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How To Plan A Trip To Azerbaijan: Itinerary For A Week

Why did we enjoy our week-long trip to Azerbaijan SO much?

In the day and age of the mighty internet, it is hard to find surprises while travelling. Every little attraction has been documented or photographed by someone or the other. Perhaps that is why we enjoyed our trip to Azerbaijan so much – it was after a long time that we visited a country where there were surprises at every corner . We went expecting high-rises in Baku and historical treasures in the countryside. But we met amazing people, saw natural wonders, visited the northernmost villages of Europe, and had some of the best meals we’ve had in a while travelling. The best part? A week-long trip to Azerbaijan is affordable and offers a variety of experiences in one short trip!

As a former member of the USSR, Azerbaijan has a fraught history. The capital Baku has undergone a huge resurgence over the past 10 years. Shopping malls, high-rises, luxury hotels, and a picture-perfect promenade – you’ll find it all here. But driving out of Baku is like stepping back into time. You will find historical treasures without another tourist in sight, natural wonders untouched by tourism, and charming little mountain villages that seem to have walked out of a postcard. Here’s a detailed guide to Azerbaijan and a day-by-day itinerary for a planning your week long trip to Azerbaijan. THIS is Azerbaijan through our eyes!

Jump Straight To

Visas and arriving in Azerbaijan

Citizens of most countries need to apply for an Evisa prior to visiting Azerbaijan. This is a seamless and straightforward process but it helps to have hotel bookings and a rough itinerary before applying for a visa.

You will fly into Baku international airport. Most international flights land at the brand new terminal, which makes for an amazing first impression. We flew on AZAL, the national carrier, and the flight as well the service was excellent. The airline operates direct flights to Baku from New Delhi and London. The airport is about 30 kilometres from the centre of the capital and it’s best to take a taxi to your hotel. There are many other airlines that now have good connectivity to Baku. We suggest comparing prices and booking here .

Getting around in Azerbaijan

If you’re planning to stay in Baku and do a couple of day trips around Baku, we would not suggest renting a car. That’s because traffic in Baku can be nightmarish. Moreover public transport is decent and taxis are readily available. You can also use Uber to get from one place to the other.

For day trips and even 2-3 day trips, we would suggest opting for a tour guide. This is because English is not widely understood, especially in the countryside and exploring independently can be a bit challenging. Tour guides will rent a car with a driver for you and pick you up and drop you back at your hotel. This makes it really seamless to explore places. One day trip from Baku that we would highly recommend is to Shamaki (details below)We lucked out and found an amazing tour guide in Baku. Roman is knowledgeable, flexible, and extremely punctual. He also has amazing knowledge of local food joints and historical treasures. We would highly recommend him if you want to plan a short or long trip around Azerbaijan. He doesn’t have a website but you can drop him a WhatsApp message on +994 70 367 51 39 and he is extremely prompt to respond.

If you’re there in Azerbaijan for more than 5 days and enjoy independent and travel, then we would recommend renting a self-drive car after you’re done exploring Baku. We did this on our last 3 days. Read our experience below:

Suggested itineraries for Azerbaijan

Explore Baku Day trip to Shamakhi half-day trip to Ateshgah and Yanardag

Explore Baku Day trip to Shamakhi half-day trip to Ateshgah and Yanardag 3 day trip to Quba and Xinaliq

Explore Baku & everything it has to offer Day trip to historical treasures of Shamakhi half-day trip to Ateshgah and Yanardag 3 day trip to mountainous villages Northern Azerbaijan – Quba, Xinaliq, Laza Explore Sheki Visit Ganja and Lake Goygol

Budgeting for a trip to Azerbaijan

The amount of money you spend in a country depends heavily on the kind of hotels you stay in, the type of restaurants you visit, and the amount of shopping you do. However Azerbaijan is an extremely affordable country in general.

You can find nice luxury hotels for less than $100 per night. Hostels can be hit or miss, so

Food is incredible everywhere you go. You can get delicious street food for $2-$5. Sit down meals at nice restaurants cost approximately $15 per head.

