Azerbaijan's cultural experiences balance ancient Silk Road heritage with a contemporary art scene of real ambition. Guided tours of the UNESCO-listed walled old city of Baku, the Shirvanshah Palace, and the Carpet Museum — housed in a building shaped like a rolled-up rug — are the heritage highlights. Carpet-weaving workshops in the traditional regional schools of Quba, Ganja, and Sheki; mugham classical music performances in restored caravanserai venues; and private tours of the Heydar Aliyev Centre's contemporary collections extend the programme considerably. Mud volcano day trips and guided visits to the Zoroastrian fire temple at Ateshgah add unusual cultural registers. Tours by local guides can bring the whole thing into focus.