How you can enjoy Baku in 48 hours

DUBAI, UAE - July 30, 2016 - PRLog -- It is a city that changes right before your very eyes;  has rich nuances of old and new, as you walk through the streets you can feel the vibrancy all around: from the modern architectural wonders that dominate the skyline to the quaint alleyways and historic monuments termed as UNESCO Heritage sites. Baku is a thriving city located on the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan, An easy 2 and a half hours from Dubai. The sunny city is known as one of the urban hot spots for nightlife, shopping, antiques and art with a healthy climate in the summer, world-class mud volcanoes, salt baths, museum of modern art and a spirit that embraces the true potential of tomorrow.

Take a leisure walk

As soon as you check into your hotel,  take a stroll on the Baku Boulevard, day or night. Baku Boulevard stretches along the shore of the Caspian Sea and gives you the chance to get a feel of the city and its people . During your walk, stop by the many teahouses along the Boulevard and grab a coffee as you interact with the locals. If you don't like coffee you're in for a treat as Azerbaijanis have a unique enthusiasm for tea and they take it in style. Therefore Tea is available everywhere and is often  served with a side of sweetened apricots or feijoa fruit.

Explore Azerbaijani Cuisine

After your walk, stop by one of the Azerbaijani restaurants .We recommend Sirvansah Muzey Restoran where you can chow down on classic Azerbaijani cuisine or check out Mangal- an Azerbaijani steakhouse where you can try all sorts of delicious Azeri meats. Chinar is one that serves sumptuous foods which includes Traditional dolma (grape leaves stuffed with minced meat, or tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplants stuffed with ground lamb) or any other meal of your choice.

Check out the nightlife

Azerbaijani people (Azeris) are very fond of music and there are always concerts happening in the city. You can visit the Buddha Bar Lounge and enjoy party music, the Baku Jazz Centre where you'll enjoy jazz, funk and blues,  the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic for classical music or the Mugam Club for the local Azerbaijani ethnic and folk music. (Mugam is a national traditional music genre, a mix of musical composition and performance.) While the Azerbaijanis singing talents have been heard far, one of their lesser known attributes is their skill in ballet. On Nizami Street you will find Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre,Remember to check it out for ballet or opera performance as can't be rivalled by any other theatre in the world.

Visit the old city

The next day on a sunny morning,  take pleasure in walking along the restored cobbled roads and side streets of the Baku old city. The Old City dates back to the sixth century. A place surrounded by fortress walls, with  mazes of narrow streets and ancient buildings. Here you can imagine travelling back in time; almost see and hear the people who lived and worked here and their devotion to their crafts and livelihoods. As you spend your whole day wandering along its alleyways, there are tea houses in old town where you can pop in and sample more of the wonderful Azerbaijani cuisine.

Within the old town lies the Shirvanshahs Palace known as the last residence of the rulers of the powerful Shirvan State. The Shirvanshahs Palace has thousand-year old history that will fascinate you. Later, visit the mysterious 12th-century Maiden Tower, the symbol of Baku that got its name because it used to be inaccessible, though today you can climb to the top and look out over the Caspian Sea.

At this point, your curiosity will have grown  and it would be perfect for you to visit The Azerbaijani State History Museum, a historic building, built in 1895 as a residence for a certain entrepreneur and philanthropist. At the State History Museum you'll be able to examine the nation's past and imagine its future; if you love art you'll enjoy the Museum's collection that ranges from ancient times to the present day. If the curiosity still persist, you can visit the Museum of Modern Art in Baku.

Take advantage of the wellness spas.

After your second day of exploring and discovering, you can steam away your travel weariness at the luxurious but affordable spas. You can also enjoy a traditional Azerbaijan Bath at Taze Bey Hammam. If Spa relaxation  isn't your style, you can escape to the seaside and enjoy the Caspian breeze at one of Azerbaijan's great beaches or take a boat from near the Boulevard out to sea for some splendid views of the city at sunset.

There are many more attractions in Baku, you can choose to take a half an hour away drive to the Gobustan National Park & Reserve. An ancient place with more than 6,000 rock engravings dating back between 5,000 and 40,000 years. or to the 700 mud volcanoes, or check out the Asian history of Azerbaijan at the Ateshgah "the fire temple" or Yanardag "the burning mountain" and even choose to visit the beautiful Gala Village. To finish all these though, you'll need another 48 hours.

Azerbaijan is a beautiful country and you will enjoy a lot in just 48 hours. The best  experience you'll ever feel is the warmth and kindness of Azerbaijani people and the value of travel as the customs, culture and spirit of the land of fire will be an experience like no other.

For more information visit http://www.ourazerbaijan.com/en/home