Renting a car with a driver costs approximately $100 for 1 day. You can negotiate cost of excursions with tour agents or guides. Rates are competitive and affordable. For a self-drive rental, expect to pay around $30-$40 per day for an economy car.

Food – what to eat in Azerbaijan

I feel like I was to pen poetry for Azeri food. To say it’s good would be the understatement of the year. Make sure you try local drinks such as Ayran (yogurt-based drink), Feijoa juice (pronounced fek-ua, the local fruit is used in drinks all over Azerbaijan), and aerated pear juice. Don’t forget to stop at one of the many supermarkets along the way to sample local fruits and vegetables. Most of the fresh produce in Azerbaijan is organic and tastes incredible.

If you eat meat, you’re in for a treat in Azerbaijan. Try the Lyulya/Lule kebabs (mince-meat skewers), dolmas (steamed grape leaves stuffed with minced meat), and chicken kebabs. Stick to local specialities and avoid ordering fish as it is expensive and not the best.

If you’re vegetarian or vegan, there are lots of options for you too. Try vegetarian dolmas, qutab (flatbreads stuffed with spinach), fresh curd, vegetarian piti (soup), local cheeses, and pilaf (rice, seasoned with local flavours).

Best time to visit Azerbaijan

The best time to visit the country is between March and June and then from September to November. This is because it gets very hot during peak summer months (July and August) and a lot of the mountainous roads are blocked or snowed under during winter months (December- February). However if you want to visit just Baku and Shamakhi, then December is also a good time to visit as the roads in this area are good and you can witness snow-laden panoramas.

View this post on Instagram Hello from Azerbaijan ??? We’ve wanted to explore the country for ages and promised we would do it in 2019! The windy capital, Baku, is full of glittering high-rises, and shopping malls. But we spent our first day walking around the old centre of Baku where cobbled alleys and carpet shops set the tone, with the aroma of freshly-baked sweets & flatbreads wafting from hole-in-wall eateries. That might have tempted us into having baklava for breakfast – don’t judge ?? ✨ ✨ #bruisedpassports #love #travel #ExperienceAzerbaijan #azerbaijan A post shared by Travel & love : Savi and Vid (@bruisedpassports) on Oct 14, 2019 at 5:31am PDT

Packing for Azerbaijan

This is tricky. We visited Azerbaijan in October and got everything from bitterly cold and windy days to scorching heat. I would suggest packing at least one light jumper and one jacket, irrespective of when you visit. Pack more if you’re going during winter months. It can get really windy in Baku as well as the countryside so carrying a light windcheater definitely helps.

Azerbaijan is a fairly progressive country, so you will see locals wearing short skirts and sleeveless tops, especially in Baku. However conservative clothing is preferred in the countryside. We would recommend packing at least a few dresses and trousers that cover your knees and arms, especially for trips to the countryside and visits to mosques.

Some tips and warnings for exploring Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a super safe country to explore. Azeris are friendly and while English isn’t widely understood, they are always willing to help

However do keep a couple of things in mind. Restaurants often tend to overcharge tourists by bringing “specials” to the table or including caviar in a mixed platter of kebabs etc. For this reason, we would recommend ordering only off the menu and taking a screenshot of the menu for reference in case there is a discrepancy in the bill

Similarly, always set a fixed rate with taxi drivers before you get into a local taxi or they might overcharge you for the shortest of distances. You can also avoid this altogether by using Uber or moving around with a tour guide.

Day by day breakdown of a trip to Azerbaijan

I’ve never really seen a city like Baku. One minute you’re surrounded by glittering high-rises and luxury hotels, the next you have tiny eateries and colourful carpet shops in a local market. You could think of it as a mix of Abu Dhabi & Marrakech. We suggest spending at least 3 days in the city.

Accommodation in Baku

We stayed at Intourist Hotel in Baku . The luxury hotel has spacious rooms and a great location, right opposite the Baku Eye. Service and breakfast buffet is mediocre. So you might want to choose another hotel such as Fairmont Baku (located in one of the flame towers) or Four Seasons Baku if you enjoy your luxuries.

