Baku Region

Baku Region is a region in Azerbaijan, which includes the Absheron, Agsu, Baku, Haciqabul, Khyzy, Qobustan, and Shamakhi rayons.

• Baku. – Capital of the country whose historical center is UNESCO heritage.
• Sumqayit. – Due to its industrial plants, the Blacksmith Institute, a US environmental pollution agency, ranked the city as the first in the most polluted cities of the planet, both in 2006 and 2007.
• Agsu. – In the 18th century, it was one of the largest cities in Azerbaijan.
• Shamakhi. (Şamaxı) – A town that used to be the capital of the Medieval state of Shirvan. Famous for its traditional dancers, Şamaxı dancers, and its impressive mosque. An ancient history and once one of the key cities along the Silk Road.
• Xirdalan‎. – Absheron district capital, Xırdalan, is also home to the country's largest brewery, the Baltika Baku.
• Novkhany.
• Qobu.

Baku. – Capital of the country whose historical center is UNESCO heritage.

Sumqayit. – Due to its industrial plants, the Blacksmith Institute, a US environmental pollution agency, ranked the city as the first in the most polluted cities of the planet, both in 2006 and 2007.

Agsu. – In the 18th century, it was one of the largest cities in Azerbaijan.

Shamakhi. (Şamaxı) – A town that used to be the capital of the Medieval state of Shirvan. Famous for its traditional dancers, Şamaxı dancers, and its impressive mosque. An ancient history and once one of the key cities along the [[Silk Road]].

Xirdalan‎. – Absheron district capital, Xırdalan, is also home to the country's largest brewery, the Baltika Baku.

Novkhany.

Qobu.

There are several interesting sites here for a day trip from Baku.

• Yanar Dagh. Yanar Dagh is a mountain that has been continuously on fire for one thousand years. The natural gas vents ensure that hot flames roar out of the sides of this hill even when it rains. Flames jet out into the air from a thin, porous sandstone layer. Recently, a large touristy complex has been built around it, charging almost 5 times the price of 2017. Adults 9 manat.
• Atashgah Fire Temple. 09:00-18:00. A fortified religious pentagonal temple located in Suraxanı near Baku. Declared the country's historic-architectural state reserve in 2007. Its root stem from ancient Indian that moved here and using the natural gas coming out of the ground for religious purposes. In the 1960 so much gas and oil extraction had been down that an artificial gas pipe had to be created to feed the fire, which is still burning. Adults 4 manat.
• Tuba Shahi Mosque, Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev Street (Mardakan (Mərdəkan) township. Built in 1481.
• Quadrangular castle, Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev Street off (Next to Tuba Shahi Mosque. This was built in 1187. The rectangular fortress is 22 m high. Its 76-step tower has two drinking water and 60 food wells. There is a circular tower 500 m away, is known as a “round fortress”. It is also called the “Six fortress” after Sheikh Abu Said Abulkheir. It is 12 m high. The Arabic inscriptions on it suggest that it was built by architect Abdulmajid Masud in 1232.
• Industrial Wasteland. This is Sumqayit is quite known for, a lot of former industrial ruins. It offers some spectacular and picturesque sights, in the middle of which sometimes you can watch a herd of sheep. Be cautious of the dogs - if they get too close, pick up a stone (and throw), they will remember from the last painful experience and run off.

Yanar Dagh. Yanar Dagh is a mountain that has been continuously on fire for one thousand years. The natural gas vents ensure that hot flames roar out of the sides of this hill even when it rains. Flames jet out into the air from a thin, porous sandstone layer. Recently, a large touristy complex has been built around it, charging almost 5 times the price of 2017. Adults 9 manat.

Atashgah Fire Temple. 09:00-18:00. A fortified religious pentagonal temple located in Suraxanı near Baku. Declared the country's historic-architectural state reserve in 2007. Its root stem from ancient Indian that moved here and using the natural gas coming out of the ground for religious purposes. In the 1960 so much gas and oil extraction had been down that an artificial gas pipe had to be created to feed the fire, which is still burning. Adults 4 manat.

Tuba Shahi Mosque, Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev Street (Mardakan (Mərdəkan) township. Built in 1481.

Quadrangular castle, Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev Street off (Next to Tuba Shahi Mosque. This was built in 1187. The rectangular fortress is 22 m high. Its 76-step tower has two drinking water and 60 food wells. There is a circular tower 500 m away, is known as a “round fortress”. It is also called the “Six fortress” after Sheikh Abu Said Abulkheir. It is 12 m high. The Arabic inscriptions on it suggest that it was built by architect Abdulmajid Masud in 1232.

Industrial Wasteland. This is Sumqayit is quite known for, a lot of former industrial ruins. It offers some spectacular and picturesque sights, in the middle of which sometimes you can watch a herd of sheep. Be cautious of the dogs - if they get too close, pick up a stone (and throw), they will remember from the last painful experience and run off.

• Absheron National Park. A popular national park within the reach of Baku that allows for day trips. It houses a variety of species and flora, including tigers and loads of snakes that escaped from their cages a couple of years ago. After the entrance it is another 7 km to the park office, where you can see snakes and the rough coast. However, the snakes a mostly active between April and summer. It is better to go in the morning or evening to see other animals. During the day, you will be mostly out of luck. Also, a 4WD is a good idea to go through the dunes. Bring your passport.
  About 500 m before the park entrance there is a nice spot for a dive into the sea with a sheer endless shallow sea, allowing you to walk in several 100 meters. 2 manat.
• Altyaghach National Park.
• Qobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve. Qobustan is best known for its rock petroglyphs (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and mud volcanoes. Max. 2 manat.

