AZERBAIJAN 2026 CITY GUIDE

The UNESCO-listed walled city: Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs, caravanserai ruins, and the dense 12th-century street grid all within the ancient walls.

The 12th-century cylindrical tower at the heart of the Old City — climb to the top for a panorama over Baku Bay and the Caspian.

The world-first carpet-shaped building housing Azerbaijan's finest hand-knotted textiles — a surprisingly compelling collection in a distinctive structure.

Baku's grand seafront promenade — the full stretch from the Old City to the Flag Square, with open-air cafés, gardens, and views across the world's largest lake.

Take the funicular to Highland Park above the city — the best viewpoint over the Bay of Baku, with the Flame Towers as a backdrop.

Baku's main shopping boulevard leading to the Old City gate — Art Nouveau buildings, pavement cafés, and the contrast between old and new Baku.

Race-day morning on the Caspian — find an open-air café on the promenade for a tea and breakfast before the city fills with fans.

The finest medieval palace complex in Azerbaijan — within the Old City walls, well worth a quiet final morning visit before the race.

On the Sunday evening after the race, the Flame Towers' animations are spectacular — head up to Highland Park or watch from the Boulevard.

A UNESCO site 60km south of Baku — 6,000-year-old rock carvings and the extraordinary mud volcanoes alongside them.

Zaha Hadid's masterwork — the building itself is the experience, with its fluid white curves and sweeping ramps housing contemporary Azerbaijani exhibitions.

Return to Icherisheher with more time — find the caravanserais, the ancient Juma Mosque, and end in a traditional tea house with Azerbaijani sweets.