Azerbaijan sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, where caravanserais meet cutting-edge design. You’ll feel that contrast immediately in Baku: medieval walls ring an Old City filled with caravan inns and spice-scented courtyards, while just uphill the iconic Flame Towers light the night sky. A quick drive from the capital takes you to prehistoric rock art at Gobustan and otherworldly mud volcanoes bubbling from the earth.

Head north and the landscape turns alpine. Shahdag Mountain Resort in the Greater Caucasus offers year-round family fun—skiing and snow play in winter; cable cars, ziplines, and alpine coasters the rest of the year. Along the way, striped hills called the “Candy Cane Mountains” and the legendary Besh Barmag outcrop add a sense of adventure to the road trip.

Expect hearty cuisine—plov, qutab, kebabs, and saffron-laced sweets—plus tea culture served in pear-shaped armudu glasses. U.S. dollars aren’t widely accepted, so plan to use Azerbaijani manat (AZN). Ride-hailing is common in Baku, and families will find sidewalks, parks, and museums very walkable and welcoming.

Baku

Baku, the “City of Winds,” pairs a UNESCO-listed core, Icherisheher, with a modern waterfront along the Caspian Sea. Kids love the seaside promenade’s parks and ferris wheel, while adults enjoy the museums, design-forward architecture, and atmospheric teahouses inside the old walls.

• Top sights: Maiden Tower, Shirvanshah’s Palace, Heydar Aliyev Center, Carpet Museum, Highland Park funicular, Little Venice canals, Baku Ferris Wheel.
• Great for shopping: Nizami Street fashion boutiques, Park Bulvar and Deniz Mall, and Taza Bazaar for local nuts, saffron, dried fruits, and pomegranate products.
• Family eats: Dolma Restaurant (classic Azerbaijani plates), Sehrli Təndir (fresh tandir bread and qutab), Nergiz and Firuze (old-town staples), Passage 145 (easygoing café with a kids’ menu).

Where to stay (Baku): For hotels, browse Hotels.com Baku or apartment-style stays on VRBO Baku. Specific picks: Fairmont Baku, Flame Towers (big rooms, indoor pool, spectacular views), Four Seasons Hotel Baku (Old City location and stellar service), and for budget-minded travelers, Sahil Hostel & Hotel (central and family-friendly private rooms).

Getting to Baku: Search family-friendly flight times and fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Heydar Aliyev International Airport is ~25–35 minutes to downtown by car.

Day 1: Arrival in Baku, Old City stroll, and sunset views

Afternoon: Arrive and settle in. Take a gentle walk through Icherisheher (Old City): climb the Maiden Tower for Caspian views and peek into courtyard workshops selling copperware and miniature paintings. For a snack, try qutab (paper-thin stuffed flatbreads) at Sehrli Təndir inside the walls.

Evening: Ride the funicular up to Highland Park for the classic sunset panorama of the Flame Towers and the Caspian. Stroll the Baku Boulevard past Little Venice and the Baku Ferris Wheel (fun for kids; clear evenings are best). Dinner near Fountain Square: Dolma Restaurant (great mixed dolma platter) or Firuze (tender lamb saj and vegetarian soups). Finish with pakhlava and tea at Passage 145.

Day 2: Gobustan rock art, mud volcanoes, and Absheron peninsula (Full-day tour)

Make this a guided day so the family can relax between widely spaced sights. Consider booking the following:

BEST Gobustan, Volcanoes & Absheron Fire Tour (Group or Private)

You’ll see UNESCO-listed Gobustan petroglyphs (prehistoric carvings, easy boardwalks for kids), bounce across a lunar landscape to mud volcanoes, and continue to Absheron highlights such as the Ateshgah Fire Temple and Yanar Dag (the “burning mountain”). Pack hats and water—exposed terrain gets sunny. For dinner back in town, try Nergiz near Fountain Square (excellent pilaf variations) or Sumakh (modern take on regional dishes, children’s portions available).

Day 3: Highlights of Baku, museums, and shopping

Morning: Join a compact city overview to fit a family schedule:

Half-Day Baku City Sightseeing Tour

It typically covers Icherisheher highlights, the Carpet Museum (kids can spot animal patterns in the designs), and Highland Park. Grab breakfast beforehand at Araz Café (local omelets and pastries) or Passage 145 (pancakes and fresh juices).

Afternoon: Explore the swooping Heydar Aliyev Center—architecture fans and kids both love its wave-like halls. Then shop along Nizami Street: look for local scarves, ceramics, and chocolate, and pop into Park Bulvar for air-conditioned food court options. For edible souvenirs, visit Taza Bazaar for nuts, churchkhela, and saffron—ask vendors for vacuum-packing for travel.

