Is Baku Worth Visiting? Our Adventures Through Azerbaijan's Capital

Baku, Azerbaijan—a city full of contrasts, history, and unexpected marvels. From its futuristic skyline and ancient Old City to its unique blend of Soviet and Azerbaijani culture, the capital of Azerbaijan left us intrigued and craving more. Whether it’s for the jaw-dropping buildings or the mouth-watering baklava, Baku is worth putting on everyone’s travel list.

So if you're asking yourself, is Baku worth visiting?—let us guide you through this underrated gem.

Arrival in Baku

We touched down in Baku at 3 AM—blurry-eyed, tired, but buzzing to explore. Our first real taste of the city was a surreal, oddly quiet experience: McDonald's stood bright like a beacon in the center, but we weren't about to eat fast food. Our first meal? A juicy kebab at this ungodly hour, because that’s how travelers roll when local joints are calling your name.

Surprisingly, Baku didn’t sleep. People casually strolled the streets, and we even saw a kid running around with the exuberance one reserves for midday, not the break of dawn. The locals? Clearly a different breed when it comes to energy levels.

First Impressions

A few things hit us immediately—the currency (the manat) and the number of street side cats. The manat sits at around two manat to one euro, which makes quick conversions fairly easy. You'll often hear "Salam!"—Azerbaijani for "hello." We tried to learn "thank you" right away, but we got muddled up. Was it sagol? Or chogosa? Clearly, there was room for improvement.

But what we couldn't get over were the cats. They were picky—little princes and princesses, each one. The street is very much their domain.

Quirky Guesthouse Vibes

Our Baku digs were a classic guesthouse. You know the type—the ones with gaudy, yet oddly charming pieces of décor that make absolutely no sense. Imagine curtains embroidered with the Colosseum when we just arrived from Rome! Sure, it sounds confusing, but it gave the room some weird sense of home.

There’s something about the effortful but entirely misguided attempts at décor that we just find incredibly delightful.

Discovering Azerbaijani Cuisine

Our first proper meal? A beauty. Forget the in-your-face McDonald's or KFC in the center. Azerbaijan’s food game sneaks up on you and wins you over with its healthy, surprising touches. We dove into pilaf, a dish full of dried fruits, nuts, and even chestnuts! The herbs? Generous helpings of mint and parsley make the food sing in all the right ways. It’s rich, it’s varied, and it’s healthier than we expected. If you ever ask, “Is Baku worth visiting for just the food?” Yes. Yes, it is.

If you are seeking other savory dishes, we have two special dishes to recommend: Qutab, which has sumac, parsley, and cheese tossed into a flatbread—and Khingal, the Azerbaijani version of deconstructed Georgian dumplings (khinkali).

For those who crave something sweet—Azerbaijani baklava became our addiction. Shaped like a rhombus—an intentional design that forms the Star of Azerbaijan when fit together—it was an edible representation of culture.

Oh, that lusciously sweet Aberzaijani baklava

ChatGPT as our Travel Guide

We shouldn't be saying this as travel bloggers, but when in doubt, outsource it to AI, right? Laziness caught up to us, and we handed some parts of our itinerary to ChatGPT. The app led us to a random fountain that, let’s be real, was underwhelming. But what made the experience unique was the city’s vibe that week—roads closed off because Formula One barricades were everywhere. Baku’s streets were racing mazes. So if you're one to factor big international events like this into your travels—something to plan ahead for.

The Caspian Sea and Little Venice

When in Baku, you can’t skip the Caspian Sea, although calling it a "sea" isn't as accurate as it seems. It’s a gigantic, salty lake shared by several countries, Azerbaijan included.

Baku also thinks it’s Venice—well, sort of. There’s a charming “Mini Venice” here, complete with gondola rides that cost about €2.50. For comparison’s sake, a single ride in Venice, Italy is easily over €100. The flavor of these two Venices is worlds apart, but hey, who doesn’t like a cheap cultural comparison?

Exploring Azerbaijan’s Carpet Heritage

Carpets. Honestly, we never thought much about them, but the Carpet Museum promises to make you care. Azerbaijan has a long, rich history of carpet weaving that traces back to the Bronze Age. Who knew carpets could carry such storytelling detail? The stunning complexity of their work, like a specific type called "sumak," blew us away. By the time we left, we gained a new layer of appreciation for what we once considered a floor decoration.

