The Ultimate Guide to Baku’s Historic and Modern Sites – A Historic and Modern Baku Tour

If you’ve been looking for an unforgettable tour of the best of Baku with a thrilling visit to modern attractions and ancient monuments of Azerbaijan, you’ve come to the right spot. This comprehensive guide will take you through the historically rich and culturally inspiring places in Baku that are worth exploring during your visit.

When exploring the city’s depth, there’s one thing that will punch you in the face and that’s the reminder of how the past and present are interlaced and how the city’s legacy is cherished even to this day. From the Maiden Tower and the Palace of Shirvans to vibrant shopping malls, fancy restaurants and modern plazas, here’s your must-do tour of historic and modern Baku.

The Landmark Destinations You Shouldn’t Miss in Baku

If you decide to tour the city of Baku, a visit to the old town is a must. Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, you’ll find the Maiden Tower and Palace of Shirvanshah, a complex that includes the Divanhane, Shirvanshahs’ palace, Hasht Behesht residence, a Mosque, Seyfiya Shah Mosque, shooting range and a beautiful crypt built into the side of a hill. Explore the Maiden Tower that stands an incredible 30m meters tall, with seven tiers and is believed to have been built in various periods with its two layers of wall encircling each other. The Tower was interlinked with other walls in the 12th century that joined its lower tier to other towers along the old city walls.

While you’re in the old city, also make sure to visit the Nizami Street – Avenue of Glory which was paved with cobblestones in 1873. As you stroll down this street, look up at the balconies with high stucco arches that create an amazing atmosphere taking you back to the 19th century. Explore some of the renowned stores where you can find everything from carpets and musical instruments to beautiful pottery, metalwork, unique clothes and ceramics.

At one end of the avenue lies Nizami’s poetry museum. Inside, you’ll find a unique collection of books – manuscripts as well as sound recordings about Nizami Gurgani himself and some artifacts connected to his life. Also explore books from Shaki which dates back from 11th century and unpublished manuscripts from 19th century. For fans of art, you’ll find more than 100 works of Azerbaijani fine art on display at four hallways. And don’t miss strolling around Upland Park (Pirshagi) – a wonderful recreation facility just a few steps away from Icherisheher with its trees, bushes, interesting plants and flowers along with marvelous sculptures and lively fountains.

The Best Places Visit to For Modern Baku Tour

When it comes to modern things to do in Baku, you won’t be disappointed. Start off by visiting Fountain Square – the central town square located at Istiglal Street or Baku Boulevard where it is busiest at night. You will find many street musicians here and all around are pubs, restaurants and vibrant shops nearby. Fountain Square is surrounded by 19th-century architectural buildings from one side and modern ones from another one creating an interesting contrast in style. The boulevard crossing Fountain Square extends along Baku Bay into a beautiful park-promenade with fountains, open-air sculptures, artificial canals and total nine bridges which create a beautiful atmosphere for visitors.

You should also explore Heydar Aliyev Center – an ultra-modern masterpiece shaped as a skeleton and designed by an architect named Zaha Hadid – consisting of an opera and ballet theater complex situated nearby Flame Towers complex which were built in 2012 resembling flames. The towers are surrounded by a wonderful park area with amazingly designed structures and colorful LED lighting spans across their façades making them a supremely attractive sight – especially at night. From here you can easily reach Upland Park (Pirshagi) or Neftchilar Park – whose main attraction includes a giant marble sun with shards for the morning and evening shimmering like glass in the sun rays.

A Variety of Shopping Opportunities

Baku offers some amazing shopping opportunities for all kinds of visitors – whether you’re looking for traditional handcrafts or more up-to-date stuff. Head over to Yeni Gala Metro station – where you can find several interesting souvenirs of handcrafted goods while souvenir jewelry is found just around Ganjlik Mall –a fancy place loaded with high-end boutiques that offers goods like dolma kapasa (stuffed cabbages), Azerbaijan drinks like pomegranate juice and tea. Spend a bit more time in malls like Park Bulvar which is situated near Fountain Square or 28 Mall – not far from 28 May metro station – or Ganjlik Mall facing Caspian Sea. Each offers a selection of goods of different levels – from chains to high-end boutiques selling everything from cosmetics and clothes to food items.

Experience Delightful Food in Baku

To add some unique flavors to your Baku experience head over to some of Baku’s restaurants specializing in delicious cuisine. Some amazing places include Agha Ela restaurant serving a variety of Turkish dishes such as mezes on ice, stuffed grape leaves and manti while Yeni Meze can give you a real dose of Azerbaijani culture via its kebab platter. For traditional cooking visit Chinar Restaurant which specializes in home-cooked dishes like sweat bread (badimjan) dolmas or bulgur wheat with vegetables (plov) while Baba Afendiyev Grill House serves up dishes like grilled fish-kabab, kebab dolma or shashlik kebab – one dish you won’t be able to get enough of.

Conclusion

Whether you tour historic Baku or embrace its modern face, it promises an exciting experience that’s sure to leave you captivated in a matter of moments! There is no better way to feel connected with the country than exploring its age-old architecture alongside modern infrastructure – this will surely give visitors great insight into Azerbaijan’s culture and history. Visit GetYourGuide for more details about amazing activities in Baku!