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From medieval charm to futuristic marvels, Baku offers a unique blend of history and innovation. Discover top attractions, local dining, and essential tips for your Azerbaijan adventure.
Over the past two months, my husband and I embarked on an incredible 60-day journey around the world, and now, I'm thrilled to share our adventures, one country at a time!
Starting in Europe and moving through various nations, we found ourselves increasingly drawn to cities that felt a little unfamiliar, offering a different vibe than the typical tourist hotspots. It added a whole new layer of excitement to our travels.
Among the many places we visited during that period, one that truly stood out was Baku, Azerbaijan.
Baku has been gaining traction lately, appearing in various travel features and piquing the curiosity of travelers seeking something new. For us, it was initially planned as a stopover, a quick visit between Istanbul and Bangkok. But what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be! We were genuinely astonished by how modern and sophisticated the city felt.
Imagine a place where charming old European-style buildings stand alongside locals going about their daily lives, while just a stone's throw away, futuristic architectural marvels pierce the sky. That's Baku for you!
Join us as we recount our experiences, focusing on the places we explored in Baku, one of the three captivating Caucasus countries!
🏨 Our Stay in Baku: Seven Boutique Hotel Baku
For our 2-night, 3-day stay in Baku, my husband and I chose the Seven Boutique Hotel Baku.
When you're on a long, independent trip, super expensive hotels aren't always the priority. We focused more on convenient locations and clean rooms, and this hotel delivered.
📍 Seven Boutique Hotel Baku
13 Islam Safarli Street Baku Bakı AZ 1005, İslam Səfərli, Bakı 1005 Azerbaijan
It was perfectly situated for exploring Baku's downtown, making it easy to get to major attractions and restaurants. Plus, it was a comfortable spot to unwind after a full day of sightseeing.
A quirky bonus: right next door was an 'Asian Mart' with a Korean convenience store concept. It was a unique experience, and we even got to enjoy some ramen for the first time in a while!
🔥 Baku's Iconic Landmark: The Flame Towers
📍 Flame Towers
Azerbaijan Baku 9R5G+RCX
If you're visiting Baku, one of the first landmarks that comes to mind is undoubtedly the 📍Flame Towers.
True to their name, these three towers are shaped like flames, overlooking the Baku skyline. While they're distinctive during the day, they become absolutely mesmerizing when illuminated at night!
Baku is often called the 'Land of Fire,' and it was fun to see how this theme is woven into various elements across the city.🔥
Standing right in the heart of the city, their scale was far more impressive than photos could convey!
📍 Baku Boulevard
92 Neftçilər Prospekti, Bakı, Azerbaijan
☝🏻I highly recommend this spot on Baku Boulevard for the best views of the Flame Towers.
The juxtaposition of the ancient Old City buildings with the ultra-modern Flame Towers in a single frame was quite surreal.
It was one of those moments that made me think, 'So this is what it feels like to have the past and future coexist in one city!' This unique blend is precisely why Baku remains such a vivid memory from our 60-day world tour.
🛍️ Beyond Tourist Traps: A Visit to a Local Shopping Center
📍 Sadarak Shopping Center
Sədərək, Bakı, Azerbaijan
When we travel abroad, we don't just stick to the famous tourist attractions. We love exploring places where locals actually live and shop, like markets or outlets!
In Baku, we ventured beyond the typical tourist malls and visited the 📍Sadarak Shopping Center, which has a vibrant, bustling atmosphere much like a large flea market. It was a fantastic way to soak in the local vibe!
Browsing the shops and seeing what kind of goods were sold locally was fascinating, and simply walking among the crowds made us feel truly immersed in the travel experience.
If you're someone who likes to peek into the daily lives of locals, I highly recommend adding a place like this to your itinerary!
You might even find some great deals on everyday items – just be mindful of potential knock-offs! 😉
🍽️ Our Top 2 Local Restaurants in Baku!
Baku's cuisine shares similarities with Turkish food but also offers its own unique dishes. Here are two traditional, authentic restaurants we discovered and loved!
