I visited Baku for the 2023 Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Baku is a great place to watch formula 1 because it’s a street track and you sit very close to the action. The hotel prices are relatively higher during the Formula 1 weekend. I visited Baku for 3 days for the race. Azerbaijan is a small country and you don’t need more than 7 days to explore the country. Apart for Mud volcanos there is not much to explore in Azerbaijan and Formula 1 race helped a lot in promoting Azerbaijan. I am a big fan of Formula 1 and Baku street track is one of my favorite race in the Calendar. My primary reason for visiting Azerbaijan was the Formula 1 grand prix so I spent 3 days in Baku. Most of the prominent attraction of Baku is situated near the Baku Boulevard. The main straight of race track is also situated adjacent to Baku boulevard. I was staying near Nizami street which is a famous shopping area in Baku and it was situated walkable distance from the race track. If you stay in and around Nizami street and Baku Boulevard then you can cover most of the attraction of Baku by foot.
NIZAMI STREET
Nizami Street is located very close to the Formula 1 track and it is one of the largest pedestrian and shopping street in Baku. Nizami street is a great place to explore the old architecture of Baku and try local cuisine. The street is filled with stores and cafes. Nizami street is crowded during the night time. If you want to take photographs of the street then you must visit the street during early morning time. I frequently visited the street during my trip to Azerbaijan in order to try different local cuisine.
HIGHLAND PARK & FLAME TOWERS
Highland park is a popular viewing spot in Baku. The park is situated at an elevated location and you can see great panoramic view of Baku from the park. The park is located very close to Baku Boulevard. I visited the park early morning and it was empty. You get to see great views of Baku flame towers from the highland park. The park gets really crowded during night time. During night time you can see colorful lighting show of Baku flame towers from the park. Baku flame towers are considered as the symbol of growth of Azerbaijan. You can see the flame towers from most areas in Baku because the towers are situated on the top of a hill. My friend visited the park during the dawn time and he took amazing pictures of the sunrise from the park.
BAKU BOULEVARD
Baku Boulevard is a popular place for locals to hangout. The Boulevard extends from JW Marriot hotel till Flag square. The distance of the entire Boulevard is around 5km. The boulevard is a great place for jogging and there are lot of cafes around the boulevard. You will enjoy amazing views Caspian sea and Baku skyline from the Boulevard. During the Formula 1 race the section of the Boulevard starting from JW Marriot till Azneft square is closed because this section is used as a F1 FAN ZONE during this time. Baku is the windiest capital city of the world so be prepared to take some windproof jackets if you are strolling around the promenade.
Baku Ferris wheel and Park Bulvar shopping mall are the most prominent places to visit around the Boulevard. I didn’t visit the Ferris wheel during my stay in Baku. You can see birds eye view of Baku bay, flame towers, flag square and Caspian sea from the wheel. Baku carpet museum is also situated in the Baku Boulevard. You will also see great views of Baku flame towers from the promenade. The flame shaped towers symbolizes element of fire because land of fire is a motto of Azerbaijan
NATIONAL FLAG SQUARE
National Flag Square is situated at the southernmost side of Baku Boulevard. In 2010 the flag pole was considered as the tallest flagpole in the world but it was soon surpassed by the flagpole in Tajikistan. Unfortunately the flag pole is dismantled in the year 2017 because of flags being ripped by the wind and complaints about the noise caused by the waving of flag. Azerbaijan government is constructing a new taller modern flagpole at the site. I didn’t do much research about the construction of flag pole during my visit. I was literally shocked to see construction going on at the site.
BAKU OLD TOWN
The old town is situated inside the Formula 1 track. The Baku street circuit is wonderfully designed to show both the old architecture and new skyline of Baku. If you are visiting Baku during formula 1 race then you have to cross a small bridge at Icheri Sheher in order to reach the old town. You will immediately feel as if you have travelled back in time after visiting old time. They have done great job in saving the beauty of the old Azerbaijan architecture. I will strongly recommend to visit the place early morning because you don’t have to face huge crowds and you will have lots of space to take photographs. You will find lots of Souvenir shops, cafes and Azerbaijani carpet shop in this location. The old town area is situated between Baku Boulevard and Nizami street. You will walk through cobblestone streets and pass through lots of narrow corridors during your visit.
MAIDEN TOWER
Maiden tower is a prominent monument of Azerbaijan. The structure is printed on Azerbaijani currency. Maiden tower is situated inside the old town of Baku towards the Baku Boulevard. There is also a small museum and historical sites around Maiden tower. Maiden tower was prominently used as a watchtower in the past. I wanted to climb to the top of the tower to see bird’s eye view of Formula 1 track and Baku skyline. I visited the tower on the race day around 10 am and I was the first person to visit the tower on that day. I had to attend the Formula 2 feature race which was supposed to start at 11.25 am on that day.
I didn’t have much time to spend at the tower because reaching the north end of Absheron stand takes considerable amount of time. The track adjacent to the maiden tower is one of the fastest section of Baku street circuit. The formula 1 cars start accelerating from Azneft square till the Absheron which is the longest straight on the formula 1 calendar.. I had the whole tower to myself during my visit and I managed to take great photos of Formula 1 track and Baku boulevard from the tower. You need to climb through narrow stairs in order to reach the top of the tower. You can take your time by going through various exhibits located at different floors of the tower.
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