Before each tourist going on another trip, there is a hard choice how to visit a large number of attractions of this country in a few days and, of course, where you can take unique photos that can be shared with friends and family. If you intend to travel to Azerbaijan, Baku should be among your planned destinations. Azerbaijan is no exception, and a traveller planning a vacation to a capital city of Azerbaijan - Baku faces such questions as "What to do in Baku?" and "how to find Instagrammable places?" Given the fact that Baku is the city where the first oil well in the world was drilled, it is a city that has its own Venice and tower of the 12th century. With many more wonderful and unique architectural-historical buildings and attractions, you will have to make a rather difficult choice. Vacation in Azerbaijan is, first of all, a vacation in Baku, in the heart of Azerbaijan, in a city that reflects the character of the country and keeps its history. Baku is famous for its unique architecture, so coming back to your home from a vacation, you will be able to bring not only unforgettable memories but also exciting and bright pictures, which can be later shared on Instagram. We present to your attention 12 Instagrammable places in Baku, which will answer the question "What to do in Baku?".
1. The Old Town of Icheri Sheher
You should start your acquaintance with Baku from the Old City, which is surrounded by a fortress wall. Along with souvenir shops, restaurants and curved cobbled streets, you can also find attractions that represent Instagrammable places in Baku. The most beautiful pictures here are taken against the background of the Maiden Tower and the Palace of Shirvanshahs. Maiden Tower is one of the oldest structures of Baku of the XII century, which has been preserved till nowadays. According to a legend, it was built by a shah who decided to marry his daughter by force when he found out the girl rushed from the tower to the Caspian Sea. The real purpose of the tower is still unknown to the end. You can be photographed not only against the tower's background but also on its top, which offers a beautiful view of the city from a height of 30 meters. The Palace of Shirvanshahs is the historical residence of the rulers of Shirvan, which was built in the XIV century after the capital city was moved to Baku. The complex consists of dwellings, mosque, tomb, bath and mausoleum. Today, a museum of Azerbaijani culture is functioning here. Also, the background for photos in Icheri Sheher can be the place where a famous fall scene from the acclaimed Soviet film "Diamond Hand" was shot, namely Kichik Gala Street.
2. Highland Park
It is a territory that includes a park area, a memorial complex and observation platforms. The park zone is located on a hill, and thanks to this, the park offers a beautiful view of nearby attractions of Baku such as Seaside Boulevard, Baku Bay, Flame Towers, Shirvanshahs' Palace, Icheri Sheher and Maiden's Tower - places where to take beautiful pictures in Baku. On the other hand, it is an excellent place for the local population, as there is Alley of Martyrs, where the soldiers who fought for the independence of the country, the eternal flame and the Turkish Mosque were buried. There are also Gulustan Palace and Green Theatre - Instagrammable places in Baku, where local and foreign performers organize their concerts. One can get here by funicular railway or on foot by stairs. You’ll definitely thank yourself for choosing to travel to Baku.
3. Flame Towers
Three skyscrapers 190, 160 and 140 meters high can be rightly considered the visiting card of Baku in the evening. Their light animation gives unforgettable memories and fascinates those watching with its beauty. More than one photo can be taken against the background, as the illumination of buildings changes every minute. Inside there are offices, apartments and the Fairmont Hotel.
4. Heydar Aliyev Center
Heydar Aliyev Center must be on your list if you plan to travel to Baku. An architectural masterpiece designed by famous architect Zaha Hadid and ranked first in 2014 among the most beautiful buildings in the world has no right angle. Inside the centre, there is an exhibition of national musical instruments, an exhibition of dolls, a carpet exhibition, a Tsereteli exhibition, a retro car exhibition, as well as halls where other temporary shows and concerts are held. Next to the centre, there is the inscription "I love Baku", against the background of which great photos are taken.
5. Seaside National Park
Primorsky Boulevard, 25 kilometres long, is considered a favourite place for both residents and tourists of the city. If you want to spend an exciting holiday in Baku and rest in Azerbaijan, be sure to visit this park, which has the age of over a hundred years. There are a large number of attractions, attractions, restaurants, two music fountains, an idle parachute tower, a yacht club, two shopping centres Park Boulevard and Deniz Mall, sports and concert complex Baku Crystal Hall. Baku's attractions like Little Venice and Ferris Wheel are still top-rated. Little Venice is one of the most Instagrammable places on Seaside Boulevard. A corner that remotely resembles the city of Venice, its delightful scenery gives Baku a unique beauty. Taking pictures against the background of gondolas and bridges, you will feel yourself in Italy. The park, laid out in the 60s of the XX century, was reconstructed in 2012, resulting in the purchase of new gondolas, new bridges and restaurants. The Ferris Wheel, or "damn wheel", opened in 2014 and 60 meters high, gives unforgettable emotions and allows you to see the city from a different perspective. Beautiful photos are obtained both from its stalls and on its background, both in the daytime and in the evening. Also, great photos on Primorsky Boulevard are obtained with sculptural compositions, such as "Shoeshiner", "Sailing Captain", "Bizim Cebish Muellim", reaching out for a handshake, and others. Instagrammable places of Baku in this park are literally at every step.
