First Impressions of Baku, Azerbaijan🇦🇿 (is this the next Dubai?)

Рет қаралды 16,275

Күн бұрын

Welcome to BAKU, AZERBAIJAN! Baku is certainly a city that surprised us. We read a lot online calling this city "the next Dubai" - We're not so sure about that, but we were intrigued to find out if there is any truth to that. From the food, to the architecture, to the people, we found this city to be completely fascinating. Baku is the largest city on the Caspian Sea, sitting 92 feet below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying capital city in the world AND the largest city in the world below sea level! In this video, we'll explore the city and see what our initial impressions are.
AZERBAIJAN is our country number 51 / 197!
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🌏Hi! We’re Ben and Haley. We sold everything to travel around the world. We left behind our very normal life to travel the world with only a backpack and on a budget. We left the US with no definite plans and decided to go wherever the cheapest flight takes us. We've been on the road full-time since July 2022. Come with us as we explore this beautiful world. We'll be sharing the good and the bad, the wild and the mundane, and all of our best travel tips to help with your own adventures.
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🕒 Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:22 Welcome to Baku
0:36 Yaşıl Bazar
4:13 Heydar Aliyev Centre
6:20 Baku Old Town
8:21 Juma Mosque
8:42 Thoughts so far
9:34 Mini Book Museum
10:46 Ben's Comedy Show
11:25 More thoughts
12:38 Sahil Neighborhood
13:14 Firuze Restaurant
15:32 Best baklava

Пікірлер: 153

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

What are your impressions of Baku? Is it really the next Dubai, or not so much? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

@user-xs8vr5yr4z 7 ай бұрын

Baku is much older than Dubai, it is an ancient city, as you can see in Gobustan there is a stone, where is written that it is the last province of the Roman Empire. It is the place where the ancient Zoroastrian religion was practiced. Unlike, Duba it has a lot of history. Dubai is a beautiful modern city, which offers a lot of attractions, shopping malls, warm sea etc.

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

@@user-xs8vr5yr4z Agree! We’ve read so many things describing it as similar to Dubai, but I’m not so sure we feel that way. We haven’t been to Dubai yet, so we’ll see what we think after that! Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!❤️

@user-xs8vr5yr4z 7 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley I think they compare to Dubai, because of new high-rise-skyscrapers and the oil. Dubai is must see city. Both Baku and Dubai are unique in their own way. I think Baku is mixture of the Russian Empire, European (Paris, Poland, Germany before WW2 and East Germany by 1990s) and post-Soviet style buildings and also now couple of iconic buildings like by Zaha Hahid and Norman Foster. These two architectures are the ones that every iconic city must have nowadays.

@-_whysoserious_- 7 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley non -muslims also can visit mosques. but muslims and non-muslims ,both with shorts can not ))

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

@@-_whysoserious_- Exactly! That is why we didn’t go in. We’ve been to quite a few mosques before, but obviously in different clothes!

@thetravellingwelshman 7 ай бұрын

I've heard about the beauty of this capital, it really is true!

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

It is a fascinating city!

@RavinQurbanov 7 ай бұрын

Very good country Azerbaijan❤

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

We’ve had a nice time! Thank you for watching!❤️

@mmmdovailkane7062 7 ай бұрын

Welcome to our country 🇦🇿💖 You both are so cutee

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for the warm welcome! And the kind words☺❤

@TrevorDodd-bb5wz 21 күн бұрын

An an Englishman livingvin Baku I certainly hope it is not the next Dubai. The speed of change here is mesmerizing. A beautiful city and there is plenty to do and see outside of the capital.

@Ramildinio 7 ай бұрын

Hi guys. Nice video about beautiful Baku. Yes can go inside all of the mosques in Azerbaijan, but outside the prayer times. As a tourist, man and women can go to the main hall of the mosque. Did you also visite other places of Azerbaijan? We did and it was very nice. There are a lot of hidden jams and nice places in Azerbaijan. Take care

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words!♥️ Good to know about the mosques for tourists - We didn’t want to go in wearing shorts and be disrespectful! We spent most of our trip in Baku, but we would love to visit again and see more of the country! Any places you recommend visiting?

@muradkhalafov3954 7 ай бұрын

Welcome to my homeland . Happy to see you in Azerbaijan and presenting Azerbaijan. Which kind of places are you looking for to travel such as historical, historical religious, mountains , lakes, waterfalls ? If you would choose something specificly that I advise you

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Thank you!❤️ We love learning the history of places and simply observing local life. We also love exploring nature, like mountains and lakes. We appreciate your kind welcome and thank you for watching!

@cbicbraylov832 6 ай бұрын

@@benandhaleyKhınalık

@taohidfarazi2889 2 ай бұрын

I am a Bangladeshi citizen but I am a Qatari resident and living in Qatar.i visited Azerbaijan this month from Qatar. The truth is that Azerbaijan is a very beautiful country. The beauty of Azerbaijan fascinated me.

