The 7 Best Day Trips From Baku

Baku has A LOT going on. From the old city to the ultra-modern skyline to the local, authentic restaurant scene to the tea houses, you can spend an entire trip just roaming the city. Like we did in this video:

But just coming to a country to experience the capital city doesn’t paint a full picture of the culture, landscapes and people of a country. And the rest of the Azerbaijan has a wealth of other gems that you shouldn’t miss out on.

If you’re strained for time in Azerbaijan and can’t afford the extra days to “slow travel”, one of the best things you can do is base yourself in Baku and take day trips from the city. The country is small enough that you can whip around it to somewhere unique and be back in time for a dinner and sheesha session. 2 or 3 days for Baku should be enough, while another few days for day trips out of the city will leave you satisfied.

When we visited Azerbaijan, we spent the first 6 days in Baku and three of those were devoted to seeing Baku, while the other three were spent on day trips out of the city with tours. It was the perfect way to see some logistically difficult places to visit. 

How To Get Around Azerbaijan: Day Trip Logistics

Public Transportation in Azerbaijan

Public transportation logistics and planning in Azerbaijan from Baku isn’t the simplest to navigate, particularly if you are like most modern-day travelers who rely on internet for accurate, up-to-date information, particularly for the bus/marshrutka system in and out of Baku. Most blogs we have come across recommend just winging it, by showing up to the bus station and asking around until you find the bus that you need, as the websites tend to be near-to-impossible to navigate. Trains are a bit easier, but service is less regular, and since the pandemic, the train network is a bit less robust than what it was (it is definitely modernizing though).  

Taxis in Azerbaijan

Taxis are your best friend in Azerbaijan if you want to self-plan a day trip from Baku. You can use apps like Bolt and Uber to get around the city and the country. 

Unfortunately, even this isn’t always so straightforward from our experience. Interestingly and quite annoyingly, sometimes the drivers use the apps to find people in need of rides and then will message you and ask if you can pay out of pocket instead of paying through the app (likely to avoid fees paid to the apps). We ended up doing this while still paying the exact amount requested by Bolt (give or take a few cents), so it was fine, but just be careful not to be overcharged (or double charged by Bolt or Uber), if you decide to go this way. You can even work out a deal with your driver to take you to the day trip destination you requested, wait around for you for a bit, and then take you back to Baku. 

Note: Bolt and Uber-found taxis will most likely always be LESS than hailing a London-style taxi or other taxi on the street. 

However, even with taxis and modern apps, it still takes a bit of planning, extra time, and negotiation. 

Alternative: Tours for Day Trips

The easiest, most time-friendly, and potentially most cost-friendly way of arranging a day trip from Baku is by booking a tour either directly through a tour agency (there are many in the Old City) or through apps like GetYourGuide or Viator. 

As with tours in any country, this takes out the legwork of planning transportation, meals, etc. If you are really strained for time and want to get to some far corners of Azerbaijan for the day, this is most certainly the way to go. 

The negatives of this is that we sometimes find the tours feel rushed and there is way more time spent in the vehicle instead of immersing yourself in the location. Sometimes the tour providers really try to pack in a lot of places into one tour and thus, this can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. 

But honestly, tours are your best bet if you are basing yourself in Baku and want to see something outside the city for the day.

So without further ado, let’s have a look at the best Baku day trips:

1) Gobustan: Mud Volcanoes and Petroglyphs

This is arguably the most popular of the day trips from Baku, but rightfully so. First up, you’ll find mud volcanoes that are constantly erupting due to Azerbaijan’s copious natural gas reserves. You can even dip your hand inside as unlike other geyser-like locations on this planet, the mud is cold. 

On the way back to the city are the Gobustan petroglyphs dating back as early as 26,000 years. 

The mud volcanoes were my favorite part as the completely arid and dead landscape with old soviet era cars driving through the foreground was captivating. 

Best Gobustan Day Tours

The best way to go is with a guided tour as you can avoid logistics, and you’ll get lots of insight into the place - particularly the petroglyphs and what the symbols actually mean. 

