Top Destinations To Visit In Azerbaijan
1- The Maiden Tower
One of the top tourist attraction of Baku is Maiden Tower (“QizQalasi”). It is the second most visited building of Baku, just right after the airport. As soon as you get to the top of it, you will be amazed with the spacious view of Baku and its all beauty.
It is located inside old city walls and can be reached by foot.
2- Shirvanshahs Palace
It is situated in the Old Town (“Icharishahar”).The Palace is one of the oldest symbols of Baku. Built in the 15th century, just right at the time when Baku became the capital of Shirvanshahs kingdom, it is one of a few good remaining old buildings in Baku. In 2000 it was inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It can be reached in 5 minutes by foot from the “Icharishahar” metro station.
3- Martyrs’ Lane
Martyrs Lane is a symbol of pride of Azerbaijan and its independence.During the Soviet Union this alley was known as Kirov Park, named after the Soviet Bolshevik leader. After the massacre of 1990 by Soviet troops, which is annually commemorated by all Azerbaijanis on 20 January, this park has become an alley of martyrs (“ShahidlarXiyabani” in Azerbaijani).
4- Dom Soviet
Dom Soviet On the waterfront in Baku.It is a government building built between 1936 and 1952. before that it was named Lenin Square. contains a large statue of the same, has been restored and placed between 1991 and the present day but still contains offices and offices of ministries.
5- Heydar Aliyev Center
Built by ZahaHadid, this center won the “Design of the Year” award on July 1, 2014. The center includes memorial gallery of Heydar Aliyev (ruler of Azerbaijan during Soviet era in 1969-1982 and president of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003), art gallery, concert and library halls, restaurant and conference hall.
6- Flame Towers
Flame Towers (Azerbaijani: Alovqüllələri) is the tallest skyscraper in Baku, Azerbaijan with a height of 190 m (620 ft). The buildings consist of apartments, a hotel and office blocks.Construction began in 2007, with completion in 2012. HOK was the architect for the project.The Flame Towers consist of three buildings; south, east and west. The facades of the three Flame Towers are turned into gigantic display screens with the use of more than 10,000 high-power LED luminaires.
On 5 June 2014, Lamborghini opened a branch in Azerbaijan for the first time. Its dealership is located on the ground floor of the East tower of the Flame Towers.
7- Ateshgah Temple
It is located 30 km away from the city center in Surakhany district, which is known as a place of eternal fire. The history of this temple goes back to 18th century when Hindu traders were coming to Baku and selling Indian medicines and wooden materials. As Baku was situated in the Silk Road, frequent visits of traders and merchants from the east was an ordinary way of life. Although the temple is stated as being Zoroastrian, I found it quite controversial for some facts I found about it on internet. At least the texts and symbols there represent Hindu religion signs, not Zoroastrian. Anyways, visiting this place is quite important for anyone who wants to get to see some new interesting places and if you will stay in Baku at least for 3 days and have time to go to suburbs.
8- Qobustan
Qobustan is best known for being the home to the famous rock petroglyphs and mud volcanoes.
The area has been settled since the 8th millennium BC. It is known for hosting thousands of rock engravings spread over 100 square km depicting hunting scenes, people, ships, constellations and animals. Its oldest petroglyphs date from the 12th century BC. In 2007, UNESCO included the 'Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape' in the World Heritage list.
9- YanarDagh (Burning Mountain)
YanarDagh is situated 25 km northeast of Baku. The reason that this place is worth checking out is its continuous fire, which never extinguishes. The flame derives from the gas reserves beneath the land and there are no pipes making it burn.
10- Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
(Azerbaijani: AzərbaycanXalçasıMuzeyi),2displays Azerbaijani carpets and rug items of various weaving techniques and materials from various periods. At the time of establishing, it was the only museum that was dedicated to the art of carpet weaving. It has the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets in the world. It moved to a new building on the Baku's seafront park during 2014 from its former location on Neftchiler Avenue. The museum has become a research-training and cultural-educational center where many events, such as exhibitions, international symposiums, and conferences, are held. During its 50 years of existence, the museum has organized more than 30 exhibitions in different countries throughout the world.
