Things to do in Absheron

Mud volcano

Mud volcano are located along the Gobustan Plain on the western coast of the Caspian Sea in the Absheron District of Azerbaijan. They are part of an active geological formation group created by the eruption of a mixture of underground high-pressure gas, water, and mud. These volcanoes are distributed along fold-and-thrust belts, with surface structures appearing as cones or pools. They are often accompanied by methane emissions, and the landscape is as desolate and unique as the surface of the moon, surrounded by cracked, grayish-brown mud layers. Absheron is located at the junction of the Eurasian and Arabian plates, with deep sedimentary basins and rich oil and gas layers, causing mud to surge up through fissures. Volcanic eruptions occur intermittently; small vents bubble continuously, while large ones can reach hundreds of m in diameter, forming temporary islands or lakes. Mud volcano provide a window for studying plate collisions and hydrocarbon migration, and the mud has medicinal properties that local residents use for skin care. They mark the geological diversity of Azerbaijan and form a connected landscape withYanar dağandAteshgah, attracting geology enthusiasts to hike and observe the eruption cycles.

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Baku

Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape

Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is located in the semi-desert hills southwest of Baku and is an open-air site famous for its prehistoric rock carvings. The petroglyphs are concentrated on three exposed rocky hills, including Boyukdash and Kichikdash. Dating from the Upper Paleolithic tens of thousands of years ago to the Middle Ages, themes such as hunting, bullfighting, group dancing, camel caravans, and the sun and stars are superimposed on the rock surfaces. The carvings of reed boats with rows of rowers are particularly striking, resembling later Nordic longships. Scattered among the rocky hills are caves, settlements, and burial sites once inhabited by ancient people; the cave known as "Seven Beauties" features paintings of women participating in hunting. The "Gaval Dash" (tambourine stone) at the entrance is a long stone slab that produces a crisp sound similar to a tambourine when struck with a small stone, serving as a natural percussion instrument left by ancient people. The Latin inscription at the foot of Boyukdash Mountain, created by a Roman legion centurion in the 1st century AD, is a rare piece of evidence of Roman presence reaching the shores of the Caspian Sea. A petroglyph museum is located next to the entrance, using unearthed artifacts and video materials to recreate scenes of prehistoric life. You can visit the exhibition first before heading up the mountain to explore the rock carvings.

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Azerbaijan

Old City Baku

Old City Baku is the historic core of Baku, enclosed by ancient city walls. Its history is generally believed to date back at least to the 12th century, though some scholars suggest its origins can be traced as far back as the 7th century. The Old City is adjacent to the Caspian Sea, with cobblestone streets winding along the slopes. Local families still live deep within the alleys, where old buildings, workshops, and residences stand side by side. Walking through them, you can both sense the weight of the historical sites and encounter the vibrant local life of Baku. The charm of the Old City is also hidden in its small alleys. In the Middle Ages, it was a frequent stop for caravans. The Multani Caravanserai and Bukhara Caravanserai, which hosted merchants from India and Central Asia, still stand today. The alleys are lined with carpet workshops, handicraft shops, and souvenir stalls, as well as many traditional restaurants serving local dishes like pilaf and kebabs.

Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Azerbaijan

Mud Volcano

Mud Volcano are located in the semi-desert hills southwest of Baku. They are completely different from the fiery volcanoes one might imagine. High-pressure natural gas from deep underground carries water and sediment, pushing up through crustal fissures to the surface and accumulating into gray mud pools at the vents, with bubbles rising and popping on the mud surface, gurgling like a pot of porridge simmering on low heat. Up close, the oozing mud feels cool to the touch and has a fine texture, lacking the scorching heat one would expect from a volcano. Looking around, the landscape is almost extraterrestrial, with low mud cones, cracked and crusted mudflats, and gray-yellow plains where almost nothing grows. Any photo taken here looks like a scene from the moon or Mars. It is usually quiet here, though occasionally there is a rumble from underground, mud shoots into the sky, and the escaping flammable gas ignites into pillars of fire in mid-air.

Bank Respublika Arena

Mehdiabad məscidi

No. 2 of Night Attractions in Azerbaijan

Flame Towers

The Flame Tower is composed of three towers and is the tallest building in Baku. It is named after its appearance that resembles a flame. The project, designed by the American architecture firm HOK, is currently used as a luxury residential apartment, an office building and a hotel (Fairmont Baku Flame Towers Hotel and Resort). These three huge "tongues of fire" can be seen in almost any corner of Baku (it is recommended to watch on the coast of Baku), and they are very conspicuous. Whenever night falls, the tower body, which completely covers the LED screen, will show a variety of effects, just like a beating flame, showing the vigorous vitality of modern Baku.

Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Azerbaijan

Sheki Khan's Palace

Sheki Khan's Palace is tucked away in the fortress courtyard on the high ground in the northeast of the old city of Sheki, and was once the summer palace of the Sheki Khan. This two-story building, along with the pool and old plane trees in the courtyard, has been preserved and later converted into a museum. It is not large in size, over 30m long and less than 10m wide. The layout of the upper and lower floors is the same, with three rooms lined up in a row, connected by a south-facing open corridor. The first floor was where the Khan received guests and handled affairs, while the second floor was for the family's living and entertaining. The outer walls are decorated with geometric patterns made of dark blue, turquoise, and ochre tiles. The interior walls are covered with murals, featuring patterns of flowers in vases and plants, and in the halls upstairs, you can also see entire scenes of hunting and warfare. A distinctive attraction here is the stained glass window called Shebeke, where thousands of pieces of colored glass are embedded into fine wooden grids. The entire structure uses no glue or nails, relying entirely on interlocking wood pieces, creating a display of shimmering light when sunlight passes through.