Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan, and was the first stop on my quick trip around the Caucasus region Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Just like Dubai, it was once a desert, and now it is full of a mix of old and modern buildings. Read on to find out what you can see and do in Baku, my thoughts on the city and helpful tips you should bare in mind during your visit. Try and book a hotel located within the old town, which makes it a lot easier to walk to the main sites located here.
Strolling through the old town without a set route was one of my highlights for my first day in Baku. The windy streets lead to beautiful buildings or view points over the city or of the Flame Towers. I booked on the old town free walking tour covered the oldest part and my personal favourite part of Baku over a 2. You will learn about the history and culture of the country and also visit the Guinness World Record winning tiny book shop!
Designed by Zaha Hadid, this modern building is located just a bit out of the city and can fill a few hours of your day. Be sure to check out all the exhibitions, as some are hidden up stairs and around corners. You will also get a great up-close view of the 3 Flame Tower buildings which are perched above the city.
The Flame Towers are a set of 3 flame shaped skyscrapers which represent the large stores of natural gas present in Azerbaijan. They are lit up beautifully at night β something worth watching, however at present only one of the towers is currently occupied β with a Fairmount Hotel, whilst the other 2 remain empty! Walking along the tree-lined promenade which sits in-between the city and Caspian Sea is a pleasant thing to do first thing in the morning when it was empty or in the evening, when the city is certainly more lively.
You will find the mini Venice which I thought was pointless , Carpet Museum and one of the worlds tallest flag pole located along the walk. However the city should get a nickname of windy city, because it really was windy, so be prepared it may get a little chilly at night. The old town is built on a hill and the windy streets get narrower the higher up you go to protect the buildings from these winds.
