The Old Bathhouses of Baku

Among the monuments of Icherisheher, bathhouses form a group of their own. In medieval Baku the hammam was not just for washing — it was a social club where people met, swapped news and celebrated.

How they worked

Baku bathhouses were built half underground to keep warm in winter and cool in summer, so from outside you only see low domes. Inside were a changing room, warm and hot halls, a pool and underfloor water heating.

Survivors

• Haji Gayib bathhouse (15th century) by the Maiden Tower, now a museum site.
• Gasim bey bathhouse (18th century) near the Shamakhi Gate.
• Aga Mikayil bathhouse and several others, partly restored.

Where to go today

Baku has plenty of traditional-style bathhouses with scrub, massage and tea after the steam room — a nice end to an Old City walk.

Hear more about them on our Old City walking tour.