I think it’s fair to say most people know very little about Azerbaijan – and I include myself, before my first trip.
It’s one of the reasons visiting Azerbaijan is so rewarding – you’ll likely arrive with few expectations and leave completely blown away.
It’s a country of intense and sudden contrasts, where some parts feel wonderfully weird and unapologetically modern. Especially in the capital Baku, where you can easily go from an ancient walled city to staring up at twisting futuristic skyscrapers.
But I think the most authentic moments will be when you venture away from this modern urban sprawl and into the rural heartland. Some of the best things to do in Azerbaijan are outside Baku, where you’ll find a deep rich heritage that’s shaped the region for centuries.
Reminders of the ancient Silk Road are scattered everywhere across the provinces, from cobbled mountain towns to historic stone caravanserais where wealthy merchants once rested their camels.
And while the nation is predominantly Muslim today, the lingering influences of other ancient faiths add a deeply fascinating layer to the local culture, particularly the mystical remnants of Zoroastrian fire worship and the isolated early Christian stone churches up in the mountains.
If you love the outdoors, you’ll be thrilled to know that the nature here is genuinely impressive and largely untouched by mass tourism. The rugged peaks of the High Caucasus offer some of the most spectacular and remote hiking trails on the planet.
Beyond the mountains, the country is home to fantastic national parks where you can track rare leopards or spot large herds of gazelles. It is a completely unexpected side of the country that I highly recommend dedicating time to explore.
Because the scenery and culture change so drastically from one region to the next, planning an itinerary can seem a bit daunting.
First, have a look at this map of my suggestions for the best places to visit in Azerbaijan:
And now, to help you plan your journey, let’s go a bit deeper into the best things to do in Azerbaijan.
Baku and surrounds
Azerbaijan’s capital city, Baku, has a lot of the country’s main attractions and is also a good base to explore some of the region’s main sights. Spending a few days here will let you discover all of these highlights.
Baku
Start your trip in Baku’s Old Town (known as Icherisheher), where winding alleys and medieval architecture stand in sharp contrast to the city’s rapidly developing modern skyline.
The highlights are the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the iconic Maiden Tower, but there are plenty of other things to discover just by wanderings.
Then head down to the waterfront, where some of Baku’s most interesting modern architecture can be found, with the central shopping and dining district in easy reach.
Throughout the rest of the capital, there’s a mesmerising blend of Silk Road heritage, Soviet history, and futuristic oil wealth (there’s even an oil well in the middle of a car park!).
I would recommend this great city tour, that covers the old and modern sights. Or there are some other good options here:
Although there are lots of things to do in Baku, the one highlight you can’t miss is the Heydar Aliyev Center. This flowing futuristic building is a masterpiece of contemporary design and is filled with levels of museum exhibitions.
Yanar Dag Fire
The Absheron Peninsula’s continuous natural gas fires are legendary, and they are a big reason why Azerbaijan is known as the Land of Fire.
Only about 20 kilometres from central Baku, you can visit the Yanar Dag hillside fire, which has been burning endlessly for decades. It’s especially dramatic if you time your visit for dusk when the flames really stand out against the darkening sky.
Then make your way to the historic Atashgah Zoroastrian Fire Temple, a fascinating former Hindu and Zoroastrian complex that gives you a sense of the region’s ancient spiritual roots.
Seeing the stone cells where ascetics once stayed is quite humbling and it all makes an easy half-day trip from Baku. I would recommend this good day trip that includes a few sights.
Or there are some more good tours here:
Gobustan Rock Art
Not too far south from Baku is one of Azerbaijan’s World Heritage Sites – the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape. It has more than 6,000 ancient petroglyphs carved into the cliffs and caves, with many of them well preserved.
The oldest carvings are up to 20,000 years old, and some basic etchings found here are even as old as 40,000 years! It’s incredible to see them up close and imagine the early civilisations that left them behind.
The engravings depict everything from hunting scenes to ritual dances and navigating reed boats. I recommend popping into the modern museum on site before you walk up to the rocks, as it provides good context.
There are lots of tour companies in Baku that can take you to visit the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape. I recommend having a look at this good day trip that includes lots of sights.
Or have a look at what else these other tours offer:
It takes a bit of time to wander the paths around the boulders, so bring plenty of water and wear comfortable shoes. The views stretching out towards the Caspian Sea from up here are also spectacular.
