Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan and has a mix of old and new architecture. It is primarily known for its very photogenic old town, but there are more than enough sights to see over a few days. Here are three things to get you started. 

Waterfront 

Baku is located on the shore of the Caspian Sea, and has a nice waterfront area. This area is just a short walk from the Central Railway Station. You can walk along the waterfront until you get to the old town. There are a few vendors that sell drinks and snacks. The only thing lacking is shade, so you might not want to walk here during the hottest part of the day 

Old Town and Palace 

The Icherisheher old town area is a walled city with many expensive shops, nice restaurants, and narrow winding alleys. You can spend some time just getting lost in the winding streets. The old town is accessible by taking the Metro to Icherisheher Station. A short walk from the Metro is the Palace Museum, a restored 15th Century palace containing displays with history about Baku and Azerbaijan. Entry fee is 15 Azerbaijani Manat. 

Upland Park  

Located on top of a hill overlooking Baku, this park has a small mosque, some memorials to the soldiers that died in the early 90s war with Armenia, and some excellent views of the city and the Caspian Sea. The park is accessible from the main part of the city by taking a funicular. The funicular station is near the carpet museum. One way ride costs 1 Manat. The train seems to run every 10-15 minutes.   

Bonus Metro 

The Baku Metro has 3 lines and 25 stations. It is typical of metros in the Soviet Union, many of the stations are quite deep and have long escalators. Rides cost 0.3 Manat, and a rechargeable BakuKart costs 2 Manat. The metro is a cheap and effective way to get around Baku. All of the attractions in this article can be accessed by metro.