08 October 2025
The announcement was made today marking an historic achievement for the country and the capital.
Covering at area of 215 hectares and stretching 16km along the Caspian Sea coastline - Baku Seaside National Park is one of the most distinctive attractions of the Azerbaijani capital.
Following and intensive assessment process involving judges from the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates, managing organisation Seaside Boulevard Administration (SBA) scored well in a wide range of criteria. This was despite the acute challenges of managing a park of such vast scale in harsh, windy coastal conditions.
Azerbaijan now becomes the only country outside of Europe to hold a Green Flag Award for a National Park site.
Mr. Khanlar Agalarov, Chairman of the Board for Seaside Boulevard Administration said:
“We are deeply honoured to receive the Green Flag Award - an international symbol of excellence in park management. This recognition reflects the dedication and hard work of every member of our team, as well as the strong and continuous commitment to the care, preservation, and enhancement of public green spaces in our country. It is a proud moment for our team and for the city of Baku.”
The Seaside National Park is one of the most distinctive areas of the Azerbaijani capital, Baku. The “Boulevard” as it is locally and historically known, has national park status and hosts a huge range of popular attractions such as the National Carpet Museum, Parachute Tower, Sports and Aquatics Palaces. Earlier this month the park acted as the fan village for the Baku Formula One Grand Prix and at the impressive State Flag Square Complex the park proudly flies the largest flag in the world.
However, it’s not all action and activity. Lined with lush greenery, beautiful gardens, and modern architectural marvels, the site offers a pleasant and relaxing escape from the bustling city life, making it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. With its unique array of plants and trees, Seaside Boulevard is a horticultural and arboricultural success story about how to manage green spaces in challenging environments.
Carl McClean, International Development Manager for the Green Flag Award programme said:
“Seaside Boulevard Administration really impressed us with their balance of commercial facilities and passive recreational space. The combination of the Old Boulevard next the Old City, contrasting with newly developed zones stretching up the coast, ensure that this park serves a wide array of needs from both locals and tourists alike.”
“I extend my huge congratulations to everyone involved in managing and maintaining this park. Toilet attendants, gardeners, security staff, department supervisors and senior leadership. The whole team here are going a great job in ensuring this fantastic park stays clean, welcoming, engaging and safe for an amazing 16 million visitors every single year. Well done!”
The park was also recognised in 2024 as a winner in the category of Large Urban Parks Award by World Urban Parks, which was revealed at the Future Green City congress in Utrecht, Netherlands last year. Green Flag Award is an organisational member of World Urban Parks and the two organisations collaborate closely to support the parks sector around the globe. To become a member, sign up here.
Explore all the Green Flag Award winners
The Green Flag Award winners’ map features accredited parks and green spaces around the world, including Azerbaijan. Explore the various profiles to learn more about our current winners.
And as the Green Flag Award programme continues to grow around the world, so too does our judging reach. In the past 12 months new judges have been trained in Finland, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal and the USA. A proposal is being developed to train the first cohort of judges in other regions in the next few years.
Apply for an Award - wherever you are
To find out more about the Green Flag award or to apply for an award, whichever country you are based in, visit the Green Flag Award website or alternatively click here.
