From Baku's Old City to mud volcanoes: discovering Azerbaijan's wonders

Baku, the country's capital, sits on the Caspian Sea. It's a city where historic streets and modern architecture sit together.

One of Baku's most popular spots is the Old City, known as Icherisheher. Here, Lilly meets Seyid Tagiyev from Icherisheher State Historical Architectural Reserve. Surrounded by medieval walls, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to narrow streets and important historical sites.

Among them are the Maiden Tower, one of Baku's best-known monuments, the medieval market square, now an open-air museum, and the Palace of Shirvanshahs, a former royal residence. Caravanserais, former inns that provided food and lodging for Silk Road travellers, are also a common sight in the Old City.

Food is an important part of Azerbaijani culture. One of the country's traditional dishes is Dolma, made with ingredients such as minced meat, herbs, and vine leaves. While staying at the Ritz-Carlton Baku, Lilly joins Chef Vusala Isazade to pick ingredients from the hotel garden and learn the art of Dolma making.

Beyond the capital, Azerbaijan has lots of natural beauty and historical places to visit. At Gobustan State Historical and Artistic Reserve, Lilly meets Nurana Hasanova to discover ancient rock carvings. Many carvings feature animals, hunters, and boats and offer an insight into how life was thousands of years ago.

Azerbaijan is often called the Land of Fire because of the natural gas that has bubbled and burned in parts of the region for centuries. Not far from Gobustan are Azerbaijan's mud volcanoes. To learn more, Lilly explores the moon-like landscape with Sevinj Hajiyeva from the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex.

In 2025, Azerbaijan welcomed 2.5 million international visitors from 198 different countries. With five UNESCO World Heritage sites, rich cultural heritage and unusual landscapes, the country has a lot to offer for visitors.