Independent trip to Baku. Prices in Baku

Don't know where to go for the weekend? How about going to Baku? A spontaneous trip to Baku is the option when you get ten times more than you expect.
Old city Baku, endless embankment, Caspian Sea, oriental hospitality, delicious Azerbaijani cuisine (sturgeon!), peace and security. I hope we have convinced you that you need to go to Azerbaijan.

We are planning a trip: flight, do I need a visa, what kind of passport, currency

Organizing an independent trip to Baku is very simple. Citizens of Russia do not need a visa, a foreign passport is enough, which will be stamped upon arrival.
Another advantage of traveling to Azerbaijan is the low cost of air tickets. I bought tickets a week before the trip, they cost me 16,000 rubles, and if you book a month in advance, you can buy a one-way ticket from 5,000 rubles. S7 flew from Moscow, believing that our airline would organize a more comfortable flight than AZALJET (Azeybarjan Airlines), but was mistaken.
The return flight of AZALJET was simply gorgeous. We boarded a large comfortable plane, the distance between the seats allowed us to stretch our legs freely. By the way, the plane matched everything I saw in Baku. Everything here is beautiful, neat, expensive, stylish, calm, so even a regular economy class flight feels almost like business class. Takeoff and landing were not felt at all, I have never met such comfort, although I often fly with our normal airlines. And we were fed a delicious dinner, which is also a rarity.
I will not undertake to advise which currency to take with me, because with the current fluctuations it is not clear whether it is profitable to change rubles into euros or dollars. I can say for sure that there are no problems with withdrawing money in rubles from a card at an ATM, rubles are also changed in exchangers.

Now 1 manat (AZN) is equal to 33 rubles, it's easy to count: just remembers the old days when the ruble against the dollar was in this range. If you count at the official rate, then the exchange of rubles and dollars will give you the same amount in manats. As you can see, the exchange rate in Azerbaijan is favorable for our currency, you can travel with rubles, so we boldly put another plus in favor of a trip to Baku.

If you do not know English, then in Baku this will not be a problem. In the tourist area, I came across Russian-speaking people in museums, restaurants, hotels. Plus? Plus!
In terms of security, the city seemed safe to me. Balanced people, even children are calm here. Baku is a modern city, you feel much safer here than in some European capitals, where you are either offered intimate services or trying to steal something from your bag. It was absolutely comfortable and calm for me to walk around the sights alone.

How to get to the center of Baku from the airport

When you arrive in Baku, you immediately understand that you have arrived in an oil eastern country. If at the mention of Baku you have associations of crowds of people in caps with a bag of oranges in their hands, then you do not understand what Baku is.
Airport them. Heydar Aliyev evokes a lot of positive emotions when you get off the plane, for a second you think that you are at an exhibition of contemporary art. Waiting for a flight takes place in a comfortable environment, you just relax in the waiting room. The city's airport was designed and equipped with the most fashionable companies, after such beauty, you don't even want to remember our air harbors, especially outdated by all signs of Domodedovo.
I arrived late in the evening alone, so I booked a transfer in advance for 1700 rubles.

Official taxi at the Baku Taxi airport, landing costs 3 AZN, further on the counter. Payment is made at the end of the trip in cash or by card. Travel time is about 20 minutes.

A taxi was called from the hotel to the airport at a fixed price of 30 manat, but I did not look at what kind of taxi service it was. The husband was driving from the airport to the hotel for 50 manats.
Public transport from the airport to the city can also be reached, especially since it runs around the clock. Baku Bus buses stop in front of the exit from the first and second Terminals, tickets can be bought at the machine, which are installed to the left of the exit from the doors of Terminal 1, to the right of the exit from Terminal 2.
The bus interval is half an hour, there is air conditioning and even a toilet inside. The fare costs only 1.50 AZN, and if you immediately take a transport card, the price will be 1.30 AZN. On the official website in real time, you can see the time before the arrival of the bus, the travel time is 30 minutes. http://www.aeroexpress.az/ru.
The end points of the bus route: Airport and May 28 metro station (practically the center, there are two only metro lines of the Baku metro, as well as a railway connection), between them there is one stop Koroglu (red line of the metro meter).
Baku metro map can be viewed here

Old city of Baku

The Old City is the heart of Baku. Those who expect to see the ruins of houses here will have to be disappointed - each house has been restored, the doors are shining. If you have never seen the Caravanserai, ancient mosques and baths, then you definitely need to come here.

Two hours is enough to briefly examine the Old Town (make a lap of honor). If you want to visit the Maiden Tower, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, listen to an audio guide, then a whole day will not be enough for you.
There are many options for walking around the Old City. At the Old Gate there is a point where you can buy an audio guide and explore everything on your own at your own pace. There you can drive through the old center in an electric car.