@rovshanzeynalli9297 7 ай бұрын

Welcome to our country.. Have a good relax!

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Thank you! And thank you for watching!☺

@FoodTourss 7 ай бұрын

A nice video about Baku! Thank you.

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!❤🤍

@elmirabbaszad8956 7 ай бұрын

You are beautiful couple. The Azerbaijani people are hospitable. There are many ancient monuments our country.

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! We found Azerbaijanis to be very friendly and welcoming. We met many wonderful people and had a great experience!

@ShilpaNav 6 ай бұрын

Most beautiful city I have ever been ❤

@NrgizNusrtli-ne2hj 7 ай бұрын

Thankh you 🤗our country🇦🇿

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! 💞

@elcinkamilov5164 5 ай бұрын

Кто бы что бы не говорил Баку лучше чем Дубай просто потому что Дубай это искусства создали в пустыне, а в Баку живой город там есть история там есть душа

@Ula403 4 ай бұрын

Да нууу,новости смотришь у себя в городе?

@aykhanislamzade1546 6 ай бұрын

2:05 Apple and shaftali - гениально! А со стороны проницательным голосом "ostraqa basma" вообще убило!🤣🤣🤣

@user-bl4lz2ze1c 7 ай бұрын

SUPER-👍👍👍👍👍🦅 🇦🇿 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you! 🇦🇿❤

@Cat_forlifee3 14 күн бұрын

thank u for being in my country ❤❤

@MehribanMirzeyeva-rb3rl 7 ай бұрын

You both are so cute 🥰(from Azerbaijan)

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much!☺🥰We have loved the kindness and warm welcome in your country!

@MehribanMirzeyeva-rb3rl 7 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley glad to hear 💓💓

@yortravels 6 ай бұрын

Beautiful! I would love to go there one day

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

I hope you are able to visit someday! We focused on exploring Baku and didn't travel to any other cities, but we had a good experience. We met many friendly and welcoming people there!

@DanlOrlov 7 ай бұрын

Welcome to BAKU

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!!😊

@Azerbaijanets_Bakinets 5 ай бұрын

Hey, guys. You can easily enter a mosque anywhere in the world as a non-Muslim. The mosque can be visited by absolutely anyone. The only requirement is to be sober, women should not wear revealing clothes and cover their head with a headscarf. Thank you for visiting our country and thank you for your kind words about our country and people. Welcome to Azerbaijan.

@benandhaley 4 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! We have been in a few mosques that are often visited by tourists, but weren't sure about some of the smaller ones with only locals. Thank you for letting us know❤ We had a beautiful time visiting your country and hope to return again someday!

@amp3954 6 ай бұрын

Baku is beautiful city. I have been there in 2019. Cousine is delicious.But the city heeft often traffic jams.

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

It is a beautiful city! And yessss, you're exactly right about the traffic jams - We saw them everyday haha

@lele11172 6 ай бұрын

Azerbaijan 🇦🇿❤

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

❤

@samirasadullayev 6 ай бұрын

Thanks a lot guys 🤗❤️🇦🇿

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching!🇦🇿💙

@Sevinc9 7 ай бұрын

Welcome 🇦🇿🌹🌹

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!!💙

@davidsadiks9663 21 күн бұрын

Im from bAKU HI TO EVERYONE

@its_ashley4421 Ай бұрын

Hi from Azerbaijan!!!!!!!!🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿

@OzanOzzy-id5xq 14 күн бұрын

Welcome to. My homeland hope u like it

@mistermerlinkamelotski1799 7 ай бұрын

Dubai is artificial Baku is real and historic plus air and nature

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! I have heard a few people that agree with you and say that Dubai feels artificial. We’ve read so many things describing Baku as similar to Dubai, but I’m not so sure we feel that way. We haven’t been to Dubai yet, so we’ll see what we think after that!

@mistermerlinkamelotski1799 7 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley Dubai is the city on desert , Baku is the EuroAsian historical Centre with antique operas, museum and theatres

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

@@mistermerlinkamelotski1799 Very true!

@Zahra_heartastic 5 күн бұрын

I live here!

@user-xm9jn2mv2d 3 ай бұрын

Welcome to Azerbaijan 🎉

@samvaliyev 5 ай бұрын

welcome to Azerbaijan 🇦🇿❤

@adiloglupenah6270 6 ай бұрын

Welcome Azərbaycan 👏🌹 🤗

@serveradigozelli 5 ай бұрын

Welcome to Azərbaycan!

