Three-day route to Baku. Independent travel to Baku. Choosing hotels in Baku: how to navigate

In a series of materials "Paper" is exploring a new trend: traveling through neighboring countries that were once part of the USSR. Local residents, tourists and St. Petersburg residents who moved to post-Soviet countries talk about ways to save money, the most convenient routes and dishes that you can’t try anywhere else.

What souvenir to bring from Azerbaijan, how is it customary to cross the road to Baku, what can you see in Caucasus mountains and what complaints do the guides of the city of Sheki have against the Hermitage? Three points of view on traveling around Azerbaijan - in a detailed guide "Papers".

A local's perspective: what you need to know before you go

Gunay Alizadeh

Born in Baku

The most important thing that every tourist planning a trip to the Republic of Azerbaijan should take into account is the number cash. It's no secret that Azerbaijan is not a budget country, so tourists will need to think about and allocate their funds for the duration of their vacation in advance.

Azerbaijan is an incredibly beautiful and diverse country, and that is why I do not advise tourists to stay long in the capital Baku, but to travel around different cities(or regions, as we say) of the country. For example, I advise you to visit the Palace of the Sheki Khans - the former residence of the Sheki Khans, located in the city of Sheki, which was built in the 13th century.

In general, the city of Sheki has many interesting sights, plus this city fascinates with its nature and incredibly tasty local cuisine, so I am convinced that when you visit Sheki, you will fall in love with our country. I can also recommend visiting cities such as Gabala (with a cable car), Lerik (with the most beautiful waterfalls), Gobustan (with the oldest archaeological reserve).

Despite the fact that Azerbaijan seeks to position itself as European state, we should not forget that for many centuries the country lived according to strict Muslim canons and traditions. Part of our population, especially people outside Baku, from other cities and regions, still live on them. When traveling around Azerbaijan, you should definitely take into account the national mentality of the people.

How to move around the country more comfortably

Personally, I advise tourists to get to the bus station, which is located almost in the center of the capital, and then decide how to go: by bus or taxi, they leave daily in all directions of the country.

What dish cannot be found in St. Petersburg

What souvenirs to bring from the country

In St. Petersburg, you will hardly find the national Azerbaijani dish - sweet Sheki pilaf with beans (if you are in Sheki, be sure to try it).

As a souvenir, I advise you to buy national carpets in miniature, a set of crystal glasses - armudas (it's nice to drink tea from them).

The view of a St. Petersburg resident: what surprises about the country and people

Anastasia Blokhina

Moved to Baku from St. Petersburg

The first shock for me was the climate. When I first moved, following the St. Petersburg habit, I carried a jacket, scarf and umbrella with me. Around the third week, my colleagues asked me why I was carrying all this, and when I answered: “Suddenly the weather will change,” they grinned and said: “Until September, it’s unlikely.” Only by the middle of my second summer in Baku (and it is here from April to October) did I finally get used to the fact that you can leave the house in a sundress and sandals and calmly walk like that until the evening.

The second surprise was a completely different perception of time. There is not as much fuss and haste here as in Moscow and St. Petersburg, many processes are often very slow, and people are relaxed, everyone is constantly late and rarely plans anything in advance. But the coolest fact that still amazes me is that you can leave work and be on the beach in half an hour.

In principle, I didn’t have any special stereotypes about Azerbaijan: I knew a lot about Baku and didn’t go into complete uncertainty. But I didn't expect there to be so many modern buildings, and most importantly - the speed with which they are erected.

How to plan your trip around the country

You need to spend three or four days in Baku, explore the city, and then get out to the sea and the mountains. There are nine climatic zones in Azerbaijan, so there is a completely different nature. My favorite place- Shahdag, ski resort in the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, there is crystal clear air and impenetrable silence, coupled with beautiful views.

You definitely need to go to Sheki - this is ancient city, in which the Palace of the Sheki Khans is located - an incredibly beautiful building with stained glass windows, completely hand-painted, which was also built without a single nail. And, of course, spend at least a day on the Caspian beaches.

What places can become a discovery on a trip?

I’ve never heard of the Gobustan Nature Reserve, which is a forty-minute drive from Baku. This is very interesting place: Stone Age rock paintings are preserved there and are open for viewing. And there you can observe an amazing phenomenon - mud volcanoes, which form an absolutely Martian landscape.

I also never knew that this is the territory of Caucasian Albania and, it turns out, the ancestors of the Vikings lived on these lands before moving north. Thor Heyerdahl did a lot of research on this topic and often visited Azerbaijan.

The main discovery was how lamb can be cooked in different ways. Favorite dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine: dushbara soup (lamb broth with tiny dumplings), local white cheese made from sheep's milk, fresh bread from the tandoor and mangal salad, which is made from grilled vegetables. And besides sturgeon, there is excellent local fish - berge, kutum, which is prepared differently in each region.

A tourist's view: where to stay, what to eat, what to save on

Maria Rzaeva

Traveled around the country in May 2014

In recent years, the city has changed significantly: it is said that oil money has begun to pour into Baku. The houses in the center were built into carved stone boxes made in an oriental eclectic style. The business life of Baku is concentrated in the Flame Towers, a complex of three skyscrapers. Their outlines resemble tongues of flame. In the evening, with the onset of darkness, a light installation begins to work on the walls of skyscrapers: flames, the Azerbaijani flag and silhouettes of people waving the flag. The city is very reminiscent of Dubai: in the center you can find old mosque, standing near the walls of a sparkling high-rise building. When we went to Azerbaijan, we expected to see a post-Soviet poor country of Khrushchev.

It’s interesting to walk around the Old City: there used to be a fortress there, the walls of which were washed away by the Caspian Sea. Old town, or Icheri Sheher, is a completely pedestrian and carefully restored area where small museums, foreign embassies, a couple of galleries. But it's all in the center ancient fortress. If you move along the narrow street towards the “outskirts”, you can find laundry hanging on lines, children’s toys - ordinary Baku residents live in the buildings of the Old City.

