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What I Wore to Explore Baku, Azerbaijan

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Wondering what to wear for a day of exploring in Baku, Azerbaijan? This post is here to help!

A woman wearing a bright marigold floral dress walks along a concrete pathway on a clear, sunny day in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Unlike my previous outfit post from Baku, this outfit worked perfectly for a day of exploring the city! I was comfortable in it all day long – and it went from rainy and miserable in the morning to hot and sticky by the afternoon. (I visited in September.) 

What to Wear in Baku, Azerbaijan for a Day of Exploring

What Shoes to Wear in Baku, Azerbaijan

As with any city, a day of exploring in Baku calls for quite a lot of walking! Wearing comfortable shoes was the most important component of this outfit. 

Now, in my previous post about how to dress for a day trip to Gobustan National Park (outside of Baku) – these sandals were NOT a good idea. They didn’t have nearly enough traction. However, for a day of leisurely strolling around the city, my Salt Water Sandals were perfect and super comfortable. 

A woman stands on a concrete sidewalk in front of a large, curvy concrete building. She's wearing a long, marigold colored dress with a while flower print, white sandals, and a forest green over-the-shoulder messenger bag.

What Kind of Dresses to Wear in Baku, Azerbaijan

I’m a dress person, and always prefer dresses over wearing pants – especially when it’s warm out. It was in the low 80s Fahrenheit by the time we took these photos. So I wanted something I knew would be comfortable in that type of heat. (I had my jean jacket on over this in the morning, though.) 

This white and yellow floral dress from Amazon is one I had worn in the hot weather in Luxor, Egypt – and it worked perfectly! It’s very breathable and lightweight. However, I found out on this trip that this dress is a little more see-through than I had originally thought. (A similar version of this dress is also available here with international shipping options.)

I put it on in the morning and hopped in my hotel’s elevator only to notice in the elevator mirror that you could see the print on my undies plain as day! I raced back up to my room and put on more neutral undergarments for the day. Depending on the lighting, this dress can be rather sheer – lesson learned. 

A woman walks along a concrete path next to a curvy concrete building in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan. Her back is turned to the camera and she's wearing a long yellow and white floral maxi dress. The sky is blue and cloudy.

Another reason I had worn this dress is that it worked well for Egypt – given that it covers my knees and shoulders, and layered with a cami or scarf, it doesn’t show any cleavage. 

I hadn’t been entirely sure how to dress for this trip, so I erred on the side of caution. I knew Azerbaijan is a mostly Muslim country, but I also knew it was a Post-Soviet country, and would likely be similar to Russia. 

At least in Baku and the surrounding area, it turns out, there isn’t any unspoken dress code for women – as there is in parts of the Middle East. I didn’t see women wearing headscarves, and most people were wearing Western clothing in Baku. I would say to err on the side of conservative dress, so perhaps no super short shorts, belly shirts, or excessive cleavage. (But I would say that for any new country you visit – that revealing clothing isn’t overly common in Russia either.) Beyond that, though, I would say to just wear what you are comfortable in. (And if you’re visiting in winter – you won’t have to worry about it anyway! It gets rather chilly here!)

A woman stands in front of a large, curvy concrete building against a clear blue sky in Baku, Azerbaijan. She's wearing a long yellow dress with white floral print, and holding a deep green over-the-shoulder messenger bag with caramel colored buckles.

Best Bag or Purse to Carry in Baku, Azerbaijan

I always use a crossbody bag when traveling somewhere new, so I don’t make myself an easy target for pickpockets or anyone looking to steal a handbag! This ModCloth Academic bag has served me well for the last 2 years of travel and daily life. The color is surprisingly versatile, and I love that it also has a zipper closure with the button top (for an extra layer of security).

I felt perfectly safe in Baku. However, pickpockets can be an issue in just about any city in the world – so, better to be safe than sorry when traveling! 

A woman walks along a large concrete walkway alongside a curved concrete building in the city of Baku. The sky is blue and filled with fluffy white clouds. The woman is small in the photo, wearing a yellow dress and carrying an crossbody bag.
The Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan stands against a clear blue sky on a gorgeous day in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan

These photos were taken at the Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan – which is one of the coolest buildings I’ve ever seen. Not a single straight line was used in its design!

This architectural wonder is a museum complex designed by British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. (She was the first woman to receive the Pritzker Architecture Prize.) My post about the Heydar Aliyev Center takes a look inside at one of its Classic Car Exhibits. 

Browse all of my blog posts from Baku here. 

If you have any questions about how to dress in Baku as a woman let me know in the comments section at the end of this post. I’ll be happy to answer them! 

What to Wear in Baku: Source List

Dress: Floral Print Maxi Dress from Amazon

Sandals: Salt Water Sandals

Bag: ModCloth Academic Teal Over-the-Shoulder Bag 

Watch: c/o* Timex Leather Strap Watch

Sunglasses: Oversized Vintage Cateye Sunglasses from Amazon

An image of a woman walking on a concrete path on a clear, sunny day. She's wearing a yellow and white floral dress. Text overlayed on a dusty blue circle reads "what I wore for exploring Baku, Azerbaijan"

*Disclosure: some of these links are affiliate links. Meaning, if you click a link and make a purchase, Have Clothes, Will Travel gets a very small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible! I am also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

*c/o = courtesy of, meaning the company gave me the product to be used on my blog, and I did not pay for it. All opinions are my own, and I am not being compensated for a positive review.

Hi! I’m Lindsey, the voice behind Have Clothes, Will Travel. I’m an online shopping aficionado from a small town in Wisconsin who has also lived in Russia, Argentina, Japan & Australia.

13 Comments

  3. What a beautiful mustard dress! It looks so good with the sandals and it’s a shame it’s see through in some lights but good you noticed before you went outside!

    Hope that you are having a great weekend! I went out to a fashion show last night, it was a lot of fun 🙂

    Reply

  4. This dress is so pretty! I just love the color of it. I definitely agree with you on comfortable shoes. Anytime I try to wear cute, but uncomfortable shoes I am always miserable when traveling.

    Reply

  5. I actually thought you were walking on same in that first picture ! Those are some really cool buildings! I have to find my perfect travel dress but do like all of the ones you have been wearing.

    Reply

  7. I have learned so much from your posts about what you wore in other parts of the country. I do think that planning the shoes are so important, but you can’t think of everything!!
    XOOX
    Jodie

    Reply

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