@user-gc9hv9ig6b 7 ай бұрын

👍👍👍

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching!😊

@SoVvVoS 6 ай бұрын

Welcome

@VirtualVoyager555 7 ай бұрын

How much is temperature over there now ?? I am coming in 2 days

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

We were there in October, but it looks like the weather is still nice with the high around 20 degrees! I hope you enjoy your trip! Will it be your first time visiting Azerbaijan?

@VirtualVoyager555 7 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley thank you soo much

@rashid_1895 7 ай бұрын

from today till sunday it will be average 15 degress with possibility to rain and strong wind

@samirazeynalli 6 ай бұрын

❤🇦🇿😍🙏

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

💕💕

@kyleveres3909 6 ай бұрын

So glad you got to visit my homeland

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Your comment means so much to us! We're happy you enjoyed the video.❤We had an amazing time in Baku. You have a beautiful homeland and we hope you have a great visit in April. Definitely don't miss trying the baklava at Firuze - We will be dreaming about it haha. Are you only visiting Baku or also traveling to other areas of Azerbaijan? Cheers to good health and happiness to you as well!💫

@kyleveres3909 6 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley I took a screenshot for reference! My family is from Nakhchivan so I’ll be paying a visit there and to Ordubad as well and I can’t wait!!! Thank you guys again!! 💜

@bashiraliyev1887 7 ай бұрын

BAKU❤🇦🇿👍

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching!❤️

@qadirnajafov970 13 күн бұрын

2:13-də səsə fikir verənlər 😀

@doombeatsmusic 17 күн бұрын

2:13 🤣

@ravsanbagirov8496 6 ай бұрын

❤❤❤❤

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!💙

@namiqahmadov8967 4 ай бұрын

You guys need a mic 😊

@osmanov7783 21 күн бұрын

Baklava is delicious

@zamanzamanov3730 6 ай бұрын

❤

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

💙

@berlin6969 7 ай бұрын

🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🙏🙏🙏

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

❤

@huseynfereczade1543 7 ай бұрын

🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🐺🤘

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching!🥰

@huseynova12 6 ай бұрын

Welcome🇦🇿

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you!!💚

@BeDaring 2 ай бұрын

Hi first i'm really garetful and glad to see your video sharing out about my birth of country in worldwide. Actually i meant you can come in the mosque deosnt matter you're muslim or chiristian.frankly speaking i have no idea who told you about it you're chiristian and not allowed inside but it is absolutely incorrect.Azerbaijan is such a different country

@cavidhummatov4431 6 ай бұрын

H. Aliyev is considered to be the greatest leader and founder of modern Republic of Azerbaijan. He became president in the country's early tough years of second independency and played quite important role by its maintaining and strengthening process. Now his son I. Aliyev is successfully taking up where he left off. Also I'm not sure where the labeling "Dubai" for Baku did come out of, perhaps due to the attractive skyscrapers standing out at the first glance but actually Baku has little to do with Dubai in terms of architecture. The city is mainly covered with the impressive buildings of european style of architecture (baroque and gothic styles) and modern buildings just seems like little touches to the ready piece of art. Baku is also one of the top cities in Europe in terms of spacious greenry space for getting out in the fresh air. Here you can come across parks and gardens at almost every step along the way.

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Agreed! We read online labeling Baku as the next Dubai, but after visiting, we're not sure we agree with that. The unique architecture seems to be the reason people make this comparison. I agree with your comments on the impressive buildings and plentiful green spaces - We love that!

@user-qj5pc4pj9k 6 ай бұрын

Eat strawberry, man. It's good for your health. I guess everything is organic there, not GMO-like in the USA.

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Hahaha we do love strawberries - just didn't want any at the moment we were asked by this guy 10 different times😂 We do have organic fruit in the USA, but we love buying lots of fresh fruit while traveling. It's always so good! Thank you for watching!

@user-xs8vr5yr4z 7 ай бұрын

Heydar Aliyev is a national leader of Azerbaijan. He saved Azerbaijan from the collapse in early 1990s. People very thankful for him for saving the country from internal civil war and war with Armenia, because he signed ceasefire to ensure the stability and state building of the nation. It is nothing to do with Ilham Aliyev, even if he wouldn't be a president, people would still call Heydar Aliyev as a national leader of Azerbaijan just like Ataturk is in Turkey today.

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching! ☺️ We aren’t questioning his being considered a national leader - We were wondering when many of the things named in the city were changed to be named after him as we couldn’t find much info on this. Please let us know if you have any info on that! We are familiar with who he is and tried to spend much of our time in Baku learning the history. Thanks for your comment and insight!