What really looks wild are the portraits of Heydar Aliyev, the former president of Azerbaijan. Huge billboards with a smiling dead man (sometimes in a tuxedo) stand every 50 meters. Heydar Aliyev's birthday is celebrated throughout the country on May 10. On this day, a fantastically expensive flower festival is held in Baku. Plants are brought from all European countries to fill at least the entire Heydar Aliyev Park with figures of flowers, and at most the entire center of Baku. Victory Day, against the backdrop of Aliyev’s birthday, passes unnoticed.

Almost all Azerbaijanis over 35 speak Russian well. Young people who understand Russian can only be found in service industry establishments. If you're not ready to spend a hot summer day in jeans, get ready to be the only person in Azerbaijan wearing shorts. IN provincial cities like Ganja and Sheki will turn on you. Azerbaijani men wear black tight pants in any weather. Girls - trousers or skirt below the knee.

Those who are afraid of fast driving or cars should take courage. There are very few pedestrian crossings in Baku. Azerbaijanis don’t really need them: townspeople cross a six-lane road with their hand outstretched in front of them in a “stop” gesture. For example, before our eyes, a 60-year-old woman did this, shouting: “We are Baku residents, we all do this, let’s go!”

There is chaos on the road to Baku. The only pattern that always works: if one person starts honking somewhere in the distance, for inexplicable reasons everyone around him starts honking, and so on until the wave fades away.

Real London cabs drive through Baku. According to legend, the Azerbaijani president really liked this taxi, and he ordered the cars to be brought to Baku. Only here they are not black, but purple. People call this taxi “eggplant”.

A hostel, and even more so a hotel, in Baku will cost you quite a lot. There are quite a few luxury hotels in the city center; All of them, of course, are designed for guests of equally luxurious skyscrapers. You should focus on rented housing. The most pleasant (and satisfying) option is to become guests in the home of an Azerbaijani family.

The main thing you should be prepared for when visiting an Azerbaijani family is food. Lots of food, more than you can imagine. Caucasian hospitality will leave the most vivid impressions of your trip. Most likely, before your arrival, they will slaughter a sheep, call all the women of the large family to cook, buy a couple of additional beds and change the chandelier to a more elegant one.

If you are planning to spend the evening in a restaurant, you can head to the café on the Caspian embankment - there are many of them there. The menu includes traditional Azerbaijani and Turkish dishes: dolma, dener, kutab (thin flatbread with a large number fillings, for example, potatoes, meat or herbs). In general, in Azerbaijan it is difficult to find a good eatery with affordable prices if you are not a fan of dener, this is the main local fast food.

There are not many restaurants on the streets, but it is easy to find a teahouse. In the teahouse you will be offered hookah, tea or a combo of these two items for more favorable price. Sweets and nuts are served with a hot kettle. Sometimes treats are simply added to your plate after the previous guest.

There is a real cult of tea in Azerbaijan; people drink it at any free moment. In all establishments, regardless of price category, the drink is served in traditional glass cups called armudas, which are generally believed to retain heat better. Armuds are always placed on a beautiful painted saucer.

Main attractions

Mountains

The main thing to see in Azerbaijan is the mountains. Best vacation for any Caucasian - to go there for a walk and eat “in a restaurant”. The “restaurant” in the mountains is a ten-meter-high lodge with a barbecue, a canopy under which there is a large table, long benches and several chairs (for older people).

Azerbaijanis go to such a “restaurant” with their whole family, bringing food and sometimes even dishes with them: for the first hour and a half, the women prepare salads from vegetables and herbs, set the table, and the men do the barbecue. At this time, guests can take a walk and look at the mountains of incredible beauty.

Maiden's Tower

The main symbol of Baku is the Maiden Tower. This is part of the fortress wall of the Old City. From the outside there is nothing special, the tower is just a tower, but inside a very modern multimedia museum is made literally out of nothing. The exhibition is based on several versions of the purpose of the tower: starting with the legend of the unfortunate bride of the Shah, ending with an ancient observatory.

In St. Petersburg, you can probably only buy ordinary baklava on a shelf with oriental sweets (multi-layer diamonds with a nut in the middle). Sheki baklava looks and tastes different. The layers of dough in it are dense candied “nets”. Between them lie various nuts, and the whole thing is soaked in syrup, honey and rose water. Sheki baklava is prepared in flat pans with a diameter of about a meter. The cook at the Sheki pastry shop will cut off pieces and transfer the baklava from a round baking tray to a special box.

Dovga is a soup made from kefir, eggs, herbs and sometimes rice, which must be simmered over a fire for about two hours. Dovgu eat from plates or drink from glasses, usually after meals. This saves a little from the heaviness after a mountain of barbecue. Dovga is essentially similar to ayran.

Dolma is available in all Caucasian restaurants - these are “dumplings” made from grape leaves and minced meat. Azerbaijani housewives use small young leaves to make dolma, approximately the size of a two-ruble coin. Interestingly, cabbage rolls are called “cabbage dolma”, and they are also small, about five centimeters in length.

Rose petal jam

A special variety of roses is used to make jam. The petals are torn off the flowers, and then they are cooked like regular berry jam. The jam smells, of course, like roses. If you put it in tea, you will see translucent petals opening at the bottom.

Azerbaijani pilaf

In Azerbaijan pilaf prepared with lamb and a lot of dried fruits, most importantly grapes. Sometimes pomegranate is added. The portion always includes a special “rice cake”.

Don't know where to go for the weekend? How about going to Baku? A spontaneous trip to Baku is an option when you get tens of times more than you expect.
The old city of Baku, the endless embankment, the Caspian Sea, oriental hospitality, delicious Azerbaijani cuisine (sturgeon!), peace and security. I hope we have convinced you that you need to go to Azerbaijan.

