Baku

Airbnb felt like it had a number of potential pitfalls in Baku. The major one is the dated and overly stylised interior decor of much of the stock available. Expect listings with overly ornate Ottoman features and heavy patterned carpets offering something of a complete contrast to what you might expect in somewhere with minimalist interiors in South East Asia.

The second is the quality of the new build apartments. I heard from several people that new build developments in Azerbaijan are plagued by corruption and cost cutting, and I felt like I experienced this very clearly first-hand. Having taken a chance staying in a brand new listing at the recently completed Nizami City development, it felt exemplary of issues mentioned. Considering it had only been completed at the turn of the year, the building already showed significant signs of wear. Quality of fittings was poor, the grouting looked like it had been completed by a hungover apprentice and the wallpaper had fallen off the walls in four different points.

Having spoken to locals this does not sound like an isolated experience, so I would suggest prioritising properties with a history of higher rating reviews.

Whilst not necessarily cheap, prices for a one-bedroom apartment remain great value on Airbnb compared to what you might expect in Western Europe. Expect to pay around £900 for a good quality apartment for a month, with the price being significantly cheaper if booking long-term off platform.

Overall, Airbnb in Baku felt very similar to Turkey, where for whatever reason, it rarely seems to run as smoothly as in other places.

Baku has a great selection of places to work from. Having visited a few options across the city, I feel with great confidence that what is on offer at the Lotfi Zadeh Technology Center is comfortably the best not just in the city but in the country. More details in the section further below.

Your money goes far in Baku. Over the past 10 years the manat has weakened substantially, making a lot of day-to-day living expenses incredibly low if you are earning abroad.

Eating out in particular is especially inexpensive; expect to pay around 10 Manat (under £5) for a 'business lunch' in a reasonable quality restaurant, featuring a soup, main course and drink. Glasses of wine in bars in the city centre can cost as low as 6 Manat (£3).

Low wages and petrol prices result in taxi prices being almost unbelievably cheap, with the 20km journey from the airport costing under £4 on Bolt. Imported items tend to carry a notable premium, however, with some bizarrely priced items like a can of PRIME energy drink costing more than a day's pay on the country's minimum wage. Prices of coffee was notably high by local standards, with prices frequently matching or exceeding what you may expect in a city like Madrid.

Even Baku’s strongest admirers would struggle to argue that it ranks among the world’s most exciting cities. It lacks the urgency and drive typically found in major capitals. Although given its isolated location within a region not especially known for being particularly dynamic, this isn’t exactly unexpected.

That being said, it would be both unfair and inaccurate to call Baku boring. Compared to nearby, similarly sized Tbilisi, it holds up reasonably well. There’s enough happening on a day-to-day level to keep you engaged over the course of a month-long stay, especially if you're primarily there for work during the week.

Where it falls short in comparison to its Georgian neighbour is access to nature. There felt little reason to explore Baku’s broader urban sprawl, and without committing to a proper excursion well beyond the city limits, there’s limited incentive to leave the centre. The Caspian coastline is relatively uninspiring, and the city’s persistent winds often make spending time outdoors some what uncomfortable.