A city enchanted with the ambience of ancient times and the magic of the modern atmosphere, there is more than one way to spend your vacation here.
Enjoy the atmosphere strolling along the seaside boulevard or a gondola ride in Little Venice, visit the Carpet Museum, constructed like a rolled carpet and designed by Austrian architects Franz Janz, and taste the best dishes from local cuisine. You can also indulge in a shopping spree at two of the largest malls of the Caucasus region – Deniz Mall and Yashil Bazaar – a magnificent manifestation of the Silk Road.
Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage boasts a range of UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Walled City of Baku with Shirvanshah’s Palace and Maiden Tower, Gobustan State Reserve, the historic centre of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace, with the cultural landscape of the Khinalig People, and Hyrcanian Forests newly inscribed on the list. Beyond these tangible landmarks lie intangible treasures, such as the revered tea tradition and the crafts of Sheki, Lahij, and the renovated Basgal village. Surrounded by beautiful nature, Basgal village is filled with restored hammams, mosques, and artisans of kelaghayi – a traditional silk headscarf for women, crafted from natural local resources with a unique batik technique.
Experience the nomadic spirit by hiking to another newly designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Khinalig village. Perched at 2,200 meters in the Caucasus Mountains, it’s one of Azerbaijan’s highest villages. Celebrating its rich cultural heritage, locals preserve their traditions and a language spoken nowhere else, embracing a truly authentic semi-nomadic lifestyle. As part of the Khinalig Historical, Architectural, and Ethnographical Reserve, enjoy breathtaking mountain views and an immersive cultural journey. The Köç Yolu trail, connecting highland summer pastures with winter lowlands, reveals the village’s age-old practice of seasonal livestock movement for an extraordinary experience. It would be best to take your travel up a notch by extending your trip to the epic landscapes in other parts of the country, too.
