Baku, The Capital Azerbaijan – 12 Best Things to do
Baku, The Capital of Azerbaijan - 12 Best Things to do, Full Travel Guide
Ready to visit Baku (capital Azerbaijan) and the beautiful attractions that has to offer? By reading our guide you will know what to vist and how to plan your trip in advance! Enjoy reading our guide!
Table of Contents
Azerbaidjan Map
Informations
Azerbaijan is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, the Russian republic of Dagestan to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south.
When to visit: The best time to visit Azerbaijan is April to June and September to October, which will let you avoid the 40°C summers and sub zero winters.
Language: The official language is Azerbaijani.
Currency: Azerbaijani Manat (AZN) aprox. 1$=1,7 AZN 1€ =2,07 AZN Food
Prices: Meal in a cheap restaurant=6 USD, Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant=24 USD You can find more information about the visa here.
Things to do
Highland Park
Highland park, well known as ‘’Viewing Square’’ is one of the most favorite places in Baku to have walk, rest, and enjoy the sea view. It’s the best place to relax, that is located right in the heart of Baku.
Fountains Square
Fountains Square is a public square in downtown Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. The square was previously called Parapet and is often referenced to by the same name now. The name of the fountains square derives from the presence of dozens of fountains throughout the square first constructed during Soviet rule of Azerbaijan. The square is a public gathering place, especially after business hours and during the weekend. It is an attractive tourist destination with many boutiques, restaurants, shops, hotels and passage
Baku Boulevard
Baku Boulevard is a boulevard in Baku on the Caspian Sea coast. It has been a national park since December 29, 1998.
Flame Towers
The Flame Towers are a striking high-rise complex in the Azerbaijani capital Baku, which was built from 2007 to 2013. The structure consists of three towers: Flame Tower 1 has 39 floors above ground and is 181.7 meters high, Flame Tower 2 is 164.6 meters high with 36 floors, and Flame Tower 3 with 28 floors is 160.8 meters high Meters. The towers represent flames and are illuminated at night so that they also appear like flickering flames. They serve as hotel and residential complexes as well as for office purposes.
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum is a museum located in Baku that displays Azerbaijani carpets and rugs with historical and modern weaving techniques and materials. It has the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets in the world. First opened on Neftchiler Avenue in 1967, it moved to a new building on the Baku’s seafront park in 2014.
Yanar Dağ
Yanar Dağ is a natural gas fire that has been burning since ancient times on the slope of a hill in Azerbaijan. The site of the earth fire is located a few kilometers north of the state capital Baku and is open to tourists. Flames up to three meters high rise from a ten-meter-wide ridge on the limestone hill Yanardag, which is near Baku on the Abşeron peninsula on the Caspian Sea. Today only a handful of such natural burning natural gas sources exist in the world, most of them in Azerbaijan.
Qobustan National Park
The Qobustan National Park is a national park in Azerbaijan, immediately west of the village of Qobustan, about 50 km southwest of Baku.The area covers an area of approximately 44 km² and includes, among other things. the elevations Böyküdaş dağı in the middle, Cinqirdağ in the north and Kiçikdaş dağı in the south. In 2007, the rock carvings were made a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a complex of stately buildings on the top of the hill of İçəri Şəhər in Baku, Azerbaijan. This name is often only understood to mean the actual residential palace. The Shirvan Shahs were a Muslim dynasty that ruled the Shirvan region in what is now Azerbaijan. The ensemble includes the mausoleum of the Shirvanshahs, the Maiden’s Tower, the Shah Mosque, the tomb of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, the Murad Gate, the Divanchana, the Key Gubad Mosque and the bathhouse.
Heydər Əliyev Merkezi
Heydər Əliyev Merkezi is a cultural center in the Azerbaijani city of Baku. It is named after the former president Heydər Əliyev.
Maiden Tower
The Maiden’s Tower stands in the southeastern part of İçəri Şəhər, the old town of the Azerbaijani capital Baku, which is still partially walled today. It is presumably part of the earlier city fortifications, the eastern section of which, to which the 29.5 meter high tower belonged, no longer exists. Like the entire historic city center and the palace of the Shirvanshahs, the tower has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 2000.
İçəri Şəhər
İçəri Şəhər is the historic, partially walled part of the city center in the center of Baku, Azerbaijan. İçəri Şəhər was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.
Bibi Heybat Mosque
The Bibi Heybat Mosque is a mosque on the outskirts of Baku, originally built in the 13th century, in the period of Shirwahshah, to designs by the architect Mahmud ibn Saad. In 1936, it was the first religious site in Baku to be destroyed by Bolsheviks during the campaign of militant atheism under Joseph Stalin – and the monumental Alexander Nevsky Cathedral followed shortly thereafter.
Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Azerbaijan offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Azerbaijan’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.com,Trip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation.
Top Hotels in Baku: Shirvanshah Hotel, Ivy Garden Hotel Baku, Theatrum Hotel Baku.