Flame Towers and Zoroastrianism

A hike up the hill took us to one of Azerbaijan’s most iconic sights—the Flame Towers. These towers are modern symbols, but they owe their existence to something much more ancient. Azerbaijan is known as the Land of Fire, and the fire symbolism ties heavily into its historical fire-worship religion, Zoroastrianism. The nearby memorial to Black January—commemorating lives lost to Soviet troops—was heavy but important to witness firsthand.

The towers put on a light show every night, starting at 8 PM. While beautifully mesmerizing, it got us thinking about the sheer electricity it takes to light those suckers up. Baku’s got the energy reserves, but it’s still worth wondering about environmental impact, isn’t it?

A Post-Soviet Mega Mall

During a morning run along the Baku Boulevard, we stumbled upon some interesting things—particularly, a mall that seems plucked straight out of China - Deniz Mall. This sprawling capitalist haven, built in the remnants of a formerly Soviet country, is a stark symbol of how quickly countries can pivot once communism falls. It’s filled with Western names like TGIFridays alongside distinctly Russian products.

The Local Beach Scene

We wish we could glamorize the Baku beaches, but we’ve got to be honest—they aren’t winning any awards. We ended up at a rundown beach where the underlying scent of oil followed us even to the water’s edge. Sure, the salty water was intriguing to taste (don’t ask why), and the oil scent reminded us where we were, but next time we might opt for one of the beachfront resorts instead.

Karaoke and Azerbaijani Nightlife

For about €25, we found ourselves in a private karaoke room (for those who share our love for karaoke, make sure to go to Okean Tea House). It’s not a bad way to spend an evening, even if our singing was downright awful. Baku’s nightlife is as spontaneous as you want it to be—one day, you’re in a lovably tacky karaoke room, the next, you're standing in front of strange yet impressive statues that litter Baku’s urban landscape.

The Old City: Historic Yet Alive

Despite all the shiny, new buildings in Baku, the Old City remains its soul. Dating back to the 12th century (or earlier), the walled city still captivates. Key landmarks like the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the iconic Maiden Tower (no need to climb this one, though - it's underwhelming) are a sharp contrast to the skyscrapers of modern Baku.

The streets are nestled against the Caspian Sea and have seen invasions, boundary changes, and religions come and go. Each twist and turn of the Old City felt like uncovering another layer of Azerbaijan’s layered history.

Miniature Books and Local Fare

One of the quirkier spots you can visit is the Miniature Book Museum, a labor of love from a woman who’s obsessed with tiny books. She scoured 90 countries to create her collection, including the world’s smallest book. It’s hard to imagine—but trust us, it’s there.

Riding the Baku Metro

You haven’t seen a metro system until you’ve ridden one in a post-Soviet city like Tbilisi, Yerevan, or Baku. Baku’s underground is immaculately kept, with beautiful stations and pleasant melodies that softly announce upcoming stops. The lengthy pauses between stops might just lull you to sleep, though—so keep alert. It’s not something you want to miss.

The Heydar Aliyev Center

Zaha Hadid’s architectural masterpiece, the Heydar Aliyev Center, is hard to miss—it stands out like a swirling, curvaceous alien spaceship. Named after the late Heydar Aliyev, a key figure in modern Azerbaijan’s history, the building itself feels... feminine. The flow of the lines evokes movement, and it’s as visually arresting as the political figure it’s named after.

Behind all the beauty, though, “Heydar” represents a still very authoritarian system that his family continues to oversee, which adds layers of complexity to the experience.

Not a single straight line used to make the exterior!

Hammam Time

A hammam experience was in order, but here’s a fun fact—men have five designated days, while women only get two. If that feels a little lopsided, don’t worry—it’s just the way things roll here. Despite that, there’s no better way to cap off a trip than sweating it out.

Final Thoughts on Baku

So, is Baku worth visiting? Let's just say after a whirlwind week here, we’re convinced it should be on every traveler’s list. There’s something magnetic about the city—a pulse of random adventures stumbling onto unique places like mud volcanoes one day, and futuristic movie theaters the next. From the hospitality of the people, to the layers of history that seem to unfold in front of you with every outing, it’s a city that plays on all your senses.

Yes, Baku has its quirks, from aggressive taxi drivers to the omnipresent smell of oil. But those experiences are part of the charm. We left with more memories than we could count, looking out over the Caspian Sea, saying our final “Sagol” to a city we weren’t ready to leave to head off and try a crude oil bath in Naftalan and relive the Silk Road life in Sheki.