If you go with a tour, they generally pair it with a few other places, which I will mention in more detail in the next day trip idea, like Atashgah Zoroastrian Fire Temple, Yanar Dagh, and even a quick stop to the Heydar Aliyev Center (Zaha Hadid’s creation, which is an incredible work of architecture without a single straight line). The pace of these tours are quite relaxed, as each location is near enough Baku, and I felt as though we spent enough time in each location. 

On top of the Gobustan mud volcanoes!

The Heydar Aliyev Center -- a common stop on the Gobustan-Absheron Peninsula Day Trips

2) Absheron Peninsula: Atashgah Fire Temple, Yanar Dag, The First Oil Well in the World

Baku is right at the end of the Absheron peninsula, a little appendage jutting out into the Caspian Sea and on it are some interesting little sights. For one, you will find the Atashgar Zoroastrian Fire Temple, a temple where you’ll learn all about how influential the ancient Zoroastrian religion is on modern Azerbaijan, and Yanar Dag, a fire burning in the side of a hill for the last 4,000 years thanks to the natural gas reserves. Additionally, there is the oldest oil field in the world (allegedly). 

Best Absheron Peninsula Day Tours

As mentioned, if you go with a tour, often the Gobustan sights and the Absheron peninsula sights will be paired together, with the Gobustan sights being the first half of the day and the Absheron peninsula sights being the second half of the day.

Just a fire that has casually been burning for 4,000 years

3) Beaches Nearby Baku

The Absheron peninsula may be scattered with villages, temples, fire-burning hills, and oil rigs, but it also has a mix of beaches, both paid and free; both lavish and simple.

If you’re looking to experience how the locals do the beach, head to Plyaj Dachnikov. It’s low frills, but plenty of sand to lie out and people watch. Don’t be surprised if you find random watermelons lying in the sand just inside the water 🤣, it is a way to keep the watermelon cool for the afternoon.

If you’re looking for more amenities, look no further than Sea Breeze, a booming resort area with sun beds, restaurants, bars, sheesha and whatever else you may need to keep you comfortable. 

How to Get There:

Your best bet is a taxi - which takes about 45 minutes to reach either beach. Use an app like Bolt to get you there. We booked a taxi through Bolt to Plyaj Dachniko, spent around 20 Manat to get there, and as it was easier for him, he waited there for the few hours and then took us back. Overall we gave him 50 in total, as he was a really nice guy and even gave us a mat from his car to lie out on when we forgot to bring towels. 

There are public transportation options, but this will increase the travel duration to around 2 hours each way. I recommend putting which beach you want to go to into Google Maps to get the best transportation options for the time you are traveling. 

4) Quba: The Red Village, Qechresh Forest, Carpet Weaving

Quba (Guba) is often a stopover point on the way to mountain villages like Khinaliq and Laza due its location at the base of the Caucasus Mountains, but it also has some endearing and fascinating qualities to it.

One particularly fascinating part of Quba is the Red Village (Krasnaya Sloboda), the only fully Jewish settlement outside of Israel and the United States. Jews were granted the village in the 1700s and have been living there in peaceful coexistence with the Muslim community (on the other side of the river) ever since, preserving a unique culture and language different from those of other Jews around the world. The town can feel a bit like a ghost village during the day, but it is worth wandering around it. One thing is that since the start of the Israel-Palestine war and protecting against anti-Semitism, security is a bit tighter, so it isn’t possible to enter The Gilaki Synagogue (the most prominent one in the town) and you can only observe it from behind a barrier.

Quba is also famous for the lush green Qechresh Forest surrounding it, carpet weaving, and Charming Architecture and Mosques, like Juma Mosque. 

Best Quba Tours

Most tours tie in a visit to Khinaliq (see next section) or Shahdag Mountain Resort. I will mention the tours that go to Shahdag Mountain Resort here, as I will put the Khinaliq tours in the next section.

