• Abduxaliq Hamam (public baths), on the road up to the Silk Factory. Days for women: M,T,Th,Sa; men: W,F,Su Time: 10 AM-5 PM. Public Baths (Hamamlar). It costs .8 AZN for a 1 hour bath. 0.8 AZN.  edit

• Explore the new Bazaar, located on the western section of the city. The new bazaar is an interesting spot, where you can find all sorts of handicrafts, food, and spices.

• Drama Theater (one block up the street from the hospital, on the left hand side of the road). Plays are performed in Azeri, but it still can be interesting to see an Azerbaijani interpretation. The theater also hosts other events. There is a çay xana just outside where you can grab a cup of tea before or after a performance. edit

• Chingis Club (on the road to the Khansarai). A new movie theater/museum showing two movies on most weeks. Usually one is a dubbed American/European film, while the other is from either Turkey or Azerbaijan. The entire theater can be rented for 40 AZN.  edit

Hiking

There is endless spectacular hiking to be done throughout the northern region of Azerbaijan, and Sheki proves no exception.

• Sheki-Kish-"Gelersen-Gorersen" fortress-Sheki

22km (10km by car, 12km hiking); 6 hours. This path takes you from Kish's Albanian church to the "Gelersen-Gorersen fortress" via the Kish river and through pine groves with a plethora of varieties of mushrooms growing in the underbrush. Walking to the fortress takes about two hours; once there you can explore the different views of the Kish River from the peaks of the mountains. The way back from the mountain is a great time to have a picnic beneath the trees on the hills overlooking the valley.

• Sheki-Ortazeyzit-Bashzeyzit-Quzuyolu-Xanyaylagi-Markhal-Sheki

46km (32km by car, 14km hiking); 13 hours. This route meanders by two ancient Albanian churches, continues up a long path to the Khanyaylaghi peak, and on to the Markhal recreation areas, where you can have dinner. From this area you can travel to Sheki by car.

• Sheki-Bashkyungyut-Bideiz-Sheki

55.5km (48.5km by car, 7km hiking); 11 hours. After travelling to Bashkyungyut and visiting the ruins of the Albanian Church on the edge of the village, continue up the path and you can see two Albanian monuments situated 5km from each other. Opon reaching Bideiz village, you can return via car to Sheki.

• Sheki-Oraban-Bashkeldek-Keshnazar-Gyurgala-Sheki

82km (78km by car, 4km hiking); 12 hours. This road passes through the Keshnazar Valley, where it opens to a very beautiful panorama. Rest at the "Hunter's House" cabin then hike to the ancient fortress at the top of a steep peak. After walking around, you can return to Sheki.

Guided tours

• The Association of Family Recreation and Tourism in Sheki, ☎ 0177 423-49. This organization has a variety of package tours. edit

• Spectr Travel, 20 Yanvar Street 5. Sheki, AZ 5500, ☎ 944 50 623-7606 (beledchi@mail.ru), [1].  edit

Itineraries

• A weekend in Sheki
• A Week in Sheki

Sights

• Caravansarai, Shaki, M.F.Akhundov Avenue 185, ☎ (177) 4-31-72. 9 AM-11 PM. This building was constructed by the Sheki Khans to house caravans as they passed through on the Silk Road to and from China. This was one of 5 such stops in Azerbaijan during the 18th and 19th centuries, and was the biggest caravansarai on the Silk Road in the entire Transcaucasus region. To this day, it still serves as a place for travelers to stay and eat, and also as a place where one can simply admire its beautiful architecture. edit

• Juma Mosque (Juma Məscid) (Right next to the Chelebi Khan restaurant). 6 AM-9 PM. This picturesque mosque has a 40m spire, from which you will hear the resounding call to prayer. It was built from 1745-1750 and is decorated with exquisite geometric designs. Donation.  edit

• Khansarai (Palace of the Sheki Khans) (on the upper main historical monument reserve), ☎ (177)-43-66. 10AM-6PM daily. This palace, along with the Caravansarai, is one of Sheki's true must-sees. During the city's period of independence as the Sheki Khanate, Khan Hussein constructed the palace, its gardens, and fortifications to serve as the summer palace of the Sheki Khans. The palace is exquisite, inside and out, and the courtyard boasts panoramic views of the city and the surrounding mountain forests. You could make a good half day of this one site, as there are also various museums, parks, and a nice tea house right on the palace grounds. Admission: 80 qapick.  edit