There is no dearth of nightclubs, restaurants, and sightseeing opportunities in Baku. But here are some things you should definitely do in Baku

• Walk along the waterfront promenade to acquaint yourself with Baku. From here you can see a glimpse of the iconic Flame Towers, Baku Eye, the Caspian Sea, and many other prominent landmarks of the city
• Spend a morning at Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre and admire the gorgeous architecture
• Go on a walking tour to the carpet museum, and Little Venice. Drop by Nizami Street for a spot of shopping and lunch. You will find high street shops, designer boutiques, cafes, and restaurants in the area.
• You should also spend a few hours walking around the Old City – admire the colourful carpet shops, pick up a souvenir or two, sample Baklava from a hole-in-the-wall eatery, visit the Maiden Tower, and the Shirvanshah Palace
• Pack a shawarma and take the funicular to Highland Park at sunset or once it’s dark. It offers an amazing view of the the city’s skyline and the Flame Towers.
• There are dozens of amazing restaurants in Baku but 2 mid-range restaurants we really recommend for scrumptious Azeri Meals are Shirvanshah Museum Restaurant and Qaynana restaurant. A meal at either of these will cost you around $15 per person and it’s well worth it. Both restaurants are beautifull, so expect walls adorned with carpets and rooms dotted with traditional artefacts. You will definitely want to take your camera along for these meals.
• Visit Hyder Mosque (a bit of an offbeat gem at the moment), especially at night when it’s all lit
• Take a half-day tour to Ateshgah and Yanardag. At Yanardag, trapped gas deposits ensure a . Ateshgah is a temple of great significance to the Zoroastrians.
• You could also take a day trip to the dramatic cliffs and mud-volcanoes of Gobustan. While this isn’t a particularly scenic part of Azerbaijan, it’s a great place to observe natural phenomena such as spitting mud volcanoes and Palaeolithic carvings. We will forgive you for thinking you are on Mars.

If there is one day trip we recommend from Baku, it is to Shamakhi. You don’t need to start too early from Baku and can easily leave after breakfast. Stop at the shrine of Diri Baba , a Sufi dervish, who spent his life in a cave, carved into a rock. The fascinating site dates back to the fifteenth century.

Next, stop at the magnificent Juma Mosque. Make sure you are wearing something that covers your elbows and knees. Women also need to carry a scarf to cover their head. The intricate and gorgeous Mosque is a photographer’s delight and the best part is, there are rarely more than a handful of people around.

You could also head to the neighbouring Yeddi Gumbaj, a cemetery overlooking the city of Shamaki. But this is easily skippable as it isn’t anything special.

At this point, you can start your drive back to Baku. But if you have an extra night, we’d really recommend spending a night in Tufandag or Shamakhi, surrounded by mountains on all sides. Shamakhi Palace Hotel is an opulent luxury hotel, as the name suggests. But it is quite affordable coming at under $90. Rooms are spacious and boast of gorgeous views overlooking mountains. Don’t leave without sampling their incredible breakfast spread – you will find everything from fresh fruits and pastries to Azeri style eggs and potato cakes on the menu.

Drive back to Baku

Spend a night in Baku as your trip to Northern Azerbaijan starts next. We’d suggest just relaxing but if you’re up for it you can always walk down to the waterfront promenade or even the highland park.

Quba and Xinaliq

You can book a 3 day trip to Guba and Xinaliq with any travel agency or tour guide.

However after exploring the surroundings of Baku with a guide on our first 4 days in Azerbaijan, we decided to rent a car for this part of our trip. Roads in Northern Azerbaijan (especially between Guba & Xinaliq) can be quite hit and miss with lots of dirt tracks and mountain bends, so we would suggest doing this only if you are an experienced driver. We rented with Avis and the process was seamless. Car rentals start at around $40 per day and fuel is really cheap In Azerbaijan (around $0.5 per litre – perks of being an oil stronghold!).

