Baku City Guide

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Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan. The city derived its name from the Old Persian names of the city 'Badkube', which means "city where the wind blows". The city, which has three parts - the Old Town, the boomtown and the Soviet-built town is referred in the history from 885 CE. During the 12th century, Shirvanshah Ahsitan I made Baku the new capital and in 1501 Shah Ismail I Safavi laid a siege to the city. In 1540, it was conquered by the Safavid troops. Later in 1723, after a long fight, Baku surrendered to the Russians. Again in 1795, Aga Muhammad khan Kajar invaded and destroyed it. In the following year, the Russian fleet entered the Baku bay placing a garrison of the Russian troops in the city. The city has now become the largest city of Azerbaijan.

Area & Location: Lies on the southern shore of the Apsheron Peninsula, Baku is located at 40º23′ Latitude North and 49º52′ Longitude East. The city, which has a rectangular layout covers a total area of 1000 sq. km. It has a population of 2,074,300 with a density of 1280 per sq. km. Around three million people live in its metropolitan area.

Tourist Attractions: As a capital city with historical importance, Baku invites thousands of tourists to it who are interested in knowing the city's history and growth.

Transportation: Heydar Aliyev International Airport provides access to the city from outside the country. Baku Metro is the facility that is used to travel inside the city. Shipping services help in the trade. Taxis and buses are the public transports used in the city.

Hotels: Baku, which is often visited by tourists offer several hotels that cater to the needs of the tourists visiting the city. Metropol the Hotel, Austin Hotel, Excelsior Hotel, Park Hyatt, The Lodge, Park Inn Azerbaijan and Serin Hotel are the famous star hotels in the city.

Places of Attraction: Fountain Square, Baku's Old Town, City Walls, Maiden's Tower, Martyrs' Lane, Nizami Museum of Literature, Oil-Boomtown and Palace of the Shirvanshahs are the must visit places in Baku. 26 Commissars Memorial, Philarmonic, Opera, Museum of Art, Puppet Theater, City Hall, Wedding Palace and Baku Bay add to the importance of the city.