Baku and the Old City

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan on the shores of the Caspian Sea, is a city of striking and dramatic contrasts, where oil wealth has raised a futuristic skyline of gleaming glass towers, most famously the flame-shaped Flame Towers, above a beautifully preserved medieval core. This UNESCO walled old city, the Icherisheher, is a labyrinth of narrow stone lanes, caravanserais, mosques, the ornate Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the enigmatic, ancient Maiden Tower, all wrapped in centuries of history.

What you actually see

• The Icherisheher - the UNESCO walled old city and its lanes.
• The Maiden Tower - the mysterious ancient tower.
• The Palace of the Shirvanshahs - the ornate medieval royal palace.
• The Flame Towers - the futuristic flame-shaped skyscrapers, lit at night.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather; Baku is famously windy, and summers are hot, winters cool. The old city and the seafront boulevard are pleasant to stroll, and the Flame Towers put on a spectacular light show after dark.

Honest expectations

It is a fascinating mix of old and hyper-modern, its oil wealth visible in gleaming architecture and, some feel, a slightly manufactured, showcase feel to parts of the city. The old city is atmospheric but small, seen in a day. It is welcoming and easy to visit. The contrast of the ancient walled city and the futuristic skyline is the striking, distinctive draw.

Nearby

The Gobustan petroglyphs, the mud volcanoes and the Absheron peninsula are within reach.