The strikingly beautiful Gilaki Synagogue in the Red Village

5) Khinaliq: Highest Village in Azerbaijan

A quaint, picturesque, and self-sustained mountain village, which is the highest in Azerbaijan (and among the highest in Caucasus), Khinaliq (Khinalug or Khinalyg) is a bit of a stretch to do in a day, but it’s doable. If you have the time, going for the evening and staying in a home stay gives the best experience. However, if you only have a day, it’s best to arrange a tour, which will most likely stop in some sights around Quba as well on the way up into the mountains. 

We did this tour, which brought us to the Candy Cane mountains, the Red Village in Quba (as mentioned in the Quba section), and Khinaliq for lunch and a bit of a wander around the village. I would have liked to spend more time in each place and the driving was quite a lot for the day, but it was worth it, considering we only had one day to do it. If I could change one thing, it would have been spending a little less time eating lunch in the person’s home in Khinaliq and more time exploring the village.

Other tours stop in various places around Quba, but just beware that in doing this, you will have less time to spend in Khinaliq. It might be nice to take on a private tour that will take you directly to Khinaliq. 

Best Khinaliq Tours

6) Sheki: Key Stopping Point on the Silk Road

Sheki holds a special place in history as a key stop on the Silk Road. Back then, weary traders would find solace at the Caravanserai, a grand guesthouse that's still welcoming travelers today. It’s humbling to think you can still walk the same halls as those ancient merchants. In stark contrast, the atmosphere in Sheki offers a refreshing change from the energetic bustle of Baku. Nestled at the foot of the mountains, Sheki is smaller and invites you to breathe easier and unwind. If you have the time, make sure you also head up to the village of Kish.

You’ll find the hospitality here is top-notch, with friendly faces at every turn. And the food? Absolutely delightful. You can't leave without trying Piti, ideally with every meal if you can manage. Spending just a day in Sheki might be pushing it, though. You'd really need a night to soak it all in. For those who love a challenge, it’s possible to visit for the day, but it requires joining a tour. Public transportation doesn’t allow for such a quick turnaround, making it a bit of a logistical puzzle. But, oh, the adventure of it all!

Best Sheki Tours

The Caravanserai in Sheki makes you truly feel like you are following the footsteps of the Silk Road-era merchants

7) Lahij: Step Back in Time

Nestled in the mountains of Azerbaijan, Lahij offers an ideal day trip option from Baku that's like stepping back in time. This quaint village, renowned for its copper craftsmanship and cobbled streets, entices visitors with its old-world charm and rustic allure. Imagine wandering the narrow alleys where artisans forge intricate copperware by hand, a skill passed down through generations. The moment you arrive, there's a distinct feeling of being transported to another era, where the past is palpable in the air, and every stone tells a story. It's a place where the breeze carries whispers of history, and the surrounding mountains stand as silent witnesses to centuries of tradition.

The journey from Baku to Lahij is not just about the destination but the adventure along the way. As the cityscape gives way to rolling hills and lush landscapes, you're invited to reflect on the stark contrast between urban life and rural simplicity. Lahij’s peaceful atmosphere offers a refreshing escape, prompting introspection about what truly matters in a fast-paced world. Whether you're sipping tea with locals or capturing moments with your camera, there's an undeniable warmth and authenticity here. It’s easy to see why some might argue against leaving the comfort of city life, but Lahij has a way of drawing you in, challenging those notions with its simple beauty and rich cultural tapestry.

Best Lahij Tours

In conclusion, while Baku offers a vibrant mix of modern and historical experiences, the true essence of Azerbaijan lies beyond the capital. Exploring the diverse landscapes, ancient villages, and unique cultural sites through day trips allows for a deeper connection to the country’s rich heritage. Whether you’re drawn to the mud volcanoes of Gobustan, the fire temples of Absheron, or the mountain villages like Khinaliq and Lahij, there’s so much more to discover just a short drive from Baku. By basing yourself in the city and venturing out, you’ll experience the perfect balance of urban excitement and rural adventure, ensuring a well-rounded and unforgettable trip to Azerbaijan.

Pondering my past life on the Silk Road?