I’d like to write about my trip to Baku, which started on 2nd June. It was the most beautiful trip of my life. I can also say it was my first trip outside the UAE since I moved to Dubai almost three years ago. In this blog, I’ll talk about many things I enjoyed in Baku, the places I visited, the food I tried, what I liked most, and also what I didn’t like. I’ll also share how I felt about the cost of living there. I’ll try to cover everything.

Why I Chose Baku

I chose Baku because it was quite straightforward for me to travel there with a visa on arrival for UAE residents. So it would be fast and hassle-free. That was honestly the main reason, and I’m so glad it was.

The Journey There

Because of excitement, I wasn’t able to sleep the night before. My flight was at 5:05 am with FlyDubai. I just stayed awake. I went to the airport at midnight and went through the usual airport procedures. They checked my passport and Emirates ID, and then I was allowed into the waiting area. The gate opened an hour before the flight, and we went to the plane by FlyDubai bus. As far as I could tell, most of the passengers were from Saudi Arabia. Anyway, we boarded the plane and the flight crew welcomed us.

I really liked being on the flight. I was just observing everything around me. It was a direct flight from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan.

One thing I didn’t like though: the FlyDubai breakfast had no taste at all.

Day 1: Arrival & First Impressions, 2nd June

It was a long flight. I fell asleep a few times and felt cold because of the air conditioning. Anyway, we arrived at Baku Airport at 11:05 am. I got my on-arrival Azerbaijan visa. It was $40 with 30 days’ validity.

Then I looked for the exit. There were a few more checks by airport security, and after that there was a waiting area for guests and relatives. I needed to get a SIM card to call my friend, who was flying in from Turkey the same day. I came outside and, wow, the weather in Baku really impressed me. I’ve been living in Dubai for almost three years, and I only get this kind of weather in winter. In Baku, it was like Dubai in winter, not too cold, not too hot. I was still slightly cold from the plane’s AC, but it felt so refreshing.

I talked to my friends on the phone to pass the time. And here come the taxi drivers, they’ll always approach you and ask if you need a ride. I was aware that taxi drivers in Baku can be quite problematic if you’re not careful. Anyway, I booked one, made a stop at a florist’s shop to get some flowers, then came back to the airport. I had arrived at Terminal 1, but my friend was coming to Terminal 2, so I made my way over there.

I waited in the arrivals area. And when she finally came out, I was so happy. It was like a dream. It was more beautiful than a dream, honestly. We got a taxi together and headed to the hotel in Nariman Narimanov. It took about 25 to 30 minutes.

The roads were good and well-maintained. The buildings had an old-city feel that I really miss in Dubai. In the evening, we went shopping at a mall near Nariman Narimanov Metro station. The variety of clothes wasn’t as wide as Dubai, and prices were more than double. But anyway, we got what we needed.

Then we went upstairs to a restaurant and I tried İskəndər kebab for the first time in my life. I loved it. We had tea afterwards and then went back to the hotel, since it was already too late to go anywhere else.

🍽️ Food: İskəndər Kebab

Thinly sliced döner meat over flatbread, drenched in tomato sauce and hot butter, topped with yoghurt. I ordered it twice during the trip. Loved it both times.

Day 2: The Old City, 3rd June

Places visited: Icherisheher (Old Town / Inner City) · Palace of the Shirvanshahs · Qız Qalası (Maiden Tower) · Nizami Street

Woke up at 7:40 am, took a cold shower, called my friend, and we had breakfast at the hotel together. It was a traditional Azerbaijani breakfast. I usually skip breakfast, but this time I liked everything a lot.

After breakfast, we walked 20 to 25 minutes to Nariman Narimanov metro station and got our first Baku metro cards. It cost 2 manat, and then I recharged it. Unlike the Dubai metro card, this one can be used by multiple people, so one card was enough for both of us. We were headed to Icherisheher, also known as the Old Town or the Inner City.

The metro felt like I was in an 80s film. It’s fast, makes a lot of noise, and they play some interesting music on the platforms. I actually liked it. The station is also much deeper underground than the Dubai Metro, which surprised me.

We came up to the surface and started breathing in fresh air. It was so beautiful outside. I took out my tripod and started shooting. That’s how the real travelling began.

Palace of the Shirvanshahs

A 15th-century palace built by the Shirvanshahs. The architecture is something else, very different from anything I’d seen before.

Qız Qalası, Maiden Tower

A tower believed to date back to the 12th century, and one of the most iconic landmarks in Baku. Nobody is fully sure what it was originally built for, which makes it even more interesting to stand in front of.

Nizami Street

In the evening, we went to the well-known Nizami Street. One thing that really surprised me: it was still bright at 8 pm, like it was the afternoon. Back in Bangladesh, it gets dark between 5 and 7 pm depending on the season. And in Dubai, 8 pm is fully dark unless there are lights around. So this felt very different.

I really enjoyed the singers in the street. The music they played was so beautiful. That was the first time I’d ever seen anything like it. I’ve never seen it in Dubai. I think it just doesn’t exist there.

Nizami Street was busy and full of energy. My friend and I found a good restaurant and tried the local kebab. It was so good that I honestly couldn’t put it into words. Then we went back to the hotel.

Day 3: The Heydar Aliyev Centre, 4th June

Places visited: Heydar Aliyev Centre

Woke up before 8 am as usual, took a cold shower, called my friend, and we had breakfast together. Then we had a little chat about where to go and decided on the Heydar Aliyev Centre.

