Things to do in  Azerbaijan

The relatively recently built Bibi-Heybat Mosque in Baku is an excellent recreation of the 13th-century Shirvansha Farrukhzad II lbh Ahsitan II, also called “the mosque of Fatima.” After it was destroyed by the Bolsheviks in 1936, the site remained in ruins until it was rebuilt in 1994. It’s the Muslim spiritual center in Azerbaijan and a popular tourist attraction, with its three domes, two minarets, and colorful tiles.

Flames flicker as they emerge from the rugged earth at Yanar Dag inside this historical, cultural, and natural reserve north of Baku. Nicknamed the Burning Mountain for obvious reasons, fires fueled by leaking gas pockets remain burning around the clock and have deep cultural ties to the region and the Zoroastrian religion.

Located in Baku, the Heydar Aliyev Center challenges traditional concepts of architecture with swooping shapes and a distinct lack of right angles. The structure—which takes it name from the man who governed Azerbaijan for almost 20 years—was designed by the prestigious architect Zaha Hadid and hosts cultural events such as exhibitions and concerts.

Ateshgah, or the Fire Temple of Baku, is a former monastery and place of Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian worship built on one of Azerbaijan's eternal flames, natural gas vents used for fire rituals. While the eternal flame has snuffed out, replaced by gas pipes, the temple complex is an architectural reserve—and the fire burns on occasion.

The main draws to Gobustan National Park, officially Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, are thousands of prehistoric rock engravings dating back 5,000–20,000 years. In addition to the carvings, the UNESCO World Heritage Site houses a rare "singing stone," a large collection of mud volcanoes, and a complex of public mud baths.

The bright and breezy Baku Boulevard (Denizkenari Milli Park) boasts a wide swath of sidewalks lined with trees, shops, and al fresco cafés. It extends 3 miles (5 kilometers) along the seafront from National Flag Square beyond Freedom Square. Highlights of the boulevard include the 197-foot (60-meter) Baku Ferris Wheel and the Park Bulvar shopping mall.

Narrow streets inside high city walls weave together historical landmarks in Icherisheher, the neighborhood that makes up the Baku Old City. Around every corner, visitors will find mosques, caravanserai, and the enormous Palace of the Shirvanshahs complex. Carpet shops and food stalls make the area a hit with window shoppers and snackers.

The museum rolls out the red carpet for its extensive collection of Azerbaijani carpets. They span centuries, materials, and weaving techniques, from the 17th century to the present day. Carpets saved from the Susha Museum of History and thousands of traditional (sometimes ancient) everyday items showcase local culture and history.

Part of Baku's UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old City (Icherisheher), Maiden Tower is a fantastic spot to take in views of the city and the Caspian Sea in the distance if you're willing to climb to the top. The tower also houses a museum that traces the history of the Old City over the centuries.

Despite only being added to Baku’s skyline in 2012, the sleek and shimmering skyscrapers that make up the Flame Towers (Alov Qülleleri) are already one of Azerbaijan’s top landmarks. Ancient practices of fire worship inspired them; they come to life after dark with a display featuring more than 10,000 LED lights.

Constructed primarily in the 15th century, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs occupies the highest part of Baku Old City (Icherisheher). The complex is full of old structures and rooms, including the Divankhana (a reception hall) and multiple mosques and tombs.

This tree-lined plaza, also called Parapet, is named after the dozens of fountains that line its paths and public spaces, many of which were built under Soviet rule. Given its central location near Old Town, and that most of Baku is walkable, you'll likely pass the fountain while exploring the Azerbaijani capital on foot.

At Martyrs' Lane in Baku, monuments and the Eternal Flame Memorial honor those killed during Black January and the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. This hilltop cemetery and memorial site next to Highland Park provides a peaceful place to remember those lost, while its terrace provides sweeping views of Baku’s waterfront.

Boasting a prime location on a boulevard overlooking the Caspian Sea, the Baku Ferris Wheel (Baku Eye) offers panoramic views of the city and its coastal surroundings. The wheel was originally built for the Eurovision Song Contest, which Azerbaijan hosted in 2012, and has since become one of the city’s most visible attractions.