Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Muslim population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh region (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its territory and must support some 600,000 internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous, and the government has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in recent years, the promise of widespread wealth from development of Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled.

Baku — The capital and largest, most cosmopolitan city of the Caucasus

The Palace of the Shirvan Shahs

10AM–5PM daily. The medieval palace of the Shirvan Shahs is the highlight of the Old City and a must see for any tourist in Baku. 2 AZN.

Maiden's Tower (Giz Qalasi)

10AM–7PM daily. This mysterious and eccentric tower was built somewhere between the 7th and 12th centuries and may have served as a fire beacon, defensive fortification, astronomical observatory, or Zoroastrian temple. .5 AZN.

Atashgah Fire Temple

You can take the Baku Electric train from the Baku train station to Suraxani station for 10 qapik. Simply walk through the station to the outdoor platforms where a schedule is posted. You can pay on board or buy a ticket from a kiosk on the platform. From Suraxani station walk about 100 meters and 'you can arrive at the temple Admission is as follows: children's .20 AZN, student's .40 AZN, adult's 2 AZN. If you want to take pictures it costs 2 AZN in addition to admission.

Yanar Dagh

Yanar Dagh is a mountain that has been continuously on fire for one thousand years. The natural gas vents ensure that hot flames roar out of the sides of this hill even when it rains. There is a small cafe next to the natural wonder that serves tea and snacks. It is best to take a cab as Yanar Dagh is remote and difficult to find. As of Mar 08 the small cafe was just a shell of a building and no longer there.

The Baku Boluvar

Boat tours of Baku

This service is offered from the Baku Boluvar and costs .6 AZN (7,50 Dollar)and lasts 40 minutes.

Museums and galleries

The Azeri National Costume Museum (Doll Museum)

Taghiyev History Museum, Tagiyev Street, 4

Latif Karimov Carpet and Applied Arts Museum

Home of Jafar Jabbarli, 44, S.Gutgashinli Street

Dendro Park

Oil Rocks

Tourist wanting to see the oil rock complex need to get previous authorization from the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan.

Magomayev Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall

2, Istiglaliyyat Street, Built in 1912 and inspired by the Monte Carlo Casino. Houses the Azerbaijan State Symphony Orchestra amongst others.

Ganja — Azerbaijan's second largest city has a long history and some important sites

Tomb of Nizami

This tomb lies just outside the city, commemorating one of the most influential Central-Asian poets. It was rebuilt in 1991.

Bottle House

The private house build from glass bottles.

Central Museum

Javad khan tomb

Javad khan was a Ganja khan, who died defending ganja from russians.

Shah Abbas Mosque

The Mosque was buidl in 15th century to mark liberation of Ganja from Osman Empire.

Medieval Bath

Medieval guesthouse, "Karvansaray"

The Diyarshunasliq Museum

Lankaran — Southern city near the Iranian border

Museums

There is a memorial house-museum for major-general Hazi Aslanov in the Lenkaran region that was constructed in 1969. There is also a monument constructed in the city center for General Aslanov in 1983.

There is a historical-local lore museum containing memorabilia of Mir Akhmed of Talysh Khan in his former apartment house built in 1913.

Old Prison and Lighthouse

There is a very famous and historical in Lankaran where Joseph Stalin was kept for a period of time. The then President of Azerbaijan helped Stalin escape through a secret underground tunnel to the famous Mayak Lighthouse (a central figure and source of pride within Lankaran) and then onto the Caspian Sea.

Tomb of Seyid Khalifa

The 19th century tomb of Seyid Khalifa is located in the village of Jil. Here exist tomb stones the height of which reaches 1m 40cm. The tomb stones are contrasted by engravings and a footprint. In the tomb can be seen the samples belonging to Islam and fire-worshipers. The tomb of Seyid Khalifa is guarded by state as a historical cultural monument.

House of Isa Khan

This was constructed in the early 20th century and the structure has notable architecture.

Public Baths (Hamamlar)

The Khaji Mirze and the Khaji Gurban baths (hamamlar) are located near the small bazaar. A European styled public bath is located in Lankaran.

Mosques

There are two major mosques within the city of Lankaran. One by the small bazaar and one by the large bazaar.

Located in the Sutamurdov settlement outside of Lankaran, there is an old mosque that was constructed in the 19th century by the name “Khajy Novruzali”.

Located in the Shikhakeren settlement there is a mosque constructed in the 19th century.

Located in the Jil settlement, there is a mosque constructed in 1906.

Churches

There are some Russian Orthodox churches scattered throughout the region of Lankaran.

Theater/Cinema

There is a Drama Theater in the city center. There are scheduled plays or other events that take place in the theater.

Azeri Toys (Weddings)

A must-see cultural experience is an Azeri wedding party held at one of a handful Shadlig Evi (Wedding Palaces). At the weddings, delicious food and drinks are abundant, national music and dancing are showcased, grand toasts are non-stop, and the video camera is always rolling. The weddings are invitiation-only, but ask any local person about upcoming 'toys' and you're bound to get an invite to one. Azeris are reknowned for their hospitality and you'll be welcomed with open arms.

Sheki — A beautiful city in the forested Caucasus Mountains with lots to see and do

Caravansarai

M.F. Akhundov Avenue 185. 9:00-23:00 daily. This building was constructed by the Sheki Khans to house caravans as they passed through on the Silk Road to and from China. This was one of 5 such stops in Azerbaijan during the 18th and 19th centuries, and was the biggest caravansarai on the Silk Road in the entire Transcaucasus region. To this day, it still serves as a place for travelers to stay and eat, and also as a place where one can simply admire its beautiful architecture. In addition to being a main sight, it's also one of the city's best hotel options.