Top attractions in Baku

I conducted a survey among several friends, do they know what to see in Baku and why go there? Of the five, one remembered the "damn it" from the Diamond Hand, the second heard about the Flaming Towers. I’m telling you briefly, because I plan to write photo reports of walks around the city to demonstrate the beauty of colorful Baku.

• Old City (Icheri Sheher)
• Book at least a day for the Old Town.
• Fortress walls of Icheri Sheher
• Maiden Tower (Asaf Zeynalli str., 24)
• Palace of the Shirvanshahs (Zamkovaya st., 76)
• Mohammed Mosque (Mirza Mansur St., 42)
• The Flame Towers (Mehdi Huseynzade st., 1a)
• Heydar Aliyev Center (Heydar Aliyev Avenue, 1)
• Carpet Museum
• A unique modern museum dedicated to the most ancient craft of the East. In my opinion, this is a must see in Baku.
• Funicular and Upland Park Baku. All the pleasures at once: and ride on the "train", and walk through the park, and visit the observation deck. Tip: come to Nagorny Park when the sun is shining on the city, and not hitting you in the face.
• Embankment of Baku. The embankment seems endless - many kilometers of beauty. There are no beaches within the city, the embankment is suitable for walking along the Caspian Sea, many people ride bicycles, which can be rented here.
• "Little Venice" in the Seaside Park. Modern canals are next to a picturesque park where you can ride on pretty boats.
• The street where the famous scene from the Diamond Arm was filmed: st. Kichik-Gala, d.8/1

Embankment of Baku

The embankment in Baku stretched for many kilometers. There are no beaches here, but there are plenty of places for walking. It is convenient to rent a bike and go around all the sights or take a ride on a sightseeing train. I was walking on foot.

The embankment begins with the flag square, on which, as you guessed it, a giant flag of Azerbaijan flutters. The Corva Museum looks impressive, be sure to look into it, there is something to see (museum review).

Pleasure boats depart from the berths, and you can look at Baku from a height on the Ferris wheel. The cactus garden looks beautiful, little Venice, along the canals of which everyone rides boats.

Azerbaijani cuisine Baku

Baku is a very tasty city. We were served a great breakfast in the hotels, a mouth-watering dinner on the plane, and street food and restaurants are just a song.

I still remember Baku tomatoes. And what a magnificent Caspian fish in restaurants - you will lick your fingers. We ate sturgeon for a year ahead. It is also worth trying saj, rich soups, eggplant dishes.

It is not so easy to find colorful Baku restaurants, as there are mostly modern European and Asian establishments. If you want to try the national cuisine, then look for restaurants in the Old Town.

Viewpoints in Baku

From a height, you can look at the old city from the Maiden Tower, which is difficult to pass by.

Other viewing platforms can be found on the wheel of fire, in one of the bars of the Flaming skyscrapers - the symbols of modern Baku, and also take the funicular to the Nagorny Park.

Choosing hotels in Baku: how to navigate

Conventionally, when choosing a hotel, I would divide Baku into three points of attraction: the Flaming Towers (famous skyscrapers that symbolize modern Baku), the Old City and the embankment, which stretches for 25 kilometers.
There is a five-star hotel Fairmont Baku Flame Towers in the skyscrapers, I think fans of Moscow City and other areas with skyscrapers will like it. It is relatively inexpensive for a 5 *, prices can be checked on booking.com. Nearby there are standard apartments and hostels, from the windows of which you can see the symbols of the country's oil wealth.
I decided to live in the old city, after reading the reviews, I realized that the most comfortable and colorful hotel is slightly above the average price category - Shah Palace Hotel 4 *

The hotel is chicly located, close to the sights of the old city, inside there is a magnificent color, service and comfort. The same plan for comfort hotels was recommended to me by a guide: Austin Boutique Hotel 4*
Azcot Hotel 4*
and more simple, but with an excellent location Du Port Hotel 3 *.
I recommend that you open the search for hotels on the map and look at other options from these examples, because choosing a hotel in Baku is a pleasure, because there are prices for any wallet, and almost everyone has a high rating. The option when you can afford to choose at least the color of the wallpaper hotel.
Closer to the embankment, I was recommended to consider the Park Inn hotel, next to it is the Hilton (and also the Marriot place, Four Seasons and many others), but I would not exchange the opportunity to live in the Old City for anything. Yes, and I do not like chain hotels, I like unique, with a twist. When choosing a hotel on the waterfront, do not think that you can walk to the beach. Many mistakenly think that in Baku you can swim in the center, as in most cities located on the coast. But in Baku, the embankment is clad in concrete, there are no beaches. If resting on the sea is paramount for you, then you need to choose country hotels with beaches, and come to Baku for a walk.
Numerous hostels, inexpensive private hotels, apartments for rent are open near expensive hotels. Choose what is dearer to your soul and enjoy the beauty and originality of Baku.