Planning a trip: flight, do you need a visa, what kind of passport, currency

Organize independent trip It's very simple in Baku. Russian citizens do not require a visa; a foreign passport is sufficient, which will be stamped upon arrival.
Another advantage of a trip to Azeybarjan is the low cost of air tickets. I bought tickets a week before the trip, they cost me 16,000 rubles, and if you book a month in advance, you can buy a one-way ticket from 5,000 rubles. S7 flew from Moscow, believing that our airline would organize a more comfortable flight than AZALJET (Azeybarjan Airlines), but I was mistaken.
The return flight from AZALJET was simply amazing. We boarded a large, comfortable plane; the distance between the seats allowed us to easily stretch our legs. By the way, the plane matched everything I saw in Baku. Everything here is beautiful, neat, expensive, stylish, calm, so even a regular economy class flight feels almost like business class. Takeoff and landing were not felt at all, I have never experienced such comfort, although I often fly with our normal airlines. They also fed us a delicious dinner, which is also very rare.
I won’t be able to advise you on what currency to take with you, because with current fluctuations it is not clear whether it is profitable to change rubles into euros or dollars. I can say for sure that there are no problems withdrawing money in rubles from a card at an ATM; rubles are also exchanged at exchange offices.

How to get to the center of Baku from the airport

When you arrive in Baku, you immediately realize that you have arrived in an oil industry. eastern country. If, when you mention Baku, you associate crowds of people in caps with a string of oranges in their hands, then you do not understand what Baku is.
Airport named after Heydar Aliyev when leaving the plane evokes a lot of positive emotions, for a second you think that you are at an exhibition contemporary art. Waiting for a flight takes place in a comfortable environment; you just relax in the waiting room. The city’s airport was designed and equipped by the most fashionable companies; after such beauty, we don’t even want to remember our air harbors, especially Domodedovo, which is outdated in all respects.
I arrived late in the evening alone, so I ordered a transfer in advance for 1,700 rubles.

Official taxi at the airport Baku Taxi, boarding costs 3 AZN, then according to the meter. Payment is made at the end of the trip in cash or by card. Travel time is about 20 minutes.

Old city of Baku

The Old City is the heart of Baku. Those who expect to see ruins of houses here will be disappointed - every house has been restored, the doors shine. If you have never seen the Caravanserai, ancient mosques and baths, then you definitely need to come here.

Top attractions of Baku

I conducted a survey among several friends, do they know what to see in Baku and why go there? Of the five, one remembered the “damn it” from the Diamond Hand, the second heard about the Flaming Towers. I’m telling you briefly, as I plan to write photo reports of walks around the city to demonstrate the beauty of colorful Baku.

• Old City (Icheri Sheher)
• Allow at least a day to visit the Old Town.
• Fortress walls of Icheri Sheher
• Maiden Tower (Asaf Zeynalli St., 24)
• Palace of the Shirvanshahs (Zamkovaya St., 76)
• Mohammed Mosque (Mirza Mansur St., 42)
• The Flame Towers (Mehdi Huseynzade St., 1a)
• Heydar Aliyev Center (Heydar Aliyev Avenue, 1)
• Carpet Museum
• A unique modern museum dedicated to the most ancient craft of the East. In my opinion, this is a must see in Baku.
• Funicular and Mountain Park Baku. All the pleasures at once: a ride on a train, a stroll through the park, and a visit to the observation deck. Advice: come to Nagorny Park when the sun is shining on the city and not in your face.
• Baku embankment. The embankment seems endless - many kilometers of beauty. There are no beaches within the city, the embankment is suitable for walks along the Caspian Sea, many people ride bicycles, which can be rented here.
• "Little Venice" on the territory of the Primorsky Park. Modern canals follow the picturesque park, along which you can ride on cute boats.
• Street where the famous scene from The Diamond Arm was filmed: st. Kichik-Gala, 8/1

Baku embankment

The embankment in Baku stretches for many kilometers. There are no beaches here, but there is plenty of space for walking. It is convenient to rent a bicycle and go around all the sights or take a ride on a sightseeing train. I was walking.

The embankment begins with the flag square, where, as you guessed, the giant flag of Azerbaijan flutters. The Korva Museum looks impressive, be sure to check it out, there is a lot to see (review of the museum).

Pleasure boats depart from the piers, and you can look at Baku from above on a Ferris wheel. The cactus garden looks beautiful, little Venice, along whose canals everyone rides boats.

Azerbaijani cuisine Baku

Baku - very delicious city. We were served a great breakfast at the hotel, a delicious dinner on the plane, and the street food and restaurants were simply amazing.

I still remember Baku tomatoes. And what a magnificent Caspian fish in restaurants is - you'll lick your fingers. We ate enough sturgeon for the year ahead. It is also worth trying saj, rich soups, and eggplant dishes.

It’s not so easy to find colorful Baku restaurants, as you can mostly find modern European and Asian establishments. If you want to try national cuisine, look for restaurants in the Old Town.

Observation platforms in Baku

You can look at the old city from above from the Maiden Tower, which is difficult to pass by.

Other observation platforms can be found on the wheel of obohroniya, in one of the bars of the Flaming Skyscrapers - symbols of modern Baku, and also take the funicular to the Highland Park.

Choosing hotels in Baku: how to navigate

Conventionally, when choosing a hotel, I would divide Baku into three points of attraction: the Flaming Towers (famous high-rise buildings that symbolize modern Baku), the Old City and the embankment, which stretches for 25 kilometers.
In the high-rise buildings there is a five-star hotel Fairmont Baku Flame Towers, I think it will appeal to fans of Moscow City and other areas with skyscrapers. It is relatively inexpensive for 5*, prices can be checked on booking.com. There are standard apartments and hostels nearby, from the windows of which symbols of the country's oil wealth are visible.
I decided to live in the old city, after reading the reviews, I realized that the most comfortable and colorful hotel is slightly above the average price category - Shah Palace Hotel 4*

Baths

1. In the Old City of Baku there are only one functioning baths left - Agha Mikhail Baths
Aga Mikayil Bath House - Kicik Qala, 16, Baku, Azerbaijan (Price 65 manats for sauna, hammam, 30 minute massage)

Taze Bey Baths, st. Sh. Shamilya, 30, Baku, Azerbaijan
Many people compare these baths to a souvenir shop - all the walls of the bath are hung with various oriental objects. It’s worth visiting here for the beautiful interiors and special oriental flavor.

