📖 About Baku

Baku made history as host of COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in November 2024. In a groundbreaking first, over 50 governments endorsed the Baku Declaration on Enhanced Climate Action in Tourism—the first time a COP Presidency organized a tourism-focused thematic day. The declaration commits signatories to transforming tourism into a climate-resilient, low-carbon industry.

Azerbaijan's sustainable tourism practices were showcased at a 200-square-meter destination booth in COP29's Green Zone. Over 10 days, presentations covered ecotourism products like mountain hiking and birdwatching, nature tourism potential, business event opportunities, and Azerbaijan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The World Travel & Tourism Council praised the Baku Declaration as "a clear signal that travel and tourism is part of the solution to climate change."

COP29 opened new opportunities for Azerbaijan's long-term economic growth beyond oil, including tourism, hospitality, commerce, and service sector expansion. The Azerbaijan Tourism Board has recorded growing success hosting major events, from the 2015 European Games to international conferences. Baku's blend of ancient Silk Road heritage with flame-shaped modern architecture creates a unique destination bridging East and West.

🏛️ Top Attractions

💼 Economy & Culture

Azerbaijan's economy has historically depended on oil and gas from Caspian fields, but COP29 accelerated diversification toward sustainable tourism, renewable energy, and services. The Baku Declaration positions Azerbaijan as a leader in climate-conscious tourism development. Major events like Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and international conferences drive hospitality growth. The city serves as a regional hub connecting Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Baku's culture reflects its position on the ancient Silk Road, blending Turkic, Persian, Russian, and modern Western influences. The Old City preserves medieval Islamic architecture while the Flame Towers represent oil wealth and national pride. Azerbaijani cuisine features kebabs, plov (pilaf), and Caspian sturgeon. Mugham music, UNESCO-recognized as intangible heritage, echoes in traditional tea houses. The "Land of Fire" nickname comes from natural gas flames that have burned for millennia.

📜 History

Baku has been continuously inhabited since the Paleolithic era. The Old City dates to the 12th century, when the Shirvanshah dynasty made it their capital. Zoroastrian fire temples arose around natural gas seeps. The city passed through Mongol, Persian, and Ottoman hands before Russian conquest in 1813. The first commercial oil well was drilled in 1846, decades before Pennsylvania.

The early 20th century oil boom made Baku fabulously wealthy, attracting international investment and creating the "Black City" industrial district. Soviet rule followed, then independence in 1991. Modern Baku has invested oil revenues in spectacular architecture like the Flame Towers and Heydar Aliyev Center. COP29 in 2024 marked a new chapter, positioning Azerbaijan as a leader in sustainable tourism and climate action beyond its petroleum past.