STAYBRIDGE SUITES BAKU

Learn all about Baku’s rich history of textile manufacturing by visiting the fully revamped State Carpet Museum, a 10-minute drive from the hotel. The seafront museum is itself a work of art and built to resemble a giant rolled-up carpet with a floral design. Once you've admired the intricately patterned rugs you can find out more about how they are made by watching a weaving demonstration.

The hotel's central location means those seeking retail therapy are only a short walk from several shopping centres. 28 Mall, just 400 metres away, is home to 70 international and local stores, as well as cafés and a multiplex cinema. Walk 10 minutes to the Port Baku Mall and you can browse in around 300 outlets, including some of the biggest global names in designer fashions and jewellery.

Two modern architectural gems stand within 20 minutes' drive from the hotel. The flowing white curves of the Heydar Aliyev Center were designed by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. Equally stunning are the wavy glass Flame Towers, visible from all around the city. These iconic skyscrapers are lit at night by thousands of LEDs that create moving patterns of flickering flames and the Azeri flag.

Take a trip into the past by walking 20 minutes to Baku's Old City. History buffs will want to check out the ancient remains of the Hamam at the 15th-century Palace of the Shirvanshahs. Even older is the 12th-century Maiden Tower, home to a museum tracing the city's evolution. Climb the stairs to the roof and you'll be rewarded with a view across the minarets of the Old City and to the sea beyond.

You can reach the shores of the Caspian Sea with a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Take a stroll along the waterfront promenade of the Boulevard, or stop off for refreshment and enjoy the breeze at one of the many cafés. You can also relax in leafy parkland or enjoy the many fountains. Fans of kitsch can even take a ride in a Venetian-style gondola along the artificial canals of "Little Venice".

Distance from hotel: 1.86 MI/ 3 KM South East

Distance from hotel: 1.86 MI/ 3 KM South West