Balakhani settlement, Surakhani settlement, Modern building of Azerbaijan State Oil Company SOCAR, Nobel brothers’ house-museum, Flame Towers of Baku Highland Park, Baku Boulevard, Carpet Museum, Little Venice
Our tour starts with a visit to the Balakhani settlement (40 minutes’ drive from Baku), known for its vast underground oil reserves and as the birthplace of oil production in Azerbaijan. Evidence of this can be found in an ancient oil well. The inscription on it reads: ‘This well was dug in 1594 by the master Allahyar ibn Muhammad Nuri. A century and a half later, the village had 52 oil wells, and by the early 19th century, Balakhani became a hub for oil magnates.
In fact, the history of Azerbaijani oil began with the launch of the first oil pipeline from Balakhani to Baku. Today, Balakhani has been completely renovated and offers visitors an authentic glimpse into the country’s oil-boom heritage. The museum village has been restored in the style of a provincial settlement, with brightly colored facades of almost fairytale-like houses adorned with paintings and fresh flowers. Charming souvenir shops and small cafés add to the welcoming atmosphere.
Not far from Balakhani lies Surakhani settlement, whose name is associated with natural gas burning and means ‘place of burning.’ Surakhani is also known for its oil industry traditions; in 1857, entrepreneur Vasily Kokorev built the world’s first oil distillation plant here.
On our way back to Baku, we will drive along one of the city’s most beautiful avenues, where a notable landmark is the modern building of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR). This project received a ‘Special National Award.’ The building is inspired by the concept of ‘Wind and Flame’ and resembles a tower splitting into tongues of fire. The top of the first ‘flame’ reaches approximately the 22nd-23rd floor level, while two other ‘flames’ crown the building. The facade undulates from the base to the top, symbolizing fire flame.
Next, we will visit the Nobel Brothers’ House Museum (Villa Petrolea), built between 1882 – 1884. It is recognized as the first museum dedicated to the Nobel family outside of Sweden. Here, you’ll find household items and interior pieces once used by the Nobels — some of which were later acquired at international auctions.
Would you like to get to know Baku’s most popular attraction? The Flame Towers Baku business and hotel complex consists of three buildings. Their surfaces are entirely covered with LED screens that display various moving visuals, which are visible well into the evening from distant parts of the city. Take a stroll along the Alley of Martyrs, a site often included in the protocols of official foreign visits, and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the highest point of our capital—the Baku Highland Park.
Descend to Baku Boulevard to see the International Mugham Center, designed in the shape of a tar, a traditional Azerbaijani string instrument. This venue was created to promote Azerbaijani ‘mugham’ (a genre of folk music) worldwide. Nearby is the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, designed by Austrian architect Franz Janz in the form of a rolled-up carpet.
Take a stroll along the decorative bridges of the so-called ‘Little Venice,’ one of Baku’s gems—a small town on water consisting of several islets. You can even go for a short ride on colorful gondolas and explore the canals with their emerald-clear water.”
Transportation according to the program
Professional guide (English, Russian, Arabic)
Tickets to the museums(per person): Maiden Tower- 9$ (optional), Shirvanshahs’ Palace- 9$ (optional)
Pick-up time: 10:00
Pick-up / drop-off point: your hotel in Baku
The organizer reserves the right to change the order of the places to visit in case of necessity.
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