• Silk Factory (İpək Kombinat). 9 AM-5 PM. Sheki, in addition to being on the Silk Road, has itself been a major silk producer over the past four centuries, and is famous for its various silk products. Sheki's silk factory is about a 15 minute walk from the center of town. It is quite difficult to gain entrance into the factory. There is a store adjoining the factory where vendors sell some fine silk items at lower prices than what you would find at the bazaar.  edit

Parks and Monuments

• M. Fuzuli Adina Park (right in the city center). This central park is quite nice during the summer, and it has a couple tea houses where you can kick back and relax. edit

• Cultural and Resting Park of BU M.F. Achundov (one block up the street from the new bazaar on west side of the road). This is a nice park to go to and sit after a hard morning of shopping. If you are hungry, you can have a picnic on the park grounds or stop in the nearby Kerpish Restaurant edit

• World War II Memorial (to get to the memorial, go half way up the road that leads to the Palace of the Sheki Khans, take a right, and then hike up the hill). WWII memorials are a dime a dozen throughout Azerbaijan, but this particular memorial distinguishes itself with its impressive panoramic vista of the city. edit

Museums and Galleries

• Haydar Aliyev Museum. 10AM-5PM daily. A museum dedicated to the first president of independent Azerbaijan (and to the perpetuation of his personality cult), located across the street from the Sheki Olympic Complex. The museum is full of pictures, books, and statues dedicated to the man. Free.  edit

• The Rashidbey Efendihad House Museum, on the road to the Khansarai. 10AM-5PM. This museum is dedicated to one of Sheki's most famous educators and authors, Rashidbey Efendihade. Free.  edit

• Sheki Government Painting Gallery. 9 AM-5 PM. This art gallery is located near the Palace of the Sheki Khans and features paintings by various Sheki artists and students.It is open from 10 AM to 4 PM daily. 0.4 AZN.  edit

By taxi

Until the airport begins operating again, the fastest transport between Baku and Sheki is by taxi — it takes about 5 hours and costs 40 AZN; if you share the ride with other people, it will cost around 10 AZN per person.

A taxi is also a fine, if more expensive, way to get to Georgia, and you should have no trouble finding a taxi, bus, or marshrutka onward from the border at Lagodekhi to Tbilisi.

By train

The train station has a somewhat inconvenient location about 17km from the city center. In order to reach the station you will either have to take a taxi for 3 AZN or hop on a Baku-bound bus or minibus and ask the driver to drop you off by the railroad station, and then walk about 0.2 km to the station. There are night trains that run from Baku-Balakan and make a stop in Sheki. There is also a Balakan-Baku train that passes through Sheki. Passengers must produce their passports in order to buy tickets. It would be wise to purchase a ticket for the luxury carriage in advance. You can contact Mr. Xemlet at 994 50 672-5538 or Mr. Arxan at 994 55 672-5758 to make advanced reservations. The basic carriage (plaskard) costs 2.60 AZN, the middle class (coupe) costs 3.60 AZN, and the luxury carriage (SV/Super Vagon) costs 5 AZN. Make sure that you receive all of your change from the ticket counter, as they often try to shortchange foreigners.

Daily departure times to the Sheki terminal:

• Baku: May 28th station, 22:20
• Balakan: 20:00
• Zaqatala: 21:00
• Qax: 21:45

Daily departure times from the Sheki terminal:

• Baku: 22:00
• Balakan: ~06:30

By bus or minibus

• By Bus

This is one of the more tedious ways to get to Sheki, taking nearly 7 hours, because the mountain pass used by cars and marshrutkas would be out of the question for a large bus. Although slower, buses are more comfortable than marshrutka, although the ones with air conditioning overdo the cold air in a big way. The fare to/from Baku is 6 AZN.

• By Minibus (Marshrutka)

Minibuses (Marshrutka) run between many of the major cities to the Sheki bus station (avtovağzal), and take 6 hours to/from Baku. Use your discretion when riding the minibuses as the condition of both vehicles and drivers vary—this matters, given the exceptionally steep road, full of sharp curves, that awaits. The fare is 6 AZN.

The Sheki bus terminal ticket counter opens 6:30AM-5PM and 8PM-midnight (holidays 10:30AM-11:30PM). Call the cashier at 0177-4-46-17. The ticket vendors at the terminal speak Russian, Turkish, and Azeri.

