Baku is often called the “cheaper Dubai” — and not just because of the glitzy skyscrapers or the luxury shopping scene. Like its Gulf cousin, Baku boasts 24/7 hospitality (yes, you can get a full breakfast at 2 a.m.), and a skyline built on oil wealth. But where Baku truly sets itself apart is in its deep respect for history.
Unlike Dubai, Baku has kept its unique architectural identity, influenced by the grandeur of 19th-century Russian Imperial design. Architect Goslavsky, a Polish-Russian architect, is widely credited with shaping the city’s grand boulevards and eclectic façades — and that’s why many call it “the Paris of the Caucasus.”