11- Bibi Heybat Mosque
The Bibi-Heybat Mosque (Azerbaijani: Bibiheybətməscidi) is a historical mosque in Baku, Azerbaijan. The existing structure, built in the 1990s, is a recreation of the mosque with the same name built in the 13th century by ShirvanshahFarrukhzad II Ibn Ahsitan II, which was completely destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936.
The Bibi-Heybat Mosque includes the tomb of UkeymaKhanum (a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad), and today is the spiritual center for the Muslims of the region and one of the major monuments of Islamic architecture in Azerbaijan.
It’s locally known as “the mosque of Fatima” which Alexandre Dumas using the same name, described the mosque during his visit in the 1840s.
12- Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature
The National museum of Azerbaijan literature named after NizamiGanjavi, (Azerbaijani: NizamiGəncəviadınaMilliAzərbaycanədəbiyyatımuzeyi) - was established in 1939, in Baku. It is located in the centre of the capital of Azerbaijan, not far from the Fountains Square and near the entrance of IcheriSheher. Now this museum is one of the greatest and richest treasuries of Azerbaijani culture.
13- Fountains Square Baku
Fountains Square is a public square in downtown Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
The square was previously called Parapet garden 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 of which was 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 passages. It starts from the Istiglaliyyat Street and IcheriSheher walls and stretches through Nizami Street, which is also called Torgovaya street in popular culture running parallel to Baku Boulevard. The fountains square is a location where the city authorities hold many public festivals, shows and celebrations.
14- Taza Pir Mosque
TazaPir Mosque is a mosque in Baku, Azerbaijan. Its construction began in 1905 and was finished by 1914. The idea for the mosque as well as its financing was provided by an Azeri philanthropist, a female, NabatKhanumAshurbeyov.
Construction of the mosque was started in 1905 by architect ZivarbeyAhmadbeyov under the patronage of NabatKhanumAshurbeyova. After the death of the patron, the construction was suspended. Soon, however, it resumed with the support of her son and was completed in 1914.
15- National Art Museum of Azebaijan
Azerbaijan National Museum of Art is the biggest art museum of Azerbaijan. It was founded in 1936 in Baku and in 1943 was named after Rustam Mustafayev, a prominent Azeri scenic designer and theater artist. The museum consists of two buildings standing next to each other. There are over 3,000 items in 60 rooms on display in total.
16- Baku museum of Modern Art
The museum was built at the initiative of the First Lady of Azerbaijan, MehribanAliyeva and opened on 20 March 2009. It was funded by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, of which the First Lady is head. The foundation has also created projects with the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles. The museum does not have fixed subject areas. The architectural concept of the museum avoids halls with corners and has open passages and walls that meet at different angles, creating a multidimensional perspective of exhibits. Conspicuous metallic structures and the use of the color white unite all parts into a single "moving abstract structure."
17- Bay of Baku
Bay of Baku (Baku Bay) is a natural harbor of the Baku port and local yacht club, on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula and on the western shore of the Caspian Sea
It has an area of 50 km² and a coastline of 20 km. The bay is bordered by Sultan Cape in the east, Shikh Cape on the south-west and the islands of Qum, Dash Zira and Boyuk Zira in the south and south-east. These islands are part of the Baku Archipelago which lies mostly within the bay. These characteristics make it an ideal place for a harbor. There lies Baku Boulevard on the seashore. During severe storms with high winds, the height of the waves in the bay can reach 1–5 m.
18- Baku TV Tower
The Baku TV Tower (Azerbaijani: TeleviziyaQülləsi), built in 1996, is a free standing concrete telecommunications tower in Baku, Azerbaijan. With a height of 310 metres (1017 ft), it is the tallest structure in Azerbaijan and the tallest reinforced concrete building in Caucasus.
