Things to do in Baku in 3 days
Until recently, Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, was a real
off-the-beaten track destination, known only to the most intrepid travelers.
Pierce Brosnan, in the James Bond movie The World Is Not
Enough, was the first person to tell us about his existence, when he showed
images of some oil fields in the desert plains around Baku.
However, these images did not really arouse the interest of
the country, because it was thought that Baku was perhaps not very different
from the monarchies of the Arabian Gulf, which was a really false approach.
While Baku is an oil-rich city and Azerbaijan was the
world's largest exporter in the early 20th century, many years before the Gulf
monarchies discovered black gold. a city with a very deep history, belonging to
a region inhabited for thousands of years, in addition to playing an important
role in the Silk Road and, of course, being part of the USSR for almost a
century.
Nevertheless, thanks to its exponential development, Baku is
today an almost futuristic city that manages to combine both tradition and
modernity, two elements that can be seen together throughout the city.
After visiting Baku twice, in 2016 and 2018, here's a
comprehensive travel guide for Baku, which lists all the best things to do in
Baku in 3 days, including plenty of great travel tips.
From the end of the 19th century, Baku became a world leader
in the export of oil and developed rapidly, but only after the dissolution of
the USSR and Azerbaijan after the independence that this development has
accelerated. Futuristic and modern city, perfectly comparable to European
standards.
However, due to obvious corruption or, preferably,
mismanagement of resources, this development has focused exclusively on the
capital, as it contrasts with the country's second largest city, Ganja, where
there are still unpaved streets in the city center. , is huge.
The capital of Azerbaijan is a luxurious city, a concept of
Dubai but a real soul, which means that in the city center you will find an
official Rolls Royce store and the most luxurious brand stores, as well as
buildings and mosques the 12th century.
Baku is certainly the most developed city of the Caucasus
(including Armenia and Georgia) but, in my humble opinion, this development is
economic and not social.
While in its neighboring country, Georgia, many young people
are learning European values quickly, in Baku, even if it is a rich and
supposedly secular city, the inhabitants are much more traditional and you will
go quickly you will only see men in places, people do not speak English, and people
are generally more closed.
However, visiting Baku is worth it, not only because of its
eccentric composition, but also because it is a real mix between Europe, the
East and the Soviet Union, so chaotic that it is virtually impossible to define
it.
Visa for Visiting Baku
- From January 2016, you can request an electronic visa tovisit Baku.
- The visa costs USD 23, takes 3 working days and is valid for 30 days.
- For $ 70, you can also apply for an urgent visa and get it the same day.
All Western nationalities are eligible for the electronic
visa, but you can view the full list of countries here.
Travel Insurance for visiting Baku
No matter where you go, you should always travel with proper
travel insurance. To visit Baku and Azerbaijan, I recommend the United
Insurance Company. Why?
- It's the only company that offers unlimited medical coverage
- They cover many adventure activities, more than any other
- They cover a large number of nationalities
Where to stay in Baku
Backpackers Hostel - Sahil Hostel - The busiest hostel in
the city because it's really cheap, and everything is brand new and very cleans.
A nice place to meet other travelers, it also has private rooms.
Guest House Budget - Khazar Old City Guest House - If you
want to stay in a traditional house, in the heart of the old city, this is the
most highly recommended.
Mid-Range Hotel - Denize Inn Boutique Hotel - The best rated
boutique hotel in the city is a traditional building in Baku's Old Town.
Top-end - Four Seasons - Located in the city center, this is
the best 5-star hotel in Baku. In fact, the building where it is built is a
real landmark.
How to move when visiting Baku
Taxi - In order to avoid negotiating with taxi drivers, which
is like Uber for this region. Uber also works, but Yandex is cheaper, short
taxis costing around 2-3AZN ($ 1.20 to $ 1.70), so getting around by taxi is
also a feasible way to check out all the places to visit in Baku.
Metro - There are two subway lines and one ticket costs 0.30
AZ (18 ¢). However, you must first obtain a metro recharge card costing 2AZN ($
1.20). You can also buy a single-use metro card, which you can only charge once
and costs 0.20 AZ (12 ¢).
Bus - There is a modern bus network, but you will need to know
where you are going. The price is the same as in the subway.
How to get from and to the airport
Bus - There are buses that come and go at the airport every
20 or 30 minutes, all day. They drop you in downtown, in front of the metro
station of May 28. One ticket costs 1.30 AZ (75 ¢) and also works with the
metro card.
Taxi - With Yandex, a taxi ride costs around 10AZN ($ 5.90).
Things to do in Baku in 3 days
In 3 days, you can cover most things to do in Baku,
including a day trip to visit the mud volcanoes and petroglyphs of Qobustan.
What to do in Baku on day 1
On the first day, the Baku route is rather optimistic, but
if you plan ahead, I think you can handle it.
Baku Old City
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the walls of the old city mark
the limits of the extension of the city.
Its oldest building is believed to date from the 11th
century, although some historians think it could belong to the 7th.
As in any old city, the best you can do is get lost in its
tangled streets, but there are some buildings to visit, like Maiden Tower, one
of the country's most iconic buildings, which is even printed in one of their
notes.
The tower contains a museum that shows the historical
evolution of Baku and you can also climb to the top to enjoy the best views of
the city. Going to the top costs 10AZN (5.90 USD).
The other building you cannot miss is the Shirvanshas
Palace, whose main attraction is a superb 15th century mosque. The Shirvanshas
are the dynasty that ruled the region for nearly 700 years, from the 9th to the
16th century.
Of all the things to do in Baku, the old town is certainly
the most interesting.
