Derbent Old City

Where it is & how to get there

• From Makhachkala: About 2 hours by car or train along the Caspian coast.
• Fortress: Naryn-Kala sits at the top of the old town; walk up through the lanes.
• Old town: The Juma Mosque and bathhouses are in the lanes below the fortress.

The story of Derbent

Derbent sits where the Caucasus mountains meet the Caspian Sea, a narrow passage that empires fought to control. It is often called the oldest city in Russia, with a history going back about 5,000 years.

In the 6th century the Sasanian Persians built the Naryn-Kala citadel and two long walls running down to the sea. The Juma Mosque, founded in the 8th century, is considered the oldest mosque in Russia. Since 2003 the citadel and old city have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Visit the Juma Mosque, one of Russia's oldest.
• Climb the Naryn-Kala walls for views over the rooftops and the sea.
• Visit the Juma Mosque in modest dress.
• Try Dagestani chudu flatbreads in the old town.

What's around Derbent

• Naryn-KalaHilltop citadel above the city.
• Juma MosqueHistoric mosque with old plane trees.
• Old bathhousesStone baths in the lanes.
• Caspian SeaBeach and promenade below the city.

Questions travellers ask