Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan . Baku, the most populous city of the country, stretching along the Caspian Sea in the westernmost part of the country, is the center of science, culture and industry. Baku, which has the title of the largest city in the Caucasus, takes its name from 'bad-ı kübra', which means big wind in Persian. Apart from being an industrial, commercial and cultural center as well as being a port city, Baku is important in terms of its country's tourism potential.
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Baku is located in the southern part of the Absheron Peninsula, which is also known for its rich oil deposits. Petroleum and oil refining, which is the cornerstone of the city's economy, is the most important industry branch. In addition to its wide areas, climatic and geographical conditions, Baku is one of the most important junction points on the Silk Road in history. Baku, one of the oldest eastern cities that has hosted many civilizations throughout history, is today a colorful city with its magnificent buildings illuminated at night on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Information About Baku
Baku, as a settlement formed by tradition and modernity, has a very different structure. While tall buildings reflect the modern face of Baku, the city center surrounded by historical walls and containing many historical monuments is the most impressive picture of the capital's retrospective face. Buildings in Soviet, Islamic and European architectural styles form important parts of the cityscape.
The tourism season in Azerbaijan mostly starts in May and lasts for six months. On the other hand, tourist camps in Yalama, Zagatala, Shusha and Baku are open all year. There are important touristic areas in the northern part of the Absheron Peninsula and the shores of the Caspian Sea, as well as in the Guba-Khachmaz, Lankaran Plain, and the central and western regions of Baku.
Atesgah (Ateshgah) Temple Complex, which is at the top of the places to visit in Baku and located 30 km northeast of the Surakhani settlement area, is a famous fire temple. This place is known as an important haunt for Silk Road merchants. Gobustan, located 70 km south of the city, is a place that stands out with its carved stones, camps, cemetery monuments, caves and other rocky places, and is known all over the world for its carved rocks and picture stones.
Surrounded by most of the walls built in the 12th century to defend the city, the City Center (Icheri Sheher) is the historical part of Baku. Stretching along the Caspian Sea as a fortress, this walled part of Baku contains over 50 historical architectures from different eras. The Shirvanshakhs Palace, the Maiden's Tower, which was built within the defense walls in the city center and seen as a "Q" from the air, and Synyg Gala (Broken Tower) are among the most famous and impressive works of art.
Sirvan Shahs Palace, Baku's most historical monument, is a building located on the shores of the Caspian Sea, built in the 15th century during the period of the Shirvan Shahs. Apseron region, where beaches and parks are located, is also known as the holiday island of Baku and is an address where Azerbaijanis flock especially on weekends. The Azerbaijan National Literature Museum, founded in 1939, and the State Carpet Museum located in the city center are among the main museums of Baku. The Crystal Hall, where the Eurovision Song Contest is held, is a place Baku people are proud of. The hall, which is a very magnificent and large building, is open to visitors on certain days of the week.
Baku is one of the most beautiful cities of Azerbaijan with its magnificent buildings, wide boulevards, Caspian Sea, Absheron Peninsula, skyscrapers that shine brightly at night, historical textures and natural beauties. Baku, the capital and largest city of the country, is known as the Paris of the East. Baku, located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea and the largest city in the Caucasus, is the country's most important cultural and commercial center. Baku also has all the beauties of a port city.
Baku, the main cultural and artistic center of its country, is a city rich in theatres, concert halls, art galleries, libraries and galleries. The most important concert venues of the city, which hosts very important theaters such as Russian Drama Theatre, State National Drama Theatre, State Musical Comedy Theatre, State Puppet Theater and Ibrus Theatre, are Baku Cultural Center, Baku Jazz Center, Heydar Aliyev Palace, Baku Music Academy Great Hall. can be listed as Baku International Jazz Festival is one of the important cultural events of the city.
Baku, which hosts the first opera of the country such as the State Philharmonic Orchestra, the State Opera and Ballet, the first national theater and the first library, is a city that offers various entertainment alternatives. In the city, where you can have a good time with the beaches along the Caspian Sea, the Primorsky Boulevard stretching for kilometers and the promenades in Primorsky Park, the number of nightclubs and bars has been increasing in recent years.
With the development of the economy in Azerbaijan, which has a strong economy with natural gas and oil exports, new social areas were built all over Baku, which experienced a great change and transformation in the early 2000s. With its huge skyscrapers, recreational areas on the Caspian Sea coast, museum complexes, shopping centers and restoration works that reveal the historical texture of the city, Baku is a city that tries to reveal its potential in tourism.
August and July, the hottest summer months in Baku, can reach 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. The best times to come to Baku are May, September and October, as the weather is quite cool or windy during the winter months.
No visa is required to go to Baku. Without a passport, we can travel to Azerbaijan without a visa for 90 days with a new type of chip TC ID card. If you plan to stay in Azerbaijan for more than 15 days, you have to make a declaration of address to the Azerbaijan State Migration Administration . When you go abroad, you have to pay an international departure fee .
How to find a suitable hotel in the Travel Guide category , visa/passport , life-saving smartphone applications blog posts can guide you to make a more convenient Baku holiday . In my Azerbaijan Travel Guide blog post, I shared more detailed information about places to visit in Azerbaijan, check it out.
Where is Baku
Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan, a Caucasian country neighboring Turkey's eastern borders. To the east of Baku lies the Caspian Sea, which gives life to the country. Located in the east of Azerbaijan, the city is the most important industrial, commercial and cultural center of the country, as well as a port city.
How to get to Baku
Turkish Airlines, Azerbaijan Airlines ( AZAL) and Pegasus have reciprocal flights between Baku and Turkey . There are direct flights to Baku from Istanbul by Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and Azerbaijan Airlines, and from Ankara by Azerbaijan Airlines.
Both negative PCR and vaccination cards are required from all flights to Azerbaijan. The PCR result must be printed, and the vaccine passport can be digital. When leaving Turkey, the Turkish border police print the entry stamps on the 'Entry-Exit Form'. Do not lose this card.
Heydar Aliyev International Airport is used for international flights in Baku, which you can reach by direct flights lasting approximately three hours. You can reach the city center by bus from the airport, which is located 20 km northeast of the city center.
On the other hand, it is possible to reach Baku by land via Georgia and Iran. Another way to reach Baku is to first go to Iğdır, then to Nakhchivan and then to Baku by plane.
If you are going to Azerbaijan and Baku by road, you can do this via Iran or Georgia. Tbilisi-Red Bridge (Azerbaijan-Georgia border) takes 45 minutes. It takes about 8 hours between the Red Bridge and Baku.
If you are going to travel through Iran, it takes 3 hours between Gürbulak Border Gate and Astara (Azerbaijan-Iran border), and about 5 hours between Astar and Baku.
For the trips to be made on both routes, make sure that the car insurance or insurance procedures are done and the customs tax is paid. Vehicle insurance is provided at the Georgian border for approximately 30 dollars. This figure is around 200-250 dollars at the Iranian border.
Baku is the most important city in all aspects of Azerbaijan as well as the geography it is located in. It blends its touristic addresses, culture and art centers, natural beauties and historical textures, and local features with a modern perspective.