Azerbaijan, or “Land of Fire“, is a country where the old and the new contrast. No other country had gone through such a drastic transformation from the Soviet era to now than Azerbaijan. Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, is the best place to see this transformation first hand.
The city has also become a laboratory of architectural projects, with the influx of oil capital. A few samples of the fantastic pieces of architecture you’ll find in Baku are the modern Heydar Aliyev Art Museum, the brainchild of Zaha Hadid and the huge Stone-built Heydar Mosque. Here is a list of the best things to do in Baku.
Also read: 5 Most Charming destinations in Azerbaijan
Best things to do in Baku
- Visit the Old Town of Baku
- Visit Bibi-Heybat Mosque in Baku
- Explore Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku
- Shop at Yashil Bazaar in Baku
- Go around Baku Promenade and Mini Venice
- Tour around the Highland Park in Baku
- Visit Heydar Mosque
- Go on a Day Trip to Gobustan
1. Visit the Old Town of Baku
The area of Old Town in Baku is considered to be the city’s oldest parts. Many of the structures that you’ll find here, like the Maiden Tower, date back to the 12th Century. Fortified by a medieval stone wall, the Old Town is as ancient as the city itself. You will find many interesting sights on this wall, waiting for you to explore. One of the widely suggested sights to explore is the Shirvanshahs Palace, a series of palaces from the 15th century, where you can find the residence, the burial vaults and the mosque of the shah.
You can also pay to get in and see the relics and artefacts they hold in the palace or you can enjoy the view from the outside of the palace. In addition to the Palace, there is also the ancient Muhammad Mosque built in the 11th century that you can visit, the Maiden Tower, a 12th-century monument that you can climb and the beautiful old streets that make you feel like you’re travelling in time which makes it one of the best things to do in Baku.
Also read: Places To Visit In Baku
2. Visit Bibi-Heybat Mosque in Baku
Just outside the city centre, you can notice a major mosque on the side of a mountain near the highway heading south. Within the Bibi-Heybat Mosque, you can find the tomb of Ukeyma Khanum, a descendant of Prophet Muhammad. It is beautifully adorned with sparkling green walls and ceilings, while Islamic designs can be seen in almost every corner of the interior of the mosque. Bibi-Heybat Mosque is now a famous place for pilgrims to visit particularly people from all over Azerbaijan as it is a place of worship for infertile women. Myth has it that certain people came here on foot, worshipped and got the power to give birth within one year. With its heritage, this place is one among the recommended things to do in Baku. Visit these places by booking a Baku tour packages with us!
3. Explore Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku
Heydar Aliyev Center is possibly one of the city’s most magnificent and important pieces of contemporary architecture. It is a brainchild of Zaha Hadid, the late Iraqi-British architect. Its distinct flowing feel of curves and flows stands out from everything you’ll find in the region. The complex also holds shows, as well as gala concerts and events. You can get inside for around 15 AZN per user, and check out the exhibition that is taking place. It certainly finds its way to the top things to do in Baku.
Also read: Contemporary Galleries in Baku
4. Shop at Yashil Bazaar in Baku
On your way from Heydar Aliyev Centre, be sure to opt-in for a walk back to the city centre so you can pass by Yashil Bazaar, a huge market where you’ll find a good variety of fresh fruits, colourful spices, delicious delights you can buy back home as a souvenir. People are really friendly and if you’re interested they’ll let you try lots of their nearby treats and desserts for free.
5. Go around Baku Promenade and Mini Venice
Built along the coast of the Caspian Sea, this 4-kilometre long promenade stretches all the way from the House of Government to the Carpet Museum with other fun items to see along the way. When you get on the promenade, you’ll find yourself right by the magnificent Caspian Sea on the vast walking path and you’ll be able to see the Flaming Towers. Caspian Waterfront Market, around the Promenade, with all the stunning architecture. One of Baku’s most photogenic locations in the Mini-Venice, a tiny waterway network, designed to depict what Venice looks like, hence the term. To get on one of these vessels is pretty gimmicky with people standing in a long line.
Also read: Best Museums to Visit in Baku
6. Tour around the Highland Park in Baku
Highland Park is a beautiful park with an unrivalled panoramic view of Baku. There are over 250 stairs between you and a balcony with panoramic city view. So be prepared to climb up there. You may also pay 1 AZN, and take the funicular ride to the roof. The perfect time to visit Highland Park is just before sunset. It is because you can escape the heat when hiking. You will be able to see the sunset in time by the time you arrive at the summit. Up on top, you can see many statues devoted to the troops and citizens murdered during the Black January attack, a perfect reminder of the still forgotten tragic history of the Azerbaijani nation.
Also read: The Most Beautiful Parks in Baku
7. Visit Heydar Mosque
One of Baku ‘s secret treasures is the Heydar Mosque, a huge mosque in the northern part of town. What makes Heydar Mosque so special is how the whole mosque is lit up at night. It creates an eternally calming mosque view overlooking the quiet neighbourhood around the area. The mosque’s sadly not available to the press.
8. Go on a Day Trip to Gobustan
There are sights such as Gobustan which you should not miss when you visit Baku. Gobustan is a wonderful place to know about the ancient people from the 8th millennium BC onwards. When you look at it from outside, Gobustan may not seem like a place of interest. Yet what’s noteworthy about Gobustan are all the thousands of rock engravings and petroglyphs. It depicts hunting scenes, humans, vehicles, constellations and livestock, some as ancient as 12th Century BC. To enjoy Gobustan, you’ll need a tour guide to describe it to you. It is because there’s no English sign. So it’s suggested that you get a tour guide to drive you there.
Also read: Explore the Best Tours in Baku
Plan your trip with Pickyourtrail to Azerbaijan
The moment you step into Baku, you’ll be surprised to see how clean the city is. You can encounter both ancient stone houses and hypermodern buildings within the old town. There are also a ton of things to do in Baku. Both are nestled together ready for you to discover. Plan your Azerbaijan tour package with the help of reputed travel agency Pickyourtrail. It guides you on planning your tour in a trouble-free way. You can have a comfortable trip without burning a hole in your wallet with its customisable International tour packages. You may visit Pickyourtrail to find out more or leave a Whatsapp inquiry for more options.