Azerbaijan

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Overview

Billing itself as the 'Land of Fire', Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan) is a tangle of contradictions and contrasts. Neither Europe nor Asia, it's a nexus of ancient historical empires, but also a ‘new’ nation which has undergone an extraordinary transformation from the war-ravaged post-Soviet 1990s to an oil-enriched host of Formula 1 and Europa League football.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Maiden’s Tower

Baku

This tapering 29m stone tower is Baku’s foremost historical icon, with rooftop views surveying Baku Bay and the Old City. Possibly millennia old, its…

Palace of the Shirvanshahs

Baku

This splendid confection of sandstone walls and domes was the seat of northeastern Azerbaijan’s ruling dynasty during the Middle Ages. Mostly 15th century…

Heydar Aliyev Center

Baku

Vast and jaw-droppingly original, this Zaha Hadid building is a majestic statement of fluid 21st-century architecture forming abstract waves and peaks…

Alinja Castle

Azerbaijan

For those prepared to climb over 1500 steps up a mountain crag, one of Naxçivan's great highlights is the magnificent view from the sparse medieval ruins…

Xan Sarayı

Azerbaijan

This ornate 1762 palace building features vivid murals and dazzling coloured light streaming through şəbəkə (stained-glass windows), making it Şəki’s…

Möminə Xatun

Azerbaijan

Perfectly proportioned, if gently leaning, Naxçivan’s architectural icon is a 26m brick tower dating from 1186. It’s decorated with geometric patterns and…

Yarat Contemporary Art Centre

Baku

Yarat means 'create', a spirit that's in ample evidence in this centre's many thought-provoking installations that don't shy away from sociopolitical…

İmamzadə

Azerbaijan

One of Azerbaijan's most impressive Islamic structures, the İmamzadə is a masterpiece of brickwork and Central Asian–style blue majolica tiles on the…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

The largest and most populous country in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan spans high mountains and Caspian Sea beaches. Here are the best places to visit.

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Best Time to Visit

Azerbaijan is a country shaped by nature, alive with mud volcanoes, dramatic mountains and Caspian Sea beaches. Here are the best times to visit.

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