Astara's Caspian shoreline is cleaner than the heavily industrialized beaches around Baku and the Absheron peninsula. The water is calm and the sand grey-brown, backed by low dunes. Local families use it in summer, and the beach is rarely crowded.
The Caspian here is noticeably different from any ocean beach — there are no tides, the water level fluctuates on a yearly basis, and the horizon is flat in every direction. The view south into Iran on a clear day is unobstructed, and you can watch container ships crossing toward Baku in the distance.