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🇦🇿Things to Do in Azerbaijan
From Baku's flame-shaped skyline to the ancient rock art of Gobustan - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.
Travel guide - last updated September 2026
Azerbaijan mixes a medieval walled old city with one of the most futuristic skylines in the Caucasus - Baku's Flame Towers lit up at night are the clearest symbol of that contrast. Beyond the capital, prehistoric rock carvings and bubbling mud volcanoes round out a country still relatively new to mainstream tourism. Here are 6 places worth building a trip around.
Top attractions
The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.
Baku Old City (Icherisheher)
A UNESCO-listed walled old town at the heart of Baku, including the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, dating back to the 12th century.
📍 Baku
🚉 Nearest station: Icherisheher on the Baku metro, at the walled city's main gate - the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs are both a few minutes' walk inside.
Flame Towers
Three flame-shaped skyscrapers dominating Baku's modern skyline, lit with a dynamic LED display each night - a deliberate nod to Azerbaijan's historic nickname, the 'Land of Fire.'
📍 Baku
🚉 The towers stand above Highland Park: the funicular from the Baku boulevard climbs to the martyrs' lane beside them, or it is a 20-minute walk up from Icherisheher metro.
Gobustan Rock Art
A UNESCO World Heritage site with over 6,000 rock carvings dating back up to 40,000 years, alongside mud volcanoes in the surrounding landscape that are among the most active in the world.
📍 Gobustan, near Baku
🚉 Buses run from Baku's 20 Yanvar metro towards Gobustan town, 60km south, then a taxi covers the last 5km to the petroglyph reserve - most visitors take a half-day tour combining it with the mud volcanoes.
Mud Volcanoes
Azerbaijan has more mud volcanoes than any other country on Earth, with several near Gobustan accessible on a short off-road trip - low, bubbling cones rather than dramatic lava-producing volcanoes.
📍 Gobustan, near Baku
🚉 The volcano field beyond Gobustan has no road worth the name: local drivers with old Ladas wait at the reserve and run visitors out across the last few kilometres of track.
Sheki
A town in the Caucasus foothills known for the Khan's Palace, decorated entirely without nails or glue, and a historic silk-trading past reflected in the town's caravanserai buildings.
📍 Sheki
🚉 Buses from Baku's international bus terminal take five hours to Sheki; the caravanserai and the Khan's Palace are in the upper town, a short local bus ride from the terminal.
Gabala
A mountain resort town with cable cars, lakes and increasingly developed ski infrastructure - a common weekend escape from Baku's heat in summer.
📍 Gabala
🚉 Buses from Baku take about four and a half hours; the Tufandag cable car and the lakes are a taxi ride from the town centre, and the region is a summer resort for Baku families.
Mark Azerbaijan, get the stamp
In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.
Open MyPassportStoryPlanning questions
How many days do you need in Azerbaijan?
4-5 days covers Baku and Gobustan well. A week lets you add Sheki or Gabala in the mountains without rushing.
What's the best time to visit Azerbaijan?
May-June and September-October have the most comfortable weather. Summer in Baku can be hot and windy (the city's nickname, 'City of Winds,' is well earned); winters are mild on the coast but cold in the mountains.
Is Azerbaijan good for a first-time visit?
Yes - Baku is modern, safe and easy to navigate, with a metro system covering the city and organized day tours easily arranged for Gobustan and the mud volcanoes.
Do I need a visa to visit Azerbaijan?
Many nationalities can apply for an e-visa online in a few minutes for short tourist stays. Check the official visa information for your nationality: evisa.gov.az.
What are some things to do in Azerbaijan on a tight budget?
Walking Baku's Old City and the waterfront boulevard costs nothing, Azerbaijani food is inexpensive, and Baku's metro is a cheap way to get around the whole city.
Can I rent a car in Azerbaijan, and what licence do I need?
Yes, and it makes the mountain towns of Sheki, Lahic and Quba far easier to combine. Foreign licences are accepted for visitors when carried with an International Driving Permit; the minimum age is generally 21 to 25 with a credit card. Baku traffic is fast and the highway police are active, so speed limits are worth respecting exactly. Note that a passport stamp from Nagorno-Karabakh will bar entry, and border roads should be checked against current advice. Official information is published by the State Traffic Police at mia.gov.az, with visitor guidance at azerbaijan.travel.