Where to eat
Traditional food to try in Azerbaidjan
- Plov – Traditional Rice and Meat
- Shah Plov – Traditional Rice with Fried Dough
- Dolma – Stuffed Grape Leaves
- Saj Ichi – Azerbaijanian Barbecue
- Piti – Lamb and Chickpea Soup
- Lavangi – Baked Stuffed Meat Dish
- Mangal Salaty – Vegetable Salad
- Buglama – Traditional Lamb Stew
- Gutabs – Stuffed Meat or Vegetable Pies
- Dushbara – Dumplings
- Bozbash – National Soup of Azerbaijan
- Djiz-biz – Fried Meat
- Kefli Becha – Azerbaijanian-Style Chicken
- Pomidor-Yumurta – Eggs and Tomatoes
Best restaurants in Baku
- Park Bulvar Mall – It has over 99 stores, 6 movie hall theaters, 3D cinema, planetarium, luxury shops, photo studio, supermarket, restaurants, and cafes.
- Movida Lounge and Dining – North American and the Middle Eastern cuisine
- Firuze Restaurant is built underground which will definitely give you the authentic feel of Azerbaijan. They have an extensive menu which includes Pilaf Firuza, Qutab with cheese and Quail Levengi.
- Dolma – European cuisine
- Telequlle restaurants, Baku – It’s a place with mind blowing panoramic view of the Baku and Caspian sea. It has a revolving restaurant with perfect Azeri and European cuisine.
- The Passage 145 is one of the most crowded restaurants with unique ambiance. The interior of the restaurant is on the unique concept representing the Culture of Azerbaijan.
- Sumakh – Farinaceous dishes, Pilafs, Kebab, and Saj Meals.
- Soloha – ucrainean restaurant where you can eat: Chicken Kiev, Vareniki and Spinach & Pumpkin Pelmeni.
Tips and Tricks
- The most expensive time to visit Azerbaijan in the summer months. This is the busiest time of the year for tourists, so attractions, car rentals, and hotel prices are a bit high.
- There are many free activities in the country and Baku that will help you to keep your budget: Walk the Old City, Viewpoint at the Flame Towers, Fountain Square, Baku Boulevard.
- The beaches on the Caspian Sea coast are stunning and the public beaches are almost free
- the night trains are not expensive and is the best way to travel between cities
- eat street food to save money. Is very cheap and delicious!
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Shopping
- Baku Corner – It offers a wide collection of products made by local and foreign artisans.
- The Green Market is the most famous and popular local Markets in Baku where you can find the best fruits and vegetables.
- Teze Bazaar – quality fresh food ranging from seafood, spices, dairy products, berries, vegetables, cheese, meat as well as the delicious black caviar.
- The Sardak Bazaar – clothes, makeup, jewellery, souvenirs, perfumes, home items or even food items such as fruits and vegetables
- Metro Park Mall – cosmetics, electronics and accessories stores with a number of cafes, restaurants
- Port Baku Mall has many branded stores such as Ralph Lauren, Chole, Givenchy, Stella McCartney, Tory Burch, Emilio Pucci and many others.
- Ganjlik Mall includes a multiplex cinema, cafes, shops, entertainment center and many others
- Nizami Street – It has a large pedestrian and shopping street in Baku. The place is rich with a variety of shops including stores, small outlets and supermarkets. It’s a top spot for Baku Shopping Centers with high end-shops.
- Park Bulvar Mall – It has over 99 stores, 6 movie hall theaters, 3D cinema, planetarium, luxury shops, photo studio, supermarket, restaurants, and cafes.
Getting around
There are two metro lines and a single ticket costs 0.30AZN (18¢). However, first, you have to get a metro top-up card which costs 2AZN (1.20USD). Alternatively, you can buy a single-use metro card, which you can only top-up once and costs 0.20AZN (12¢).There is a modern bus network but you will have to know where you are going. The price is the same as in the metro.
Bus – There are buses going and coming to the airport every 20 or 30 minutes, all day long. They drop you off in downtown, in front of 28th May metro station. A single ticket costs 1.30AZN (75¢) and it also works with the metro card. Taxi – With Uber, a taxi ride costs around 10AZN (5.90USD).
Bus – Buses and minibuses (marshrutkas) are the most common options for intercity travel.
Trains – Trains in Azerbaijan are a lot slower and less frequent than buses; however, if you’re not in a rush, night trains can be an excellent option to save on a night’s accommodation. Baku connects directly with Tbilisi, Moscow, Rostov, Kiev, Kharkiv (Ukraine), Brest (Belarus) as well as towns and cities within Azerbaijan.
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Getting here
Azerbaijan Airlines operates regular flights to Azerbaijan from Ankara, London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Moscow, New York, Dubai, Tehran and Tel Aviv. British Airways also runs direct flights from London to Baku. The major airport is Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are technically at war, mainly due to the dispute of Nagorno-Karabakh, so the border with Armenia is definitely closed. Nevertheless, you should know that having an Armenian visa on your passport does not ban you from traveling to Azerbaijan (and vice-versa), so you should not worry at all about that
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