After arriving and dropping bags at your hotel, ease into Baku with a leisurely breakfast at Icheri Sheher Cafe before heading to the atmospheric lanes of the Old City; wander to Maiden Tower for panoramic views and the small but fascinating museum inside. Continue to Shirvanshah Palace to admire intricate medieval architecture, then warm up with a cup of Azerbaijani tea and pastries at Çay Bağı (Tea Garden) while soaking in the city's layered history and planning the afternoon stroll along the promenade.
Stroll out from the Old City toward the waterfront and explore the modern art and maritime atmosphere at Baku Boulevard (National Park), where you can ride the Ferris wheel for elevated Caspian views. Continue to the sleek cultural complex of Heydar Aliyev Center to admire Zaha Hadid's architecture and pop into the center's contemporary exhibitions, then warm up with Azerbaijani comfort food at Nargiz Restaurant nearby before an early evening walk along the Flame Towers-lit skyline.
As night falls, head to the atmospheric Nizami Street for window-shopping and people-watching under festive lights, then duck into Teze Bazaar's adjacent eateries to sample warm local snacks like kebab and kutab. Finish with cocktails or Azerbaijani mulled tea at the rooftop bar of The Landmark Hotel Baku (or a similar nearby rooftop), where you can admire the illuminated silhouette of the Flame Towers from a cozy vantage point before returning to your hotel to rest.
Set off early from Baku to the UNESCO-listed rock art of Gobustan National Park, where you'll walk among ancient petroglyph panels and visit the informative visitor center to learn about prehistoric life on the Absheron Peninsula. After exploring the engravings, continue a short drive to the dramatic Mud Volcanoes of Gobustan for close-up views and photo opportunities of bubbling mud cones, then stop at the roadside Gobustan Museum Cafe for strong Azerbaijani coffee and a warming snack before returning toward Baku for the afternoon's modern-city highlights.
Return to Baku and continue your modern-city exploration with a riverside stroll through Dənizkənarı Milli Park (Baku Boulevard)'s newer stretches, pausing to visit the interactive exhibits at the Baku Ferris Wheel Complex for fresh Caspian views. Cross to the city center to explore contemporary Azerbaijani culture at Museum Centre of Azerbaijan Carpet and Applied Art, then warm up with a late-afternoon snack of piti or dolma at the atmospheric Şirvanşah Restaurant before heading toward the evening's skyline highlights.
After returning to Baku, unwind with a riverside dinner at Port Baku Mall's Seaside Promenade, where seafood plates and Azerbaijani meze pair with views across the Caspian. Later, catch a performance or live music set at the intimate Mugham Club, sampling local wines and traditional desserts while soaking in Azerbaijani melodies before a relaxed walk past the illuminated modern sculptures of Fountains Square to close the night.
Depart Baku early for a scenic drive to Sheki (about 4-4.5 hours) and begin your day with a guided walk through the historic town, visiting the jewel-like Sheki Khan's Palace with its stained-glass sash windows and intricate frescoes, then enjoy a traditional breakfast of local pastries and halva at Karvansaray Café. Alternatively, if you choose the closer Absheron route, head east to explore the atmospheric Atyagach State Reserve or the windswept coastline at Gala Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum Complex, followed by a seaside picnic of fresh fish and lavash while soaking in the stark Caspian winter light before returning toward Baku for afternoon preparations.
If you stayed in Sheki, wander the cobbled lanes to discover local crafts at Sheki Caravanserai's artisan stalls, then savor a long, comforting lunch of lamb piti and local greens at Huseyn Aliyev Restaurant, followed by a calming visit to the peaceful Church of Kish nearby to feel the region's layered history before driving back toward Baku. If you chose the Absheron route, explore the striking coastal fortifications at Gala Fortress, taste freshly smoked fish at Buzovna Seafront Café, and finish with a restorative stop among birdlife at Shikhov Beach wetlands as you head back to Baku to begin packing and prepare for your evening departure.
Return to Baku and unwind with a riverside supper at Martyrs' Lane viewpoint café, watching the city lights bloom while sampling local fish ceviche and chilled ayran. After dinner, take a gentle post-meal stroll through Fountain Square's pedestrian arcades to pick up last-minute souvenirs from artisan stalls, then finish with a nightcap at Sky Lounge Baku where you can toast your trip with panoramic views of the illuminated skyline before heading back to your hotel to pack and rest.