Things to do in Azerbaijan
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Raşidbey Әfəndiyev Historical-Regional Ethnography Museum
The Raşidbey Әfəndiyev Historical-Regional Ethnography Museum, is more impressive than its exhibits: archaeological oddments, ethnographical artefacts and the usual emotive panels on WWII, Karabakh and the Xocalı massacre.
reviewed
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Nizami Mausoleum
East of town is the 1991 Nizami Mausoleum, a space shuttle–shaped tomb-tower flanked by a series of inspired sculptures depicting scenes from Nizami’s works. A vast aluminium smelter forms an incongruous backdrop.
reviewed
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Şixov Beach
Just beyond Bibi Heybət Mosque is Şixov Beach, fascinating for photographing bathers gambolling on the 'sand' with a romantic backdrop of giant offshore oil-rigs. There are hotels, restaurants and disco-beaches here should you wish to stay a while.
reviewed
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A
Opera & Ballet Theatre
It's worth seeing a performance at Baku's 1910 Opera & Ballet Theatre, if only to admire the grand interior. Most productions are lavish and even less exciting repertory performances have the advantage of transcending language barriers.
reviewed
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Cümə Mosque
The main attraction in Quba is just wandering its orderly grid of quiet leafy streets, admiring the 19th century Russian houses and distinctive mosques, notably the unique, octagonal Cümə Mosque. with its distinctively pointy metallic dome.
reviewed
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ateşgah
Xınalıq's most popular tourist activity is hiking to ateşgah, a small ever-burning natural fire-vent. The walk takes about two hours (towards Laza then up a side valley) but finding the site without help is pretty much impossible.
reviewed
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B
Pəncərə
The upstairs dining room has a wild-west wooden décor and live piano music. Ground-floor wooden booths emulate the streamside ambience of Azeri rural dining. The menu stretches from local standards to ostrich steaks. Wines from AZN6 a bottle.
reviewed
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mosque
The town's only sight, a fine 19th-century mosque, is 1km further west, two blocks south of the prominent Heydar Bağı gardens. The imam generally allows visitors to climb the mosque's unique brick minaret for a fine view over the town.
reviewed
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C
Qaqaş Restoran
Zaqatala’s most intriguing restaurant has a façade of bottle-ends, an interior of timber rooms and a series of wooden perches out back as dining platforms. Up-beat Ukrainian music adds to the reliable food and cheap beer. Recommended.
reviewed
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Çələbi Xan Restoran
The interior pine décor is eccentric enough to make you feel you’re dining in a cuckoo clock. In summer there’s lots of space amid the trees outside and for just AZN1 you can fill up on a hearty borscht and basket of bread.
reviewed
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museum section
The reserve's simple museum section , slated for eventual reconstruction, offers some interesting conjecture on daily cave-life, setting the scene with mannequins eating and hunting. Tools and weapons found on the site are also displayed.
reviewed
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D
Kafe Fəvvarələr
The same tea will cost around AZN2.50 if a ‘compulsory’ cut-up Snickers bar arrives with your teapot. This will happen at most places on the Bulvar and at the well-located Kafe Fəvvarələr.
reviewed
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Günbəzli hamam
The main attraction in Quba is just wandering its orderly grid of quiet leafy streets, admiring the 19th century Russian houses and distinctive mosques. Notice the decrepit century-old Günbəzli hamam with its big beehive dome.
reviewed
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tambourine stone
Seek out the fascinating tambourine stone. This resonant rock was played like a primitive musical instrument accompanying a ritual chain-dance (yallı) that features in some petroglyphs and was performed to ensure a successful hunt.
reviewed
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Cavadxan küç
From Heydar Әliyev Square you could stroll Cavadxan küç, the city centre's almost-quaint pedestrian lane, or explore some appealing patches of wooded parkland that twinkle at night with (male-dominated) çayxanas.
reviewed
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Xan Lənkəran
With wooden interior and thatched ceiling, this place is unexpectedly appealing for the location, and offers chicken ləvəngi, as well as cheap beers (50q) should you dare threaten your bladder before a bus trip.
reviewed
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Archangel Michael Russian Church
The modest Archangel Michael Russian Church is the centre of Baku’s Orthodox community. It’s not geared towards tourists, but you’re welcome to admire the icons and colourful ceiling murals.
reviewed
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E
Xəlifə
The better show (after 10pm) is at the atmospheric, Arabic-themed cellar-restaurant Xəlifə, ‘guarded’ – in questionable taste – by costumed African ‘slaves’.
reviewed
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F
Təzə Bazaar
The expansive Təzə Bazaar sells pottery, metalwork and carpets, as well as masses of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and cheese. Saffron is a bargain at just 50q a pouch. Get there by southbound minibus 11, 8 or 5.
reviewed
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G
Karavan Jazz Club
For years this intimate and brilliantly atmospheric basement club was the heart of Baku’s jazz scene, though recently performances have been sporadic and of rather variable quality. Bring mosquito repellent.
reviewed
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H
Təzə Pir Mosque
It was built between 1903 and 1914 but a recent renovation has added gilding to its minaret tips and stone cladding to the surrounding buildings, which house the Centre for Islam in the Caucasus.
reviewed
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I
Sunset Café
The ugly plexiglass-fronted building is an eyesore, but the very agreeable cinema-themed interior is perfectly pitched and the generous salads, giant burgers and excellent sandwiches are ever-popular with expats.
reviewed
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J
Brewery
In a spacious, stone-vaulted basement with heavy wooden furniture, Baku’s only brew-pub turns out very acceptable dark ales and less successful lagers. Germanic meals and pricey beer snacks are available.
reviewed
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Krasnaya Sloboda
A long flight of steps lined with statues of Adonis-like Soviet youth leads down to the old bridge, which links Quba to the town of Krasnaya Sloboda, home to a unique Jewish community with two active synagogues.
reviewed
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K
Tarelka
Calm, bright and run by women for women, this narrow little café-resto has décor based around the owner’s modest porcelain collection. Food is Russo-Azeri with an AZN10 salad buffet on Sundays.
reviewed