Gobustan Mud Volcano
Just a short distance from the rock art, the barren landscape bubbles with bizarre geothermal activity. They’re not huge, but the mud that spews out from this mini volcanoes is pretty cool.
You’ll definitely want to check out the Gobustan Mud Volcano, and many of the tours I’ve recommended above combine the two on a single trip from Baku.
Getting from the main road out to the mud volcanoes is an adventure in itself. The local drivers use battered old Ladas that somehow handle the deeply rutted dirt roads perfectly (and they don’t go slow!!).
Once you arrive, the terrain looks like the surface of the moon, complete with small grey mounds spitting thick, cold mud. It’s weirdly mesmerising to watch the bubbles pop.
Caspian South
If you want to see some of the country’s national parks, or if you’ve got time to really go off the tourist trail, head down the coast south of Baku for some of the best natural things to do in Azerbaijan.
Lankaran
Heading down the Caspian coast, the resort city of Lankaran feels like a totally different country, with a distinctly humid subtropical climate.
Lankaran is the centre of the nation’s tea industry, and the rolling green plantations surrounding the city are lovely to explore. Make sure you sit down for a traditional tea service while you’re here, served in classic pear-shaped glasses with local fruit preserves.
The town itself has a relaxed, slightly faded charm with its old lighthouse and black sand beaches along the Caspian Sea. It’s also famous for its distinct regional cuisine, particularly dishes baked inside a tandoor oven.
You can head down to Lankaran on this long day trip from Baku. Or there are some other ways to explore here:
If you’re travelling in Azerbaijan independently, taking the train down the coast from the capital is a fantastic, slow-paced way to reach this lush southern pocket.
Hirkan National Park
Just inland from the southern coast, you’ll find the dense, ancient forests of Hirkan National Park.
These woods are a haven for regional wildlife, including the incredibly rare Caucasian leopard. While spotting one of these elusive predators is very unlikely, the hiking trails through this lush environment are fantastic on their own.
The park is famous for its relict ironwood trees, which have survived since the Ice Age and create a dense, moody canopy overhead.
I highly recommend hiring a local guide to help you navigate the trails, as they can point out tracks and explain the unique biodiversity of the region.
It is a steep and sometimes muddy hike, so proper footwear is essential, but it’s worth taking a few hours to immerse yourself in this ancient ecosystem.
Shirvan National Park
For another national park (Azerbaijan has 10 in total), I would recommend Shirvan National Park.
This area features a completely different ecosystem of sweeping semi-desert steppes, located just south of Baku along the coast. You can easily spot large herds of goitered gazelles bouncing through the scrub, as well as a huge variety of migratory birds resting in the wetlands.
The park is remarkably accessible, and you can self-drive the dirt tracks that loop through the reserve, allowing you to stop whenever you spot something interesting. Or there is this good birdwatching tour.
It’s a brilliant spot for wildlife photography, especially in the golden hour just before sunset when the landscape glows.
Silk Road Northeast
For people visiting all three countries in the Caucasus region, a popular route between Baku and Tbilisi will take you past most of these top Azerbaijan sights, although Quba would require a detour.
Trekking from Quba
If you like hiking, then the region around Quba (also called Guba) is your best bet. The town itself is pleasant, but the real draw is the dramatic scenery looming just beyond it.
From here, you can hike through the Greater Caucasus Mountains on rugged trails connecting to Khinaliq. It’s an isolated, high-altitude village with its own unique language and some of the most breathtaking valley views in the entire country.
There are lots of potential hikes up here, including a stretch of the iconic Transcaucasian Trail. There are winding mountain passes, sheer drops, and dramatic gorges, with ancient paths connecting the stone houses of remote communities.
Even if you don’t want to hike, you can visit from Baku with a great day trip like this one. Or have a look at one of these:
Just remember that the weather changes rapidly at this altitude, so packing versatile layers is absolutely essential.
Shamakhi
Shamakhi is a small town about two hours by car from Baku. For people driving across the country, it’s the perfect place to stop for a break.
Recently, Shamakhi has been making a name for itself internationally as a wine region blending ancient viticulture with modern techniques. It’s worth doing a tasting to see how local producers are making their mark on the world scene.
But the most famous thing in Shamakhi is the Juma Mosque. It was the first mosque in Azerbaijan when it was originally constructed in 743 AD, although the one you see today is from 2013.
It’s a beautiful building covered with ornate decorations and visitors are welcome to have a look around when there’s no prayer service taking place.
