Attractions in Azerbaijan
Get ready to be mesmerized by the dazzling beauty of Azerbaijan's cities and nature! The attractions in Azerbaijan are a kaleidoscope of vivid colors and emotions that will leave you in awe. Climb a dormant volcano and witness the fiery flashes breaking through the ground. Admire the intricate patterns of Azerbaijani carpets and stroll through the grand halls of the Sheki Khans Palace. Explore the ancient rock carvings of Gobustan and soak in the stunning views of Baku's skyline.
Azerbaijan is a hospitable country that you'll fall in love with. Its unique charm and cultural heritage are truly unforgettable. Come and experience the Land of Fire's mesmerizing attractions that are waiting for you to discover.
What is Azerbaijan famous for?
Places To Visit In Baku
Most likely, Baku will be the first city you'll visit in Azerbaijan. This place amazes with contrasts, where ancient shrines and modernity not only coexist but harmoniously complement each other.
Exploring the gems of Azerbaijan's capital is an exciting adventure. In just one day, you can see the entire old city of Icheri Sheher, the famous Flame Towers skyscrapers, the luxurious promenade of the Seaside Boulevard, and the cozy network of artificial canals known as "Little Venice." You can also get a glimpse of the city center from a Ferris wheel or take a funicular to Nagorny Park, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. For those who love dizzying heights, the observation deck of the Baku TV Tower offers the best views in the city.
The attractions in Baku are also museums, which keep real treasures within their walls. Be sure to visit the Carpet Museum, which has a rich collection of woven fabrics, each one a true masterpiece! Visit the Azerbaijan Art Museum to see rare examples of ancient handicrafts and paintings from the Middle Ages. Visit the Museum of Miniature Books to learn about the intricate art of miniature book making.
Baku will impress even the most seasoned traveler. Sparkling skyscrapers next to the walls of ancient fortresses, architectural masterpieces in all their diversity, rich centers of culture and art create a unique image of Baku - the modern capital with an ancient history.
Azerbaijan Natural Attractions
When traveling in Azerbaijan, you will admire the local landscapes, where vast green plains are interspersed with mountainous panoramas, and arid semi-deserts alternate with dense forests. The northern part of the country is surrounded by the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The southwest and southeast are also surrounded by mountain ranges. The country has more than 8 thousand rivers and about 250 lakes and reservoirs. In addition, Azerbaijan overlooks the shores of the Caspian Sea, which is in fact the largest lake in the world.
Azerbaijan's natural attractions are diverse and impressive! You can visit a large number of national parks and nature reserves, which are home to thousands of species of animals and birds, many of which are listed in the Red Book. Visit the vast expanses of Goygol National Park to see one of the pearls of Azerbaijan - Goygol Lake. Explore the territory of Apsheron Peninsula to witness the migration of herring gulls and sandpipers. Pay attention to the Shirvan National Park, where a rare subspecies of gazelle – the djeiran - is found.
Hunters of vivid emotions will appreciate mud baths in the craters of extinct volcanoes of the Apsheron Peninsula, where half of all mud volcanoes in the world are located. Fans of extreme sports can go to conquer the highest peaks of the Caucasus: the mountains Shahdag, Tufandag, Bazardyu, as well as Gizilgaya and Heydar Aliyev Peaks.
Among the natural attractions in Azerbaijan are its famous waterfalls. The most impressive among them is Muchug, the highest waterfall in the country, rising more than 50 meters above the ground! If you want to see something really unusual, go to the Gur-Gur waterfall in the village of Kryz, which cascades into a picturesque mountain gorge. During the cold season, this waterfall freezes and turns into a realm of frozen stalagmites. The district of Lankaran will delight you with its numerous waterfalls hidden in the lush greenery of subtropical forests. The marvelous Guneshli Waterfall in Lerik region is a unique wide wall of waterfalls coming down from the height of a mountain ledge.
Azerbaijan's nature is full of incredible surprises! Discover the beauty of one of the most impressive countries of the Caucasus!
Palaces
The history of Azerbaijan has provided the country with a rich cultural heritage. Among the surviving material objects are medieval palaces of local rulers - khans. They are luxurious mansions with richly decorated facades and interiors. These landmarks of Azerbaijan witnessed great events and were, in fact, centers of political decision-making.
Perhaps the most famous of them is the Palace of Sheki Khans, which has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its interior decoration is particularly valuable: the walls of the rooms are decorated with ornaments and thematic paintings. Not only the walls, but also the floors and ceilings are covered with paintings, and each room is decorated in an individual style. The doors and windows are made of skillfully assembled pieces of multi-colored Venetian glass, and when the light enters the room, it literally shimmers in yellow, blue and red colors.
Another famous monument of architecture and history is the Palace of Nakhchivan Khans, built in the 18th century in the style of ancient monuments of Persian architecture. The interiors of the palace are richly decorated with mosaics and stained glass windows. The palace is also famous for the Carpet Museum, opened within its walls, where rare samples of carpet weaving, collected from all over the country, are exhibited.
It is also worth mentioning the Lankaran Khan's Palace, which was the first multi-storied building in the city. Even before the revolution, the palace was equipped with electric lighting and heating. The facade was decorated with bas-reliefs of mythological themes. At present, this magnificent building houses the Museum of Local History of the city of Lankaran.
Hidden Gems
Every complete trip must include something exotic and unconventional. That is why you should learn about the hidden gems of Azerbaijan and include them in your program.
Go and admire the burning Yanardag Mountain, where the fire literally bursts out of the ground, sending bright flames into the air. It is particularly impressive after sunset. Pay attention to the modern architecture of Baku and visit the Heydar Aliyev Center, which has a very unusual design with wavy curves and sharp drops in height. Go to the shores of the pink Masazir Lake in the Absheron region. Its color can vary from light scarlet to dark crimson depending on the time of day. By the way, there are only 8 pink lakes in the world! Do you want to see how Azerbaijan looked like in the Middle Ages? Then you must go to the village of Lagich. Restored to the smallest detail, this village shows curious travelers how Azerbaijani craftsmen lived hundreds of years ago. Include at least one of these places in your program and your trip will be even more intense and vivid.
Is 3 Days Enough For Baku?
It is not uncommon to have only a small amount of time to explore a new country. Therefore, we have compiled for you a selection of what to see in Baku in 3 days. In general and in such a short time you will be able to see a huge number of interesting places and get into the country to come back here again one day.
Arriving in Baku, the first thing you will do is to explore the old city of Icheri Sheher with its narrow streets, stone walls, Shirvanshahs Palace and Maiden Tower. After strolling along the Seaside Boulevard and admiring the view of the Flame Towers, don't forget to check out Fountain Square, where there are many fountains of different shapes and sizes, as well as architectural monuments and historical buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Azerbaijan sights are both creations of human hands and impressive natural objects!
Go to the Gobustan Reserve to see with your own eyes the petroglyphs of the ancient people. Visit the Zoroastrian temple of Ateshgah, built on burning springs of self-igniting natural gas. Admire the breathtaking views of Beshbarmag Mountain, called the Mountain of Wishes and the subject of many mystical legends. If you have time, you should visit the Khizi region, which is only a hundred kilometers from Baku. There you will be able to see the cosmic landscapes of the local crimson mountainsides. Photos and descriptions of these amazing places do not convey the beauty of the views that will open up before you in reality!
No matter how long your trip to Azerbaijan lasts, you will always have something to see on your next visits to this extraordinary Transcaucasian country.