Three Cities You Must Visit In Azerbaijan

Following my blog post on my stay in Baku Does Baku Give You A Taste Of The World? … I am writing this blog post about three cities that I have visited in Azerbaijan that I think shouldn’t be missed:

Qabala
Qakh
Sheki

This is part 2 of my spring holiday…

Unlike Baku these three cities aren’t packed with people or cars or loud noises that a regular city would have in fact I felt like those cities are visited when you want complete serenity, calm and maybe a little enjoyment of non-conventional sports.

Qabala city is filled with ancient history and spectacular mountain views. In fact, this city was nicknamed “Nature of Qabala” as people went there for the nature that they didn’t get in the usual upbeat cities.

Gabala is considered a popular tourist destination due to the combination of a very good spring climate, mountainous landscape, and diverse fauna, as mentioned before. There are many world-class hotels and resorts, most part of the Qafqaz chain. We stayed in Qafqaz Yeddi Gozel Hotel Resort, a gorgeous resort lying on one of Qabala’s mountains.

The highest mountain peak of the republic- Mount Bazarduzu (4466 meters) is situated in this region. Another scenic highlight of Gabala is Yeddi Gozel Waterfall. The name means ‘seven beauties’ due to the seven stages of the falls but also reflecting a classic Nizami Ganjavi story. The waterfall, situated in woodlands west of Vandam, is climbed by thousands of people each year – the lower levels being accessible by stairways.

The city contains “Gabaland” amusement park, an ice skating rink and a Greek-style theatre, built especially for outside concerts.The Gabaland is a leading theme park in the Caucasus region with interesting rides and endless fun and Gabala Resort fantastical hotel. Visitors may enjoy comfortable and wide parking area, amazing mounting view, fresh air, delicious foods in a cafe, beautiful Flower Garden – and all this in Qabaland.

Gabala is also home to the Tufandag Ski Complex, rated the best ski resort in Azerbaijan and one of the foremost in the Caucasus. The Gabala Shooting Club and Nohur Lake for fishing are also a must see in Qabala.

Qakh is a small city in the north of Azerbaijan. One of the most famous symbols of Qakh is the Icheri Bazar (Qakh Fortress Wall), which is located in the centre of Qakh city. It was built in the first half of 18th century and was renovated by the Russians in the 19th century. The city block consists of ten brick houses and two fortress walls. In Qakh you can enjoy hikes and some sceneries. Ensure, you visit it if you like going on hikes and strolling in nature.

Sheki another small city in the north of Azerbaijan, One of the must-sees in this city is the Khan Palace of Sheki. If you do visit this city I recommend you try out their sweets. They are best-known for their traditional baklava, called Shaki Halva. Others include Nabat boiled sugar and sweet Pesheveng. Sheki also has some famous dishes, including Girmabadam, Zilviya, Piti, a stew created with meat and potatoes and prepared in a terracotta pot.