Baku

On the western shore of the Caspian Sea in southern Absheron Peninsula, Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan. Baku’s amphitheater-like setting around Baku Bay, which faces south, adds to the city’s historic beauty and allure as a gateway to the Orient. It is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the South Caucasus region, with a population of more than 2 million people. Baku’s unique tourist attractions draw many visitors thanks to the city’s long and fascinating history. The city underwent rapid transformation during the independence years, and this is the only place in the Caucasus where East and West coexist so harmoniously. A bad Kube is what the city’s name is derived from or originates from in the Arabic language (Baku city of winds). Perhaps the word bak (sun, or god) is derived from an ancient Caucasian word, implying that the region was a center of fire-worshippers millennia ago. The following is a rundown of the best spots in Baku to see:

The promenade that runs parallel to Baku’s coastline, the Baku Boulevard (also known as the National Park), was built in 1909. It is Europe’s second-largest amusement park, after Paris’s Seine Riverside Park. Tourists and residents alike flock to the park to take in the views of Baku’s waterfront and the city itself. Baku oil billionaires built their homes along the Caspian shore, and the seafront was constructed inch by inch, over a period of more than a century.

Built in the 15th century by the Shirvanshahs, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs has been referred to be “one of the pearls of Azerbaijan’s architecture” by UNESCO. Together with the Maiden Tower, it is part of a historic complex listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List of Historical Monuments in Baku, Azerbaijan. There is also a tomb for Seyid Yahya Bakuvi (known as the “mausoleum of the dervish”), a mosque with a minaret, a reservoir, and the remnants of a baths in the complex. The main building is Divanhane.

Azerbaijan’s Old City is home to the 12th-century Maiden Tower. On the UNESCO World Heritage List of Historical Monuments, Category III, it is included with the Shirvanshah’s Palace, which dates back to the 15th century. As one of Azerbaijan’s most recognizable symbols, it appears on Azeri currency notes and government letterheads.

There are a variety of Azerbaijani carpets and rug artifacts on show at the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum. In terms of Azerbaijani carpets, it possesses the world’s largest collection. We wouldn’t be exaggerating if we said that this museum is one of Baku’s most interesting tourist attractions. In 2014, the museum relocated from its previous home on Neftchiler Avenue to a new structure on Baku’s beachfront park. Many activities, such as exhibitions, international symposiums, and conferences, are conducted at the museum as a cultural and educational hub. Over the course of its 50-year history, the museum has hosted more than 30 exhibitions in nations across the globe.

The Seaside National Park in Baku’s Little Venice is one of the park’s most picturesque areas. Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, is enhanced by the canals and architecture of this quaint enclave within the city, reminiscent of Venice in Italy. In the 1960s, Little Venice was built as part of the Baku Boulevard and has since become a popular vacation spot for both Baku residents and visitors.

Located in downtown Baku, Azerbaijan, Nizami Street is a major pedestrian and commerce thoroughfare named for the classical poet Nizami Ganjavi. Baku’s town planning effort in 1864 laid the foundation for today’s roadway. It is a west-to-east street in the heart of the city. You start off on Abdulla Shaiq Street in the city’s mountainous area, and you end up at ‘Black City’s’ Shah Ismail Khatai monument on a train bed on Sabit Orujov Street. The street’s overall length is 3,538 meters.

The tallest tower in the Flame Towers skyscraper complex in Baku, Azerbaijan, stands at 182 m. (597 ft). Fire is symbolized by towers depicting flames. The LED panels covering the Flame Towers make the movement of a fire apparent even from the farthest reaches of the city. The Flame Towers. Azerbaijan’s flag colors, a flag-waving figure, and tanks of water filling up are some of the transitions in the light show. It takes around two minutes to get from one place to another.

In Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, the highest point is the Highland Park, which offers a stunning view of the harbor and the city. Residents and tourists alike use this area to take in the vista from above and simply stroll. Getting to the Upland Park is as simple as driving up the endless stone stairwells or taking the funicular, which takes around 8 minutes.

The Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by Zaha Hadid, was completed in 2012 and spans 57,500 square meters. This is what we know so far:

The center’s total cost is estimated at $250 million.

It took architects 2.5 years of research to learn how to construct this magnificent structure.

The architects had to come up with a new material for the outside of the building because there was no recognized material for such a curving structure.

Established in 1966 as an Azerbaijani national historical landmark in an effort to preserve ancient carvings, volcanic mud, and gas stones, the Gobustan State Reserve is located west of Gobustan, some 40 miles southwest of Baku’s central business district. More than 6,000 rock carvings depicting prehistoric people, animals, battle pieces, ritual dances and bullfights, as well as boats with armed oarsmen, warriors, camel caravans and pictures of the sun and stars, on average dating back 5,000 to 20,000 years are found in the Gobustan State Reserve. Baku’s Gobustan Rocks is a popular destination for travelers.