AResortIndependent states
Naftalan
A spa town famous for a healing oil found nowhere else in the world. This oil does not burn — people bathe in it.
Naftalan is a small spa town in western Azerbaijan, about 330 km from Baku. Its name and fame come from the unusual oil that rises here.
Naftalan oil is not used as fuel: about half of it consists of naphthenic hydrocarbons with healing properties. Baths in this oil are used to treat joint, spine, skin and nerve conditions. Legend has it that even Marco Polo reported on its healing power.
A resort was founded here in the 1930s, and Naftalan became a town in 1967. Today modern sanatoriums operate in the town, and guests from many countries come here for treatment.
Sources
Updated: October 8, 2026