Baku With Kids: Zoo, Boulevard, Baku Eye

October 20, 2026

Travel advice. Families should read the government advice before choosing Azerbaijan. The UK FCDO advises against all travel within 5 km of the Armenia border and against all but essential travel to south-western districts where landmines and unexploded ordnance remain. The US State Department lists Azerbaijan at Level 3, Reconsider Travel. Everything on this page is in or around Baku, outside those districts. Most visitors fly in. Check gov.uk and travel.state.gov for current wording.

Baku has a good run of child-friendly stops, from a rebuilt zoo to a seafront with playgrounds. Costs are in manat (AZN), about 1.70 to the US dollar, and several prices below are hedged because operators have not published current rates.

Baku Zoological Park

The zoo is at A. Bakikhanov Street 39 in the Narimanov district and reopened on 7 October 2021 after about four years of works. It covers 4.25 hectares and houses about 125 species, 22 of them listed in the Azerbaijan Red Book. Residents include Amur tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, bears, zebras and flamingos. There is also a petting zoo, an artificial lake and an aquaterrarium. Opening hours on the official page are 10:00 to 19:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 19:00 at weekends. Tickets are sold through iticket.az, and the price is not published on the zoo page. See the zoo’s own site for the latest details.

Seaside Boulevard

The Seaside National Park runs about 16 km along the bay, with playgrounds, cafes and long flat stretches that suit scooters and pushchairs. Keep children back from the water’s edge; swimming from the city waterfront is not recommended. The boulevard cruise on the Mirvari lasts 30 to 40 minutes, and children under 6 ride free, with adult tickets last listed at 5 AZN downstairs and 10 AZN on top. Timetables change with the season.

Baku Eye and Little Venice

The Baku Eye is a Ferris wheel 60 m high with 30 enclosed cabins for eight people. It opened to the public in March 2014, and locals call it Seytan carxi, the Devil’s Wheel. A 10 AZN adult ticket appears in a 2021 listing; check hours and operating status on site. Nearby, Little Venice has canals and small bridges built in the 1950s and 1960s, with short gondola-style boat rides. Quoted prices conflict, so ask before boarding.

Mini Azerbaijan

The Heydar Aliyev Center holds a Mini Azerbaijan display of miniature landmarks as well as a classic-car collection, which tends to hold the attention of younger visitors. Paid museum admission applies; see heydaraliyevcenter.az for tickets.

Gala masterclasses and Yanar Dag

The Gala reserve, about 40 km from Baku, runs masterclasses in pottery, carpet weaving and lavash baking. A 15 AZN ticket is listed as covering the museums and masterclasses, with entry free for children aged 3 and under and half price for ages 12 and under. At Yanar Dag, the natural-gas fire on a hillside, children must stay accompanied, and foreign children under 12 enter free. The adult price is 15 AZN. Children tend to like the bright flames, but keep them well back from the fire.

Practical tips for families

Carry AZN cash for small shops, taxis and some rides.
Agree a taxi fare first, or use a ride-hailing app such as Bolt or Yango.
Summer afternoons are hot, so schedule the zoo and the Boulevard for mornings and evenings.

To compare child-friendly outings, browse family activities in Baku .