Quba is a 3 hour drive from Baku. However set aside at least 5 hours for the drive because you definitely need to stop at Candy Cane Mountains on the way. The scenic spot is just an hour away from Baku and comprises of these gorgeous mountains, ideal for a hike and some photographs. The stripey mountains are a unique site but you might have them all to yourself, especially if you go on a weekday. Please beware that there are only 8-10 striped mountains at this spot, so keep a lookout for them while driving

You can stay in an apartment or hotel in Quba. We suggest Shahdag Hotel Guba . You could think of it as a clean 3-4 star hotel, which is the best you’ll get in the city centre. It is affordable, rooms are spacious, and WiFi is good. Breakfast is passable and it even has a terrace restaurant for lunch and dinner. In case you want to venture out for a meal, there are a handful of restaurants in Guba. Of all the restaurants we tried in Guba, a doner shop opposite our hotel and restaurant Sarin (10 minute walk from the hotel) were the best.

Xinaliq is the highest village in Europe and a must stop on your visit to Northern Azerbaijan. It takes an hour and a half to drive to Xinaliq from Quba. But keep lots of time for stopping along the way because the scenery and mountain roads are absolutely spectacular

If you enjoy truly local experiences, then we suggest spending 1 night at a home stay in Xinaliq. They’re extremely humble rooms in locals’ houses, so this is ideal for solo travels and couples. We don’t suggest doing this if you’re travelling with family or have too much luggage. But if you do, you’ll be greeted warmly. Do not expect elaborate meals but there’s no shortage of Azeri tea and flatbreads stuffed with spinach.

If you’re not staying in Xinaliq, just drive back to your accommodation in Quba for the night. The couple of days we spent driving in the Northern part of Azerbaijan made for a special road trip through the Azeri countryside.

Sheki and Ganja

If you have some more time we would highly recommend continuing onto Sheki and exploring the surrounding of Ganca city, especially Lake Goygol National Park. We couldn’t cover this part on this trip owing to paucity of time but can’t wait to return to explore these beautiful parts of Azerbaijan.

I hope this answers all your questions about planning an incredible trip to Azerbaijan. If you have any other questions, leave them down below and we’ll definitely answer them soon 🙂

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88 thoughts on “ how to plan a trip to azerbaijan: itinerary for a week ”.

Hey … how about Lankaran and qabala in Azerbaijan.. also how is lagich.. is it worth visiting ?

Qabala is very nice and you can easily see it if you stay overnight in Shamakhi. However the hotel we’ve suggest in Shamakhi has similar views to the ones you’ll find it Qabala. Also, Lankaran and Lagich are decent put stops but would suggest prioritising places like Shamakhi, Xinaliq and Goygol if you have limited time as they are prettier and have more to offer 🙂

Thanks for the detailed itinerary shared. Can u guys tell me if the chargers from India works with Azerbaijan sockets ?

Most sockets in Azerbaijan are type c and f – basically the 2 round pin ones. we always carry a travel adapter just in case. the indian chargers for small devices might work, but for laptops and all are usually 3 pin ones (type d), so you should carry an adapter just to be safe

Hi you both 🙂

My husband and I are planning to visit Azerbaijan with our son who’ll be 15 months when we want to go. Is it OK to travel with a toddler that age? Will the place interest and keep him occupied too?

Hi Gayathri,

Yes we don’t see a reason why your toddler won’t enjoy it 🙂 Most of the hotels have kids’ clubs

Hi Guys, We are traveling next week and I am wondering what is the best way to take a simple card. Heard it’s really expensive at the airport. Thank you

Hey do you mean a SIM card? If so, the easiest way is to buy it on arrival itself. However if you’re there for a short time, then you might not need it as most hotels and restaurants have good wifi 🙂

Guys your detailed itinerary suggestion was very helpful for my 8 day trip. Based on my experience would suggest a few things. 1. You can do a full day trip from Baku which covers 7 attractions including Qobutsan Rock Museum, Mud Volcanoes, Yanardagh & Ateshgah. 2. Sheki is very highly recommended. For me it is a MUST VISIT in Azerbaijan. 3. Qabala was great and a stay at the Tufandag Mountain Resort is very much recommended along with the ski lift rides up the mountain. 4. The road to Lahij goes through a canyon and is absolutely breath taking. Can easily be done on the way from Qabala to Sheki as a stop. For me the journey to Lahij was more interesting than Lahij itself.