The tower has become one of the most prominent landmarks of Baku, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
19- Nizami Ganjavi Tomb
Nizami tomb is in Ganja, Azerbaijan.The first mausoleum at the tomb of Nizami was built in the 13th-14th centuries. In 1947 a new mausoleum was built. The current building dates back to the year of 1991. Near the mausoleum there is a sculptural complex depicting the great poet surrounded by the characters of his works. An artificial lake and five fountains were made to symbolize the five major poems of Nizami, known as "Hamsa".
20- City Boulevard
Baku Boulevard (officially called Seaside National Park) is a place where you can observe the Caspian Sea and the most beautiful night view of Baku. Shopping malls, business centers, restaurants, ‘chaykhana’s (tea houses), sophisticated plants, main attractions will get in your way while walking there. Go to boulevard if you’re tired of the very hot weather of Baku and want to get some fresh air coming from the sea. Most importantly, take a boat tour and dive into the best feelings.
The best time to go here is at evenings as you’ll not only get the fresh air coming from the sea, but also observe the beautiful Baku lights.
21- Absheron National Park
Absheron National Park was established in the basis of Absheron State Nature Sanctuary in area of administrative territory of Baku city Azizbayov district with the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated February 8, 2005. The National Park is situated in the south-eastern end of Absheron peninsula in the Shah Dili territory. Mild hot climate of semi-desert and dry heathens prevails in the territory. The purpose of establishment of Absheron National Park is provision of protection of wildlife, maintenance of rare endangered flora and fauna species, as well as evaluation of existing natural opportunities for ecotourism.
22- Göygöl (Blue Lake)
Göygöl (Azerbaijani: Göygöl, literally "the Blue Lake") is a natural impounded lake in Azerbaijan. It is situated at the footsteps of Murovdag, not far from Ganja.
Due to an earthquake which hit the area on 25 September 1139, parts of the Kapaz Mount collapsed and blocked the path of the Kürəkçay River. As a result of diversion of water flow, a lake with pure mountain water was created, hence the name given signifying the pureness of the water. The nearby city of Khanlar was renamed after the Göygöl Lake on 25 April 2008. In 1925 the lake was incorporated into the newly founded "Goy Gol State Reserve" which was superseded as Göygöl National Park in 2008.
23- Mud Volcanoes
Mud volcanoes lie about 10 km south of Gobustan. These volcanoes are quite unique as they are not as high as usual volcanoes, with height getting maximum 2 meters. Still, nearly half of the mud volcanoes in the world are located in Azerbaijan (more than 350 out of 800 in the world) and the greatest mud volcano in the world is also in Azerbaijan (1000 meters high). The mud bubbles right from the inside of the volcano and it is usually cold, rather than hot as you might think. Also, the mud is said to be good for face and is commonly used for medical reasons.
24- Boyuk Shor lake
Boyukshor (Azerbaijani: Böyük Şor gölü), in enlish language it means "Big Salty Waters", is the second largest lake of Azerbaijan and largest on Absheron Peninsula. It is located in the center of the Absheron peninsula, on the boundaries of Binagadi, Sabunchu and Narimanov raions of the city of Baku.
25- Carousel (atlıkarınca)
26- Gobustan National Park
Gobustan is famous for its rock drawings dating back to 40,000 years. This site is considered as the one of earliest inhabited settlement of people in Azerbaijan and reflects the activities of ancient people such as dance rituals, hunting scenes, carpentry and the images of animals. It is located a bit further from Baku – 64 km to southwest of Baku.
27- Bonus Karvansarayi (Restaurant)
National cuisine of Azerbaijan has very distinct taste that will make every tourist feel a special amusement. Azerbaijani people love fatty foods and most of our national cuisine is made with different kinds of meat. However, pork is not used when preparing foods because of Islamic tradition and prohibition of pork to be eaten or preserved. Situated close to the Maiden Tower, Karavansarai restaurant will not only bring this exquisite taste to you, but also its beautiful historical view will charm you fully. It was built in 14th century and used as caravanserai. Now it is a restaurant with traditional dishes. Make sure to bring enough money, as prices are not cheap.