Evening: If your crew is adventurous with food, this guided tasting is a fun, family-friendly way to learn about snacks and sweets:

Baku Street Food Tour

Prefer a sit-down meal? Try Sehrli Təndir for casual qutab and soups or Sumakh for a celebratory last night in the city before heading north.

Shahdag (Gusar Region)

Welcome to the high Caucasus. Shahdag Mountain Resort sits about 3–3.5 hours north of Baku, with cool summers and snowy winters. It’s built for families: gentle ski slopes and sledding in winter; cable cars, tubing, alpine coaster, archery, horse rides, and playgrounds when it’s warm.

• Don’t miss: Scenic gondola to upper stations, photo stops at the Candy Cane Mountains (near Khizi) en route, and the dramatic Besh Barmag rock outcrop off the highway.
• Family eats: At the resort, Zirve Restaurant for Azerbaijani classics, cozy café spots for hot chocolate and soups, and kid-pleasing grilled chicken and rice nearly everywhere.
• Pro tip: Weather shifts quickly. Pack layers, sunscreen, and a light rain shell year-round; winter visitors should prebook rentals and ski school.

Where to stay (Shahdag/Gusar): Look at resort-area hotels and apartments on Hotels.com Shahdag or nearby Gusar on Hotels.com Gusar and VRBO Gusar. Popular options include the on-mountain resorts (for doorstep activities) and family apartments in Gusar (better value).

Getting from Baku to Shahdag: Depart Baku after breakfast. By car it’s ~210 km/3–3.5 hours via the Guba–Gusar highway. Private transfer one-way typically runs about 80–120 USD per vehicle. Budget option: intercity bus from Baku’s International Bus Station to Quba (~3.5 hours), then a taxi to Shahdag (about 40–50 AZN). If you’d rather turn the transfer into a guided day out, consider:

Shahdag Sightseeing and Candy Cane mountain Tour (Lunch Included)

Day 4: Road trip to the mountains and Shahdag resort fun

Morning: Depart Baku for Shahdag. Stop near Khizi to see the Candy Cane Mountains—striped, mineral-rich hills that look like a layered cake. Make a brief photo stop at Besh Barmag (“Five Finger Mountain”), tied to local legends. Snack tip: pick up hot tandir bread and cheese at a roadside çay evi (tea house).

Afternoon: Check into your Shahdag hotel. Ride the cable car for sweeping views and try family-friendly activities: tubing and the alpine coaster are big hits with kids. In warm months, look for archery or easy guided hikes; in winter, book ski school and rentals in advance. Expect activity tickets from roughly 20–35 AZN per person per ride, with bundle passes available.

Evening: Dinner at Zirve Restaurant for kebabs, creamy dovğa soup, and rice pilaf. After, take a stroll under the mountain stars; many hotels have lounges with fireplaces and board games—perfect for winding down with the kids.

Day 5: Last views and return to Baku for departure

Morning: Squeeze in a final cable car ride or beginner ski runs. Non-skiers can enjoy a gentle horse ride or playgrounds near the base area. Brunch on hearty khashil (warm wheat porridge) or pancakes with honey to fuel the drive.

Afternoon: Depart Shahdag for Baku and head to the airport. For flight options, check Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you have extra time before your flight, the Baku Boulevard’s playgrounds and cafés make an easy last stop.

Optional add-ons from Baku (if you extend)

• Old and Modern Baku City Private Tour
  

  

  A flexible, family-paced look at Icherisheher and the city’s futuristic skyline.

Family budget tips (targeting your 50/100 budget):

• Mix hotel nights with one night in a vacation rental to keep costs steady.
• Eat one “sit-down” meal per day and otherwise graze on street-side qutab, bakery borek, and fruit from Taza Bazaar.
• Use ride-hailing within Baku and consider a private driver only for the Baku–Shahdag leg to save time with kids.

Booking quick links:

• Stay in Baku: Hotels.com Baku | VRBO Baku
• Stay in the mountains: Hotels.com Shahdag | Hotels.com Gusar | VRBO Gusar
• Flights to/from Azerbaijan: Trip.com | Kiwi.com

In five days you’ll have traced Azerbaijan’s story from ancient petroglyphs to a sparkling capital—and capped it with mountain memories at Shahdag. With easy sightseeing, flexible dining, and kid-approved activities, this plan keeps a family of four happy, curious, and well-fed from the Caspian Sea to the Caucasus.