Baku

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea, combines the UNESCO-listed Old City (Icherisheher) with landmark modern architecture, a long seaside boulevard and lively streets full of restaurants and shops.

Must-see places: the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs in the Old City, Highland Park with the view over the bay, the Flame Towers, Nizami Street, Fountain Square and the Heydar Aliyev Center designed by Zaha Hadid.

The Absheron Peninsula around Baku is where natural gas comes out of the ground — the reason Azerbaijan is called the Land of Fire.

Visit the Ateshgah Fire Temple in Surakhani and Yanardag, a hillside where flames burn day and night. Both are easy to combine with Gobustan in one day.

Getting there with 4T Transfer

Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) is about 25 km from the city centre — 30–40 minutes by car. Our driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits free of charge if it is delayed. Airport transfers start from $15 per car.

Best time to visit

April–June and September–October are the most comfortable months: warm days and pleasant evenings on the Boulevard. Summer is hot and dry; winter is mild but windy — Baku is known as the City of Winds.

Good to know

Baku is a convenient base for day trips: Absheron and Gobustan are within an hour, Shamakhi two hours, and Gabala, Quba and Shahdag three to four hours away. You can also hire a car with a driver by the hour for business meetings or shopping.