Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and the biggest city of the country. The city has many important historical and cultural places to visit. Between the 1960s and mid-80s, the city attracted extensive tourism, especially from the former Soviet Republics and Eastern European countries. Since independance tourism has waned.

The oldest section of Baku is surrounded by fortress walls dating back to the ninth century. Inside, you'll find narrow, winding picturesque streets which were intentionally designed to counter the strong winds that blew off the Caspian Sea. As yet, the area is not very commercially oriented-a transformation that is likely to occur once the economy begins to boom. Be sure to visit the Palace of Shirvanshah (13-14th century) and the Caravanserais (the equivalent of hotels in centuries past when camel caravans gathered along ancient trade routes). The two caravanserais of the Old Inner City have been converted into fine restaurants.

Agdam
Agstafa
Aqsu
Astara
Baku
Ganca
Krasnaya Sloboda
Quba
Sumgait