Bilgah Beach House

Bilgah is where Baku goes in August. This is a plain, comfortable beach house on the residential side of the settlement, with a walled garden, a shaded terrace and sand at the end of the lane.

Best from May to early October. Out of season the sea is grey and magnificent and you will have the beach entirely to yourself, but bring warm clothes — the heating works but the house is built for summer.

You need a car or you will be paying for taxis constantly; it is about forty minutes to the centre. There is a small shop two streets away and a proper supermarket in Nardaran, ten minutes by car.