Baku, once a medieval stop on the Silk Road, has remade itself into a modern, petro-economy capital that now markets a mix of contemporary architecture, restored historical sites and accessible local cuisine, according to a travel dispatch published in September 2025.
The report singles out six experiences that capture the city’s contrasts: staying in a high-rise downtown hotel, viewing the swooping lines of the Heydar Aliyev Center, touring the Carpet Museum and other cultural sites, sampling Azerbaijani street and restaurant food, engaging a registered local guide, and eating at some of the city’s oldest dining rooms.
One accommodation highlighted is the 33-storey Ritz-Carlton in downtown Baku, a property that previously operated under the Trump International brand. The hotel offers city views and a terrace called Tribeca that overlooks Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center. The writer noted the hotel runs a small “green team” initiative that recycles used soap and other items.
The Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by the late British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, is presented as a must-see for visitors. The report quotes Hadid’s insistence that the building’s lines not be interrupted by trees, an architectural decision that preserves the center’s uninterrupted façade from the hotel terrace.
Local cuisine is presented as widely available and affordable. The writer described Azerbaijani food as leaning Persian in style but featuring a greater use of nuts, fruits, herbs, spices and cheeses. Street- and market-level items are inexpensive: a qutab, a small pancake filled with herbs, cheese or meat, was priced at roughly £1 to £1.50, while saj chicken — a grilled dish of chicken with vegetables served with flatbread — was listed at about £11.
Among older establishments, Shirvanshah was singled out. Housed in the vaults of a 19th-century building, the restaurant also functions as a museum of sorts, offering a dining experience tied to the city’s historical fabric.
The writer recommended hiring a registered guide, noting the practical benefits of local knowledge and language skills. The account mentioned a guide who spoke six languages and urged visitors not to miss the Carpet Museum, a repository of the nation’s weaving traditions and a frequent stop on cultural tours.
Baku’s transformation was traced back to the early 1990s. Since the Soviet Union’s collapse, the city has developed rapidly, drawing investment that has helped reshape its skyline and public spaces. That economic shift has informed both the hospitality sector’s expansion and the preservation and presentation of historical sites.
Practical notes in the dispatch pointed to favorable exchange rates for British travelers in 2025, and suggested that many of the city’s culinary, cultural and architectural attractions can be experienced without high expenditure. The coverage framed Baku as a destination for visitors seeking a mix of contemporary design, accessible food culture and layers of regional history.
Travel information and prices quoted in the report reflect conditions at the time of publication in September 2025. Visitors are advised to check current exchange rates, opening hours and any travel advisories before planning a trip.