Azerbaijan is rich in history and cultural landmarks, highlighted by its UNESCO World Heritage sites. Renting a car in Azerbaijan allows you to explore these remarkable sites at your own pace. Embarking on a journey lets you explore the ancient walls of Baku’s Old City and discover historic palaces, mosques, and medieval architecture. Get ready to embark on a road trip that connects culture and nature.
Planning is crucial for a smooth road trip. Before you hit the road, ensure you have the right documents and information. Here’s what you need to know before you explore Azerbaijan by car:
Azerbaijan has five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and a well-planned road trip can visit them all. Here’s how to explore these sites from the starting point to the end:
Begin in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital. Here, ancient history sits alongside modern skyscrapers. The Walled City of Baku (Icherisheher) is a fortified old town and the country’s first UNESCO site (inscribed in 2000).
Enclosed by 12th-century ramparts, this Old City is a labyrinth of stone alleys that witnessed Persian, Ottoman, and Russian influences over the centuries. Parking can be tricky here. So, it’s best to park just outside the Old City walls or at your hotel, then explore on foot.
Key Attractions in Baku
Inside Icherisheher, two highlights stand out. The Maiden Tower rises above the old city’s skyline, a mysterious 12th-century tower shrouded in legend. Nearby, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs showcases 15th-century royal architecture, with intricately carved stonework and a tranquil courtyard. Both sites have informational panels. However, hiring a local guide at the entrance can enrich your visit with stories of Baku’s past.
Practical Tips
Plan to visit in the morning or late afternoon to avoid mid-day crowds and summer heat. The Old City is compact. You can wander its entire area in a few hours, including mosques, caravanserais, and small museums. There are several cafes and souvenir shops in the alleys. Don’t miss trying Azerbaijani tea with jam at a traditional teahouse.
For drivers, note that some streets inside the walls are pedestrian-only or narrow. Use designated parking areas outside and walk in. After experiencing Baku’s UNESCO treasures, it’s time to head to the next stop.
After visiting Baku, drive about an hour south along the coastal highway to reach Gobustan National Park, Azerbaijan’s open-air gallery of prehistoric rock art. The road (Highway M3) is well-paved and marked towards Gobustan. You will pass oil fields and the Caspian shoreline on your way.
Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO site famed for its ancient petroglyphs. Over 6,000 rock engravings are etched into the rocky hillsides here. Some date back 40,000 years and depict everything from human figures and tribal dances. There are also animals and hunting scenes, offering a window into prehistoric life on the Caspian coast.
Things to See in Gobustan Rock
Start at the Gobustan Petroglyph Museum, a modern visitor center providing rock art context. Interactive displays and dioramas showcase the area's appearance in prehistoric times and explain the symbols carved in stone.
After the museum, drive or walk a short distance to the main rock art sites at Boyukdash Mountain. Follow the designated walking trails to view clusters of petroglyphs up close. You’ll spot stick-figure people, bulls, boats, and even mysterious patterns on the rocks.
Just a short drive from the petroglyph area, you can also visit Gobustan’s mud volcanoes. Ask the park guides for directions. Azerbaijan has nearly 350 mud volcanoes out of 700 in the world. At the site, you’ll see small conical mounds quietly bubbling with cold mud. It’s a surreal lunar-like landscape perfect for unique photos.
Visiting Tips
Gobustan’s has an entrance fee. Wear sturdy shoes, as you’ll walk on uneven, rocky ground. Sunscreen and a hat are essential in summer. The area is semi-desert with little shade. Photography is allowed, and wooden boardwalks guide you to the best photo spots without touching the ancient carvings.
You can also have a local guide at the museum to guide you to the petroglyph sites. By early afternoon, you can wrap up your Gobustan visit and prepare for a longer drive northwest into the Caucasus foothills.
From Gobustan, return towards Baku and head northwest for about 4 to 5 hours to reach Sheki. The drive from Baku to Sheki is 300 km. It follows highways through changing landscapes from arid plains to rolling green hills as you approach the Greater Caucasus range.
Many travelers break up this journey with stops. For example, you could pause in Shamakhi, an ancient city with a historic mosque, or Gabala (Qabala), a resort town known for its mountains and cable car rides. When you arrive in Sheki, you’ll find one of Azerbaijan’s most picturesque towns. The Historic Centre of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2019 for its well-preserved architecture and Silk Road history.
Highlights in Sheki
The Old Town of Sheki sits on a mountain foothill, with narrow cobbled streets and traditional houses featuring high gabled roofs. The Sheki Khan’s Palace is the 18th-century palace of the local Khans set within fortress walls. The palace is small but stunning in detail. Its exterior is a mosaic of tiles and wooden lattices, and inside you’ll see elaborate frescoes covering entire walls and ceilings.
Look for the famed Shebeke windows. These are latticed windows made of wood and colored glass assembled without nails, a remarkable craft for which Sheki is known. It’s worth taking a guided tour of the palace. Tours are usually mandatory to enter, and they start every 30 minutes with a local guide explaining each room.
