Things to do in Baku

The options for activities in your Baku holiday package are many. Be it sightseeing around landmarks, outdoor activities, shopping, fun and games, food and drink, nightlife, concerts and shows, boat tours and water sports, Baku has it all. You could try hiking, camping, eco tours, adrenaline pumping extreme sports, horseback riding, rock climbing, fishing, aerial adventures like parasailing and paragliding etc., while you are on your treasured Baku vacation package. Additionally, there are zoos, equestrian trails, golf courses, sports camps, boat hiring, off-road tours and much more activities waiting to make your holidays memorable. Some of the other activities popular among international tourists are;

• Wildlife tours
• Bike tours
• Running tours
• Air tours
• Skiing
• Snow tours
• Art gallery visits
• Shopping at the flea markets
• Farmers market visits
• Gift and specialty shopping

Baku also has many specialty museums like miniature books, the Nizami museum of literature, house museum of Nobel Brothers, open air museum etc. All these attractions are enough to keep you busy and amused during your Baku vacation package. If you prefer, you may simply go for a free walking tour through the Old City, which in itself would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And all major international hotel chains have their footprint in Baku, being the capital city of Azerbaijan.

Places to visit in Baku

No Baku travel package will be complete without visiting some of these must-see tourist attractions.

• Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center – Located on Heydar Aliyev Avenue, this magnificent building is one of the most recognized architectural landmarks in the world.
• Old City – Also called the “Inner City”, this is the historical heart of Baku. The Old City of Baku is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Azerbaijan having historically important attractions like the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower.
• Baku Boulevard – This promenade in Baku is over a 100 years old and is surrounded by many other landmarks of tourists’ interest.
• Azerbaijan Carpet Museum – Recently relocated to The Seaside Boulevard, this museum houses the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets in the world and is also the first specialized museum of carpets in the world.
• Fountains Square – Located in downtown Baku, this public square is an attractive tourist destination having lots of boutiques, restaurants and shops. The square is adorned with dozens of fountains throughout.
• Maiden Tower – Also located in downtown Baku, this 12th century monument is another attraction listed by UNESCO in the World Heritage List of Historical Monuments.
• Gobustan State Reserve – This is a national park of Azerbaijan, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Baku. The rock art cultural landscape has over 6,000 rock carvings.

Food in Baku

Food is an important part of Azerbaijani culture and Azerbaijani cuisine is known for its richness, thanks to the highly fertile climate of the country. Full of different types of greens and vegetables, Azerbaijan’s best known delicacies are well sought after in most other parts of the world. A good share of the national dishes are made of lamb, beef and poultry. The numerous fish species found in abundance in the many rivers, lakes and the sea also contribute to Azerbaijani cuisine. The Black caviar from the Caspian Sea is also one of Azerbaijan’s world-famous delicacies. Another Azerbaijani dish reputed around the world is the “plov”, made from saffron-covered rice accompanied by various herbs and greens. The wide variety of kebabs are also quite famous.

The traditionally used condiments in Azerbaijani cuisine are saffron, black pepper and sumac and are usually cooked in copper cookware. The national beverage is black tea, normally served after eating food. Azerbaijani cuisine also boasts of a generous selection of light snacks, some of which are goy, chorek, choban and qatik. The national soup of Azerbaijan, called “Piti” is also a must try while you are at your Baku tours. This is essentially a mutton soup cooked with vegetables.