructed in the 15th century under the Shirvanshah rulers, the complex served as the dynasty’s royal residence and administrative centre; it later suffered periods of decay and has been the subject of 20th-century conservation efforts. It was inscribed as part of the Icherisheher World Heritage site in 2000.

The palace complex lies within Icherisheher, the historic walled core of Baku, immediately west of the Maiden Tower and within easy walking distance from the modern city centre.

• UNESCO World Heritage: Part of Baku’s walled Old City and included on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of Icherisheher (2000).

What to See#

• Palace proper: A central royal residence block containing throne rooms and private chambers decorated with stone carving and inscriptions from the 15th century.
• Divanhane (Audience hall): A vaulted ceremonial hall historically used for audiences and provincial administration in the medieval period.
• Royal mausoleum: A small mausoleum and associated burial structures connected to the Shirvanshah dynasty, located within the palace complex.
• Hamam (bathhouse): A medieval bathhouse complex attached to the palace complex, showing original stonework and heating arrangements.

Located in Icherisheher (Old City), Baku. Use the metro to Icherisheher station and walk into the Old City; the palace complex is signposted from main Old City entrances.

• Combine a visit to the Palace with the Shirvanshah's gate, mosques, and the Maiden Tower for a full Old City experience.
• Visit early in the morning to avoid tour buses and for clearer views in softer light.
• Look closely at the stone-carved friezes and ornamental niches-small details reveal the palace's craftsmanship.