Azerbaijan bridges East and West, where the Silk Road’s caravanserais meet avant‑garde architecture. You’ll wander UNESCO-listed Icherisheher (the Old City), then step into the swooping Heydar Aliyev Center, a Zaha Hadid masterpiece. From petroglyphs etched 20,000 years ago to modern art museums, the country wears its history openly.

Food is a delicious thread here: fragrant plov, herb-packed qutab, walnut-stuffed lavangi, and tea served with jewel-colored jams. Coffee culture hums across Baku, while the Caspian promenade draws evening strollers. Nightlife concentrates around Fountain Square, with lively pubs, wine bars, and live music.

Practical notes: most visitors arrive in Baku and use trains or roads to reach the Caucasus foothills. English is increasingly common in the city; tap-to-pay taxis (Bolt), the clean Metro, and affordable intercity trains keep costs low. Always check current visa guidance; many travelers qualify for an e-visa.

Baku

Baku is a study in contrasts—12th-century walls facing flame-shaped skyscrapers, with the Caspian Sea glinting at your side. Start in Icherisheher to see the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, then ride the hillside funicular for views over the Bay and the illuminated Flame Towers.

Top sights for culture-lovers: the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum (a trove of regional motifs), the Heydar Aliyev Center’s design and rotating exhibitions, the Museum of Modern Art, and the tiny but endearing Miniature Book Museum. Save time for the seaside Bulvar and the “Baku Eye” Ferris wheel if weather cooperates.

• Coffee & tea stops: Baku Roasting Company (local roastery with pour-overs), Coffee Moffie (espresso-based drinks on Nizami St.), and Çay Bağı 145 (Old City tea garden; try tea with rose or quince jam).
• Great eats on a budget: Sehrli Təndir (fresh tandir bread and qutab), Dolma Restaurant (classic stuffed vine leaves and levengi), and Firuze (hearty Azerbaijani staples near Fountain Square). For an atmospheric splurge, book Şirvanshah Museum Restaurant—live mugham amid artifacts.
• Nightlife: Fountains Square pubs and wine bars buzz nightly; if you’d rather follow a local, join a curated crawl (see Viator options below).

Where to stay: Browse deals on Hotels.com (Baku) or apartments on VRBO (Baku). Specific picks: budget-friendly Sahil Hostel & Hotel, design-forward views at Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers, and refined comfort at Four Seasons Hotel Baku.

Getting in: Compare flight prices to Baku on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com; if flying within Europe, also try Omio. From the airport, use the Airport Express bus or a Bolt taxi to the center.

Curated Viator activities in/around Baku:

Baku Downtown Original Walking Tour — an engaging introduction to the city’s heart with stories behind key monuments.

Gobustan & Mud, Fire Temple, Burning Mountain (Group & Private) — the classic day trip: ancient rock art, mud volcanoes, Zoroastrian fire temple, and the eternal flames of Yanar Dağ.

Baku Wine Crawl for Small Groups — a relaxed evening of local varietals and snacks in friendly wine bars.

Gabala (Qabala)

Cradled by the Greater Caucasus, Gabala is where Azerbaijan slows down—mirror-still Nohur Lake, spruce forests, and the Tufandag cable cars heading into alpine air. It’s a gentle base for short hikes, waterfall visits, and long teahouse breaks with mountain views.

Highlights include the multi-stage Tufandag gondola network, Yeddi Gözəl (Seven Beauties) waterfall, and lakeside rowboats on Nohur. For culture, stop at the Gabala History and Ethnography Museum or the archaeological park tracing the ancient Caucasian Albanian city.

Where to stay: Search stays on Hotels.com (Gabala) or browse cabins on VRBO (Gabala). Expect mid-range hotels near Tufandag and simple guesthouses in town—both good for a budget of ~38/100.

How to get there from Baku: The Baku–Gabala intercity train takes about 3–3.5 hours and is comfortable and inexpensive (roughly $8–15). Check schedules and book via Trip.com (trains). Buses/minivans run ~3.5 hours from Baku International Bus Terminal (~$6–8), and a private transfer/car takes ~3 hours ($80–120 one-way).

• Good bites: Nohur Gol Restaurant (grilled trout, kebabs, lakeside tea), casual kebab houses along the main road into town, and hotel restaurants at Tufandag for post-gondola meals. Try tandir bread with local cheeses and herb salads.
• Cafés & tea: Lakeside çayxanas around Nohur for Turkish coffee and samovar tea; mountain cafés at gondola terminals for espresso with a view.