Bus/minibus departure times to the Sheki terminal:

• Baku: 9:40, 12:20, 17:30, 22:15 (6 AZN)
• Ganja: 1:45 (3 AZN)

Bus/minibus departure times from the Sheki terminal:

• Balakan: 10:10, 14:00
• Baku: Every hour from 6:30-20:00 (6 AZN)
• Barda: 9:00, 11:30, 16:30
• Bulaq: 6:30, 10:00
• Ganja: 8:00, 8:30, 13:30 (3 AZN)
• Kaldak: 13:00, 17:00
• Sheki-A Kungut: 7:00, 13:00, 17:00
• Sheki-B Kungut: 9:00, 15:00
• Mingechivir: 6:50, 9:40, 13:00, 16:00 (2 AZN)
• Naftalan: 15:10
• Oguz: 7:20, 10:30, 11:40, 13:20, 15:00, 16:00 (1.5 AZN)
• Qayabaş: 14:00
• Qabala via Oguz: 6:50, 14:00 (2 AZN)
• Qax: 7:30, 10:30 (1.4 AZN)
• Shorsu: 7:00, 13:00, 16:00
• Yevlax: 10:30
• Zaqatala: 7:00, 9:00, 11:00, 11:40, 15:00, 16:30

Though a large city by the standards of Azerbaijan, it's easy enough to get around the city center and all the main sights on foot. The sloping terrain of the city, however, may tax older visitors, but it's also easy to get around using taxis and, for the adventurous, marshrutkas.

By taxi

Taxis charge 40-60 qapick and are quite convenient if you know where you want to go within the city. Addresses are quite useless in Azerbaijan as many roads have recently been renamed (since independence), so it's better to direct the driver to a landmark you know of such as a school, hotel, or historic place.

By bus or minibus

Buses and minibuses operate from 7:00-20:00, charge 20 qapick, and go to many different locations throughout the city. There are 24 routes throughout the city, and most of these buses either stop in the bus terminal, the city center, or the new bazaar.

Routes:

1a — Silk factory; ziyarit; radio tower; post office; hospital; bus terminal; gushlek drug store; pavilion; Olympic complex 3a — New bazaar; radio tower; silk factory; teacher's school; The Palace of the Sheki Khans; genceli mehel; Caravansary; post office 4 — New bazaar; K/T Axundov; hospital; bus terminal; gas office; pavilion 5 — New bazaar; bus terminal; old bazaar; silk factory; qrensh zavod; bagbanlar street 6 — Okhud village 7 — Olympic complex; bus terminal; hospital; theater; old bazaar; silk factory; university; dodu 8 — New bazaar; bus terminal; hospital; near school number 10; silk factory; dodu 9 — Silk factory; bus terminal; olympic complex 11 — New Bazaar; bus terminal; old bazaar; Caravansary; The Palace of the Sheki Khans; children's hospital; Olympic complex 14 — New bazaar; gushlek drug store; pavilion; number 11 school 15 — Kish; dodu; new bazaar 17 — First region; children's hospital; The Palace of the Sheki Khans; Caravansary; old bazaar; bus terminal; new bazaar 18 — Bus terminal; guyumler; sarabski kuche; asphalt mill; new bazaar; olympic complex 20 — Bus terminal; new bazaar 22 — Olympic complex; bus terminal; hospital; theater; old bazaar; Caravansary; The Palace of the Sheki Khans; children's hospital 23 — Bazaar; Dodu; Kish's 1st Bus Stop; Kish's 2nd Bus Stop near number 3 school 24 — Pavilion; number 20 school; executive committee; radio tower; recreation zone; new bazaar

• Handicrafts made by the Disabled People Care Association in 18 A. Cabrayilov street; phone: 944 177-432-53 and mobile: 944 50 384 20 35.

• Shebeke (stained glass), carpets, musical instruments, and copper and iron products are sold in the bazaar, all along the road up to the Caravansarai, tourist areas, and also at the Handicraft Association headquarters at 85 Vidadi Street, near the Fica Bank in the center of Sheki. The director of the organization is Farhad Azizov and he can be reached via phone:944 177-44265 or mobile: 944 050-5126564.
• Water

Sheki has just started bottling mineral water from Markhal, an area right outside of the city of Sheki. A bottle is an inexpensive, but refreshing and healthy purchase. Markhal water can be purchased at the market 5 meters up the hill from the central post office and throughout Sheki.

• Silk

Sheki is on the Silk Road, and has had a major silk industry for a long time. There is still a silk factory ipək kombinat in the city, from which a great variety of silk items are crafted, one of the most famous being the silk scarves-kalagayi. The scarves range in price from 5 to 100 AZN. Sheki scarves can be purchased at the silk factory, the Caravansarai, or at the bazaar.

