Qabala
A resort town on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus and once the capital of Caucasian Albania; a common overnight stop on Baku–Shaki road trips, with the coppersmith village of Lahij and the historic sites of Shamakhi nearby.
Qabala lies in northwestern Azerbaijan on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, about 220 km from Baku. It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Caucasian Albania and is now Azerbaijan's most popular mountain resort town. Thickly forested and cool, it's a summer retreat for people from Baku and visitors from the Gulf states; in winter you can ski at Tufandag, and in autumn the hillsides turn red. There are three areas to explore: the mountains north of town, with the Tufandag cable car, Lake Nohur, Seven Beauties Waterfall and Gabaland amusement park (these mountain sights often overlap with Shaki itineraries); southwest of town, the ruins of the ancient city of Chukhur Qabala, the archaeological center and Nij, a village of the Udi people; and to the south in Ismayilli District, the Savalan winery, the village of Ivanovka, the silk-scarf village of Basqal and the coppersmith village of Lahij. It's about 3.5 hours from Baku by car or with a private driver, passing the Diri Baba Mausoleum, the Shamakhi Juma Mosque and the Yeddi Gumbaz mausoleums, so you can stop along the way; Qabala also has an airport with weekly flights from Baku. Public transport in town is limited and the sights are spread out, so hire a driver or drive yourself, and allow 2–3 days: one day for the mountain cable car and lake, one for Lahij and the winery, and one more for the ancient city and Nij, after which you can continue on to Shaki. Mountain roads are winding, so watch for ice in winter; rockfalls can occur on the road to Lahij after rain. The local currency is the manat; hotels are mostly resorts, so book ahead for the summer holidays and New Year.
Top sights
- Lahij – A thousand-year-old coppersmith village deep in the high Greater Caucasus, where workshops line the stone-paved streets and artisans hammer…
- Juma Mosque of Shamakhi – Founded in 743, one of the oldest mosques in the Caucasus. Its three-domed building with twin minarets is Shamakhi's landmark and a must-st…
- Gabaland – A large amusement park north of Gabala, with roller coasters, a Ferris wheel and water attractions. It is one of Azerbaijan's most popular…
- Chukhur Qabala Archaeological Site & Gabala Archaeological Centre – The ruins of Qabala, the ancient capital of Caucasian Albania, with visible city walls and gate remains. The archaeological center beside i…
- Savalan Winery (ASPI) – A modern winery in the Savalan Valley south of Gabala, famous for its Savalan wines. Visitors can tour the vineyards and cellars and taste…
- Diri Baba Mausoleum – A two-story mausoleum built into a cliff in Maraza village, dating from 1402. Its unusual form makes it a famous stop on the Baku–Shamakhi…
- Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum – The Shirvan Khans family cemetery on a hill south of Shamakhi, with surviving octagonal domed mausoleums and ancient gravestones overlookin…
- Basqal – An ancient village famous for the hand-woven silk headscarf known as kelaghayi. It has an old bathhouse and traditional workshops, and it i…
- Nij – The largest Udi village in Azerbaijan. The Udi people are considered descendants of the Caucasian Albanians, and the village has a restored…
- Ivanovka – A village founded in the 19th century by Russian Molokan migrants, with neat wooden houses. It still retains a collective-farm style of org…
- Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory – An important observatory in the Caucasus built on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus, with a 2-meter telescope. Visits and stargazing can b…
- Gabala Shooting Club – A clay pigeon shooting range built to international competition standards, set against wooded mountains. Visitors can try clay pigeon and p…
- Tufandag Mountain Resort – A year-round mountain resort in Gabala. Multiple cable car sections climb to about 1,900 m, offering skiing in winter and scenic views in s…
- Nohur Lake – A mountain lake at the foot of the hills near Gabala. On clear days, the lake reflects the snowy peaks of the Greater Caucasus, and you can…
- Yeddi Gozel Waterfall – A seven-tiered waterfall in the forested mountains near Gabala. Following the steps through the woods lets you see each level, and it is mo…
Where to eat
- Qabala Xanlar Restaurant – A restaurant of thatched pavilions and wooden cabins beside a forest stream. Famous for slate-grilled meat, it is consi…
- Caspian Balıq Evi – A fish restaurant with private cabins built over fish ponds. Trout and sturgeon can be caught on the spot, and the eye-…
- Fontan Restaurant – A family restaurant near the Qabala Garden Hotel with over a hundred dishes. Prices are the same for tourists and local…
Itineraries
- Classic Baku, Quba & Sheki – Using Baku as a base, head north to the ancient village of Khinalug and west to the Silk Road town of Sheki, covering t…
- Northern & Western Azerbaijan Grand Loop – A grand loop from Baku covering Quba, Sheki, Ilisu, and Ganja, showcasing the best of northern and western Azerbaijan.
- Caucasus Overland: Baku to Yerevan – Fly into Baku, travel overland through Sheki into Georgia, continue to Armenia, and fly out of Yerevan.