📍Dolma Restaurant
📍 Dolma Restaurant
8M, Məmmədəmin Rəsulzadə, Bakı 1001 Azerbaijan
We visited this spot hoping to try traditional Azerbaijani food served in a homely, set-menu style. As expected, lamb is popular here, much like in Turkey, so we ordered a lamb dish and Piti, a traditional Baku stew. Delicious!
📍Nergiz Restaurant
📍 Nergiz Restaurant
Fountain Square, 9 Tərlan Əliyarbəyov, Bakı 1000 Azerbaijan
This was our choice for a truly authentic local dining experience!
At Nergiz, we opted for even more traditional fare. For an appetizer, we tried Kutab, a flat, dumpling-like pancake, and then Saj, a key traditional Azerbaijani dish!
The unique Azerbaijani flavors combined with the restaurant's somewhat cave-like ambiance made for a truly memorable dining experience.👀
✈️ And Then, Back to Baku International Airport
After a short but impactful trip to Baku, we packed our bags and headed to Baku International Airport.
Our 60-day world adventure was far from over!
📍 Baku International Airport
F27X+3X6 Azerbaijan
Our next destination was Bangkok, Thailand! Our itinerary involved a flight from Baku International Airport, with a layover in India, before continuing to Bangkok.
(My first time on an Indian airline... but that's a story for another time!)
I hadn't expected Baku to leave such a strong impression before we arrived, which made leaving even harder.
We only had about 2-3 days there! Unfortunately, we were a bit low on energy and couldn't explore as much as we wanted. My husband even caught a stomach bug... travel woes!
🌏 Baku: An Unexpected Gem on Our 60-Day World Tour!
Baku, Azerbaijan, is one of the three fascinating Caucasus countries, and it's definitely becoming a more popular travel destination for adventurers.
With increasing interest in the region, many tour operators are now offering exciting package tours to explore the Caucasus. For instance, you can often find dedicated tours that cover all three Caucasus countries: Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan! (Just a thought!)
While it's not known for a huge concentration of typical 'tourist attractions,' Baku's true charm lies in its atmosphere – the captivating coexistence of ancient history and striking modern architecture.
If you're an independent traveler seeking a destination that's a little different from the well-trodden paths of Europe, I wholeheartedly recommend Baku, Azerbaijan!✨
💡 Essential Tips for Your Baku Trip!
✅ 'Bolt' App for Taxis is a Must! : Haggling with street taxis can lead to inflated fares. Install the Bolt app beforehand – it's like Uber or Lyft. Rates are affordable and fixed, so you can travel with peace of mind.
✅ Apply for an e-Visa in Advance: It's essential to apply for your e-Visa through the official ASAN Visa website (it takes about 3 days and costs approximately $25). This will significantly speed up your immigration process at the airport.
✅ Payment & Currency Exchange (50% Cash + 50% Card): Many local markets and souvenir shops only accept cash (AZN). Withdraw some local currency from an ATM using a travel card in the city. For larger restaurants and hotels, credit cards are widely accepted.
✅ Embrace Azerbaijani Tea (Chay) Culture: After a meal, savor a warm cup of black tea, often served with sweet jams (like cherry or fig) or nuts. It's a wonderful way to experience the local atmosphere.
According to the article, Seven Boutique Hotel Baku is conveniently located for sightseeing and offers clean rooms. It's easy to get to and from major tourist attractions and restaurants, and it was also a good place to rest after a full day of travel.
Sadarak Shopping Center is not a mall frequently visited by tourists, but rather a place where you can experience a local atmosphere, much like Korea's Namdaemun Market. It's said to be interesting to get a glimpse into the daily lives of locals and see what kind of goods are sold there.
The article emphasizes using the 'Bolt' app as an essential tip, instead of street-hailing taxis that carry the risk of overcharging. The Bolt app is said to have affordable, fixed fares, allowing for worry-free travel.
To travel to Baku, Azerbaijan, you must apply for an e-Visa in advance. It can be applied for on the official ASAN Visa website, takes approximately 3 days, and costs about ~$25.
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