Excursions and audio guides in Baku

There are several in the old city of Baku travel agencies, where you can purchase excursions both around the city and out of town. I love tours given by locals, so I chose a sightseeing tour here.

Travel agencies offer a wide selection day trips: for example, to the temple of fire worshipers, to oil fields. More details we talked about it here .

What to bring from Baku

You can bring a silk scarf as a souvenir from Baku - just be careful, there are many fakes. Where does silk come from in Azerbaijan? It's simple in Sheki there is a silk spinning mill where silk scarves are produced.

I would also like to point out that souvenirs are very expensive in the Old Town. Tea, jam, baklava can be purchased at any supermarket. It is better to buy delicious products locally grocery market“Yashil Bzar” (or Green Market, not far from the railway station) – tell the taxi driver, everyone knows where it is.
You can also buy groceries in the Bazarstor and O"Bravo supermarkets.

Baku made a strong impression on me. I didn’t expect that it was such a modern city and at the same time colorful. Now I'm thinking about more long journey to Azeybarjan.

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Why go and what to see in Baku

Baku is a surprisingly hospitable city located on the shores of the Caspian Sea; there is one here rich history, culinary traditions, natural attractions, while Baku is a modern city with developed infrastructure, modern buildings and a lot of entertainment. In addition, tourists are attracted to Baku by its mild climate coupled with opportunities beach holiday, and they are truly unlimited in the vicinity of Baku.

It’s definitely worth going to Baku to feel its oriental flavor, taste delicious dishes, see traditional and ultra-modern architecture, visit the outskirts of the city and see natural attractions, and, of course, breathe the salty air while walking along the famous Baku embankment, located right on the shore of the mighty Caspian Sea.

For excursion purposes, you can visit Baku at any time of the year, but for beach rest is suitable period from June to September inclusive. It is better to look for places for a beach holiday in the nearest suburbs of Baku (Bilgya, Mardakan, Zagulba, Novkhani, etc.), where there is the appropriate infrastructure, and the beaches themselves will delight you with their cleanliness, well-groomed and fine golden sand. The Baku port is located within the city limits.

Francisco Anzola/flickr

Climate and weather in Baku

The climate of Baku is mild continental, without sharp changes. The air temperature rises smoothly and reaches its peak in July-August and also gradually decreases and reaches its minimum in December-January. Even in winter time The thermometer rarely drops below zero. Autumn, winter and spring are perfect for traveling to Baku for excursion purposes; the weather is conducive to long walks, and there is no sweltering heat typical for the summer period.

Summer in Baku is hot, dry, with virtually no precipitation. In July-August, when the temperature can reach +40 degrees, long walks around the city may not be comfortable, but the Baku summer is ideal for a beach holiday on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Sufficiently warm weather in Baku begins at the end of April, but swimming will only be possible starting in June, because... the water warms up more slowly.

There is not much precipitation in Baku; it is mainly typical for the period from November to March. At this time of year there are short-term rains, the weather becomes more cloudy, and in some years (not every year) snow may fall in Baku for a short time. You can read more about the weather in Baku by season in

Trevor Claringbold/flickr

Currency, language, local time in Baku

The currency of Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijani manat, designated as AZN. It is customary to pay in local currency, so you should take care of exchanging cash before or upon arrival. At Baku airport you can exchange not only dollars or euros, but also rubles. The approximate exchange rate at the beginning of 2018 is 34 rubles per 1 manat.

The official and most frequently used language in Azerbaijan, incl. in Baku, is the Azerbaijani language. Not everyone knows Russian, but tourist places They will understand you. In large hotel chains, you will be more likely to be understood if you speak English, because... The staff is dedicated to receiving foreign guests. Menus in restaurants can be duplicated in English or Russian, but this is only if you have chosen an establishment visited by tourists. If you want to try authentic Azerbaijani cuisine, then you should go to those establishments that the locals themselves visit, but in this case there is a risk of encountering a language barrier, and you will have to communicate using gestures.

The time difference between Baku and Moscow is 1 hour. Thus, Baku is in the GMT+4 time zone, while Moscow is in the GMT+3 time zone. Daylight hours in Baku last a little longer.

Aero Icarus/flickr

How to get to Baku

The most popular way to get to Baku from Russia is by air. You can fly on the Moscow-Baku route without transfers using several airlines at once. Flights, for example, are operated by Azal (Azerbaijan Airlines), Utair, S7, Aeroflot. The flight time will be on average 4 hours (there) and 2 hours (back). Azal flies from Vnukovo and returns to Domodedovo; Utair uses only Vnukovo airport, S7 is based in Domodedovo; Aeroflot departs and returns to Sheremetyevo. From other Russian cities you will need a transfer in Moscow.

In addition to planes, you can also get to Baku from Russia by train, but the travel time will be significant. For example, a train from Moscow to Baku takes two days, the frequency of flights is low, so there is no point in considering this option as a tourist option.

In Baku, planes from Moscow and other cities land at the international ultra-modern airport named after Heydar Aliyev. The airport is located not in the city itself, but 25 km from it, and is connected to Baku by a new generation expressway (construction began in 2008). The airport has 2 passenger terminals - for receiving international flights and local ones. International terminal was built quite recently, in 2014, and is designed in a futuristic style. The terminal amazes not only with its scale, but also with its design features.

Inside the terminal you can find everything you might need upon arrival or during a transit transfer - cafes, restaurants, shops, Duty-Free, Internet access, banking services, medical center, baggage packing, airport hotel, business lounges, etc. p.