• Gobustan Mud Volcano (2). One of the most spectacular mud volcano parks near Baku with larger mud pools further behind, and for free, contrary to the Qobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve further north. Do not miss the mud lakes! No admission.
• Lokbatan. Last erupted in 2001, but nice for a visit and with a great view.
• Otman Bozdağ. Quite a bit from the highway, but close to the road. Last erupted in Sep 2018.
• Plain Mud Volcano. Good for a hike from the highway, but its activity varies and you might just end up with a lot of dried out mud at the top. Nevertheless, the scenery is obvious.

There are many more mud volcanoes around Baku, which can be found by having a look at a map like OpenStreetMap, which many mobile Apps like OsmAnd, MAPS.ME, etc. use.

Gobustan Mud Volcano (2). One of the most spectacular mud volcano parks near Baku with larger mud pools further behind, and for free, contrary to the Qobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve further north. Do not miss the mud lakes! No admission.

Lokbatan. Last erupted in 2001, but nice for a visit and with a great view.

Otman Bozdağ. Quite a bit from the highway, but close to the road. Last erupted in Sep 2018.

Plain Mud Volcano. Good for a hike from the highway, but its activity varies and you might just end up with a lot of dried out mud at the top. Nevertheless, the scenery is obvious.

Absheron National Park. A popular national park within the reach of Baku that allows for day trips. It houses a variety of species and flora, including tigers and loads of snakes that escaped from their cages a couple of years ago. After the entrance it is another 7 km to the park office, where you can see snakes and the rough coast. However, the snakes a mostly active between April and summer. It is better to go in the morning or evening to see other animals. During the day, you will be mostly out of luck. Also, a 4WD is a good idea to go through the dunes. Bring your passport.
About 500 m before the park entrance there is a nice spot for a dive into the sea with a sheer endless shallow sea, allowing you to walk in several 100 meters. 2 manat.

Altyaghach National Park.

Qobustan National Historical-Artistic Reserve. Qobustan is best known for its rock petroglyphs (a [[UNESCO World Heritage List|UNESCO World Heritage site]]) and mud volcanoes. Max. 2 manat.

• Calais (Kale-i) and Bugurt fortress. Medieval fortress near the village of the same name, on top of the mountain. In the 16th century, the traveller Diovan Mario Antonello from Venice, noting that the fortress is inaccessible due to its location on the mountains, wrote that village is great.
• Feast-Mardakan, Gayalar (Göylərdağ) (17 km south of Shamakhi. Hanega Mausoleum of the 12/13th century. The Hanega complex is located on the ancient trade route that once connected Shamakhi with other cities and towns of the Mideast.
• Octagonal Mausoleums, Kalahana village (south of Shamakhi. The 17th century memorial complex consists of 8 octagonal stone mausoleums, each of which is covered by a pyramid tent. The area is about 150–250 m, and there were once nine mausoleums. Today, the 7 surviving mausoleums are in good condition and one is in dilapidated.

Calais (Kale-i) and Bugurt fortress. Medieval fortress near the village of the same name, on top of the mountain. In the 16th century, the traveller Diovan Mario Antonello from Venice, noting that the fortress is inaccessible due to its location on the mountains, wrote that village is great.

Feast-Mardakan, Gayalar (Göylərdağ) (17 km south of Shamakhi. Hanega Mausoleum of the 12/13th century. The Hanega complex is located on the ancient trade route that once connected Shamakhi with other cities and towns of the Mideast.

Octagonal Mausoleums, Kalahana village (south of Shamakhi. The 17th century memorial complex consists of 8 octagonal stone mausoleums, each of which is covered by a pyramid tent. The area is about 150–250 m, and there were once nine mausoleums. Today, the 7 surviving mausoleums are in good condition and one is in dilapidated.

• The Absheron rayon is home to one of the best beaches in Azerbaijan, in Novkhany. There are many of luxury resort areas along the coast.
• Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory, Pirkuli (22 km from Shamakhi, +994 12 4398248, +994 12 4394304, +994 12 5108291. 09:00-22:00. Observatory located on the southeastern foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, on the basis of the "Astrophysics" sector of the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, at an altitude of 1,435 m. Excursion includes a visit to the main building of the observatory and one of the telescopes. 2 manat (with a group of about 10 people).

The Absheron rayon is home to one of the best beaches in Azerbaijan, in Novkhany. There are many of luxury resort areas along the coast.

Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory, Pirkuli (22 km from Shamakhi, +994 12 4398248, +994 12 4394304, +994 12 5108291. 09:00-22:00. Observatory located on the southeastern foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, on the basis of the "Astrophysics" sector of the Institute of Physics of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, at an altitude of 1,435 m. Excursion includes a visit to the main building of the observatory and one of the telescopes. 2 manat (with a group of about 10 people).

Roadside cafés and restaurants are oases, and somewhat points of interests for travellers. You definitely will happy to discover islands of civilization while road tripping.

There are a lot of spring water points, especially near shrines and mountain areas. However, in south side of the region it can be a problem and only stores will be available.

• Northeastern Azerbaijan in the north. Famous for its location at the Caspian Sea, with beaches and resorts, and remote mountain villages.
• Sheki Region in the north west. Gateway to the Azerbaijani Caucasus.
• Southern Azerbaijan in the south west.
• Talysh Region in the south.

• Georgia – There are direct buses and trains to Tbilisi from Baku.
• Iran – Buses take international travellers onwards from Baku there.
• Turkmenistan – A ferry departs daily from Baku across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenbashi. This ferry has become somewhat of a sleeper hit with backpackers on the Silk Road, but is very uncomfortable and should only be taken by adventure-seekers.
• Kazakhstan – A ferry depart irregularly to Aktau (every 7–10 days maybe). Docks are located 2 km to the west of the old town in Baku. It is difficult to get tickets!