@user-xs8vr5yr4z 7 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley Only iconic places have his name like the Main Street, airport, the main cultural centre, and the main concert hall. They were named after Heydar Aliyev, when he passed away. Nice way to keep his name alive after he passed away as the gratitude from his people. For example, there are also airport named after Ataturk, Kennedy or Charles de Gaulle. I would also name one of the Main Street in liberated Karabakh after the name of the current president Ilham Aliyev. He did a lot in past 30 years to liberate the Azerbaijani lands. He fully deserves it. I know Ilham Aliyev would not agree to do it, so the Azerbaijani people will do it after he passes away. After all, Azerbaijan is the only country that has this difficult geopolitical location by sharing border with both Russia and Iran. The county's 20% of territory was occupied by Armenia almost 30 years (liberated only in 2020). According to the UN, Azerbaijan has had 700 thousand refugees and IDPs in 1990s. Now their number is 1 million considering the demographic growth. This means every 10th of Azerbaijani is either refugee or IDP person now. Imagine, what would happen with the economy of UK or Germany if every 10th British or German would be refugee in their country.

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

@@user-xs8vr5yr4z Thank you for adding this info! Are you from Azerbaijan?

@user-xs8vr5yr4z 7 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley I lived in Azerbaijan long time ago. Now I am actually based in London. I can suggest you to fly back with Wizzair through Budapest. It is much cheaper than direct flight with the Azerbaijani airlines. Yet, the service and the aircraft in the Azerbaijani airlines are the best.

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

@@user-xs8vr5yr4z Thank you for the tip of flying through Budapest - That is good to know! We flew into Baku from Batumi on Azerbaijan airlines and you're exactly right - The service was amazing! We were wishing the flight was longer because it was so good hahaha

@doktorwho75 6 ай бұрын

9:00 of course you can go in to mosque even you are not a muslim. Just not with shorts :)

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

We definitely should have planned our day better before deciding to wear shorts! So sad we missed going inside. We'll have to visit again - This time wearing pants haha. Thank you for watching!😊

@doktorwho75 6 ай бұрын

@benandhaley you definitely need to go back to Azerbaijan. So much places you missed to visit :) and you are always welcome to Azerbaijan!

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

@@doktorwho75 Thank you! We were there for 2 weeks, so we did a lot more that wasn't filmed! But we did stay only in Baku. Where else in Azerbaijan do you recommend to visit?

@doktorwho75 6 ай бұрын

@benandhaley Quba up in north, Lenkoran in south, Shamakhi, Lagich(Lahic) Sheki, Gandja, Göy Göl (Bue Lake) to the West. And of course, Karabach region, Shusha. And more and more:)

@elcinjebrail8476 7 ай бұрын

orda kimse deyir osturaga basma😅

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

I think the KZfaq Translate is working correctly, so sadly we aren't completely sure what this means😥 but thank you for watching!!💞

@okean6959 5 ай бұрын

🍬 ВА❤️КU🌙

@user-yj1wb9bl8u 7 ай бұрын

👍👍🇦🇿🇦🇿

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

💚

@menlimnmenlimn-jy7lw 7 ай бұрын

From USA ?

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Hi! Yes, we're from USA! Where are you from?

@menlimnmenlimn-jy7lw 7 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley i'm from here Baku city

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

@@menlimnmenlimn-jy7lw Nice! Your city is beautiful!❤

@tutuline1259 7 ай бұрын

🇦🇿🇺🇲

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

💙❤💚🤍

@tamirlanabdullaev1339 6 ай бұрын

😍😍😍😍🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

❤️❤️

@firudinsgr2880 6 ай бұрын

🇦🇿💕

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

❤️❤️

@sport590 6 ай бұрын

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

🇦🇿❤

@chadaurmekhtiyev2283 6 ай бұрын

🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for watching!❤

@Turrkkksss 6 ай бұрын

Ermenistan 😂😂😂🐰🐰🐰

@benandhaley 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!🤍

@noproblem5137 2 ай бұрын

Please, do not call this city Dubai, we do not like it.

@infobsocial479 7 ай бұрын

Self-obsessed family autocracy, high corruption and war crimes...more like the next Pyongyang!

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

Interesting! Are these your thoughts on the government - or the people? Or both?

@Greywolf66 7 ай бұрын

@@benandhaley hes armenian , he don't like Azerbaijan. , I hope you are enjoying your holiday. Welcome to azerbaijan

@benandhaley 7 ай бұрын

@@Greywolf66 Thank you so much! We have enjoyed Baku. We've found the people to be very friendly and welcoming to us.

@user-nt9rj8sz4m 7 ай бұрын

@benandhaley This dude is an Armenian, do not bother... Through the history they killed Azerbaijanis with help of Russia. Armenia was established in Western Azerbaijan after occupation of Russia and resettled Armenians from Iran, Syria, Turkey etc. as a buffer zone against the Ottoman Empire. Then ethnic cleansings took place. The last one was in the late 1980s and there is no Azerbaijani left there and they destroyed cultural heritages of Azerbaijanis

@user-vx3nl7fp8j 7 ай бұрын

Ваши сородичи войну проиграли, но Баку тут совершенно не причём.