Baths

1. In the Old City of Baku, only one functioning baths remained - the Baths of Aga Michael
Aga Mikayil Bath House - Kicik Qala, 16, Baku, Azerbaijan (Price 65 manat for sauna, hammam, 30 minute massage)

Taze Bay Baths, st. Sh.Shamil, 30, Baku, Azerbaijan
Many compare these baths with a souvenir shop - all the walls of the bath are hung with various oriental items. You should come here for the sake of beautiful interiors and a special oriental flavor.

Excursions and audio guides in Baku

In the old city of Baku, there are several travel agencies where you can buy excursions both around the city and out of town. I love the tours that the locals give, so I chose the sightseeing walk here.

Travel agencies offer a wide range of day trips: for example, to the temple of fire worshipers, to the oil fields. In details we talked about it here .

What to bring from Baku

You can bring a silk scarf from Baku as a souvenir - just be careful, there are many fakes. Where does silk come from in Azerbaijan? Everything is simple in Sheki there is a silk-spinning plant, where silk scarves are produced.

Armuds - glass cups for tea, reminiscent of the curves of the female body.

Wines - pomegranate wine is especially appreciated. Pay attention to wine brands Salavan, Sevgilim.
Sweets - there are many variations of oriental sweets: Sheki baklava (thin as a cobweb), Turkish delight.
Exotic types of jam - pink, olive jam, nut jam. Most of all I liked nut jam, believe me it is very tasty!
Sauce Narsharab - a sauce made from boiled pomegranate, served with meat.
Carpet - it's hard to say how to transport a carpet. But keep in mind that the carpet must be woven no earlier than 1960, otherwise the goods at the border will be confiscated and returned to the owner as a national treasure.

Black caviar - there is an export restriction, no more than 250 gr and a proof of purchase is required, for example, a check.
Azerbaijani tea (Azerchay) - very tasty tea with different fillings.

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that there are very expensive souvenirs in the Old Town. Tea, jam, baklava can be purchased at any supermarket. It is better to buy delicious products at the local food market "Yashyl ​​Bzar" (or Green Market, not far from the railway station) - tell the taxi driver, everyone knows where he is.
You can also buy groceries at Bazarstor and O "Bravo supermarkets.

Baku made a strong impression on me. I did not expect that this is such a modern city and at the same time colorful. Now I am thinking about a longer trip to Azerbaijan.

An interesting trend has been observed recently. Increasingly, information about travel to the former republics of the USSR began to slip. On the one hand, it is interesting to look at the life of our neighbors, and on the other hand, the dollar has not returned to 35 rubles, and travel lovers are constantly looking for a reasonable alternative to expensive trips.
Azerbaijan appeared in my travel wish-list relatively recently. We can say that spontaneously. Quite by chance, I found out that every year on May 10, a grand flower festival is held in Baku. "Why not" - I thought and set up daily monitoring of the cost of air tickets in the desired direction.
So… How to plan a trip to Azerbaijan? What to pay attention to first of all when going to Baku?

1. Facilitated visa regime

Russians do not need a visa for a tourist trip for less than 90 days. At the border, they do not ask for hotel reservations, medical insurance or material support. Only a passport is required.
If you stay in Azerbaijan for more than 10 days, you will need to register with the migration service. However, the hotel can easily handle this issue.
Here it is the first plus - ease of entry into the country and savings on a visa.

2. Airport

The main air gate of the country is the Baku airport named after Heydar Aliyev. S7, Utair and Aeroflot fly from Russia to Baku. Also, regular flights are operated by Azerbaijan Airlines.
In order to "catch" interesting flight prices, it is most convenient to subscribe to Aviasales. My tickets cost me 12,500 rubles, but, for example, now there are “delicious” air tickets Moscow - Baku for October 2016 - March 2017 for 6,700 rubles. (round-trip fare).
Express bus H1 runs from the airport to the city center. This is the best transfer option. A ticket costs only 1.3 manats and is bought from a special vending machine. The express stops right in front of the arrivals terminal.

3. Hotel

Everything is fine with housing in Baku. If you like to feel at home while traveling - choose AirBnb, if you don't like making your bed - book a hotel on Booking or through any other booking site.
I recommend renting accommodation closer to the old city (Icheri Sheher), and even better - within walking distance. Hotels in the historical part cost decent money, so for the sake of saving money, you can consider a hostel for living (about 18 manats per day).

4. Time difference

The difference is small, only 1 hour, but it is there. When it is 7 am in Moscow, it is already 8 am in Baku. It is better to immediately change all the clocks to local time so as not to get confused.