There are several ways to get from Baku airport to the city center. During the daytime, you can use public transport. For example, you can leave the airport by bus shuttle No. H1. The bus will take you to the central metro station “28 May”. Shuttles run every half hour throughout the day. The fare is 1.3 manats (subject to availability) transport card BakiKART) and 1.5 manats for a one-time trip without a card. Read more about

In addition, you can also get from the airport by taxi or transfer. The option is relatively inexpensive and convenient if you are traveling with a large number of suitcases, with small children, or arriving at night. You can catch a taxi at the exit from the arrivals terminal, or book individual transfer in advance. You can order transfer services on various international services:

- order system

-

This is quite convenient and saves you from additional fuss after arriving at the airport. The price varies from 20 euros one way.

IsaMCRosado1/wikipedia

Public transport in Baku

Baku, as a large metropolitan metropolis, has a developed public transport network, so it will not be difficult for tourists to move around the city from one attraction to another. To explore the city center, it is generally enough to use only the metro (only 2 lines). If there is a need to go to more remote areas of the city, then buses and minibuses will come to the rescue. Please note that public transport in Baku does not operate at night between midnight and 6 am.

In addition to buses, minibuses and the metro, public transport in Baku also includes the funicular, which runs along the route Nagorny Park - Neftchinikov Avenue Square. By the way, this is a great way to explore the city.

To use the Baku metro, you need to purchase a reusable card, which can subsequently be topped up with the required amount. By the way, the card can be returned to the cashier after use (relevant if you come to Baku for just a couple of days). A one-time bus fare is paid at the conductor's office. The fare is 0.2 manats, which is quite cheap by capital standards.

Of course, you can also use taxi services to get around; they are relatively inexpensive here. For reference, the Uber taxi system operates in Baku. You can order a taxi not only to move around the city, but also, for example, to travel around the surrounding area; this is a common practice among tourists in Baku. If you wish, you can also get to natural attractions outside of Baku by commuter buses. You can read more about public transport routes in

Baku metro map/wikipedia/Boris Berdichevsky

Car rental in Baku

The car rental service is gaining increasing popularity in Baku, especially among those travelers who do not plan to limit themselves only to exploring the capital. For example, car rental is relevant both for trips around the Absheron Peninsula and for longer trips to the National Parks of Azerbaijan. You can even say that in such cases a car is the most reliable way to travel, because... public transport can not always take you everywhere.

On the contrary, in order to move only around the city, it is not at all necessary to rent a car. Baku has big problems with traffic jams, so driving here is just wasting your time. In this sense, the metro is a real lifesaver for tourists who are in a hurry to see as much as possible in Baku in a limited period of time.

If you decide to rent a car in Baku, then you need to keep in mind that the cars at local rental centers may be “worn,” so it is recommended to rent a car from trusted international services. You can find these both in the city center and at the arrival airport. For example, offices of rental companies such as Avis or Hertz are open at Baku airport. You can book the desired class of car in advance, then the on-site registration procedure will be simplified for you.

Francisco Anzola/Baku

Sights of Baku

Baku has a huge number of different attractions - historical, architectural, natural, cultural, and some of them have no analogues in the world, so Baku, in this sense, is a unique and in many ways inimitable city. It’s pleasant to walk around Baku almost at any time, a pleasant sea breeze blows from the embankment, the streets are mostly wide, there are many avenues, and quite a few park areas.

The main centers of attraction in Baku are the Baku Seaside Boulevard, Flame Towers, the Old City of Icheri Shekher, the Little Venice area, the Carpet Museum, the Nagorny Park with an observation deck, the square State flag and the Heydar Aliyev Center. Among the listed attractions, travel to public transport you will only need to go to the State Flag Square and the Heydar Aliyev Center. The rest of the attractions can be explored one after another, slowly, walking through the city center. Read more about the sights of Baku below:

District Icheri Sheher, which is located in the very heart of Baku, will allow you to plunge into the history of the city. Here, unlike the rest of Baku, narrow cobbled streets predominate, buildings built in a traditional style, and there are many oriental motifs in the decoration and ornamentation of buildings. Well, concentration historical monuments and it’s completely off the charts. These, for example, include the fortress walls, the palace of the Shirvanshahs, the baths of Haji Gaib, the Maiden Tower, which, by the way, you can climb. The area is small, you can get around it in 1-1.5 hours. Entrance to the territory of the old city is free. Entrance fees are charged only at the Shirvanshahs' Palace and the Maiden Tower.

Francisco Anzola/flickr

From the old town you can directly access Primorsky Park, and from there to Baku embankment to breathe fresh air and admire the sea views. The embankment in Baku is a particularly beloved part of the city by local residents, which they are proud of and carefully monitor. In the Primorsky Park you can find several modern glass buildings, pedestrian promenades, and all this splendor is decorated with real baobab trees! Near the boulevard there is also "Little Venice" area, which is a system water channels, where you can sail in the summer on rented gondolas. The place is very romantic, especially in the evening.

Carpet Museum- this is true unique place in Baku. Here you can learn about how real oriental carpets are made, what the history of their creation is, and you can see magnificent examples of this art. The Carpet Museum is located near the Little Venice area and is open every day, seven days a week. You can explore the museum on your own, with an audio guide or with a guide. The entrance fee is 8 manats. By the way, the museum building itself will also not leave indifferent all lovers of unusual architecture.

Another interesting area of ​​the city is Nagorny Park. You can get here by cable car or on foot along the stairs. The park is notable for the fact that there is an excellent observation deck with views of the city. In addition, from the park you can walk to Alley of Shahids, Turkish mosque and to towersFlameTowers. The towers are generally one of the most beautiful modern buildings not only in Baku, but throughout Azerbaijan. At night, the towers are illuminated with amazingly beautiful illumination. Inside the towers, in addition to administrative offices, there is the Fairmont Baku Flame Towers hotel (description on Booking.com ), from whose windows there are also picturesque views of Baku. It would be hard to find a more luxurious place to stay in Baku.

By State Flag Square It’s more interesting to walk in the evening when the illumination turns on. Looks especially interesting Water Palace, which has an interesting architectural shape, and is also illuminated in the evening.

