Baku

Nizami Street

Baku's pedestrianised main shopping street, running through the oil-boom quarter.

Nizami Street is the city's principal pedestrian thoroughfare, still widely known by its Soviet-era name, Torgovaya, 'trade street'. It runs about three kilometres through the centre, and the central pedestrianised stretch is where Baku shops, eats and walks.

It is also the best place in the city to see oil-boom architecture at close range without going looking for it.

The architecture

The central section is lined with restored facades from the turn of the twentieth century, built when Baku oil money was being converted into buildings at remarkable speed.

The styles are borrowed and mixed with confidence. French Beaux-Arts, Venetian Gothic, Baroque revival, because the newly wealthy commissioning them wanted European legitimacy. The results are frequently magnificent and occasionally absurd.

Look above the shopfronts. Ground floors have been modernised repeatedly, but the upper storeys retain their original carving, ironwork and detailing.

Fountains Square

Nizami Street opens onto Fountains Square, the social centre of the modern city. It is ringed with cafés and restaurants and is where people arrange to meet.

In summer the fountains run and the square fills late into the evening. It is a good place to stop and watch the city rather than tick off a sight.

Shopping and eating

The street carries international brands alongside local shops. It is not a bargain destination. Prices are broadly European, but it is pleasant to walk.

For food, the side streets running off Nizami generally offer better value and more interesting local cooking than the main thoroughfare itself.

Highlights

Restored oil-boom facades from the early twentieth century
Fountains Square, the social heart of modern Baku
Three kilometres of pedestrianised street
Direct walking connection to the Old City

Tours that visit Nizami Street

Baku Explorer 1 Day View tour →

Not included: Entry tickets to all attractions, museums, cable cars and activity venues · Hotel / accommodation · Meals & drinks. Entry tickets are set by government authorities or venue operators and are payable directly on-site.

Frequently asked questions

What is Torgovaya Street in Baku?

It is the Soviet-era name for Nizami Street, still in common use. It is the city's main pedestrianised shopping street, lined with restored oil-boom architecture.