5. Currency exchange

The national currency of Azerbaijan is manat. The current rate is ≈ 45 rubles for 1 manat, but the rate is not stable now, so it is better to clarify the information just before the trip.
You can safely travel to Azerbaijan with rubles. Here is the second positive point.
Of course, both dollars and euros will be easily exchanged for you, but buying currency in Russia and exchanging it in Baku, you can lose on the difference in rates.
As such, exchangers have been abolished in Azerbaijan. Money can only be exchanged at the bank. If you arrive in Baku on the eve of weekends or holidays, be sure to play it safe and exchange money at the airport. There's a pretty decent exchange rate.
There are a lot of ATMs in Baku, almost at every step. In extreme cases, you can withdraw cash there.
Two currency exchange points are open on weekends:

1. Bank of the Republic, near the funicular (practically on the seaside boulevard)
2. on Fuzuli street, not far from May 28 square.

6. Public transport

Baku has two large metro lines and many buses. A one-time trip costs only 0.2 manats. Translated into rubles - about 10 rubles. The third obvious plus!
The metro uses special cards of two types. Plastic for 2 manats and paper (disposable) for 0.2 manats. It is profitable to buy a card for 4 trips, the total cost of the card will cost 1 manat.

Buses in Baku are different. In more modern "models" payment is made by the same transport card. In older buses, including intercity ones, the driver needs to pay for the fare.
funicular name public transport You can't, but it works absolutely free. It's nice, damn it. :)

7. Food

The religion of the country leaves some imprint on the local cuisine. For example, in Azerbaijan they do not eat pork, but there are a lot of lamb dishes on the menu. For Russian people, Azerbaijani cuisine will not seem very specific, because many dishes have been known to us since childhood - dolma, pilaf, kebab.
Be sure to try qutab - a flatbread stuffed with meat, herbs or cheese. It is served in almost any cafe and costs 0.5 - 1 manat.
In Baku, they drink tea from such small glass cups called "armud". If you are offered jam for tea, first ask about its cost.
In many cafes you can pay with a bank card, but it is better to play it safe and always have some cash with you.

8. Security

It so happened that I went to Azerbaijan alone. I can safely say that Baku is a safe city for a girl. Azerbaijanis are very friendly to tourists - they suggest the way, the best bus routes and just communicate with pleasure. They are sure to be interested in what city you came from and have heard well not only about Moscow and St. Petersburg. :)
And also, there are a lot of policemen on the streets in Baku.

9. Language barrier

He is not. :) Absolutely everyone understands the Russian language and at least a little bit is explained in it. I didn't have to use my meager knowledge of English at all.
This is a huge positive moment for those who are afraid to go on an independent trip due to lack of knowledge of the language.

10. Local color. Sights of Baku

Baku surprises with its architectural mix. The heart of the city is Icheri Sheher (old city). Such lovely narrow streets where Nikulin cursed and fell, and then Mironov. Here you need to dissolve and just get lost. Just do not forget to look into the local souvenir shops, they are here with the thinnest touch of antiques.

What to do in the old city? Be sure to climb the Maiden Tower, look into the art salon of local artist Ali Shamsi and take a cinematic shot near the cherished door "damn it". And you can also go to the old bathhouse and look into the unique Miniature Book Museum.

Baku is a beautiful modern city, the capital of Azerbaijan. My trip was very short, but the feeling of visiting Baku was very vivid. I will try to tell about them in more detail. So, if you decide to come here, you should immediately understand that despite the fact that the city is located on the Caspian Sea, you will not be able to swim within the capital. Why?! And because here, right near the coast, serious oil production units have been installed. The sea in this place is dirty with a corresponding smell. So either take a hotel with a pool, or go outside the city.

As you understand, Baku is not beach holiday. People come here for other purposes: for business, to visit relatives or for educational purposes, like me.

Fountain in the city center.

Baku is an expensive city. The local currency here is called the manat. The exchange rate is approximately 1 manat is 1 euro. The cost of staying in a hotel per day starts from $ 60. It is cheaper to rent an apartment, about 40 dollars, depending on the area, repair, availability of the Internet. If you need a completely economical option, you can try to stay in a hostel, there are three of them in Baku, the price will be only $20. By the way, despite the fact that the country is Muslim, both boys and girls are placed in the room together.

