Best Places to Visit in Baku, Baku, Azerbaijan

Baku is the capital city of Azerbaijan. It has an upscale, modern appeal especially near the waterfront overlooking the Caspian Sea. There are layers to the city though, with an old city that is a step back in time, and the gritty neighborhoods further inland that contrast the pristine buildings in other areas.

Baku was a pleasant surprise for us. I don’t think my husband or I knew what to expect, but we certainly didn’t expect a place so clean, modern, and beautiful! We arrived at night and there were so many buildings lit up in neon lights, the only place we could compare it to was Las Vegas.

Baku is a stark contrast from our home base of Tbilisi. Even though these cities aren’t very far apart, they feel completely different. I highly recommend visiting both places on a trip to the Caucasus. We spent several days in Baku with our 3 kids and ventured out of the city for a day trip. Here are the best places to visit in Baku along with other helpful tips for visiting Baku with kids.

Stretching along Baku’s waterfront is an immaculate boulevard. It is wide, flat, full of manicured green spaces, fountains, cafes, rides, and ice cream stands. The Baku boulevard is nearly empty during a summer’s day (when the weather is too hot) but bustling and alive at night. If you are traveling to Baku with kids this is a great place to let kids burn energy. Many activities in Baku are on the boulevard. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).