Discover Baku’s Museum of Miniature Books in Icheri Sheher: thousands of tiny volumes, Guinness-recognized, family-friendly. Hours, branches, tips before you go.
Books come in all shapes and sizes—thick and thin, ancient and brand‑new. But in Baku’s Old City, Icheri Sheher, tucked between narrow lanes and weathered stone walls, hides a place where volumes are so tiny they rest on a palm or slip into a pocket. The building looks modest from the outside, yet inside lies a true trove: thousands of miniature books gathered from around the globe. It’s the Museum of Miniature Books—one of a kind, and well worth a special visit. Adults and children leave equally intrigued; it isn’t every day you see beloved stories reduced to mere millimeters.
The museum was founded by Zarifa Salahova. Back in the 1980s, she started collecting miniature books—first for herself, then for friends—until the collection grew so much it clearly needed a home of its own. That home opened on April 23, 2002, fittingly on World Book Day.
Today the collection reportedly ranges, depending on the source, from 5,600 to 8,000 books from 60 to 76 countries. The exact number keeps shifting as the display expands. You’ll find everything here: fairy tales, poetry, novels, works on science and religion, even politics. And all of it scales from a few centimeters down to just a couple of millimeters.
The tiniest book measures only 0.75 by 0.75 mm. Some editions can be read only with a magnifying glass. A few are so rare they were printed in just several copies, and one Japanese miniature stands out as a true record‑setter.
The exhibition is arranged across three display cases. One is devoted to books published in Azerbaijan. Another gathers the rarest and especially tiny items. The third spans various themes and countries. Visitors can examine the books up close—and with a bit of luck, even hold one under a staff member’s supervision.
In 2015, the museum made it into the Guinness World Records for the largest private collection of miniature books, with nearly three thousand items recognized.
Interest in mini‑books proved so strong that the museum eventually opened branches. Parts of the collection can now be seen in Nakhchivan, Ganja, and Sheki. In Sheki, for instance, more than 600 miniature books from 26 countries are on display.
The museum sits right in Baku’s historic center, near the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. It usually operates from 11:00 to 17:00, though it’s best to confirm the hours in advance on the official website or via tourist guides. Many sources say admission is free, but the site does not state this, so it’s wise to be ready for either option.
The space is small yet full of character. Visitors often note that it feels more like dropping by an aficionado’s home than stepping into a formal institution. Some Baku tours even weave it into their routes.
The Museum of Miniature Books is more than curiosities on shelves. It’s history, art, culture, and genuine passion gathered in one place. In a world leaning toward the digital and the instant, these tiny pages quietly suggest slowing down and savoring the details.
If you find yourself in Baku, don’t pass it by. The museum shows that even the smallest book can carry a surprisingly big meaning.