The Persians called it bad kube, city of winds. Located on the shores of the Caspian Sea and on the legendary Silk Road, Baku has always been a major city whose importance reaches far beyond the region. Within sight of the snow-capped mountains of the Caucasus, this old trade town was a hub of business activity between East and West. And still today, Azerbaijan’s capital acts as a bridge for trade with Western Europe.
Walking through the winding alleys of the Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can imagine yourself among the palaces and bazaars, mosques and fortifications of the Arabian Nights. And with a little imagination these bygone days are just a breath away. Beyond the renovated historic centre, the city shows a different face. Here, a century ago, oil barons were already building magnificent villas to create a new, fairy-tale setting. Today, however, the skyline is dominated by futuristic skyscrapers. Completed in 2012, the group of three Flame Towers with their curved outlines is probably one of Baku’s best-known modern buildings.
Lufthansa flies six times a week (daily except Saturdays) from Frankfurt to Baku.