Fans of unusual architecture in a la futur style will also enjoy cultural center Heydar Aliyev. It is located away from the main attractions, so it is better to get here by transport. The building itself has smooth, streamlined shapes; inside there is a museum and the cultural center itself; around the building there is a vast park with funny sculptures and the inscription “I love Baku”. In the evening the center is also illuminated.

Niyaz Bakılı/flickr

Excursions to Baku

You can explore Baku on your own; the logistics of travel are quite convenient, but if you want to learn a little more about the city, you can contact local guides who will be happy to give you a tour of your favorite city. There are excursions to Baku for every taste - group, individual, walking, bus, car, city and country. It all depends on your specific interests. You can book an excursion in advance using specialized services:

- online booking of groups and individual excursions all over the world;

- unusual excursions from local guides in Russian.

So, for example, the city sightseeing tour is very popular “ " The services also offer excursions to the outskirts of Baku - to mud volcanoes, to the Ateshgah temple, to the burning Mount Yanardag, to Absheron villages and to natural park"Gobustan".

You can also find excursions upon arrival in Baku; they are often offered in the central part of the city, but in this case you cannot guess the quality of services. Alternatively, you can use by tourist bus“Hop on hop off”, which circles all the main attractions of Baku, and audio guides are offered on board in different languages.

Francisco Anzola/flickr

Beaches of Baku

Despite the fact that there are city beaches in Baku, tourists still prefer to relax in the outskirts of the city - in resort villages Mardakan, Zagulba, Novkhany, Bilgya, Shikhovo. Firstly, there is a large port within the city, which makes swimming not very comfortable, and secondly, resort villages offer their guests a developed infrastructure and service in a European style, so it is not surprising that lovers of beaches and swimming choose a country holiday.

The distance from Baku to the villages is as follows: to Mardakan - 31 km, to Zagulba - 34 km, to Novkhana - 17 km, to Bilgah - 31 km, to Shikhovo - 25 km. The beaches at these resorts are mostly sandy, with a gentle entrance to the sea. Relief Absheron Peninsula Doesn't suit rocky bottom at all. Many beach areas belong to specific hotel chains, in which case the place will be equipped with umbrellas, sun loungers, showers, and toilets. If you are not a guest of this hotel, then you will have to pay for using the equipment. The level of hotel service at resorts in the vicinity of Baku can be compared with European ones, so some tourists come here specifically for a beach holiday.

You can get to resort villages from Baku by public transport or taxi. A wide network of commuter buses runs from Baku to take you to your desired location. True, the bus network changes frequently, so it is better to check the route with the driver so as not to go the wrong way. If you go to the resorts directly upon arrival from the airport, without visiting Baku itself, then it makes sense to order a taxi (transfer) to the place so as not to get confused with public transport transfers. Taxis in Baku are relatively inexpensive. You can order an individual transfer in advance using the following services:

- order system taxi transfers from airports, train stations and hotels around the world;

- system for self-booking tourist transfers to/from hotels via the Internet.

Trevor Claringbold/flickr

Baku Hotels

Baku offers a wide variety of accommodation options. Here you can find hotels, apartments, hostels, villas, guest houses, vacation homes, bed and breakfasts, resorts, etc. The budget can also be quite varied from budget and minimalist options to chic and luxury. The middle price segment is also widely represented. Conventionally, all hotels in Baku can be divided into city and resort. The first are located within the boundaries of Baku, the second - in resort villages in the vicinity of the city.

In Baku you can find hotels of all star categories, while hotels in the 4* and 5* categories often have such additional services, such as the presence of a sauna, swimming pool, fitness center. Meals in Baku hotels most often include breakfast. IN resort hotels You can also find options such as “half board” or “full board”. If you are staying in the suburbs of Baku for a beach holiday, then it makes sense to consider hotels located on the first beach line, often such hotels have their own private beach areas.

Standard options that are often provided by Baku hotels also include free connection to wi-fi networks(everywhere), availability of parking spaces, presence of a restaurant on site or nearby, the ability to order an airport transfer for an additional fee.

The most large number tourist hotels of different categories are concentrated in areas such as Fountain Square, Flame Towers, Nagorny Park, Heydar Aliyev Center, and the Old City. By the way, by choosing the last option, you can feel the real atmosphere and flavor of Baku, because... the buildings in which these hotels are located have a centuries-old history. A complete list of hotels, inns and apartments in Baku can be found on the sites for booking accommodation:

- hotel reservations in 120,000 destinations around the world;

Hotellook - search and comparison best prices for hotels, inns and apartments;

There you can book the desired option in advance. By the way, about early booking. There are so many accommodation options in Baku that you don’t have to worry about not finding accommodation for the night. Another question is that by booking a hotel in advance, you will avoid overpaying on the spot. As is known, best hotels In terms of price/quality ratio, they sell out the fastest.

Adam Jones/flickr

Shopping in Baku

Baku has a real oriental flavor, while at the same time it has a European level of service. That is why shopping in the city is very diverse - from elite mono-brand boutiques and shopping centers to colorful oriental bazaars and spontaneous flea markets. The best shopping streets can be considered the city center - N. Gyadzhevi, Z. Aliyeva, A. Aliyev and R. Rzy streets, as well as Neftchinikov Avenue, which are replete with the names of fashion brands of clothing, shoes, accessories, and jewelry.

There are many shopping malls in Baku. These, for example, include Ganjlik Mall, Port Baku Mall, 28 Mall, Metropark. Here you can also find a wide variety of brands, labels, brands, as well as various recreation areas – cafes, restaurants, cinemas, children's playgrounds. In fact, these are real “trading cities” with their own developed infrastructure.

If you want to wander around the oriental bazaar and feel its bustle, delicious smells and see and taste southern fruits and oriental sweets, then you should definitely go to one of the Baku bazaars. One of the largest food markets in Baku is the Teze Bazaar market. If you want to find unusual souvenirs and bring them back from your trip, then what could be better than oriental spices, herbs and honey, of which there is a great abundance on the market. What else is worth trying at Baku bazaars is sheep cheese, southern dried fruits, oriental sweets, as well as simply fresh fruits and vegetables (especially in season).

shankar s./oriental bazaar

Food in Baku

Food in Baku can be either familiar European (what most tourists are used to) or national Azerbaijani. In the city you can find a great variety of restaurants and cafes that offer both European cuisine and Azerbaijani cuisine. It is worth considering that, in general, the national cuisine of Azerbaijan is more fatty and spicy; you need to keep this in mind in case of exacerbation of chronic diseases and gastrointestinal disorders.