In general, I came to the conclusion after visiting a lot of places. That as soon as the country begins to enrich itself at the expense of oil, the city changes at a frantic pace. Buildings begin to grow up, losing their Asian flavor. Why... read more

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Weather in Baku by months:

Month	Temperature		Cloudiness	Rainy days / Precipitation	Water temperature in the sea	Number of solar hours per day
	Happy	At night
January	8.3°C	6.0°C	45.7%	1 day (21.0 mm.)	7.2°C	9 a.m. 40m.
February	7.8°C	5.4°C	47.6%	2 days (27.6 mm.)	6.3°C	10 a.m. 40m.
March	10.9°C	7.7°C	33.9%	1 day (17.3 mm.)	7.8°C	11h. 57m.
April	15.8°C	11.5°C	22.0%	-	11.6°C	13h. 17m.
May	22.9°C	18.2°C	13.9%	-	18.3°C	14h. 26m.
June	27.8°C	23.7°C	9.4%	-	23.4°C	15h. 1m.
July	30.4°C	26.5°C	8.8%	-	26.0°C	14h. 43m.
August	31.1°C	27.4°C	9.4%	-	26.8°C	13h. 44m.
September	26.3°C	23.2°C	17.8%	1 day (11.7 mm.)	24.4°C	12h. 27m.
October	20.0°C	17.4°C	34.5%	2 days (26.5 mm.)	19.8°C	11h. 8m.
November	13.6°C	11.5°C	44.2%	2 days (32.6 mm.)	14.4°C	9 a.m. 58m.
December	10.0°C	7.8°C	44.0%	2 days (22.4 mm.)	9.5°C	9 a.m. 21m.

* This table shows average weather data collected over more than three years

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How much does a vacation in Baku cost? March 2018.

tour cost

There are no visas to Azerbaijan from Russia, which is very good for those who want to visit this country. I bought a ticket from Moscow to Baku for 6,700 rubles. From the airport named after Heydar Aliyev, I got to the city by bus for 40 kopecks, which is about 30 cents. I stopped at the Sahil Hostel, since it is not so easy to rent apartments in Baku for a day, and they are not as cheap as in Tbilisi, for example. per day I paid the hostel 45 manats, which is about 25 dollars. The hostel was beautiful in a convenient location with many amenities. I stayed in Baku for 4 days. since in 3-4 days you can completely walk around all the sights in Baku. There are not so many tourists in Baku compared to Tbilisi, but even here there were enough resting foreigners.

On the first day of rest, I walked around the park "Boulevard" which is located on the shores of the Caspian Sea. there are always a lot of people there, I rented a bicycle for 2 manats 1 dollar 30 cents per hour, drank a cup of coffee with a roll in a local cafe and paid 2 manats. Then I took a taxi for 5 manats from the Boulevard to the "Old City - Icheri Sheher", where I walked along the streets where the film "The Diamond Hand" was filmed, and visited the Shirvanshahs' Palace. Entrance to the palace costs 4 manats. Then by bus from there for 40 kopecks you can get to the famous "Ban Haji Gaib". Further, not far from the well-known "Maiden Tower" is located 10-15 minutes walk, the entrance to the Tower costs 8 manats. Also visit the museum of carpets, the entrance to which costs 8 manats. I also ordered a tour called All Baku and "Fiery Absheron" The tour cost $30. We traveled in a minivan with 7 people. We were taken to the Museum of Miniature Books, where again the entrance fee is $2. Then we went to the Governor's Garden, Then we went to the "Ateshgah" temple, where the entrance fee is also 2 dollars, and we were taken to the "Yanardag" hot mountain, the entrance fee to the territory of the mountain is 1.5 dollars. The final point of the excursion is Baku Highland Park. where you can climb the funicular by paying 70 kopecks for a ticket or climb the stairs and you can admire the beauty of the city at night from the mountain. also in Baku, I visited the Turkish "Blue Mosque" "BibiHeybet Mosque" Visiting Mosques is completely free. You can also visit the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, although I didn’t find anything interesting there, but I paid 15 manats for entry.

Food and products

Food in Baku in local stores is inexpensive, bread costs 70 kopecks 40 cents, chicken can be bought at a very cheap price of 4 manats - a little more than 2 dollars. sausages, sausages are cheap from 2-3 dollars. in Restaurants prices are more expensive, On the Fountain Square, I went to the local restaurant "Firuze" to taste the local cuisine. I ordered in that restaurant a friend whom I met in the hostel, Lyulya kebab chicken breast salad 150 grams cucumber tomato salad mushrooms and walnuts 200 grams Dolma from Tike-kabab grape leaves a couple of lemonades and local wine, paid 97 manat-50 dollars.

Souvenirs and other goods

From souvenirs I bought souvenir magnets for 2 manats, and an Azerbaijani flag for 1.5 manats.

Cost of services and entertainment

As such, I did not find prestigious Bars and clubs where tourists go, the cost of a taxi ride around the city varies from 5 manats to 20 manats, and if you are a tourist, even higher)

Total money spent on vacation

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We lived in the Old City - Icheri Sheher. Authentic apartment, rented from local residents, suited us both in terms of price and spirit. If you are not ready to dissolve among the locals, you can settle near the Fountains Square or along Nizami Street. This is practically the center of the city, the whole city will be within walking distance.

Of course, the coolest hotel in Baku is the Flame Towers. I think the view from the rooms is amazing. But for us it was too expensive.