We left the hotel, walked over 20 minutes to Nariman Narimanov station, took the metro to Icherisheher, and then walked another 15 minutes or so to the Centre. The roads were great and the weather was perfect, everything felt bright at the same time.

We got tickets for 15 manat each and started exploring. It reminded me of the Museum of the Future in Dubai, with a few things in common, but the Heydar Aliyev Centre has a much broader collection of older artefacts. And the statues were extraordinary.

In the afternoon, we headed back to the hotel. We ordered food through Bolt Food, which is well-known in Baku for both taxis and food delivery. We ordered shrimp ramen because my friend had never had shrimp in her life. It was a great day.

🍽️ Food: Shrimp Ramen (via Bolt Food)

My friend’s first time trying shrimp. A fun little moment.

Day 4: The Port, a Museum & a Very Old Restaurant, 5th June

Places visited: Icherisheher (revisited) · Baku Eye (Baku Ferris Wheel) · Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature

Woke up and had a cold shower as usual, then had breakfast. Today we wanted to explore more of Icherisheher. I found some really peaceful spots for photos, though I don’t know the names of all the places.

I’ve always missed nature in Dubai. And in Baku, I felt so much happier because of it, probably more than my friend did, honestly.

After that, we wanted to explore near the port, so we headed towards the Baku Ferris Wheel, also called the Baku Eye. We had sweets and tea together at a nice cafe along the way.

Then we visited the Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature. It was full of art and I really liked it.

The 200-Year-Old Restaurant

While walking through the streets, which had so many beautifully decorated shops, we found an amazing restaurant that has been running for more than 200 years. We ordered Shah Plov, which is something I’d never tried before. We took some really good photos there too.

🍽️ Food: Shah Plov

Saffron rice cooked inside a crisp pastry crust, filled with dried fruits and chestnuts. A proper traditional dish, and the presentation alone was worth a photo.

Day 5: Mini Venice, Mountains & the Alley of Martyrs, 6th June

Places visited: Little Venice · Highland Park · Şəhidlər Xiyabanı (Alley of Martyrs)

Another day, another blessing. Today we wanted to see Mini Venice, so we headed to Icherisheher metro station again and started walking, not knowing it was going to be a very long day.

We reached Little Venice. There were some parks nearby too, really great places to take a break from this busy world. After that, we wanted to see the mountains. We started walking towards them. I had no idea how tall it was going to be. It was tiring, but we made it up, and when we got there, we found something we didn’t even know was there.

Şəhidlər Xiyabanı, Alley of Martyrs

This is a cemetery and memorial dedicated to those killed by the Soviet Army during Black January in 1990, as well as those who died in the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. The atmosphere is very solemn and moving. Eternal flames burn at many of the graves.

The view from the top was really amazing. You could literally see most of Baku from up there.

It was late by the time we finished, so we headed back.

Day 6: An Unplanned Day, 7th June

Places visited: Sahil area · Taza Pir Mosque

This day was unplanned, we just explored without knowing where we were heading. We went to Sahil metro station and started walking. There aren’t many mosques in Baku, but we managed to find a few. We went to Taza Pir Mosque, and it was so beautiful. The architecture felt very unique to me. And the garden next to the mosque, it seemed like paradise. We spent a very long time there just because of how peaceful and beautiful it was.

After that, we were looking for somewhere to have dinner. We found a really good Turkish restaurant, and I tried İskəndər again. This time it seemed even better, or maybe I was just very hungry. Either way, it was great. Then we headed back to the hotel.

Day 7: Last Full Day in Baku, 8th June

Places visited: Old City (final visit) · Workshop Ali Shamsi · Rooftop Lounge

Today was our last day travelling together, so I was a bit emotional. We had breakfast and I tried to take a nap, but I couldn’t sleep. It’s our last day, we should make the most of it.

We went to the Old City one more time and took more photos: Workshop Ali Shamsi, statues, the streets we’d come to know so well. For coffee, we went to a rooftop lounge with a great view of the city. We had tea and chocolate cake together.

After that, we explored the city for a few more hours and came back to the hotel earlier than usual.

Day 8: Departure, 9th June

Had to wake up early. My friend’s flight was at 9 am and mine was at noon. We ordered a Bolt taxi. Neither of us had breakfast. And yeah, that was our farewell. I don’t really want to write about the emotions of it.

Overall Experience

✅ What I Liked

I loved the people around us. They seemed nice and helpful. I was really glad to meet the people I crossed paths with during this trip.

❌ What I Didn’t Like

The cost of living was honestly higher than I expected, and higher than Dubai in many ways. Food is expensive, tickets for attractions are expensive. Budget more than you think you’ll need.

And the traffic: vehicles simply don’t follow the rules. I saw cars running red lights many times. It made crossing roads feel like an adventure of its own.

Personal Reflections

As I said, this trip will always remain the best memory of my life. My golden days. And inshallah, I’d love to go back someday. I don’t even need maps anymore, I’ve memorised the roads from all that walking.

“This trip will always remain the best memory of my life. My golden days.”

Conclusion

If you’re a UAE resident looking for an easy, hassle-free trip to somewhere genuinely beautiful and different, Baku should be at the top of your list. The visa on arrival makes it very accessible, the city has so much to offer, and the food alone is worth the journey.

Just be prepared for the prices, watch out when crossing the road, and leave some days unplanned. Some of the best moments of this trip happened when we had no idea where we were going.

Until next time, Baku. 🇦🇿