The capital
Almost every trip begins in Baku, a city of oil boom mansions, a walled medieval Old City and glass towers that glow with flames at night. It is the base for day trips to the Gobustan rock art and mud volcanoes, the Ateshgah fire temple and the burning hillside of Yanar Dag. Plan three or four days here.
The Silk Road northwest
Five to six hours by road along the foothills of the Greater Caucasus, Sheki is the most charming town in the country: a painted khans' palace, caravanserais you can sleep in, silk, halva and the Albanian church at nearby Kish. On the way, Gabala offers forests, lakes, waterfalls and a mountain resort, and is the place to stop for a night or two if you want fresh air and family fun.
The northern mountains
North of Baku, Quba is an orchard town that leads into the high Caucasus. From here a mountain road climbs to Khinalug, a stone village with its own ancient language, while the Red Village across the river is one of the last mountain Jewish towns in the world. Shahdag ski resort is nearby.
The green south
Near the border with Iran, Lankaran feels like a different country: tea plantations, citrus groves, the ancient Hirkan forest and quiet Caspian beaches, with a distinct southern cuisine.
How to fit it together
A week covers Baku plus either Sheki and Gabala or Quba and Khinalug. Ten days lets you do both. Add three days for the south. Travel times are longer than the map suggests on mountain roads, so do not rush. Use the free trip planner to shape your route.