5 must see places to visit in Baku

5 must see places to visit in Baku

Baku, the stunning capital of Azerbaijan, definitely deserves more attention. This unique city has so much to offer to travelers; from beaches and volcanoes to a cityscape where the ancient meets the new. Because of its rich and unique culture and history, Baku has something for everyone. 

Baku, the stunning capital of Azerbaijan, definitely deserves more attention. This unique city has so much to offer to travelers; from beaches and volcanoes to a cityscape where the ancient meets the new. Because of its rich and unique culture and history, Baku has something for everyone. 

Azerbaijan’s capital is one of the fastest-changing cities in the world.

Dilapidated alleyways are now bustling with hipster cafes and international restaurants. The Flame Towers are a marvel of modern architecture. Millennials wander the streets dressed in the latest high-end fashion.

In this article, you’ll find 5 must-see places to visit in Baku.

1) Icheri Sheher – Inner City of Baku

Known as “Old City” and “Fortress”, Icheri Seher is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the center of Baku, and you will find amazing architectural feats all over this protected quarter of the city. These include Maiden Tower that dates from the 12th century and was part of the ancient walled city of Baku, as well as Shirvanshah Palace that was constructed in the 13th century. Baku’s UNESCO-listed fortified old city was the medieval capital under the Shirvanshahs. Today, it’s the capital’s historic heart and home to the Maiden Tower, traditional carpet weavers, and a plethora of bars and restaurants. Visiting traders in eras past often referred to Icheri Sheher as the Acropolis of Baku.

There are a wealth of shops located in Icheri Seher that are perfect if you want a leisurely stroll around the historic center of the city and the chance to pick up some souvenirs.

For more information about Ichari Shahar: Old city - historical center of Baku

2) Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum

In Azerbaijan and nearby Central Asia, carpet weaving occupies a special place in the history of its national culture.

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum unique museum dedicated to the culture and artistry of carpet weaving.

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum has established in 1967 by applied Art named after Latif Karimov. At the time of establishment, it was the only museum that was dedicated to the art of carpet weaving. The museum building, designed by the Austrian architect Franz Janz, is intended to resemble a massive rolled carpet.

The museum building is located in the center of Baku, in front of Primorsky Boulevard. It is the first museum in the world of carpets. The museum's collection includes more than 10 000 items, among them - the products of ceramics, metal and jewelry made of bronze, metal products XIV century, carpets and rugs XVII-XX centuries., Gold and silver ornaments, costumes and embroidery, as well as objects of applied art of the modern period.

The museum is primarily used for research, keeping, and displaying carpets and carpet items, as well as applied artworks. Pieces from the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum have been exhibited in more than 50 countries, on almost all the continents of the world. Today, the museum is a large scientific center that attracts researchers and lovers of arts from around the world.

3) Baku Boulevard

Baku Boulevard was established in the early 20th century when local oil barons began building grand waterfront mansions along the shores of the Caspian Sea. Extending 3 miles (5 km) from National Flag Square beyond Freedom Square, modern-day Baku Boulevard offers a wide swatch of sidewalks lined with trees, shops, and alfresco cafes.

Baku Boulevard was founded in the early 20th century when local oil barons began to build stately mansions on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Baku Boulevard is really the best place to walk, take a rest, have fun, and breathe the sea smell... The seaside Boulevard is the place of the Flag Arena! There is the biggest flag in the world, and yes it's the Azerbaijani national flag!

Popular with both visitors and locals, it’s common to see walkers, joggers, cyclists, and rollerblades whizzing along the promenade, take a ride on a boat in the Little Venice. You can also make a sea trip by ship. Bicycles and pedal cars are available for rent along Baku Boulevard.

Other attractions along the boulevard include the 197 foot (60 meters) Baku Ferris Wheel and the Park Bulvar shopping mall, which houses a movie theater, planetarium, and playground.

The fountain on the boulevard has no analogs in the world either in the "fluffiness" of the jets or in the accuracy of their following the melody.

It is not for nothing that Seaside Park was given the status of a national park. In the salubrious climate of the Caspian Sea, decorative plants and shrubs blossom and flourish here and several dozens of tree species, including rare ones, feel perfectly well. Darwin's variety of cacti is definitely worth paying attention to. And also the parachute tower on the promenade attracts attention. It has been restored and shines with bright lights.

On Baku Boulevard, you should definitely stop in one of the tea shops and enjoy real Azerbaijani tea, accompanied by sweets or dried fruits.

So, Baku Seaside Boulevard is the place that you'll remember for a long - long time!

4) Highland Park

Highland Park is one of the most beautiful parks and the highest point in the city of Baku.

Highland Park is a spacious park area above the picturesque Baku Bay. The territory of the park includes a park area, a memorial complex, and the observation deck. There is a local landmark - Shekhidlyar Mosque.

By visiting this place, you will discover the capital of Azerbaijan from a new side.

Initially, the park was called the English park, since the servicemen of the British Expeditionary Force, who died during the Battle of Baku in 1918, were buried here. In the 1930s, during the preparation of the master plan of Baku, it was planned to create a park in this area. The project was developed by the architect Lev Alexandrovich Ilyin.

The park is located on the top of a hill at the end of Neftyanikov Avenue, not far from Little Venice. It's easy to get there - you can use the funicular, which was opened in the middle of the 20th century, or you can walk up the stairs that lead through a real forest filled with pine aromas.

At the top is the Alley of Martyrs - a tribute to the memory of those who died in the tragic events of bloody January 1990, the Karabakh war, and the March 1918 massacre. Reminding of the heroes who sacrificed themselves for the independence of the country, this place evokes strong emotions - and then leads to the Eternal Flame and the observation deck. From here you can admire the beautiful city on the shore of a fabulously beautiful bay for a long time, looking from above its best views - the port, the sea, the Flame towers-skyscrapers, the Old Town, the Ferris wheel, etc.

How to get to Highland Park?

You can get to Highland Park completely unhindered at any time of the day. There are three ways to get to the park - by walking up the stairs from the side of Seaside Boulevard, walking from the Flaming Towers, or taking a funicular. Opened in 1960 and still operating, the Baku funicular is one of the tourist symbols of the city.

5) Nizami Street “Torgovaya”

"Torgovaya" is the favorite street of Baku residents.

There are many chic avenues in Baku. There are amazingly cozy streets of the Old City, but for more than 100 years, the leader of Baku preferences is st. Nizami, the "Torgovaya". It was named after the 12th-century poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi. The street crosses the central part of the city from west to east.

Street architecture is a synthesis of different styles and trends. This is due to the fact that intensive construction and development were carried out in three main stages. The end of the XIX - the beginning of the XX century, the 50-the 70s of the XX century, and the modern period.

Nizami Street is constantly changing its architectural appearance, mixing baroque with classics, empire and gothic, neo-renaissance, and modern. You can walk along Torgovaya Street along with a walking tour dedicated to the best architectural structures of Baku.

In the pedestrian section of the street, there are many cafes and restaurants, stores with souvenirs and clothing. Shopping centers and restaurants: CUM, “Nargiz” Shopping Mall and many-many others. Usually, stores are open from 10:00 to 22:00.

There are many historical monuments on the street: the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator, the Mukhtarov Palace, the building of the former synagogue, the State Academic Opera, and the Ballet Theater. In addition, there are amusing bronze monuments of people waiting on Nizami Street and the adjoining Fountain Square.