Bazaars

• The new Bazaar is located on the western section of the city. It is a very interesting sight where you can purchase many different handicrafts, food, and spices. It is a good place for a person with proficiency in Azeri, Turkish, or Russian to go and haggle with the shop owners, get a cup of tea, or enjoy some chicken kebabs from one of the vendors.

ATMs

• Bankomats (ATMs) are available all around the main square. If you have a cell phone with either a Bakcell or Azercell sim card, you can recharge your account balance using various ATMs.

International Bank of Azerbaijan locations

• Sheki-Yevlakh road (near the "4 yol", Azpetrol)
• Bash Geynuk
• Chol yolu (Olympic complex)
• 73 H.Aliyev street (Sheki branch of İBA)
• 175, M.A.Rasulzade street (ATE)
• 1, F.Kh.Khoyski street (Sheki silk )
• 185 M.F.Axundov street (Karvansaray)
• 25, S.Rahman street ("Gunay" g/p)
• M.A.Rasulzade street (Gishlag)
• 2, N.Narimanov street (Dagdibi)

Regional Specialties

• Sheki Halva — a special type of baklava called halva, best eaten at a çay xana (tea house) alongside a piping hot cup of tea.
• Sheki Piti — a stew created with meat and potatoes and prepared in a terra cotta pot—well worth a try. The style de cuisine is as follows: first crumble up pieces of bread, pour the au jous into the bowl from the pot, eat the bread and au jous, and finally pour the rest of the stew into your bowl and eat it.

Restaurants

• Restaurant, In the Caravansarai, ☎ 994 177 4-48-14. 11 AM-10 PM. Wonderful food served in the beautiful courtyard and gardens of the Caravansarai. 4-6 AZN.  edit

• Chelebi Khan, Town center, ☎ 994 177 4-29-20 (994 050 322-95-34). This is one of the best deals for Azerbaijani food in Sheki. Additionally, the tea service alongside preserves and Sheki Halva is recommended. 3-5 AZN.  edit

• Kerpish Restaurant, Bu M.F. Achundov park. It has 5 small rooms for more private occasions. edit

• Laziz Restaurant, M.F. Achundov park, ☎ 944 177 4 87 83 (944 50 351 64 24). This restaurant has several personal rooms. Follow up a meal here with some soft-serve ice cream while walking in M.F. Achundov park. edit

• Istanbul Restaurant, Next to the new bazaar. Has Turkish food and serves the cakes, Danishes, and desserts from the Turkish bakery next door; this restaurant offers take-out on request, so on a nice day you can take your food to the park. 2-5 AZN.  edit

• Cold Spring/Soyug Bulag Restaurant, On the road to Kish, ☎ 994 117 6 11 13 (944 50 462 71 33). This is a restaurant that has tasty food with a wonderful natural environment. It is rumored that this is the coolest place (in terms of temperature) in Sheki because of an unspecified natural phenomenon. edit

• Milli Yemeklar, Near the town center. Offers Azerbaijani food and has been recently remodeled. This is again being remodeled. 2-4 AZN.  edit

• Sheki Saray Hotel Restaurant, ☎ 944 117-48181. This is a great restaurant located inside of the Sheki Saray Hotel. They have all types of Western food, but it would be better to eat Azerbaijani food at the Chelebi Khan edit

Tea Houses (Çay Xanalar)

There is a nice outdoor tea house (çay xana) by the Khansarai that serves tea and halva to people in their own individual nooks.

Most çay xanalar also serve local beer (piva)—draft at 50 qapick/glass or bottles at 70 qapick/bottle—or vodka (araq) at 2 AZN/bottle. For anything exotic (e.g. tequila, gin, or rum), you will have to go to the Sheki Saray bar and pay Western prices there.

Cafés

The only good coffee to be found (besides Nescafe or Mac Coffee) is in the lobby of the Sheki Saray Hotel. This is where you can get your favorite espresso concoction made by Western-trained staff. The Café Mocha and Cafe Late here are some of the best hot drinks in the regions of Azerbaijan. They also offer a variety of teas.

There is a good Turkish bakery next to the New Bazaar, where you can eat local pastries. The same items can also be ordered next door at the Istanbul Restaurant, which has a nicer atmosphere. Their tastiest cake is the Snickers Cake, although it is a bit pricey (.5 AZN).