Category: TRAVEL

Sheki is a city in Azerbaijan that is steeped in history, culture, and architecture. This beautiful and unique city has so much to offer visitors, from its well-preserved landmarks to its bustling markets and lively cultural scene. In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to Sheki, offering insights on the best places to stay, eat, and explore, as well as tips on how to get there and when to visit. HISTORY OF SHEKI Sheki has a long and fascinating history that dates back to ancient times. The city was an important stop on the Silk Road. The historical roots of the city of Sheki, located in the northwest of the Republic of Azerbaijan, date back to the 6th century BC, during the period of Caucasian Albania. With the establishment of the independent Sheki Khanate in 1743, new historical opportunities were created for the development of the city, but in 1772, the city of Sheki, located in a flat area, was completely destroyed as a result of the flooding of the Kish River. After this event, the residents moved to the mountainous area and settled in the village of Nuxa, where the foundation of the present-day city was laid. BEST TIME TO VISIT SHEKI The best time to visit Sheki is during the spring and fall seasons, which offer mild weather and lower tourist crowds. The months of May and October are particularly good times to visit, as they offer comfortable temperatures and a range of cultural events and festivals. In the summer months, Sheki can be quite hot and crowded, while the winter season is often too cold and snowy for most visitors. LOCATION OF THE CITY Sheki is a city located in the northwestern region of Azerbaijan, nestled in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. It is situated approximately 325 kilometres west of Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, and about 60 kilometres east of the border with Georgia. The distance between Baku and Sheki is around 4-5 hours by car, and there are also several bus and train services available that take around 5-6 hours. For those travelling from Tbilisi, Georgia, Sheki is approximately 180 kilometres away, and the travel time is around 3-4 hours by car or 4-5 hours by bus or shared taxi.

Discover the best things to do in Baku with this 2-day travel guide. Explore Old Town, Highland Park, Heydar Aliyev Centre and many other places, whilst also getting my take on where to find some plant-based dining. The original reason for my trip to Baku, Azerbaijan was work. But whenever I travel, I try to carve out time to explore the city I’m in. Luckily, I managed to spend some free time wandering around Baku—and it turned out to be a fascinating mix of history, culture, and modern architecture. If you’re planning a short trip and want to know the best things to do in Baku in 2 days, here’s my guide covering logistics, attractions, food, and travel tips. Getting there Flights to Baku from the UK are straightforward. The most popular routes are via Istanbul with Turkish Airlines, or direct with Azal (Azerbaijan Airlines). I chose Azal’s direct London–Baku flight, which took around six hours. It was my first time flying with Azal, and overall was a positive experience. Flying direct on a mid-haul flight saved the hassle of catching a connection, and the vegan food choices on board were pretty decent. Upon landing / departing from Baku, you will find yourself in the Heydar Aliyev Airport (GYD). It’s nicely designed, clean and efficient, so no issues were encountered checking in bags, going through security or catching a taxi into town. The airport is about 30 mins from the city, but depending on traffic this can take a lot longer. Logistics Where to stay Generally speaking, there are a range of hotels to stay at in Baku depending on your budget and type of holiday. At one end, you have the Marriott, Hilton and Fairmont Hotels, all providing 5-star luxury. However, there are lots of other places to choose from. I was at the Holiday Inn, which was a walkable distance from most places in the city. Getting around Baku Currency and Mobiles Safety & Security Baku felt very safe – safer than London in fact. I had no issues, and was happy enough walking alone in the dark at night back to my hotel. Tourist scams/traps are very uncommon in the city, and there is a good police / CCTV presence. The locals that I spoke to were all very friendly, and happy to help you in their country. I could feel the pride they had for Baku and Azerbaijan in general, and wanted to make sure you had a good time there too. Language The main languages spoken are Azeri (very similar to Turkish) and Russian, although a lot of people will also speak English in Baku. In most places, you shouldn’t have a problem communicating with others. That being said, if you would like to learn a few basic phrases in the local language [with the phonetic spelling], here you go: Map The map below shows all the main spots I hit in Baku, as well as some additional places should you have more time. Old Town, Carpet Museum, Funicular, Highland Park On your first day in Baku, make your way to the western side of the city, where the old town and surrounding attractions await. Old Town Walking Tour GuruWalk offer a great walking tour of Icherisheher (translates to Old City). Run by Gani, a local guide, he will take you through the countries history, landmarks, old town streets and modern architecture. The walk was a great place to learn about the development of the country, with it’s Soviet era past, through to independence and how it looks to develop in the future. The walking tour is 2 hours and well paced, and Gani is also a great resource to ask for any further suggestions to your travel. If you’re tight on time in Baku, I’d recommend using this tour to get a good overview of the city. Fountains Square The above walking tour actually starts at Fountains Square, so it’s a good time to tick this off the list too. A fully pedestrianised area, Fountains Square is a great place to grab some lunch at the many restaurants during the day, or return at night where it comes to life with performances and entertainment. I used this spot for a lunch break after my walking tour before heading to the carpet museum. Carpet Museum I didn’t know carpets could be made into an entire museum, but seems like they can! This was a unique and interesting experience in Baku – where hand made Azeri carpets played a huge part in their exports in the past. The carpet museum displays the various styles and designs of Azerbaijani carpets, as well as detailing how they are made, materials required, and where in the country each style of carpet originates from. The highlight for me was seeing someone hand-making a carpet live in the museum – the amount of skill needed is unreal! Funicular to Highland Park From the Carpet Museum, take a short 5 minute walk across the road (using the underpass!) to the bottom of the funicular. Riding this will take you to Highland Park, offering great views of the city and also home to Martyrs’ Lane and the Shahidlar Monument. Alternatively, you can walk up the set of stairs that run parallel to the funicular, but there was no chance I was doing that in 36 degrees. Highland Park Baku Panoramic Viewpoint Upon exiting the funicular at the top, you will find yourself in Highland Park. Make your way to the panoramic viewpoint, where you can enjoy sweeping views of Baku and the Caspian Sea. Sunset is also a nice time to go there. This is probably the best view you’ll have of the entire city. Martyrs’ Lane On a more solemn note, behind the viewpoint is Martyrs’ Lane, which pays homage to those who lost their lives for Azerbaijan’s independence and freedom. You can walk along the memorial to the Shahidlar Monument, otherwise known as the Eternal Flame Memorial. Shahidlar Monument This is at