6. Heydar Mosque
When you travel to Baku, you cannot miss out on this mosque. The largest and the highest mosque in the Caucasus can accommodate up to 7000 people: the area of the Mosque and the surrounding area is 12000 square meters, the Mosque itself is only 4200 square meters, and the length of each of the four minarets is 95 meters. The facade of the building is lined with a unique stone in Shirvan-Absheron architectural style. Particular decoration elements were used inside the Mosque, and ayats from the Holy Koran were carved on the edges of the dome. This is one of the two mosques in the world (the other is located in Tbilisi, Georgia), where Sunnis and Shiites can pray at the same time. The evening panorama of the Mosque is especially spectacular due to the beautiful illumination of the building.
7. The Philharmonic Garden
One of the beautiful and most Instagrammable place in the world, where classical music sounds, giving pleasure to visitors, and plants under its sounds flower more gentle and more fragrant. A large number of trees, shrubs and flowers in combination with the capital's architecture of the XIX century give the garden a unique beauty of paradise. Another interesting element here is a white cloister with a fountain in the centre of the garden, which is complemented by white stairs, down which to the sounds of music you feel at the ball, and is another place where you can take beautiful pictures in Baku.
8. Central Botanical Garden
Fresh air, the noise of trees, tranquillity - where to find it all among a large number of skyscrapers and cars in the city centre? But there is such a place in Baku, which is a paradise among the bustle of the city. Botanical Garden, which has no analogues to the diversity of flora even in Europe, can confidently be called a "museum of wildlife", which plays a massive role in the conservation of unique plants. There are at least 2000 varieties of plants, 120 of which are endangered and included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. The most favourite place there is the "wild forest" with no asphalt, and everywhere there are cones, tree needles and leaves. Going deep inside, you can feel yourself in a real forest and forget that you are in the centre of the city. So if you don't have enough time to visit other areas of Azerbaijan, you can safely go to the Botanical Garden and take pictures in the bosom of nature.
9. Carpet Museum
Carpet weaving is considered to be one of the oldest art forms in Azerbaijan. Researches of archaeologists conducted in the territory of Azerbaijan are the proof of origin of carpet weaving art in Azerbaijan relatively long ago. Located in a building shaped like a rolled carpet and the first museum of its kind in the world, the Carpet Museum popularizes the country's cultural heritage by holding international exhibitions, conferences, symposiums and other events. Ceramics and bronze items of the Bronze epoch, tableware of XII century, national clothes of XIX century, jewellery, weapons and, of course, carpets made by Guba, Gabala, Shirvan, Gazakh, Tabriz, Ganja, Sheki and other masters in different compositions covering the centuries-old history of Azerbaijan, where Baku is located, are kept in the museum. On the ground floor of the museum, one can see how carpets are created by hand. Believe this spectacle, and it is impossible to remain indifferent. If you have not been photographed in the background of rugs, and in general, on the history of this process, consider that you have not been to Azerbaijan.
10. Park "I Love You” (Sevirem)
In 2016, another park was opened in Baku, namely a sports and entertainment park complex, which has become quite a popular place for recreation and entertainment not only among citizens but also guests of the city. The park has a white metal bridge separating the park into two parts. On one side there is a park with a playground, a small waterfall and a restaurant, while the other side contains sports activities designed for fans of healthy recreation. The details are chosen so skillfully that the park is filled with intrigue, expressed in artworks attracting the attention of even those indifferent to art. The park has 14 statues made of natural stones, which are distinguished by their unique design, whether it is a composition "Love" or a national flag in the form of candy, or stone sculptures - all this is the essence of the idea of the park: to love your city, nature, social attributes, traditions and, of course, to enjoy the people around us. Especially wonderful is the park's night panorama. In a word, the place where the Instagrammable places in Baku are accumulated.
11. Restaurant Telequlle
One of the most popular restaurants in Baku, which is located in Badamdar, is also its highest point. It is considered to be the 34th tallest TV Tower in the world, which is 310 meters high. The restaurant is located on the 27th floor of the TV Tower, 175 meters high. From there, you can get a magnificent view of the sights of Baku, at the sight of which it is impossible to remain indifferent. Also, the restaurant makes a 360-degree turn in 1 hour 20 minutes, so without changing its location, you can take a photo against the background of several beautiful views of the capital.
12. Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is the most Instagrammable place in the world. The museum, opened in 2009, exhibits canvases by Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, along with works by domestic artists of the 60s-70s, Sattar Bahlulzade, Beyukagi Mirzazade, Elmira Shakhtahtinskaya, Tair Salakhov, Omar Eldarov and Nadir Abdurakhmanov. The basis of the collection is formed by paintings and sculptures of Azerbaijani avant-gardists from the second half of the XX century to the present day, and there are about 800 exhibits. To discover Baku, you must obtain an Azerbaijan e-visa now and book your flight to Azerbaijan.