What to do at the resort?

Baku is great. Just to walk around the city, you need at least two or three days. A lot of money is spent here on night illumination. Therefore, we duplicated our walks by the same routes in the evening, with the lights on.

Mandatory program in the capital: the Old City, the new embankment with all kinds of installations and Upland Park.

You can use a bike to explore the promenade. Distances are good.

Swimming in Baku is difficult. To the beaches you need to go to the other end of the peninsula. Therefore, a seaside vacation is not entirely about Baku. They only walk along the embankment of the capital, and go to swim in Shikhovo and Buzovna.

In addition to the metropolis, we really liked the trip to Gobustan. This national park, in which the most popular among tourists, mud volcanoes and petroglyphs, can be seen on your own. Entrance to the park is paid, about $ 1. This price includes a visit to the interactive museum about the history of Gobustan. We quickly ran to decipher the rock art. An interesting activity. True, from the museum you need to walk a fairly large distance, and uphill.

Gobustan can also be visited as part of an excursion.

It is worth visiting the fiery sights of the Apsheron Peninsula as part of excursions: this is the fiery mountain Yanardag and the fire temple Ateshgah. They are located near Baku, about 30 kilometers from the center. But it is inconvenient to get there on your own. They are far enough apart. And not so large-scale as to spend a lot of time on them.

The temple is located 30 km from the center of Baku, on the outskirts of the village of Surakhani. This area is known for such a unique natural phenomenon as burning outflows of natural gas (gas, breaking out, comes into contact with oxygen and lights up). In its present form, the temple was built in the XVII-XVIII centuries. It was built by the Hindu community, belonging to the Sikhs, who lived in Baku. However, the history of the Temple...

Rest in Azerbaijan organization of group and individual tours in Azerbaijan; excursion programs to the historical places of Azerbaijan; development of any excursion route according to your desire; assistance in booking hotels, apartments and hostels in Baku; organization of transfers in Baku and Azerbaijan;

So you can get to know our country and get to know Azerbaijan better) WE ARE HAPPY FOR EVERY GUEST!

The Museum of Petroglyphs - this is the name of Gobustan - a mountainous place in the southeast of the Greater Caucasus Range, located 60 km from Baku. It was here that the ancient sites of primitive people were found, who left behind a lot of rock carvings - petroglyphs. These primitive monuments of art reflect the culture, economy, worldview, customs and traditions of ancient people. Once upon a time, the sea lapped right at the foot of these mountains, but then receded, leaving characteristic relief traces on the polished boiling rocks. Gobustan petroglyphs belong to different eras. They were made between the 10th and 18th millennium BC. to the Middle Ages of our era. Rock carvings were discovered by chance. In the 1930s, work was carried out in a stone quarry. The area was littered with large stone...

In a series of materials "Paper" explores a new trend: a journey through the countries of the near abroad, once part of the USSR. Local residents, tourists and St. Petersburg residents who have moved to post-Soviet countries talk about ways to save money, the most convenient routes and dishes that cannot be tasted anywhere else.

What souvenir to bring from Azerbaijan, how is it customary to cross the road to Baku, what can be seen in the Caucasus mountains and what claims do the guides of the city of Sheki have towards the Hermitage? Three points of view on traveling around Azerbaijan - in a detailed guide "Paper".

A local perspective: what you need to know before you travel

Gunay Alizade

Born in Baku

The most important thing that every tourist who is going on a trip to the Republic of Azerbaijan should take into account is the amount of money. It's no secret that Azerbaijan is not a budget country, so the tourist will need to think in advance and allocate their funds for the duration of the holiday.

Azerbaijan is an incredibly beautiful and diverse country, and that is why I do not advise tourists to stay long in the capital Baku, but to travel to different cities (or regions, as we say) of the country. For example, I advise you to visit the Palace of Sheki Khans - the former residence of the Sheki Khans, located in the city of Sheki, which was built in the XIII century.

In general, there are many interesting sights in the city of Sheki, plus, this city fascinates with its nature and incredibly delicious local cuisine, so I am convinced that when you visit Sheki, you will fall in love with our country. I can also advise you to visit cities such as Gabala (with a cable car), Lerik (with the most beautiful waterfalls), Gobustan (with the oldest archaeological reserve).

Despite the fact that Azerbaijan seeks to position itself as a European state, one should not forget that for many centuries the country lived according to strict Muslim canons and traditions. Part of our population, especially people outside of Baku, from other cities and regions, still lives in them. When traveling around Azerbaijan, you should definitely take into account the national mentality of the people.

