I think the best way to describe Baku is that it is the ultimate city of juxtapositions. It’s the city with the ultimate contrast between old and new, one I’ve never seen before. It’s the perfect example of what discovering massive oil wealth can do for a country.
As you walk around Baku, you can’t help but be mesmerised by the fact that this city, which had nothing 100+ years ago, all of a sudden looks like it could be the new Vienna or Rome. It literally went from 0 to 100 in the span of just a few years. It’s massively sold into tourism only in the last few decades but with a much larger emphasis on the traditional European architecture and culture. One minute you’re surrounded by glittering high-rises and luxury hotels, the next you have tiny eateries and colourful carpet shops in a local market.
Baku Promenade is one of the longest in Asia!
Whether you plan to tick off a Formula 1 Grand Prix, immerse yourself in the historic old town, or use the city as a base to explore further afield, there are enough things to do in Baku to keep you busy for at least a week as a tourist.
Our first encounter with Baku had to be where its heart lies! Old Baku City!
Designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the ancient city dates back to the 12th century. Within its confines are enough touristy gems, such as the Maiden Tower, Market Square, Public Baths, old bylanes with shops, and the Palace of Shirvanshahs. Just walking through the bylanes, be sure to get transported to an old-world charm.
Old Baku city vibes!
The next day, we planned to explore this Land of Fire and understand where it got its name from.
Yanar Dag the fire mountain!
A short drive to the Yanar Dag Flaming Mountain, which is located about 25km outside of Baku. On arriving at Yanar Dag, we realised it is literally just a hill that is on fire.
Yes, that was my very first reaction seeing it! But the history that goes into it is way beyond. Because of the incredible amount of natural gas and oil in the country, there are some areas of the country that have had fires for decades or even centuries. Hence, Yanar Dag is known for their fire which is burning for 50+ years now. The oil reserves in this part of the mountain means the fire will burn continuously rain or shine. It’s not as big as I thought it would be, but it was still very impressive to see.
To learn more about the history behind it, we then visited the Temple of Eternal Fire – Ateshgah. This territory is known for similar natural phenomena as burning natural gas outlets.
The whole setup looks like a miniature castle with a courtyard in the middle that is transformed into an interesting museum where you can dive into its history and learn how important fire was to the ancient people. It’s like taking a step back in time! It is one of the most unique monuments in the region and carries a rich history tied to it.
Next, we drove to Gobustan for the petroglyphs. What are petroglyphs, you ask?
Gobustan National Park
They are some of the most ancient drawings made by early humans. They were chiselled with primitive tools of the time into the exposed rock in the Gobustan national park. These drawings embody the thinking patterns of early human beings, which makes it one of the most important historical discoveries.
The drawings date back to as far as 40,000 years ago, long before civilisation developed. More than 6,000 carvings have been found to date.
Nearby to the Petroglyphs are the famous mud volcanoes of Gobustan.
There is a 20-minute drive involved to reach the sites, which are deep into oblivion, but that’s what makes the part exciting. The landscapes you cross are nothing less than driving on planet Mars, with literally you being the only one around. There are not more than 800 mud volcanoes in the whole world, and about 400 of them are found in Gobustan.
And we were standing right in between them! Their muds are reputed to have many benefits for the skin and bones. Though we did not try any of them on ourselves, they surely made for the perfect sight-ending for the day!
The plan for the next few days was to escape city life and explore the mountains. And what luck to be welcomed by snow mountains in full glory.
Gabala is like a 3-4-hour drive from Baku city, but definitely a must for the adventurous souls.
Onroute we came across so many of these and had to take a pit stop to try it for ourselves. Our driver mentioned these being a local delicacy made from fresh fruit pulps was a must try. And yes they were!
Tucked away in the picturesque Caucasus Mountains, little did we know this charming city in northern Azerbaijan was waiting to be explored.
We booked ourselves at Tufandag Ski Resort for its accessibility to the cable car to reach the mountain top. The first views at reaching the resort were just incredible.
The location of the resort itself was such that we knew we were in for a treat for our stay. The views of the snow-capped mountains and the privilege of taking the cable car at any time at our disposal made this stay just perfect.
We took three levels of the cable car and reached the top, where we just soaked in the snow views and played to our heart content.
On the way back to Baku the next day, we made a pit stop at the beautiful Nohur Lake outside of Gabala that is surrounded by the mountains.
There are a few stalls and little pods to sit in around the lake to enjoy the perfect evening by the lake. The vibes here were just so laid-back, now isn’that what you call slow living?
With Shahdag on our itinerary, we’ve always wanted to visit this place to see if it’s worth the hype. And yes, this place turned out to be our trip’s highlight. It started with the journey itself. With the onset of spring and almost the end of winter, we saw ourselves driving through spurts of cherry trees, which made us literally stop just to catch a glimpse. And like wow, who could have believed we had our own cherry blossom moment right here in Baku?
Also, with the previous night’s heavy snowfall, we were welcomed into a winter wonderland the moment we reached Shahdag.
And like really, we were so lucky to have the alpine coaster running even with the snowfall! It was like the cherry on top of an already amazing day. Imagine gliding through the snow-capped mountains, with fresh snowflakes gently brushing against your face.
It was an experience you’ll never forget! When we reached the top, we felt like we were floating above the clouds, surrounded by nothing but snow. It was like stepping into a postcard-perfect winter wonderland, a playground just for us winter lovers.
Shahdag turned out to be more than just a place to visit; it was an unforgettable experience that left a lasting impression on us.
Leaving a big piece of our hearts in Shahdag, we headed back to the city, driving through Gachrash Forest, the incredible escape into the wild. The highlight of this place was the never-ending forest trails covered by a canopy of trees, creating a perfect arch of greenery around.
With the last few days immersing ourselves in all the nature, it was time to soak in the last day of city life before departing. Nizami Street is where it all starts.
Now who wouldn’t want to try one of these in -4Degree temperatures.
We walked and walked only to come across a sight every few metres. Be it crossing by The Mini Venice, or viewing the gigantic carpet-structured museum, or walking the longest promenade of Baku. It is a 4km stretch along the coast, admiring the Flame Towers at night against other beautiful structures in the backdrop was like calling it a perfect last night!
We went expecting high-rises in Baku and historical treasures in the countryside. But we experienced a once-in-a-lifetime winter wonderland, saw natural wonders, and learned city culture we never knew existed. Visiting Baku is like stepping back into time. You will find historical treasures without another tourist in sight, natural wonders untouched by tourism, and charming little mountain villages that seem to have walked out of a postcard. It just goes to show how unique and how different the city of Baku is. The combination of old and new doesn’t exist anywhere else like it does in Baku.
Cannot Miss:
- Shahdag for the alpine roller coaster experience
- Yanar Dag for the flaming fire
- Walking through the Baku Promenade into late nights
- Gabala for a winter Wonderland
- Nizami street for experiencing Europe vibes
GlobeTrotting365Days: Baku 17 March 2025.