Juma Mosque (Juma Məscid)

6:00-21:00 daily. This picturesque mosque has a 40m spire, from which you will hear the resounding call to prayer 5 times a day. It was built from 1745-1750 and is decorated with exquisite geometric designs. Donation.

Khansarai (Palace of the Sheki Khans)

10:00-18:00 daily. This palace, along with the Caravansarai, is one of Sheki's true must-sees. During the city's period of independence as the Sheki Khanate, Khan Hussein constructed the palace, its gardens, and fortifications to serve as the summer palace of the Sheki Khans. The palace is exquisite, inside and out, and the courtyard boasts panoramic views of the city and the surrounding mountain forests. You could make a good half day of this one site, as there are also various museums, parks, and a nice tea house right on the palace grounds. Admission: 80 qapick.

Silk Factory (İpək Kombinat)

9:00-17:00 daily. Sheki, in addition to being on the Silk Road, has itself been a major silk producer over the past four centuries, and is famous for its various silk products. Sheki's silk factory is about a 15 minute walk from the center of town. It is quite difficult to gain entrance into the factory. There is a store adjoining the factory where vendors sell some fine silk items at lower prices than what you would find at the bazaar.

Cultural and Resting Park of BU M.F. Achundov

This is a nice park to go to and sit after a hard morning of shopping. If you are hungry, you can have a picnic on the park grounds or stop in the nearby Kerpish Restaurant

M. Fuzuli Adina Pk

This central park is quite nice during the summer, and it has a couple tea houses where you can kick back and relax.

World War II Memorial

WWII memorials are a dime a dozen throughout Azerbaijan, but this particular memorial distinguishes itself with its impressive panoramic vista of the city.

Haydar Aliyev Museum

10:00-17:00 daily. A museum dedicated to the first president of independent Azerbaijan (and to the perpetuation of his personality cult), located across the street from the Sheki Olympic Complex. The museum is full of pictures, books, and statues dedicated to the man. Free.

The Rashidbey Efendihad House Museum

10:00-17:00 daily. This museum is dedicated to one of Sheki's most famous educators and authors, Rashidbey Efendihade. Free.

Sheki Government Painting Gallery

9:00-17:00. This art gallery is located near the Palace of the Sheki Khans and features paintings by various Sheki artists and students.It is open from 10:00-16:00 daily. 0.4 AZN.

Xachmaz — This is the largest tourist destination in Azerbaijan with great beaches and beautiful forests. Also spelled Khachmaz.

Albanian church

This church dates back to the III-IV centuries and the kingdom of Albania. There is a similar mosque in Qabala, which served as the capital of Albania for centuries.

Sarkartapa

The Bronze Age Sarkartapa monument outside Khachmaz (also called Sarkar gishlaghy "Sarkar winter camp") is an important and particularly fruitful archaeological site.

Bostanly Village

The early medieval Bostanly Village is one of the more interesting places for Khachmaz visitors. There is a hill 20-25 meters high called "Maidens’ Hill" and very close to this monument there is another interesting place called the "Seven sisters" tombs, covered with Arabic manuscripts. If you dive deep enough, you may be treated to some of the many legends about the seven sisters preserved in the local folklore. Numerous archaeological findings from Bostanly are displayed at the Regional Ethnography Museum.

Ancient city-fortress Khudat

Khudat (meaning Charisma) was the capital of the Quba Khanate in early eighteenth century. Following Fatali-Khan's move from Khudat to Quba in 1735, the city lost its importance and turned into ruins.

Mosque of Sheikh Yusif (XV)

This Mosque is one of the earliest monuments in the mausoleum style widely used throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries that has been preserved in the nearby village of Shikhlar. Sheikh Yusif, an outstanding scientist-philosopher of his day, was buried along with his wife and son and four of his followers in this mosque.

Regional Ethnography Museum (Museum of Local Lore)

This museum is located in the city center. The museum is very rich with archeological findings (over 4,000) representing all the different periods of Khachmaz's history. Of especial interest are the original scientific works of the well-known orientalist Abuabdullah Mahammad-bin Albukhari contained in the "Aljazaily sani" as well as the "Classification of Koran," authored by the well-known mathematician, philosopher from Chilaqyr Hajaly, Effendi.

Veteran's Museum

8,739 Khachmaz residents fought in WWII for the Red Army and some 2,800 of them perished. This museum also remembers 230 people who died in the ethnic conflict with Armenia during the early 1990s.

Heydar Aliyev’s Museum

This is the obligatory personality cult shrine to independent Azerbaijan's first ruler.

The Museum of Prominent Figures

This open sky museum is one of the most pleasant places in Khachmaz, located as it is in a nice park filled with fountains and numerous statues of prominent Azeris.

Carpet Museum

Carpet museum is also one of the wonderful places to have a look. Despite it’s recent founding, there are many ancient carpets in the museum along with carpet weaving tools like ( kargyla, khava,qyr, scissors etc) interesting carpet designs, dolls dressed in ancient national style, picture gallery and other interesting exhibits. Both of the Museums ( Fighting’s Glory Museum and Carpet Museum) are located in the Park of Culture and Rest.

Heydar Aliyev Park

A rather nice park with green trees, flowers, fountains, lights, cafes, and tea-houses. The Heydar Aliyev Museum, the Khazar Cinema-Club, and the Chess school are all located in this park.

Park of Culture and Rest

This park is full of statues of different animals, artificial ponds stocked with colorful fish, rivers, and fountains full of green frogs (both artificial and live). Some people call this place the Zoo Park due to its zoological theme. One of the favorite places of the local children is the "Café Cirtdan-Dwarf." The Veterans Museum, Carpet Museum, Post Office, and several cafes are located within the park.