What to See in Azerbaijan: Cities to Explore on Foot

Azerbaijan lies at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, where the Caucasus mountains meet the Caspian Sea. Its layered history, diverse landscapes and rich cultural traditions make it a compelling destination for travellers. Neywo offers free audio guides for 3 cities in Azerbaijan, with 177 narrated places across 7 walking tours. This Azerbaijan travel guide highlights the top sights and experiences across the country.

What to see in Azerbaijan

Geographic setting

The country stretches from the Greater Caucasus ridges down to the Caspian Sea, whose eastern shore forms Azerbaijan’s border. More than half of the land consists of mountain ridges, crests, plateaus and elevated ground, while other areas slope toward the sea, where the shoreline lies below sea level. Bazardüzü, the highest peak, reaches 4,466 metres. Azerbaijan also borders Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran, and through the Nakhchivan exclave touches Turkey. The climate is shaped by air masses arriving from the Arctic, Siberia and Central Asia, supporting a variety of mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles. The national animal is the Karabakh horse, a mountain‑steppe breed found only here.

Historical layers

Successive powers have ruled the territory. Caucasian Albania was the earliest known polity, later coming under Persian empires. A ruler of Caucasian Albania adopted Christianity while the land remained subordinate to Sasanian Iran. For centuries the area stayed within Iran’s sphere. After the death of Nader Shah, a patchwork of khanates emerged, each with varying autonomy but still linked to the Iranian shah. Russo‑Persian wars shifted the land north of the Aras River to Russian rule, establishing a new Russia‑Iran border. In 1918 the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic declared independence, becoming the world’s first secular democratic Muslim‑majority state. Soviet rule followed, and the modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed independence in 1991, shortly before the Soviet Union dissolved.

Cultural heritage

Azerbaijani culture blends local traditions with Western and global influences. The official language is Azerbaijani, a Turkic language spoken as a mother tongue by most of the population; Russian is also widely used. Musical roots go back nearly a thousand years, featuring rhythmically diverse melodies that make use of major and minor scale variations. Handicrafts such as metalwork, carving, carpet‑making, weaving, knitting and embroidery remain vibrant. Architecture often combines Eastern and Western elements, with strong Persian influence visible in Baku’s Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs inside the Walled City. The earliest known figure in Azerbaijani literature, Izzeddin Hasanoghlu, composed poetry in both Persian and Azerbaijani.

Baku

Baku hosts 137 narrated places on Neywo. Highlights include the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan, the Hacı Zeynal Abdin Tağıyevin ev muzeyi and the Azerbaijan Railway Museum. Baku

Ganja

Ganja offers 25 narrated places. Notable sites are the Alexander Nevsky Church, the Nizami Gəncəvi Muzeyi, the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius and the Ganja Fortress. Ganja

Sheki

Sheki provides 15 narrated places. Visitors can explore the Palace of Shaki Khans, the Lower Caravan‑Saray, the Ömər Əfəndi məscidi and the Round temple in Shaki. Sheki

Explore Azerbaijan with Neywo

Neywo provides free audio guides for Baku, Ganja and Sheki, covering 177 narrated places across 7 walking tours, with narration available in 11 languages. As you reach each site, the app plays its story, letting you move at your own pace without a group or a fixed schedule. Download Neywo to discover Azerbaijan’s history, nature and culture as you walk.