In the center of Baku you can find catering establishments for every taste; they are usually open all day until late in the evening. Prices, with the exception of a few gourmet restaurants, are lower than in Moscow. If you want to try real Azerbaijani food, then you should pay attention to dishes such as shashlik, kebab, kutab, khingal, pilaf. Most often, meat dishes will be prepared from lamb or beef, because... They don’t eat pork in Azerbaijan. The proximity to the sea also makes it possible to try fresh sea ​​fish and eat from it. As for desserts, kurabye, baklava, mutaki and shekerbur are popular.

When choosing a restaurant, you should pay attention to its location. For example, in the Old Town, restaurants will have beautiful views to historical sights, and on the embankment - to the sea. Some restaurants in summer time years offer guests to sit on open terraces with panoramic views. In addition to restaurants and cafes, you can also buy food in numerous supermarkets. This food option is considered more budget-friendly. Supermarkets in Baku are not much different from Russian or European ones, so here you can find any familiar products and drinks.

shankar s./restaurant dish khinkali

Prices in Baku

Prices in Baku for accommodation, food, public transport and sightseeing are generally lower than in European capitals or Moscow. Of course, the price tag largely depends on the class of the establishment you visit or stay at. So, for example, lunch in a cafe without alcohol will cost, on average, 20-30 manats, in a restaurant - from 25-30 manats, a snack in fast food establishments - a little cheaper, around 10-15 manats. Products in supermarkets have “store” prices, while in markets you can bargain and the food is often fresher.

Prices in Baku for food are as follows: packaged chilled meat - 5-6 euros per kg, boiled sausage - 4.5-5 euros per kg, sausages - 4 euros per kg, baked goods (buns, bagels, croissants) - from 20 to 60 eurocents, lavash - 30 eurocents per pack of 10 pieces, hard cheese - 6.5-7 euros per kg, pickled cheese - 3.5-4 euros per kg, milk - 1.20 euros per liter, yoghurts - 1 euro per package of 4 pieces, or for 1 large jar, semi-finished dough products (such as pizza) - from 2 to 3 euros per package, local wines - from 3 to 6 euros per bottle.

The standard price for travel on public transport (one-time trip) is 0.2 manat. Entrance prices to the attractions are as follows: Maiden Tower - 4 euros, Palace of the Shirvanshahs - 2 euros, Heydar Aliyev Center - 7.5 euros, Ateshgah Temple - 1 euro, Burning Mount Yanardag - 1 euro, natural park Gobustan – 1 euro. (Prices are indicated at the beginning of 2018 and are subject to change).

Raymond Zoller/flickr

Where to go from Baku for one day

Baku is beautiful in itself, but the attractions in the vicinity of the city are quite unusual, many can only be seen here, so if you have time, they are definitely worth visiting. Such places include, for example, a unique Gobustan Nature Reserve, where unusual rocks and rocks are covered with mysterious hieroglyphs and rock paintings. The Gobustan Nature Reserve is considered an archaeological site under the protection of UNESCO. It is located 30 km from Baku.

Mount Yanardag– another unusual place in the vicinity of Baku. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it burns all year round, i.e. Tongues of flame burst out onto the surface of the earth. This fact is explained by the fact that there is an accumulation of natural gas near the surface. It's a similar story with Ateshgah Temple, where you can also find the source of the eternal flame. Both places are popular among tourists and travelers.

If you are determined to see not only Baku and the surrounding area, then you may be interested in: National parks of Azerbaijan. There are eight of them in total, and each of them has its own unique features and features. The names of the parks: Zangezur, Ag-Gol, Shirvan, Girkan, Altyagadzh, Absheron, Shahdag and Goygol, they are located in different parts of Azerbaijan.

David Davidson/Azerbaijan

Practical and eventful travels to you!

ABOUT THE COUNTRY

Being a cradle ancient civilization, as well as being at the crossroads of the geopolitical, economic, cultural interests of many tribes and peoples, Azerbaijan has a rich cultural heritage. The country is located in the South Caucasus, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. The republic borders with Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Turkey and Russia, and by sea with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Total area Azerbaijan is 86,600 sq. km, and the population is more than 9 million people.

The capital of Azerbaijan is one of the most beautiful cities world, located at the junction of Europe and Asia, the port city of Baku. Baku is the cultural, industrial and political capital of Azerbaijan, located on west coast Caspian Sea, on the shores of the bay of the same name in the southern part of the Absheron Peninsula, rich in its oil fields. This is one of the most charming cities in the East, whose architectural sights and oriental charm attract tourists from all over the world.

How to get to Baku?

We will tell you how you can get to the “city of winds” Baku from Moscow and do it as cheaply as possible.

Select travel dates, number of passengers and click " Find tickets«

To begin with, we note that citizens of the CIS (except Turkmenistan and Armenia) do not require a visa to enter Azerbaijan. For citizens of other countries, a visa is issued on the basis of an invitation from a private or legal entity or travel agency.

The easiest and fastest way to get to Baku is to take a direct flight. Dozens of planes fly from Baku every day, so choosing an option that is suitable in terms of departure time and cost is not difficult. There are both direct flights and routes with transfers. Flights are organized by Russian and foreign companies - Aeroflot, Azerbaijan Airlines, S7 Airlines, Belavia, Air Astana and others. A non-stop flight usually takes about 3 hours. You can select travel dates and buy plane tickets to Baku (or to another destination) at a low price through the “air tickets” section of our service.

Our website provides you with a convenient search engine that allows you to sort and thereby find the most best option flight for you.

