discover azerbaijan

Situated at the crossroads of historical trade routes between Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan is a multicultural and multiethnic country that surprises with its diversity all year round. It's a land of sun and wind, mountains and sea, medieval fortresses and modern skyscrapers, aromatic spices and juicy fruits, Caucasian temperament and warm hospitality. You can come here for a short trip or an extended vacation.

Azerbaijan is a vibrant tapestry where Eastern traditions and ancient arts and crafts intertwine with European sophistication and Western advancements. The Great Silk Road once passed through this land, and today, ancient towers and palaces stand alongside ultra-modern architecture, caravanserais neighbour trendy restaurants, and ancient narrow streets give way to wide avenues. The art of carpet weaving in these territories dates back to the Bronze Age, as shown by numerous archaeological excavations. Other ancient art forms include the Gobustan rock drawings, some of which are at least 25,000 years old. Azerbaijan is also famous for its centuries-long musical traditions - in 2003, the national vocal and instrumental art of mugham was inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Azerbaijan represents nine climatic zones of the world, making it a unique destination for travel and recreation. Here, you can experience the hot desert atmosphere, enjoy the cool subtropical forests, hike the Caucasus mountain peaks, and relax on the picturesque beaches of the Caspian coast. The country's natural resources are rich in oil, including the therapeutic naftalan oil, used for medical purposes since the late 19th century, and whose healing properties were written about by Marco Polo in the 13th century.

Thanks to an economic boom and infrastructure development, Azerbaijan is an increasingly popular venue for a range of world-class events, including political, business, and entertainment. Baku has hosted the First European Games (2015), Islamic Solidarity Games (2017), and since 2017, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix - a stage of the renowned Formula 1 race. The city's Olympic Stadium hosted the EURO 2020 World Cup football matches, and the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest was held at the newly built Crystal Hall arena.

Azerbaijan boasts one of the fastest-growing economies in the former Soviet Union, with a 4.6% increase in GDP in 2022 compared to 2021, not solely reliant on the oil and gas industry. Over the past two decades, the country's GDP has more than tripled. Its advantageous geographical location and favorable investment climate make it attractive for financial investments. Azerbaijan is actively investing in the creation and improvement of business tourism infrastructure, including hotel and transport network construction, and two international airports have recently been built.

The rich and diverse Azerbaijani cuisine is yet another reason to visit the country. Each region - Sheki, Ganja, Nakhchivan, Lankaran - has its own local specialties, with dozens of versions of pilaf, including chyhyrtma-plov, shirin-plov, and shah-plov, dovga (a yogurt-based soup with herbs), levengi (chicken or fish stuffed with ground walnuts), gutabs, kebabs, kufta (mutton cutlets), dushbara (soup with tiny dumplings), and much more. Desserts include sweets like pakhlava, bamiya, mutaki, shekerbura, and tea served with kyzyl (dogwood) jam. Wine connoisseurs can embark on a wine tour to taste local grape varieties like Medrese, Bayanshira, and Shirvanshahi.

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