The Carpet Museum
In my opinion, the cool side of the carpet museum does not
fit, as the exterior is much more impressive than the interior. Jokes aside. If
you are interested in Persian rugs, go for it, but otherwise, the coolest is
taking pictures on the wavy walls that try to imitate a carpet.
The Flame Towers
The Flame Towers are the three flame-shaped skyscrapers that
have successfully linked Baku to the concept of futurism by themselves.
To be honest, they only measure 182 meters, but because of
their position in the upper part of Baku, they are visible everywhere.
You can walk there by taking the stairs along a beautiful
park. There is a funicular at the bottom of the park but I have always found it
closed.
The towers were completed in 2012 and, in addition to
showing, their main purpose is to house pretentious businesses such as the
Fairmont Hotel, one of the best hotels in the city, a Lamborghini dealer and I
do not know what to do other.
The oil extractors
This place is off the main tourist route, but if you are
interested in discovering perfectly functional oil drillers, this is your
chance.
They are not very far and, in fact, you can walk there from
the Flame Towers. They are right behind the TV tower (you can see the exact
location on the map), from where you can also enjoy great views of the city and
the bay.
By the way, if you come to the seaside, you will pass a very
poor district of Baku, which clearly shows the enormous social inequality that
reigns in this country.
Taza Pir Mosque
A hundred-year-old mosque, even though it was built on a
place that served as a sanctuary from the 15th century.
To be honest, this is not an exceptional mosque, but for me,
the most interesting thing was to see Azerbaijan's other face, that of the
Azerbaijani men who worship and manifest their faith in Islam.
Like all ex-Soviet Muslim countries, the Azerbaijani
government is secular, but its main feature is that, unlike the rest of the
world, the most religious people are the young, not the old, who live in the
Soviet Union. Islam is only beginning to be fashionable. When I was traveling to Uzbekistan, I also observed a similar situation.
Heydar Aliyev Center
Another good thing to do in Baku is to visit the futuristic
building whose architect is the late Iraqi-British woman Zaha Hadid.
With its surreal and nearly impossible curved walls, this
building is a perfect example of innovation and modern art.
Its surroundings are full of super-strange statues, such as
rabbits and giant snails, in addition to the classic I Love Baku.
The building hosts different types of temporary exhibitions.
The entrance costs 15AZN (9USD).
Museum of Miniature Books
If you have time, you can also visit the museum that holds
the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of miniature books,
including the 3 smallest books ever made, measuring 2mm x 2mm, which can only
be seen 'using a microscope.
Like me, you may think that these mini-books do not make
much sense, mainly because you cannot read them, but they come from an Old
Persian tradition.
Fountain Square and the rest of downtown
With the most fashionable shops, restaurants, bars, trendy
cafes, parks, etc., I recommend you end the day downtown, around Fountain
Square, the gathering place for locals.
What to do in Baku on day 2
Yasil Market
I stumbled upon this market by chance and found that it was
very famous among locals, but I did not see any tourists.
Yasil is a traditional market that has been restored to
modern Baku standards. It is a typical fruit and vegetable market and all that
is sold is seasonal.
I had the chance to visit Baku in October, the grenade
season, symbol of Azerbaijan.
Almost all the stands were filled with pomegranates and sold
freshly squeezed juice for only 1AZN (60 ¢).
Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain)
Did you know that Azerbaijan was once called the country of
fire?
From the twelfth century, accounts of travelers wandering in
this region have reported the existence of several magic fires discovered in
the region.
They thought these fires were magical because they burned
continuously without wood, but they did not know it came from natural
underground gas fields.
Yanar Dag is one of those fires that continue to burn,
although it is artificial today, since it died out after the discovery of an
oil reserve in the 19th century.
How to get there - Yanar Dag is outside the city. To get
there, you have to take bus 147 from Azadliq metro station. You can also get
there by Yandex, which is easier, faster and less expensive.
Fire Temple Ateshgah
In the 18th century, a commercial traveler was so fascinated
by one of these flames that he decided to build a temple of worship there.
How to get there - The temple is very close to the airport
and bus 184 passes nearby.
By the way, if you prefer to participate in an organized
tour, if you want someone to tell you the whole story, yugo.pk members offer a
full 4-hour tour including Yanar Dag + Fire Temple + Yasil Market.
Yugo.pk is a website where you can book many tours around
the world.
What to do in Baku on Day 3
Day trip to Qobustan to see the petroglyphs and the mud volcanoes
In the Stone Age, about 15,000 years ago, when the waters of
the Caspian Sea were higher and the area was completely green and fertile, a
group of hunters decided to settle in the caves of the region.
These caves were decorated with their own artistic style and
more than 600 petroglyphs were drawn, many of them still in very good
condition. Today, these paintings have become one of the best places to visit
in Baku.
For more information, read my article about Qobustan
petroglyphs (it includes prices and ways to get there).
In addition, if you are interested, you can also visit
volcanoes that hunt mud, become a real tourist attraction. They are very close
to petroglyphs and you can only go by car.
If you want to make things easier and go with a guide, I
recommend you also book a guided tour with the guys at Yugo.pk, which includes
a visit to the petroglyphs + mud volcanoes + an old mosque in the area.
This tour, in particular, has very good reviews, so I think
it's worth it.
Where to eat in Baku
Here are my restaurant recommendations (all places are
frequented by locals).
Budget - Restaurant Xezer - Local restaurant serving
traditional cuisine.
Gourmet Fast Food - Gourmet Pendir & Chorek - The first
national fast food chain in Azerbaijan offers good quality local sandwiches,
etc.
Fine Dining - Sumakh - A fine local restaurant serving high
quality cuisine and exceptional service.
0 Comments