Beyond the palace, Sheki’s historic caravanserais (roadside inns) are notable. The Upper Caravanserai, a massive brick complex once hosting Silk Road merchants, is now a hotel. Even if you don’t stay overnight, you can wander its courtyard and imagine traders resting with their camels.
Practical Tips
Sheki’s city center is easy to navigate by car, though some streets on the hill are steep. Parking is available near the Khan’s Palace complex and around the main square. Due to the narrow lanes, it’s best to park and explore the historic center on foot. After the enriching cultural stop in Sheki, your journey can continue to even more remote heritage spots.
Get ready for a true mountain adventure. The Cultural Landscape of Khinalug (Xinaliq) and the “Köç Yolu” Transhumance Route is one of Azerbaijan’s newest UNESCO inscriptions recognizing an isolated mountain community's unique way of life.
Khinalug is a tiny village perched around 2,300 meters above sea level in the Caucasus Mountains. To reach it, drive north from Baku, about 3 hours on the highway to Quba. Then, continue west on a winding road into the highlands. The road from Quba to Khinalug is about 50 km of canyons and pastures.
A 4x4 vehicle is the best option, as sections of the route can be rough gravel. Check winter or early spring conditions because snow can make the road impassable.
What to Expect Upon Arrival
Arriving in Khinalug feels like stepping back in time. Stone-and-clay houses cluster on a hilltop with panoramic views of the surrounding peaks. In the village, you can visit a small local museum that showcases artifacts of daily life and traditional clothing.
Be prepared for basic conditions. Khinalug is remote. Altitude can make the air crisp even in summer, so bring a jacket. When driving, take it slow and use low gear on steep descents. The journey to Khinalug is truly remote. However, the reward is experiencing one of the highest, most isolated villages in Europe and Asia.
For a complete change of scenery, go to southern Azerbaijan. It’s a 3 to 4-hour drive south from Baku along the Caspian coast to the Hyrcanian Forests, a lush natural UNESCO World Heritage site spanning parts of Azerbaijan and Iran.
The main areas in Azerbaijan are in Lankaran and Astara districts, where the last remnants of ancient subtropical forests blanket the mountains. As you approach Lankaran city, the climate turns humid, and the landscape grows verdant. It’s a stark contrast to the drylands around Baku. Here, you’ll find tall hardwood trees, thick ferns, and wild tea plants growing on the slopes.
Visiting the Forests
An accessible part of the Hyrcanian forests is Hirkan National Park, which has an entrance near Lankaran. There are a few hiking trails to stretch your legs after the long drive. Ask rangers for a route suitable to your fitness and time. A popular short hike is to Khanbulanchay Reservoir or a viewpoint overlooking the forest canopy.
Another area is the Gizilagach Reserve, which lies in the Lankaran region. Driving through here lets you pass tea plantations. Lankaran is famous for its tea, and you can visit a local tea house to sample freshly brewed Azerbaijani tea with local citrus jam.
An Azerbaijan road trip isn’t only about the major UNESCO sites. There are many other worthwhile stops and detours that can make your journey even more memorable. Consider adding some of these side trips and cultural highlights:
Before booking your rental car in Azerbaijan, here are car rental tips to simplify your journey. Match your vehicle choice to your itinerary. Compact cars are ideal for Baku and highways, while mountainous regions like Khinalug require an SUV or 4x4 for challenging roads. Confirm your rental has a spare tire and toolkit, especially if you will travel to remote areas.
Fuel is affordable and widely available. Refill when half-empty, especially in rural regions. Roadside assistance from your rental company is recommended. Save their emergency number and Azerbaijan's 112 for emergencies.
Navigation signage is typically bilingual, but use navigation apps in urban areas and offline maps in remote locations. Toll roads are uncommon, and parking fees are minimal. Renting weekly and traveling during shoulder seasons can save money.
Traveling by rental car in Azerbaijan lets you explore everything from Baku’s streets to the mountain village of Khinalu. However, it comes with responsibilities. Respect UNESCO heritage sites like Gobustan by sticking to marked paths and avoiding contact with ancient carvings. These sites are fragile and must be preserved for future visitors.
Do your part for the environment by carrying a trash bag in the car and disposing of waste properly. Refrain from dropping cigarette butts, especially in dry, forested areas. Tap water in cities is generally safe when boiled, so bring a reusable water bottle to reduce plastic waste.
In villages like Lahij, greet locals with a smile and simple phrases like “Salam.” Dress modestly, ask before taking photos, and support small businesses by eating at family-run restaurants or buying handmade crafts. Slow down near livestock, respect police checkpoints, and always drive with care and awareness on rural roads.
Azerbaijan’s UNESCO road trip offers history, culture, and nature. The diversity is astounding, from medieval palaces in Baku to rock art plains and mountain villages. In just one adventure, you can stand inside a 15th-century caravanserai, see prehistorical rock carvings, and breathe in air from ancient forests.
Such experiences are even more rewarding when renting a car with Finalrentals. You can pick up and drop off the car at Baku Airport or downtown. Whether you need a small car for the city or a bigger one for long drives, Finalrentals has options. Booking is fast, and prices are good so you can save time and money while you explore.
