- Azerbaijan- Baku is a very clean city, modern, but we were not extremely impressed. It is still new to tourism, so a lot of things are not ready or that well organised for tourists. In regards to food, before we travelled we read that their cuisine is much like Turkish cuisine, unfortunately we didn’t see that, Turkish cuisine has so much variety, in Baku we found just kebab, and international cuisine. Languages most used there after Azeri are Turkish and Russian, some of them do know English, especially young people. Their people do have that tough exterior, somewhat we got the feeling that you can’t approach them, but that is OK, I mean to each his / her own. But let’s say in shops, we found kind and friendly staff, but in others some who are extremely rude and do not want to help just because we are tourists / we were in a situation where they actually started laughing at us. Also, another important thing, pay attention to prices, some may cheat like a lot, so bargain and check different places cause you might find it cheaper. Another example of cheating is they would mix pine with cleaned almonds, and you won’t be able to tell the difference unless u look really closely or have someone from Baku to check and ask in Azeri language if it is mixed or not, other wise the shop owner will not tell you. Definitely visit the museums, mosques, they do have beautiful crafts, carpets, arts & culture etc. All in all it is a nice city, but I personally would suggest to wait a bit for this country to develop touristically, and while waiting visit another country. (Just my personal opinion
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Hello @Dj15
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Thanks for sharing such a detailed and honest experience. Baku is definitely a very clean and modern city, but I agree that it still feels like a destination that’s developing its tourism infrastructure. Some travelers enjoy the “less touristy” vibe, while others expect better organization and services during a tour in Baku.
Food experiences can also vary a lot—traditional Azerbaijani cuisine has more depth, but it’s not always easy to find without local guidance. I also think language barriers and cultural differences can sometimes come across as rudeness, even if it’s not always intentional.
Your point about checking prices and being careful while shopping is very helpful for first-time visitors planning a tour in Baku. On the positive side, the museums, mosques, carpets, and cultural heritage are truly worth exploring.
Overall, Baku may not impress everyone right now, but with time and better tourist management, it has strong potential to become a great destination. Thanks again for sharing your experience and honest opinion.