To do this, you need to go to our website with a simple and easy-to-use interface, enter the city of arrival and click on the “find tickets” section. Then you will need to wait a bit until a tab opens with a list of airline offers from which you can make your choice.

Please note that the information on the site is periodically updated and by leaving your email, you can subscribe to our updates, which will help you not miss the chance to purchase tickets at competitive prices.

Where to stay in Baku?

Once the issue with the air ticket has been resolved, you can begin searching and booking accommodation. There are not just many places in Baku where a tired traveler can stop, but a lot. Moreover, the rooms and service of many hotels are of surprisingly high quality. Apart from absolutely budget options, in the capital you can find a comfortable hotel at a very reasonable price.

We also recommend choosing hotels for your trip through our service, which allows you to compare room prices across most booking systems, which often leads to good savings. In the section of the site "" except detailed information and characteristics, you can also look at photographs of hotels, which will greatly facilitate your choice.

Hotel booking with discounts up to 60%

Book your room at a great price!

What to try in Baku?

The next important stage when planning a trip is food. It is impossible to leave Baku without trying the famous Azerbaijani dishes, the recipes of which are passed down from generation to generation. The whole city is full of inexpensive cafes offering their guests all kinds of kebabs, kebabs and the famous “kutabs” (lavash with different fillings). You can have a snack in such establishments for 5-10 local manats. You can find out the ruble exchange rate and calculate how much it makes by going through the following link. or on the website of the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In the old town there are several small restaurants that are interesting not only to local traditional cuisine, but also an authentic atmosphere. It can be seen in the interiors and the attitude of the staff towards visitors - true oriental hospitality. If you need a snack on the run, then you can safely go to the stalls with shawarma, donuts and other pastries. The food here is quick, tasty and contains... workplace clean.

In restaurants national cuisine you can try unusual dishes and plunge into the atmosphere of oriental hospitality.

The city has several respectable bars, restaurants and nightclubs. The average price tag in them is much higher than in other establishments in the city, however, you can pay for the luxurious interior, European service, skillful presentation of dishes and an excellent view of the city and the sea.

What to see in Baku? What attractions?

Once the choice of accommodation has been made and the issue of food has been resolved, you can create a walking route around Baku. Conventionally, all the sights of the city can be divided into three parts: the Old City, buildings built during the Soviet period, and modern Baku. So many useful information You can find information about Azerbaijan and Baku on the Internet. Using certain key search terms such as "10 best places Azerbaijan”, “attractions of Baku”, etc. you will be able to get initial information about the country, its culture, and customs. We decided to offer you our list of places that you should definitely visit upon arrival in Azerbaijan:

“Icheri Sheher”, i.e. Old town

The old city of Icheri Sheher is located in the center of modern Baku. The place is unique, steeped in history, unusual architecture, and also replete with souvenirs, small restaurants and traces of the Silk Road trade. This is a monument of eastern medieval architecture preserved in Baku, which is included in the list world heritage UNESCO. " Business cards» The Old Town is an ancient fortified building, the Maiden Tower, a treasure of Azerbaijani architecture Palace ensemble rulers of the Shirvanshahs, erected here in the 15th century and the Shemakhan Gate leading to the city. In addition, you will be interested to know that the film “The Diamond Arm” was filmed in this part of the city.

Baku is especially luxurious at night. In the evening, as soon as the sun goes below the horizon, the golden lights of the city light up before the eyes of citizens and numerous tourists. The Baku Bay of the Absheron Peninsula resembles a luxurious necklace made of gold and precious stones. This is a very romantic city, walking around which you will get a lot of emotions and positive impressions.

Baku Seaside Boulevard is one of the attractions of Baku, a favorite vacation spot for Baku residents and city guests. In 2009, he celebrated his 100th anniversary. The length of the park is 25 km. Here you can find a solid amount of entertainment for both children and adults, including many attractions, a string of cultural sites and much more. There is also the world's first specialized museum for collecting, preserving and studying carpets, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum, Shopping mall, many restaurants, as well as Baku “Venice” - a town on the water, which is one of the features of the Azerbaijani capital, one of the beautiful and favorite recreation areas for residents and guests of the capital.

Nagorny Park named after Sergei Kirov, located in the very center of Baku, is considered one of the most beautiful parks in the capital, as well as favorite place recreation for local residents. The park is unique in that from its territory you can see a panorama of the city, which explains the name of the park - Nagorny. Another name for the park that has caught on among the people is Observation Deck. The park was built from Baku quarried limestone of various colors on the site of an old Muslim cemetery. Nagorny Park also houses the Alley of Martyrs, where the victims of “Black January” who died in the Karabakh War are buried, an open theater, a reading room, a cafe and other architectural monuments.

(literally “burning mountain”) is one of the most famous and popular places among tourists “ eternal flame"in Azerbaijan. This is a natural eternal fire that has been burning since ancient times on a hillside in Azerbaijan. Today there are a small number of such natural gas combustion sources in the world, most of them are located in Azerbaijan. The natural eternal flame of Yanardag is caused by the leak of flammable natural gas from a large field under the Absheron Peninsula.

If you are planning to travel, if you want to get a lot of positive emotions, see how one country can combine two different cultures of the West and the East, try the unique taste of oriental cuisine, get acquainted with ancient sights and monuments of modern culture, touch the national flavor, then definitely come visit us!

When leaving the city, do not forget to purchase souvenirs that reflect the national character and local flavor in which they were produced and purchased. These can be keychains, figurines, magnets, backgammon, which will be a pleasant reminder of your stay in Azerbaijan, visiting old Baku, holy places, museums, cultural sites, architecture, etc.

In conclusion, we note that our service site is a metasearch system that, depending on your request, sorts information provided from 728 airlines, 40 agencies and 5 booking services, and gives you the opportunity to make a choice at the best prices .

The website contains all the services necessary for an independent traveler: purchasing air tickets, hotel reservations, insurance, etc. Also, in addition to the listed services, on the website you can get information about excursions, sea ​​cruises, tours and many other important moments for the traveler.