Time Out Baku: and the Best of Azerbaijan (Time Out Guides)

Baku is a thriving port city of over two million people, located on the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan, which has been dubbed the "Paris of the East." An easy flight from Moscow and Istanbul, the city is becoming a mecca for shopping and nightlife, as well as antiques and art. Known as one of the urban hot spots for nightlife and for long hours of sunshine and healthy climate in the summer, Baku also boasts world-class mud volcanoes, salt baths, and a new museum of modern art that houses over 1,000 pieces.