How to comfortably move around the country

Personally, I advise the tourist to get to the bus station, which is located almost in the center of the capital, and then decide how to go: by bus or taxi, they leave daily in all directions of the country.

rental car
From 2 thousand rubles per day

Taxi
From Baku to Ganja -
from 7,000 rubles

Bus
From Baku to Ganja -
about 400 rubles

Airplane
From Baku to Ganja -
about 1800 rubles

What dish can not be found in St. Petersburg

What souvenirs to bring from the country

In St. Petersburg, you will hardly find the national Azerbaijani dish anywhere - sweet Sheki pilaf with beans (if you are in Sheki, be sure to try it).

As a souvenir, I advise you to buy national carpets in miniature, a set of crystal glasses - armuds (it's nice to drink tea from them).

View of a Petersburger: what surprises in the country and people

Anastasia Blokhina

Moved to Baku from St. Petersburg

The first shock for me was the climate. When I first moved, I used to carry a jacket, a scarf and an umbrella with me, following the habit of St. Petersburg. Somewhere in the third week, colleagues asked me why I was carrying all this, and when I answered: “Suddenly the weather changes,” they grinned and said: “Until September, it’s unlikely.” Only by the middle of my second summer in Baku (and it is here from April to October) I finally got used to the fact that you can leave the house in a sundress and sandals and walk quietly until the evening.

The second surprise was a completely different perception of time. There is not so much fuss and hurry here as in Moscow and St. Petersburg, often many processes are very slow, and people are relaxed, everyone is constantly late and rarely plans something ahead of time. But the coolest fact that still amazes me is that you can leave work and be at the beach in half an hour.

In principle, I did not have any special stereotypes about Azerbaijan: I knew a lot about Baku and did not go into complete obscurity. But I did not expect that there would be so many modern buildings, and most importantly, the speed with which they are being built.

How to plan your trip around the country

You need to spend three or four days in Baku, see the city, and then get out to the sea and mountains. There are nine climatic zones in Azerbaijan, so there are absolutely different nature. My favorite place is Shahdag, ski resort in the mountains of the Greater Caucasus, there is crystal clear air and impenetrable silence, combined with beautiful views.

You should definitely go to Sheki - this is an ancient city in which the Palace of Sheki Khans is located - an incredibly beautiful building with stained-glass windows, completely hand-painted, which was also built without a single nail. And, of course, spend at least a day on the Caspian beaches.

What places can be a discovery on a trip

I have never heard of the Gobustan reserve, which is a forty-minute drive from Baku. This is very interesting place: there are rock paintings of the Stone Age, open for viewing. And there you can also observe an amazing phenomenon - mud volcanoes, which form an absolutely Martian landscape.

I also never knew that this was the territory of Caucasian Albania and, it turns out, the ancestors of the Vikings lived on these lands before moving north. Thor Heyerdahl made a great study on this topic and often visited Azerbaijan.

The main discovery was how lamb can be cooked in different ways. Among the favorite dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine: dushbara soup (mutton broth with tiny dumplings), local white cheese made from sheep's milk, fresh tandoor bread and mangal salad, which is made from grilled vegetables. And in addition to sturgeon, there is excellent local fish - berg, kutum, it is prepared differently in each region.

Tourist's view: where to sleep, what to eat, what to save on

Maria Rzayeva

Traveled around the country in May 2014

In recent years, the city has changed significantly: they say that oil money has started pouring into Baku. The houses in the center were sewn up in carved stone boxes, made in an oriental eclectic style. The business life of Baku is concentrated in the "Flame Towers" - a complex of three skyscrapers. Their outlines resemble flames. In the evening, with the onset of darkness, a light installation begins to work on the walls of skyscrapers: a flame, the Azerbaijani flag and silhouettes of people waving the flag. The city is very reminiscent of Dubai: in the center you can find an old mosque, standing against the walls of a sparkling skyscraper. We, going to Azerbaijan, expected to see the post-Soviet poor country of Khrushchevs.

It is interesting to walk around the Old City: there used to be a fortress, the walls of which were washed away by the Caspian Sea. The old city, or Icheri Sheher, is a completely pedestrian and carefully restored area, where there are small museums, foreign embassies, a couple of galleries. But all this is in the center of an ancient fortress. If you walk along a narrow street towards the "outskirts", you can find linen hanging on ropes, children's toys - ordinary Baku residents live in the buildings of the Old City.

What really looks wild are the portraits of Heydar Aliyev, the former president of Azerbaijan. Huge billboards with a smiling dead man (sometimes he is in a tuxedo) stand every 50 meters. Heydar Aliyev's birthday is celebrated throughout the country on May 10. On this day, a fantastically expensive flower festival is held in Baku. Plants are brought from all European countries to make at least the entire Heydar Aliyev Park, as a maximum, the entire center of Baku, as figures of flowers. Victory Day against the backdrop of Aliyev's birthday passes unnoticed.

