Getting there
When to come, how to bargain and what to bring.
When and how to go
Baku's bazaars are within the city, easy to reach by metro, bus or taxi. It is best to come in the morning: then the goods are freshest and the choice is widest. Bring cash and a big bag — it will be hard to resist the abundance.
How to behave at the bazaar
At the bazaar it is the custom to bargain — calmly and with a smile; it is part of the game, not an argument. Don't be shy to taste: the sellers themselves offer a piece of fruit or a pinch of spice. Compare prices at several stalls, choose the ripe and seasonal — and be sure to talk to the sellers, they will point you to the best.
The essentials, briefly
The 'Green Bazaar' — one of Baku's colourful food markets: fruit, vegetables, greens, spices, dried fruit, pomegranates, cheese and pickles under one roof.
Fresh fruit and vegetables, armfuls of greens, spices, dried fruit and nuts, pomegranates, homemade cheese and dairy, pickles, tea and oriental sweets.
In the morning: the goods are freshest and the choice is widest. Towards evening the range is smaller, but you can sometimes bargain more favourably.
Yes, people bargain at the bazaar — calmly and good-naturedly. It is part of the market's culture, not an argument; both sides usually come away pleased.
Cash is the easiest. Bring small change and a big bag — the choice is wide and prices depend on the season and the bargaining.
In freshness, seasonality and atmosphere: here you can taste, bargain, talk to the sellers and choose the ripest — it is part of Baku life.
Come to the bazaar in the morning, with a cup of time in reserve — and Baku will treat you to its ripest taste.