Quba is a small charming city at the foot of the mighty Caucasus mountains in the north of Azerbaijan. It is one of the oldest cities with years and years of history and cultural diversity. In this post, I have mentioned the popular attractions that you must visit in Quba city in Azerbaijan.
This beautiful city can be your base point for visiting the nearby scenic mountain villages like Khinaliq, Qusar, Laza and Tengealti. There are several mountain hikes and treks around this region. And even a simple long drive through the mountains is a pleasure to the senses.
Quick details about Quba, Azerbaijan
- Best time to visit Quba: The summer months of June and July are perfect for visiting the lush green valleys. And if you like skiing then winters are the perfect time to visit the Shahdag skiing resort.
- Accessibility: Quba is easily accessible from Baku. It is connected by public transport buses as well as cabs. You can even rent a car in Baku and drive it yourself to Quba. But you must be an experienced driver to actually enjoy the drive. Overall the roads around here were in perfect condition. But there are some winding and zig zag mountain roads in a few places that can be tricky.
- Baku to Quba distance: 168 km or 3 hours journey.
- Baku to Quba bus ticket charge: 8 to 10 AZN
- Baku to Quba cab fare: 15 to 20 AZN
- No of days to stay in Quba: 2 to 3 days of stay is enough to explore the Quba region.
- Where to stay in Quba: There are several homestays and hotels around the city of Quba.
The journey from Baku to Quba
The nearest international airport to Quba is the Baku airport. There are many buses and taxis going from Baku to Quba on a daily basis. You can take a bus from the Baku International bus terminal (also called Baku Avtovagzal) to go to Quba. These buses are very comfortable and an amazing way to travel just like the locals. The roads are pretty scenic with the dry arid mountains on the left and the Caspian sea on the right. Driving in your own car or a rented car from Baku to Quba is also a good option.
Places to visit in Quba, Azerbaijan
Juma mosque
There are 3 different mosques in this small city of Quba, and all are worth visiting if you like old architecture. But in my opinion, the Juma mosque is the most beautiful mosque not only here in Quba but also in the entire Azerbaijan. This is because of the mosque’s unique structure, which cannot be found anywhere else in Azerbaijan. The construction of this circular domed mosque dates back to the 19th century. It is an octagonal-shaped structure with a huge circular dome on the top. The mosque is illusional such that it looks small from the outside, but is surprisingly quite large from the inside. Huge windows open up in all 8 directions. And a beautiful chandelier hangs from the circular roof. The features of this mosque felt more like a temple to me because of its octagonal shape and the dome’s circular design.
I am a Hindu, and I still went inside the mosque because I wanted to see it. All the girls and women must cover their heads while visiting any mosque. Also, make sure you are wearing modest clothing that covers your entire arms and legs. I wore a hoodie and they allowed me to enter upon my request.
Other two mosques in Quba: Ardabil mosque and Sakina mosque
Nizami Park
Nizami Park is a quaint peaceful park in Quba. There are some restaurants and an old museum nearby. I visited the park in the evening around sunset time and it was very beautiful. The park is lined with elegant sculptures of poets and peasants. An old staircase goes down towards the river bridge. This staircase is lined with sculptures of sportswomen on both sides. The park has dense trees and the atmosphere was truly amazing.
Old river arch bridge
After you come down the staircase of Nizami park you will hear the river gushing in the distance. Just follow the sound of the water and you will arrive at this quaint old pedestrian bridge. I visited the bridge at the most perfect time and the sky was littered with beautiful shades of sunset. I sat there for a while and ate my snack while watching the locals who were out for their evening stroll here. The consistent background sound of the river flowing below was very soothing. It was a magical evening, which I won’t forget ever. The old river bridge is a strong reminder of the Soviet past.
Kudyal River
The Kudyal river in Quba divides the city into two sections. On one side there is the Nizami Park, the 3 mosques and the bus station too. The majority of the Muslims live on this side of the river. Several homestays, hotels and cafes are also located on this side of the river. And on the other side of the river is the red village where all the Jews live.
Red village – mini Jerusalem in Quba
In ancient times the Jews who came from Jerusalem settled here in the red village. Now the locals jokingly call it mini Jerusalem. It’s surprising how everything changes just by crossing the old river bridge. The houses on this side of the town are very unique and interesting. They look different, the people here look different and the vibe is also very different.
Grand Synagogue
The Grand Synagogue which is located right next to the river is a pretty place of worship for these Jews. The architecture is old-fashioned and charming. It has six domes on the top, and the locals also call it the six-domed synagogue. I visited the place late in the evening and it was already closed, so I couldn’t go inside. There is one more pretty synagogue nearby called the Gilaki Synagogue.
Guba Genocide memorial complex
It was getting late and dark in the evening that day so I didn’t go ahead to the Genocide complex. Just the thought of visiting the place at night was depressing and scary. But the Guba Genocide memorial complex is just a short walk ahead from Nizami Park.
It is a beautiful and well-maintained place, with tour guides who speak English. The place tells a story about the ugly historic genocide event of the 20th century. Armenian armed groups committed massacres, and several villages in Azerbaijan were burnt and destroyed. The Muslims and the Jews of the city of Quba were killed indiscriminately. There are of course two sides to the tale, but what is sad is that innocents were killed. A mass grave was found in the area in 2007 and the construction of this complex began in 2009.
Of course, the busesi with 8 fees are extremely uncomfortable, they are shaking very much, smell bad and you need to wait for 2 hours at stations.
The most beautiful places are far from Guba 1 hour at least, so there you can only go by seperate car. It is better to have someone who speak English, it will give safety.
the region is relatively safe, but having someone who speaks the language will be much much better, I also had trouble communicating with the locals here, very few speak English and I had to use google translate all the time. And yes the most amazing places are 1 or 2 hour drive away from the Guba city center