Quba.
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Overview

Quba (or Guba) is a city in Northeastern Azerbaijan, on the northern slope of the Caucasus, 180 km northwest of Baku.

Understand

This ancient city is the major city in the Quba Rayon. Quba is famous for producing high quality apples. In late summer, cars stuffed with apples are often seen on the road carrying the fruit from Quba to other regions or from small towns to the city's cannery.

Quba is also the hub for many summer vacationers. It attracts visitors with its cooler summer climate and beautiful mountain scenery.

Quba is built on the western bank of the Qudailchay River. On the eastern bank is a rather exclusive Jewish community known as Red Settlement (Qırmızı Qesebe in Azeri or Krasnaya Sloboda in Russian), because of the collection of red roofs that can be seen from the nearby hilltop. The houses in Quba are noticeably smaller than the neighbouring community.

Due to its close proximity to Russia and its former inclusion in the U.S.S.R., most in the city know Russian. It is often assumed that outsiders will know this language. This might also explain a sense of paranoia with strangers found with some. You may be stopped by police and asked to show identification.

Get in

By bus There are buses that run daily from Baku to Quba. There are also buses from/to the surrounding region.

By train The nearest railway station is Khachmaz, about 20 km east. However, if you do not have any particular reasons to go by train, the bus will be more convenient.

By taxi Cabs can be found going from Baku to Quba at January 20th station and Shamahinka station.

By car From Baku take the M1 for about 2–2.5 hr. The road, with the exception of the last 35 km, is a highway with a speed limit of 110 km/h. In the Quba itself, you can park anywhere, except for obvious prohibitions – you can park on the central square near the information centre.

See

Juma-Mosque. Built in 1802, it differs from the other mosques in Quba, it is an octagonal prism with a huge dome. The dome itself is as high as the prism. The mosque includes a huge minaret right next to it. On the other side of the central square are two typical Quba houses with huge wooden balconies.

The Ardabil Mosque. This mosque, looking more like a pseudo-Russian church, was built by people from Ardebil (Iranian Azerbaijan) in the middle of the 19th century. The brick building is painted in beautiful colours. The mosque is in use with a representative office of the Muslims of the Caucasus nearby.

Haji Jeffer Mosque. The largest mosque in Quba, also made of bricks and multicoloured, was built in the early 19th century by Haji Jeffer.

Sakina Khanum Mosque. Again multicoloured, but the form more traditional with a prism and nine domes. Built in the 1850s by Sakina-Khanum, the widow of Abbas-Kuliaga Bakikhanov, in memory of her husband. Bakikhanov had lived in Quba for a long time and was of military profession, but more known as a historian and writer. He was one of the founders of Azerbaijani literature.

Turkish Bath House. The building, 18th or beginning of 19th century, stands out with a brick-built dome and contrasts from the rest of Quba's architecture.

Carpet Factory. It is worth a look there. The friendly service will always open doors and show you how these "Azerbaijani" produce are created. There is also a shop for local handicrafts, especially carpets.

Krasnaya Sloboda. Jewish quarter and richest part of the city, inhabited by Mountain Jews, the world's largest settlement of such with about 3,500 people. It is believed to be the world's only all-Jewish town outside Israel.

Jewish Cemeteries. There are at least three Jewish cemeteries in Quba; , , . All along the road to Qusar, offering a beautiful panorama of the city.

Buy

Apples. Try one of Quba's more than 1000 types of apples. Quba is Azerbaijans most famous source of apples. Also many other fruits can be bought in Quba.

ATMs International Bank of Azerbaijan: Kuba, Quba, 41, Fatali khan street (Quba branch of İBA) Kuba, Quba, Qırmızı (Red) settlement (P.O.) Kuba, Quba, H.Aliyev avenue ("Shahdag" market centre)

Eat

Mahir. Order the "Sachin" for extra sauce, and watch the owner and Toffik smile at the spreading legend of their old friend and his favorite doner.

Kafe Dalğa. Delicious and served with a lemon, if requested.

Ruslan Restoranı. Inexpensive restaurant located in front of the bridge on the Jewish side. Soups (lentils, rice, lagman) and skewers.

Qəçrəş Village. Many places among trees where you can eat Shish kebab.

Sleep

Hotel Xınalıq. Next to it, many SUV drivers are waiting for tourists to bring them to Khinalig.

Hostel Elvin. 5 guest rooms upstairs as well as a kitchenette (no stove or microwave) and huge living room. The hosts live downstairs; the wife is a kind woman who speaks good English, Arabic, and Russian, and her husband has a clean and safe Toyota SUV and gives tours of the mountain areas. Breakfast and dinner are 10AZN each, and the breakfast is reported as very good. Make sure you take your room key and the key to the front door with you when you leave.