Almost all Azerbaijanis over 35 speak Russian well. Young people who understand Russian can only be found in service establishments. If you are not ready to spend a hot summer day in jeans, get ready to be the only person in Azerbaijan to wear shorts. In provincial cities like Ganja and Sheki, you will be turned around. Azerbaijani men wear black tight pants in any weather. Girls - trousers or a skirt below the knee.

Those who are afraid of fast driving or cars should take courage. There are very few pedestrian crossings in Baku. The Azerbaijanis do not really need them: the townspeople cross the six-lane road, putting their hands in front of them in the “stop” gesture. So, for example, a 60-year-old woman acted before our eyes with a cry: “We are Baku residents, we all do it, let's go!”.

There is chaos on the road to Baku. The only regularity that always works: if somewhere in the distance one starts beeping, for some inexplicable reason everyone around is honking, and so on until the wave subsides.

Real London cabs cut across Baku. According to legend, the Azerbaijani president liked this taxi very much, and he ordered that the cars be brought to Baku. Only here they are not black, but purple. The people call this taxi "eggplant".

A hostel, and even more so a hotel, in Baku will cost you quite a lot. There are many luxury hotels in the city center; all of them, of course, are designed for guests of no less luxurious skyscrapers. Focus on rental housing. The most pleasant (and satisfying) option is to become guests in the house of an Azerbaijani family.

The main thing to be prepared for when visiting an Azerbaijani family is food. Lots of food, more than you can imagine. Caucasian hospitality will leave the most vivid impressions of the trip. Most likely, before your arrival, they will slaughter a sheep, call all the women of a large family for cooking, buy a couple of beds and change the chandelier to a more elegant one.

If you are planning to spend the evening in a restaurant, you can head to the cafe on the Caspian embankment - there are a lot of them. The menu includes traditional Azerbaijani and Turkish dishes: dolma, dener, kutaby (thin cakes with a small amount of filling, such as potatoes, meat or herbs). In general, it is difficult to find a good eatery with affordable prices in Azerbaijan, if you are not a Dener fan, this is the main local fast food.

There are not many restaurants on the streets, but it is easy to find a teahouse. In the teahouse you will be offered hookah, tea or a combo of these two positions for more than favorable price. Sweets and nuts are served with a hot kettle. Sometimes treats are simply added to your plate after the previous guest.

In Azerbaijan, there is a real cult of tea, they drink it at any free moment. In all establishments, regardless of the price category, the drink is served in traditional glass cups called armuds, which, as is commonly believed, keep heat better. Armuds are always placed on a beautiful painted saucer.

Main attractions

Mountains

The main thing to see in Azerbaijan is the mountains. Best holiday for any Caucasian - to go there for a walk and eat "in a restaurant." The "restaurant" in the mountains is a ten-meter lodge with a barbecue, a canopy under which there is a large table, long benches and several chairs (for the elders).

Azerbaijanis go to such a “restaurant” with the whole family, they bring food and sometimes even dishes with them: for the first hour and a half, women prepare salads from vegetables and herbs, set the table, and men cook barbecue. Guests at this time can take a walk and look at the mountains of incredible beauty.

Maiden's Tower

The main symbol of Baku is the Maiden's Tower. This is part of the fortress wall of the Old City. Outside, nothing special, the tower is like a tower, but inside, a very modern multimedia museum is literally made of nothing. The exposition is based on several versions of the purpose of the tower: from the legend of the Shah's unfortunate bride to the ancient observatory.

In St. Petersburg, you can probably buy only ordinary baklava on the shelf with oriental sweets (multi-layered diamonds with a nut in the middle). Sheki baklava looks different and tastes different. The layers of dough in it are dense candied "grids". Between them lie various nuts, and all this is soaked in syrup, honey and rose water. Sheki baklava is prepared in flat baking sheets with a diameter of about a meter. The chef at the Sheki confectionery will cut off pieces and transfer the baklava from the round baking sheet to a special box.

Dovga is a soup made from kefir, eggs, herbs and sometimes rice, which must languish on fire for about two hours. Dovgu eat from plates or drink from glasses, usually after a meal. This saves a little from the heaviness after a mountain of barbecue. Dovga, in fact, is similar to ayran.

Dolma is in all Caucasian restaurants - these are "dumplings" made from grape leaves and minced meat. Azerbaijani housewives use small young leaves to make dolma about the size of a two-ruble coin. It is interesting that cabbage rolls are called “cabbage dolma”, and they are also small, five centimeters in length.

Rose petal jam

For the preparation of jam, a special variety of roses is used. Petals are torn off the flowers, and then they are boiled like regular berry jam. It smells of jam, of course, roses. If you put it in tea, you will see translucent petals open at the bottom.

Azerbaijani plov

in Azerbaijan pilaf cooked with lamb and with a lot of dried fruits, most importantly - grapes. Sometimes pomegranate is added. The portion always includes a special "rice cake".