Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region that covers over 2,140 square kilometres. It is located 28 metres below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world and also the largest city in the world located below sea level. Baku is divided into twelve administrative regions and 48 townships. It is renowned for its harsh winds, which is reflected in its nickname, the "City of Winds".

Among these are the townships on the islands of the Baku Archipelago, and the town of Oil Rocks built on stilts in the Caspian Sea, 60 kilometres (37 miles) away from Baku. The Inner City of Baku, along with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. According to the Lonely Planet's ranking, Baku is also among the world's top ten destinations for urban nightlife.

The city is the scientific, cultural, and industrial center of Azerbaijan. In recent years, Baku has become an important venue for international events. It hosted the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the 2015 European Games, 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, F1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2016, and will host the final of the 2018-19 UEFA Europa League and, will be one of the host cities for UEFA Euro 2020.

Airports in Baku

1. Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport

Heydar Aliyev International Airport is one of the six international airports serving Azerbaijan. It was called Bina International Airport by the name of a suburb in Baku. The airport was renamed for the former president Heydar Aliyev, the third President of Azerbaijan on 10 March 2004. The airport is located 20 kilometers northeast of Baku connected to the city by a modern highway, which was put into operation in 2008. The unique feature of this airport is Duty-Free Shops not only in the departures but also in the arrivals area. The airport also serves as the home base for national carrier Azerbaijan Airlines and Buta Airways.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Baku?

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When is the Best Time to Fly to Baku?

The best time to fly to Baku is warm summer months from June to September which is suitable for outdoor activities and great for food hunting. Baku is generally a dry city while the months from October to December being the wettest months of the year.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Baku?

1. Maiden Tower - The Maiden Tower is a museum presents the story of the historical evolution of the Baku city. It is a legendary place and world-famous landmark in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan rooted in the History of Azerbaijan and national Culture of Azerbaijan. Afrasiyab Badalbeyli creates it in 1940 and ballet's remake was performed in 1999. The view from the roof takes in the alleys and minarets of the Old City, the Baku Boulevard, the De Gaulle house and a wide vista of the Baku Bay.

2. Heydar Aliyev Centre - It is a building complex in Baku, Azerbaijan designed by Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid and well-known for its distinctive architecture and folding walls are symbolic of its relationship with the physical and cultural landscape of the city. The centre is named after Heydar Aliyev, the first secretary of Soviet Azerbaijan from 1969 to 1982, and president of Azerbaijan Republic from October 1993 to October 2003. The centre was completed in 2012 and claimed to be one of the most expensive buildings in Europe per square foot. The centre comprised of a museum, gallery hall, and auditorium.

3. Palace of Shirvanshah - The palace was the former residence of the rulers of the Shirvanshahs. It is a complex featuring a courtyard of the Diwankhana, the courthouse, the Shirvanshahs' burial vault, the palace mosque of 1441 with its minaret, the bathhouse and the mausoleum of the court scholar, Sayid Yahya Bakuvi. The palace complex was built in the period from the XIII to the XVI century. Due to the absence of inscription, the time of its construction is determined by the dates on the inscriptions on various architectural monuments, which relate to the palace complex. In 1964, the palace complex was declared a museum-preserve. In 2000, a unique architectural and cultural ensemble, along with the fortified walls enclosed by the historic part of the city and the Maiden Tower, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.