A good way to visit Shamakhi is as a stop on the way to Sheki, which you can do with this long day trip if you’re not heading that way otherwise.
Lahich
This remote, cobbled mountain village is renowned for its traditional copper-smithing, and the journey to get there is spectacular. You’ll navigate a thrilling, narrow canyon road that clings to the edge of the mountain before arriving.
Lahich (also called Lahij) is highly photogenic and just walking through the streets feels like stepping back in time. You can watch the artisans at work right in their small workshops, hammering away at intricate plates and jugs just as their ancestors did.
Beyond the copper, you’ll also find local spices, woven rugs, and incredible mountain honey. I’d definitely recommend staying overnight in a local guesthouse to experience the quiet charm of the village once the daytime tour groups have left.
If you’re coming for the day, you can take this long day trip from Baku that combines Lahich and Shamakhi.
Nij
If you’re looking for a true cultural detour away from the standard tourist trail, this is definitely it.
The village of Nij is home to the Udi people, a small ethnic minority who are descendants of Caucasian Albania. It features restored ancient Christian stone churches that offer a totally different perspective on the region’s complex history.
Visiting the Chotari Church is a highlight, where the quiet courtyard shaded by ancient plane trees feels really peaceful.
The community here has fought hard to preserve their unique language and traditions, and the locals are eager to share their distinct heritage with visitors.
It only takes a couple of hours to explore the village, but it’s really interesting. I think this private day trip from Baku is the best way to get there if you don’t want to organise logistics yourself.
Sheki
One of the best things to do in Azerbaijan is visit Sheki, a historic city in the country’s northwest where wealthy merchants once traded along the Silk Road.
The crowning jewel here is the exquisitely decorated Sheki Khan’s Palace, which is adorned with intricate stained glass, known as shabaka, crafted entirely without nails or glue.
It is easily one of the most impressive things you’ll see in Azerbaijan, and the vibrant colours casting shadows across the interior rooms are stunning.
After exploring the palace, take time to wander through the cobbled streets and visit the historic Caravanserai, a massive stone inn where traders once kept their camels.
Although you can visit as a long day trip from Baku (this is a good option for a tour), I would recommend staying overnight – possibly in one of the authentic rooms in the caravanserai.
Central Heartland
An alternative route between Baku and Tbilisi takes you through this central (and western) part of Azerbaijan. You can also extend the Silk Road route I described above by adding these sights and using a different border crossing with Georgia.
Ganja
In western Azerbaijan, Ganja offers a completely different urban pace compared to the bustling capital of Baku.
Key sights here include the revered Nizami Ganjavi Mausoleum, dedicated to the legendary 12th-century poet, and the distinctive Alexander Nevsky Church with its striking brick architecture.
It’s a great place to slow down and experience a more authentic side of everyday Azerbaijani city life. The central square is dominated by an impressive city hall, and there is a brilliant pedestrian avenue lined with cafes that is perfect for people-watching.
If you want to visit from Baku, there are some good tours here to consider:
Ganja serves as an excellent, highly practical base for exploring the mountains and lakes further west.
Lake Göygöl
Just a short drive from Ganja, this deep blue mountain lake was actually formed by a massive earthquake in the 12th century.
It offers pristine alpine scenery and a wonderfully peaceful escape from the towns. I’d definitely pack some warm clothes if you’re heading up here, as the air gets noticeably crisp even in the middle of summer.
The dense forests surrounding the water create a striking contrast against the vivid blue surface. While swimming isn’t allowed in order to protect the delicate ecosystem, walking the well-maintained trails along the shoreline is immensely rewarding.
There are several viewing platforms that offer perfect photo opportunities, and a small cafe where you can grab a hot tea. It is a brilliant half-day trip from Ganja that shows off a completely different and lush side of Azerbaijan’s diverse natural landscape.
Naftalan
This is an unusual take on wellness tourism, but it’s an experience you certainly won’t forget in a hurry!!
The central resort town of Naftalan is famous for its therapeutic, non-combustible crude oil baths. They’ve been used for decades to treat various skin and joint ailments, and getting into a tub of thick, warm oil is about as unique as it gets.
You’ll strip down, step into the dark liquid, and soak for about ten minutes before the staff scrub you down with paper towels and point you to the showers.
The facilities range from old Soviet-style sanatoriums to glitzy modern spa hotels, so you can choose your comfort level. Even if you don’t have any specific ailments, it’s worth dedicating a night here purely for the sheer novelty of the experience.
