Things to do in Azerbaijan

25 things to do in Azerbaijan

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Explore the ancient petroglyphs at Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape

  Wander among thousands of prehistoric rock carvings dating back 40,000 years, depicting human figures, animals, and ritual scenes in a stark, windswept landscape.

  Gobustan

• Witness bubbling mud volcanoes in Gobustan

  Watch cold, grey mud erupt in miniature cones across a lunar-like terrain at one of the world's largest mud volcano fields, splattering and gurgling continuously.

  Gobustan region (Dashgil area)

• Admire the intricate stained glass and wall paintings inside Sheki Khans' Palace

  Step into the 18th-century summer residence of the Sheki Khans, its facade adorned with shebeke (multicolored glass mosaics) and interiors glowing with elaborate floral frescoes.

  Sheki

• Visit the Ateshgah Fire Temple, a historic Zoroastrian fire temple

  Explore the pentagonal temple complex near Baku where natural gas flames once burned from the ground, attracting Zoroastrian and Hindu pilgrims for centuries.

  Surakhani, near Baku

• Watch the eternal flame blaze from Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain)

  Marvel at a continuous natural fire that has blazed for thousands of years on a limestone hillside, caused by seeping gas, especially dramatic at dusk.

  Yanar Dag, near Baku

• Climb to the top of Maiden Tower for panoramic views of Baku Bay

  Ascend the 12th-century cylindrical tower in the Old City to a rooftop terrace offering sweeping vistas of the Caspian Sea, Flame Towers, and the walled city below.

  Baku Old City

• Walk the narrow cobblestone lanes of Icherisheher (Baku's Old City)

  Get lost in the UNESCO-listed medieval heart of Baku, lined with sandstone buildings, artisan shops, mosques, and hidden courtyards behind ancient walls.

  Baku

• Marvel at the illuminated Flame Towers at night from Highland Park

  Watch the trio of iconic skyscrapers transform into a giant LED display of flickering flames and the Azerbaijani flag, best viewed from the city's highest park after dark.

  Baku

• Stroll along Baku Boulevard and enjoy the Caspian Sea breeze

  Walk the 3.5-km seaside promenade stretching from National Flag Square to Freedom Square, passing amusement parks, the Baku Eye, and open-air cafés.

  Baku

• Taste traditional Shah Plov at Mugam Club while listening to live Mugham

  Savour the king of Azerbaijani rice dishes—saffron rice with lamb, dried fruits, and chestnuts—inside a historic caravanserai as soulful mugham music fills the air.

  Baku Old City

• Sip Azerbaijani tea with baklava at Çay Bağı 145 in the Old City

  Unwind at a traditional tea garden with armudu glasses of black tea, served alongside diamond-shaped baklava, dried fruits, and the fragrant steam of samovar.

  Baku

• Explore the mud-brick ruins of the medieval Nardaran Castle

  Climb the weathered 14th-century fortress tower on the Absheron Peninsula, with commanding views over an ancient village and the Caspian coastline.

  Nardaran, Absheron Peninsula

• Take a boat trip to the Pirallahı Island lighthouse and relax by the Caspian

  Cruise the Caspian to an industrial island transformed into a seaside retreat, where an old lighthouse stands sentinel over quiet beaches and migratory bird stopovers.

  Pirallahı Island

• Hike to the peak of Mount Shahdag for breathtaking Caucasus views

  Trek through alpine meadows and rocky outcrops to the 4,243m summit, rewarded with a panorama of jagged peaks, green valleys, and distant Caspian glimmers.

  Shahdag National Park, near Qusar

• Ski or snowboard at Shahdag Mountain Resort in winter

  Carve down 17 km of pistes in the Greater Caucasus, with reliable snow, modern lifts, and a resort village offering cosy mountain dining and firepits.

  Shahdag Resort, Qusar

• Spend a night in a restored caravanserai in Sheki, like the Sheki Caravanserai Hotel

  Sleep within the thick stone walls of a 18th-century Silk Road inn, where merchants once stabled camels and traded wares, now with atmospheric courtyards and antique decor.

  Sheki

• Sample traditional Sheki halva at a local confectioner in Sheki

  Taste the region's signature sweet—a layered pastry filled with crushed nuts and syrup, uniquely prepared on giant copper trays over an open fire.

  Sheki

• Discover the mud and naphtha healing treatments at Naftalan Spa

  Bathe in curative crude-oil baths at specialized sanatoriums, a therapeutic tradition unique to Azerbaijan, where warm naphthalene-rich mud eases joint and skin ailments.

  Naftalan city

• Explore the ancient Albanian church of Kish near Sheki

  Visit a 1st-century Caucasian Albanian church restored to reveal a glass floor over ancient burial chambers, set against a backdrop of forested foothills.

  Kish village, near Sheki

• Attend a traditional carpet weaving workshop in Quba

  Watch master weavers at wooden looms create intricate regional carpets with age-old motifs, and try your hand at knotting wool in a warm village home.

  Quba

• Venture to the remote Khinalug village, one of Europe's highest mountain settlements

  Drive a winding road into the Caucasus to a 5,000-year-old village perched at 2,350 metres, where stone houses cascade down a dramatic slope and an isolated language is preserved.

  Khinalug, Quba region

• Ride the funicular to Martyrs' Lane memorial for sweeping Baku views

  Take the cable railway from Neftchilar Avenue up to the terraced cemetery and eternal flame, overlooking the entire Bay of Baku and the city skyline.

  Baku

• Browse contemporary art at the Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by Zaha Hadid

  Step inside an architectural masterpiece of fluid, wave-like white curves, housing rotating exhibits of modern art, sculptures, and Azerbaijani cultural displays.

  Baku

• Wander through the lush gardens and waterfalls of Gabala's Tufandag Mountain Resort

  Ride a gondola above dense forest to summer hiking trails, cascading waterfalls, and a mirror-like lake, with the option to zipline or mountain bike back down.

  Gabala

• Experience Baku's vibrant nightlife at a rooftop bar on Nizami Street

  Sip cocktails on open-air terraces overlooking the illuminated street, with DJ sets and views of the historic Beşmərtəbə Hamammı and bouncing crowds below.

  Baku, Nizami Street