There’s a select group of transcontinental countries that typify the ever-familiar East-meets-West maxim, but Azerbaijan is no such place. Baku marches to the beat of its own drum — and at quite a pace, considering the rapid development of luxury real estate in the largest city on the Caspian Sea.
After the Soviets receded just a few short decades ago, the city was restructured on an unprecedented scale, as thousands of buildings were levelled to make way for green belts, parks and gardens. That sense of grand ambition has seemingly returned in recent years with the addition of new luxury properties and with thanks to a few handfuls of petrodollars.
Some of the best-known international hospitality brands have set up shop on the Azerbaijani capital, including Jumeirah, JW Marriott, Fairmont, Four Seasons, Kempinski, Hyatt, Hilton, Sheraton, Ramada and Rixos. If that’s not enough for luxury lovers, Baku will welcome the ultra-luxury Trump International Hotel & Tower when it opens this summer.
The Eurasian destination has been heating up for Middle East travellers who are increasingly embracing the new freedom of visa-on-arrival, now available for most passports. There are also new routes springing up through Azerbaijan Airlines, Fly Dubai and Qatar Airways. Etihad will be the next carrier to join the pack from this summer, connecting the UAE capital to a new cultural city break that’s just two-and-a-half hours away.
Baku blends a diverse heritage, which is unsurprising considering centuries of houseguests that number the Russians, Turks and Persians. All that and more is documented in both the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan and the Zaha Hadid designed Heydar Aliyev Center, which includes its own museum alongside a gallery space and concert hall.
In addition, the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is a surprising attraction, resembling a giant half rolled-up carpet on its side. There’s also the 12th-century Maiden Tower located in the Old City, which has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.
Azerbaijan is not without pursuits for adventurers. Visitors can trek from Baku to Balakan, Batabat and back again to discover even more ancient monuments, natural attractions, wildlife and ecological sites. The Greater and Lesser Caucasus, and the Talish Mountains span more than half of the country, providing travellers with varied landscapes to match the high-end hotels.
Perhaps the best rural destination is Gabala, said to be the Switzerland of Azerbaijan, which holds the remnants of a 1,800-year-old ancient town. But you’ll know when you’re back in Baku, thanks to the spectacle of the multi-use skyscraper trio, Flame Towers, which twinkles each night thanks to 10,000 high-powered LEDs.