Destination

The Ultimate Baku Travel Guide

With a wonderful mix of ancient and modern buildings, Baku lays claim to being one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The capital of Azerbaijan offers something for everyone, from great restaurants, bars, and cultural sights to the beautiful beaches on the Caspian Sea. Read on to discover our top tips for your visit to the 'City of Wind'.

05 May 2023 6 min to read

Get your bearings

Visit Maiden's Tower in the Old Town to get your bearings! Standing high above Baku, this World Heritage site gives a stunning bird's eye view of the city. The Tower also boasts a museum devoted to the history of Baku, open from 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday to Saturday. As the tower is thousands of years old, the only way to admire the view is by climbing up to the top. Bring your best footwear, be ready for the high winds at the top, and make sure you bring your camera to take in the spectacular views; just don't drop it!

Blog images - the ultimate baku travel guide - the tower

Blog images - the ultimate baku travel guide - tower 2

Flaming hot

In 2007 work began on building the biggest buildings in Baku. Known as the Flame Towers, this 182m high development features three towers, housing apartments, and offices. Azerbaijan is known as the Land of Fire and the towers are a reflection of this. Admire them at night from our hotel as the facades of the towers are brought to life using over 10,000 LEDs to dominate the skyline.

Blog images - the ultimate baku travel guide - flame tower

Blog images - the ultimate baku travel guide - flame towers

Meet a legenday super spy

Super-spy Richard Sorge was born in Baku on October 4th, 1985. Renowned for his undercover exploits during the Second World War, he was famously helping to warn the USSR of the planned German invasion. Inside Richard Sorge Park, you will find an impressive sculpture dedicated to Sorge's memory, including a carving of the spy's famous piercing eyes. An unusual sight, and one well worth the photo opportunity.

Rock-out!

The rocks of Gobustan are a short drive from Baku, but the 60km journey will bring you to a staggering site encompassing over 60,000 mountain carvings. Another UNESCO heritage site, the carvings here serve as a timeline of the area, showing that the country has had civilized life for at least 126,000 years. The oldest carvings can be dated back to 14 millennia BC!

Blog images - the ultimate baku travel guide - stone

Blog images - the ultimate baku travel guide - stones

Get wrapped up in carpets

Established in 1967, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum has the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets in the world. Producing carpets is one of the country's oldest crafts and has been perfected over the centuries, so much so that Azerbaijani carpets were proclaimed 'a masterpiece of intangible heritage' by UNESCO in 2010. Artifacts in the museum date back to the 14th century and Bronze Age. They might even inspire your next home renovation!

A place to stay

Stay in the heart of the city and explore the newly-renovated Radisson Hotel Baku, within walking distance from the city's business district, major shopping outlets and just a 25-minute drive from the Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Our hotel offers great views of the Caspian Sea as well as a panoramic view over the Flame Towers. If you're interested in trying local dishes, experience Azerbaijani cuisine at Lagom, our all-day-dining restaurant.