Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Things to do around Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend — curated activities that fit between sessions.
Updated · By GrandPrixPal Editorial
2026 session times verified against formula1.com
Quick Picks
Icherisheher Old City
UNESCO-listed walled city — the Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, and the narrow lanes of Baku's 12th-century heart.
Flame Towers
The three flame-shaped skyscrapers that define Baku's modern skyline — lit at night in animated patterns visible across the city.
Carpet Museum
The world's only carpet-shaped museum building — housing Azerbaijan's extraordinary collection of hand-knotted Azerbaijani carpets.
Caspian Seafront
The elegant Boulevard promenade along the Caspian Sea — Baku's social heartland, a mix of open-air cafés, gardens, and the sea breeze.
Free practice runs through the late afternoon on Baku's street circuit — the 2026 weekend moved a day earlier than usual. Thursday morning is your best window for the Old City — cooler, quieter, and extraordinary.
The UNESCO-listed walled city: Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, caravanserai ruins, and the dense 12th-century street grid all within the ancient walls.
Free cancellation up to 24h before
Book before race weekAlso worth knowing
Maiden Tower
45 minsThe 12th-century cylindrical tower at the heart of the Old City — climb to the top for a panorama over Baku Bay and the Caspian.
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
1.5 hoursThe world-first carpet-shaped building housing Azerbaijan's finest hand-knotted textiles — a surprisingly compelling collection in a distinctive structure.
FOMO Baku, with Baku City Circuit & iTicket
APEX AFTER DARK runs across the three days of the race weekend. Thursday and Saturday are open air on Baku Boulevard, the Caspian waterfront beside the circuit; Friday moves inside the FOMO Baku club. All three nights are 18+.
Thu 24 Sep 2026
ANOTR
Open air, Baku Boulevard (Caspian waterfront)
Fri 25 Sep 2026
Jamie Jones + DJ Tennis
Inside the FOMO Baku club
Sat 26 Sep 2026 · race night
Mahmut Orhan
Open air, from 18:00 · 85–300 AZN
Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable, and the event goes ahead in all weather.
Qualifying runs in the afternoon on the Baku street circuit. Friday morning suits the Caspian Boulevard, the Flame Towers viewpoint, or the Highland Park overlook.
Caspian Sea Boulevard Walk
1.5 hoursBaku's grand seafront promenade — the full stretch from the Old City to the Flag Square, with open-air cafés, gardens, and views across the world's largest lake.
Flame Towers & Highland Park
1 hourTake the funicular to Highland Park above the city — the best viewpoint over the Bay of Baku, with the Flame Towers as a backdrop.
Nizami Street & Icheri Sheher Gate
1.5 hoursBaku's main shopping boulevard leading to the Old City gate — Art Nouveau buildings, pavement cafés, and the contrast between old and new Baku.
Race day in Baku is a Saturday. The street circuit runs right along the Caspian seafront, which means you can walk the circuit route before barriers are closed, and find a café on the Boulevard for a pre-race morning.
Boulevard Seafront Breakfast
1 hourRace-day morning on the Caspian — find an open-air café on the promenade for a tea and breakfast before the city fills with fans.
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
1 hourThe finest medieval palace complex in Azerbaijan — within the Old City walls, well worth a quiet final morning visit before the race.
Flame Towers Night View
30 minsOn the Saturday evening after the race, the Flame Towers' animations are spectacular — head up to Highland Park or watch from the Boulevard.
Baku has more depth than a race weekend allows. An extra day opens up the modern museum quarter, a trip to the Gobustan petroglyphs, or a slower exploration of the Old City.
A UNESCO site 60km south of Baku — 6,000-year-old rock carvings and the extraordinary mud volcanoes alongside them.
Free cancellation up to 24h before
Book before race weekAlso worth knowing
Heydar Aliyev Centre
2 hoursZaha Hadid's masterwork — the building itself is the experience, with its fluid white curves and sweeping ramps housing contemporary Azerbaijani exhibitions.
Old City Deeper Walk & Tea Houses
3 hoursReturn to Icherisheher with more time — find the caravanserais, the ancient Juma Mosque, and end in a traditional tea house with Azerbaijani sweets.
Best for First-Timers
Old City · Maiden Tower · Boulevard Walk
Best for Short Trips
Icherisheher · Flame Towers View · Seafront
Best for Couples / Friends
Boulevard Evening · Flame Towers Night · Tea House
Best for Culture & Heritage
Shirvan Palace · Carpet Museum · Gobustan
Real dates and prices from GetYourGuide. Book without leaving the page.
Icherisheher — Baku Old City
Free cancellation up to 24h before
Maiden Tower
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Caspian Sea Boulevard Walk
Flame Towers & Highland Park
Nizami Street & Icheri Sheher Gate
Boulevard Seafront Breakfast
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Flame Towers Night View
Gobustan National Park — Rock Petroglyphs
Free cancellation up to 24h before
Heydar Aliyev Centre
Old City Deeper Walk & Tea Houses
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