Baku

Introduction

Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, and the largest city in the Caucasus, lies on Caspian Sea. During the Soviet era, it was a seaside vacation destination and popular for its spas. The picturesque Old City (icheri shekher), the new boomtown and the Soviet-built town make up Baku. The cobbled streets, narrow alleys and ancient buildings of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Old City are the undoubted highlight for visitors to Baku.

Neighbourhoods

Sights and Activities

• The Old City is a must for any visitor to the city.
• The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is the highlight of the Old City. Location: Old City. Cost: 2 AZN. Open: 10:00am–5:00pm daily.
• The Maiden's Tower (Guz Qalasi) was built somewhere between the 7th and 12th century AD. It is a mystery what exactly its purpose was. Location: Old City. Cost: 0.5 AZN. Open 10:00am-7:00pm daily.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Baku has warm summers and mild winters. Temperatures average around 31 °C from June to September and are still around 10 °C during the December to February winter period. Frost and snow are rare, but rain can fall in every month, though tends to be somewhat higher during October and November.

Getting There

By Plane

Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) (website currently not working) is the busiest airport in the Caucasus and is located near Baku. It services flights primarily to destinations in Central Asia, Russia and Eastern Europe. Azerbaijan Airlines, the national airline, has its main hub here. Domestic destinations include Ganja and Nakhchivan City (exclave).

By Train

The only international train connection is the direct train between Baku and the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. It stops on its route in a number of other places within the country.

By Car

By Bus

Buses travel to all major cities and towns in Azerbaijan as well as destinations further away including Tehran, Tblisi and Istanbul. Minibuses and shared taxis also ply the national routes from Baku.

By Boat

Ferries, both cargo and passenger, travel across the Caspian Sea from Baku to Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan and Aqtau in Kazakhstan. Services are erratic though, but the crossing to Turkmenistan is the most popular and reliable. Some ferries go to Russia as well, which is mostly used because as a foreigner, you can't travel overland between the two countries.
Theoretically, ferries also cross the Caspian Sea to Iran, but these are unreliable and infrequent, no schedules exist, they are not comfortable and it's slow. It is adventurous though!

Getting Around

By Car

By Public Transport

By Foot

By Bike

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Budget

Mid-Range

Upscale

Work

Learn

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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