Theatres
Baku has a vibrant life regarding theatre, opera and ballet, drawing both from the rich local dramatic portfolio and from the international repertoire. Prices are very reasonable by European standards. Shows are plentiful for all ages and tastes, and companies from neighbouring countries are regular visitors.
Today in the theatres you'll find plays both in Azeri and Russian, even so a lot of older residents have a certain nostalgia for the pre-war times, when in this area the cosmopolitan character of city's population was translated in a rainbow of events.
Most occasions are informal, but there are some exceptions, so if you want to avoid feeling awkward don't forget to check the dress code in advance for each performance.
Azerbaijan National Dramatic Theatre
Fizuli Sq.
Tel: 948357
Azerbaijan State Mugam Theatre
Minjiski 9
Tel: 923549
Azerbaijan State Song Theatre
R. Beibudov Av.
Tel: 939460
Azerbaijan State Theatre of Opera & Ballet
Nizami
Tel: 937176
Azerbaijan State Theatre YUKH
Mukhtarov 83
Tel: 944847
Azerbaijan State Youth Theatre
Khagani 10
Tel: 932963
Green Theatre
S. Velikhanly
Tel: 921846
Puppet Theatre
Neftchilar Av. 36
Tel: 926425
Samed Vurgun Russian Drama Theatre
Merdanov Gardashlary
Tel: 934048
Sh. Gurbanov State Theatre of Musical Comedy
Azerbaijan Av.
Tel: 935101
Tengid & Teblig Theatre
Nobel Av.
Tel: 660516
Youth Theatre
Nizami 72
Tel: 936578
Museums
In the years following independence, a lot of attention has been poured on the museums by the government, mainly as a way of weaving and reinforcing national identity. Azerbaijan also has a tradition of "house museum", the former houses of the famous and powerful now open to the occasional visitor and mainly of interest to the researcher with a specific interest. Some house museums host interesting event but most tend to be rather dull and repetitive, on the other hand most are free.
History Museum
4 Zeinalabdyn Taghiyev St., 370005
Tel: 93-36-48, 93-74-48
Bul-bul Memorial Museum (singer)
15 Bul-bul Av., 370000
Tel: 93-56-97
Historical & Architectural museum (Shirvan shahs' Palace)
65 Asaf Zeinally st.,370004
Terl: 64-11-4492-22-25, 92-09-13
Museum of Art (R.Mustafaev)
9/11 Niyazi St., 370001
Tel: 92-57-89, 92-51-17
Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature
53 Istiglaliyyat St., 370001
Tel: 92-18-64, 92-74-03
Museum-Apartment of Niyazi (conductor)
21 Bul-bul Av., 370000
Tel: 93-18-36
Museum-Apartment of Azim Azimzade (artist)
157 Dilara Aliyeva St., 370014
Tel: 94-05-69
Museum-Apartment of Abdulla Shaig (writer)
21 Abdulla Shaig St., 370006
Tel: 92-74-33
State Museum of the History of Religion
15 Uzeyir Hajibeyov St., 370000
Tel: 93-07-08
Museum of the History of Medicine
18 Najafgulu Rafiyev St., 370025
Tel: 66-00-48, 66-01-97
Museum of Carpet-Making and Folk Crafts
123a Neftchilar Av., 370000
Tel: 93-05-01, 93-66-85
Museum of Theatre (Jafar Jabarly)
44 Hamid Sultanov St., 370073
Tel: 38-43-50
Museum of Musical Culture of Azerbaijan
9 Mejidov St., 370601
Tel: 92-53-06
Museum of Independence
123a Neftchilar Av., 370000
Tel: 93-92-93, 93-30-17
Memorial Museum of Hussein Javid (writer)
8 Istiglaliyyat St., 370001
Tel:92-06-57
House-Museum of Samad Vurgun (poet)
4 Teymur Aliyarbeyov St., 370000
Tel:93-56-52
Museum of Natural History (Hassanbey Zardabi)
3 Lermontov St., 370006
Tel: 92-06-67
Museum of Education
11 Niyazi St., 370001
Tel: 92-04-53
Memorial Museum of Nariman Narimanov (statesman)
35 Istiglaliyyat St., 370001
Tel: 95-05-15
Memorial Museum of Mammad Said Ordubady (writer)
19 Khagani St., 370000
Tel:98-55-85
House-Museum of Uzeyir Hajibeyov (composer)
67/69 Shamil Azizbekov St., 370009
Tel:95-30-61, 95-25-34
House-Museum of Jafar Mammadguluzade (writer)
6 Suleiman Taghizade St., 370001
Tel:92-24-09
Cinemas
With a film producing tradition dating back to the 1920s, and famous within the CIS for the past glories of the films produced at "Azerbaijan Studios", Baku also has plenty of places on offer for the cinema buff, but technical quality as well as comfort still need a major effort. Plenty of western films as well productions from Turkey and Russia. Subtitles and/or dubbing into Azeri and Russian are the norm. Dubbing is done in the Russian fashion.. i.e. you can still hear parts of the original voices.
If you are a film aficionado interested in classic Azeri cinema there are a few directors whose work you must get to know: Letif Seferov, Hesen Seyidbeyli, Ejder Ibrahimov, Tofiq Tagizade, Rza Tehmasib, Hussein Seyidzade and Samil Mahmudbeyov.
Regrettably in recent years the Azeri film production has been a little scarce, however some interesting productions have emerged. Among them: "The Bat" (Yarasa/1995) a film by Ayaz Salayev which was awarded the Grand Prix at the International Film Festival in Angers and "Strange Times" (Osge vacht/1997) by Husseyn Mechtiew, present at the Berlin film festival.
Absheron
40 Plsjevari St., 370111
Tel: 69-35-05
Araz
3 Islam Safarli St., 370005
Tel: 92-22-95
Azerbaijan
8 Gulbala Aliyev St., 370005
Tel: 92-75-59,92-44-11
Baki
Address: 18 Sarayev St., 370149
Tel: 93-79-84
Jafar Jabbarly
8 Hussein Javid Av., 370075
Tel: 38-95-31
Nariman Narimanov
97a Tabriz St., 370052
Tel: 64-99-23
Nizami
20 Bulbul Av., 370000
Tel: 93-14-81,93-08-87,98-85-39
Dostlug
7 Azadlyg Av., 370007
Tel: 96-36-83
Shafag
47 Azadlyg Av., 370007
Tel: 96-49-87
Shisha
23 Inglab St., 370110
Tel: 64-01-04
Vatan
77 Nizami St., 370000
Tel: 93-83-02
Nightlife
At first glance, Baku may appear to have few bars and a quiet nightlife. The bars that it does have, however, are a big part of local society and particularly popular among expats. Britannia at the Hyatt Regency and the Lord Nelson (148 Suleiman) are two of the city's English-style bars. Of the two, the Britannia is more appropriate for gatherings with business associates. O'Malleys (73 Nizami St) is a lively Irish pub, but is yet to become as popular as Finnegan's (2 Injesenet). On a summer afternoon, or even a clear winter evening, head to the Garden Bar (2 Academic Alizade St).