Day 1: Arrival in Baku, Old City and Seaside Stroll

Afternoon: Land in Baku and check into your hotel. Ease in with a gentle loop of Icherisheher: see the Maiden Tower exterior, peek into caravanserais, and warm up at Çay Bağı 145 with black tea and fruit jams. Grab a hot tandir bread and herb qutab at Sehrli Təndir for a late snack.

Evening: Walk the Seaside Boulevard as the sun sets over the Caspian. If you’re hungry, choose between Dolma Restaurant (homey classics, wallet-friendly) or Firuze (plov and kebabs in a cozy setting). Cap the night with a soft-serve stroll by the “Baku Eye” Ferris wheel or a nightcap espresso at Coffee Moffie on Nizami Street.

Day 2: Baku on Foot, Museums, and a Wine Crawl

Morning: Join the Baku Downtown Original Walking Tour to get your bearings and stories behind key landmarks.

Afternoon: Refuel at Baku Roasting Company (try an Azerbaijani honey cake with your flat white). Explore the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum—learn how patterns map to regions—then ride the funicular to Highland Park for sweeping bay views and photos of the Flame Towers.

Evening: Join the Baku Wine Crawl for Small Groups for an easygoing introduction to local varietals like Matrasa and Bayan Shira, paired with snacks.

Day 3: Full-Day Gobustan, Mud Volcanoes, and Eternal Flames

Set out on the classic day trip: Gobustan & Mud, Fire Temple, Burning Mountain (Group & Private). You’ll see petroglyphs up to 20,000 years old, hop by lunar-like mud volcano fields, then continue to the Ateshgah Fire Temple and the hillside flames of Yanar Dağ. Expect 7–8 hours with hotel pick-up and a stop for lunch (bring a scarf or windbreaker—Absheron can be breezy).

Back in town, unwind over a relaxed dinner—Şirvanshah Museum Restaurant (book ahead) for live mugham, or Sumakh for a contemporary spin on local dishes. Stroll Fountains Square for gelato before calling it a night.

Day 4: To the Mountains — Baku to Gabala, Lake and Cable Cars

Morning: Depart Baku for Gabala. The intercity train (~3–3.5 hours) is the most relaxed option; check schedules and prices on Trip.com (trains). Settle into your hotel or cabin—compare options on Hotels.com or VRBO.

Afternoon: Head to Nohur Lake for an easy rowboat session and tea at a lakeside çayxana. Order grilled trout or lamb kebabs at Nohur Gol Restaurant—simple, fresh, and scenic.

Evening: Ride the Tufandag cable cars for golden-hour views; pause at a mountaintop café for Turkish coffee or hot chocolate. Dinner near the base stations (hotel restaurants do hearty soups, kebabs, and salads), then a quiet night—stargazing is often excellent on clear evenings.

Day 5: Waterfall Walk, Museum Peek, and Departure

Morning: If you want a short nature fix, visit Yeddi Gözəl (Seven Beauties) waterfall for a low-effort forest walk; otherwise enjoy a long breakfast and a brief visit to the Gabala History and Ethnography Museum. Pick up local nuts, churchkhela, or jam at a roadside stall for the trip back.

Afternoon: Return to Baku by train or car in time for your flight. If you’re still shopping for tickets, compare on Trip.com (flights) or Kiwi.com (use Omio if flying within Europe).

Evening: If you have extra time before departure, squeeze in a last coffee at Baku Roasting Company or a final seaside stroll on the Bulvar.

Budget, timing, and local tips

• Budget (38/100): Stick to local eateries (Sehrli Təndir, Dolma, Firuze), use the Metro and Bolt taxis, and choose mid-range hotels or hostels in Baku plus a simple guesthouse in Gabala.
• City-to-city travel: Baku–Gabala train ~3–3.5 hours ($8–15); bus ~3.5 hours ($6–8); car ~3 hours ($80–120). Plan morning departures to maximize daylight.
• Coffee culture: Third-wave cafes in Baku serve excellent pour-overs; in Gabala, lean into tea culture and Turkish-style coffee with mountain views.
• Nightlife: Keep it relaxed with a wine crawl or pub stroll around Fountains Square; taxis home are inexpensive by app.

In five easygoing days you’ll trace history from the Old City to ancient Gobustan and swap the city’s museum halls for Gabala’s lakes and gondolas. Expect rich flavors, generous tea, crisp mountain air—and a pace that lets you breathe it all in.