I immensely gained from Bruisedpassports post and thought could add a few things that might help others …

Glad to hear you had an amazing trip to Azerbaijan and that our itinerary was helpful 🙂

Thank you so much for your suggestions – they’ll definitely add to the information for someone planning a trip to Azerbaijan in the future.

We were planning a 4 day trip to Baku. Our agent suggested a place called Gabala instead of Shamaki. Which one should we go for? Please suggest. TIA

Hey Rachna,

Yes you could drive further up to Gabala instead of Shamakhi. You won’t go wrong with either option 🙂

Hi Savi, Your itinerary is such a great help! I’m not worrying anymore about my upcoming trip to Azerbaijan. As I’m doing it myself I probably will do some guided day tours in Baku. Is it easy to book while in Baku? And are they cheaper than online ones? Thanks Josh

Hey Josh – It is easy to book tours upon getting to Baku. However you will find the most competitive rates only 🙂

I recently embarked on a remarkable journey to Azerbaijan, and I must say that it exceeded all my expectations. From the moment I landed at the airport until my departure, Roman, our knowledgeable guide, was an invaluable companion, ensuring that every aspect of our trip went smoothly. With his expertise, we explored the fascinating landmarks, savored the local culture, and created memories that will last a lifetime.

On the first day of our itinerary, Roman greeted us at the airport with a warm smile, making us feel instantly welcomed and at ease. Our adventure began with a visit to Highland Park, where we were rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views of Baku’s stunning skyline. Roman’s insightful commentary added depth to our experience, allowing us to truly appreciate the significance of the landmarks that stretched out before us.

Next on the list was the iconic Flame Tower, an architectural marvel that symbolizes the modernity and progress of Azerbaijan. Roman’s explanations about the design and significance of the building brought a new level of appreciation to its grandeur. We continued to the Heydar Aliyev Center, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture, where Roman’s passion for the country’s rich history and culture shone through his explanations of the exhibits and the center’s purpose.

One of the highlights of our trip was exploring Little Venice, a charming and picturesque area in Baku. Our visit to the Carpet Museum was equally captivating, as Roman’s deep understanding of Azerbaijan’s artistic heritage brought the intricate designs and craftsmanship to life.

The second day took us to Gabala, a scenic region outside Baku. Roman ensured that our journey was comfortable and enjoyable, and we were enthralled by the beauty of Nohur Lake. The picturesque surroundings, coupled with Roman’s fascinating stories about the region’s history, made it a truly enchanting experience. The visit to the Waterfall and the Cable Car ride were exhilarating additions to the day, offering breathtaking views that left us in awe of Azerbaijan’s natural wonders.

On the third day, Roman guided us through Gobustan, an archaeological treasure trove that left us awe-inspired. The Art Rock Museum showcased ancient rock carvings that vividly depicted the life and customs of early civilizations, and Roman’s deep knowledge and passion for the subject enriched our understanding of this historical site. The exploration continued with a visit to Mud Volcano, a unique phenomenon that fascinated us, and the Fire Temple and Burning Mountain, which held spiritual and mythical significance.

Throughout the journey, Roman’s attentiveness, professionalism, and genuine care for our experience were evident. He ensured that we were comfortable, answered all our questions with patience, and went above and beyond to make our trip unforgettable. His expertise and passion for Azerbaijan’s history, culture, and natural beauty were infectious, igniting a deep appreciation within us.

As our trip came to an end, Roman organized our airport transfer seamlessly, relieving us of any logistical concerns. We departed Azerbaijan with a newfound love for the country, thanks in large part to Roman’s impeccable guidance and assistance.

I wholeheartedly recommend Roman and his services to anyone planning to explore Azerbaijan. With his expertise and unwavering dedication to providing an exceptional travel experience, you can trust that your journey will be filled with unforgettable moments and cherished memories. He can be reached at +994 70 367 51 39

I have been trying to reach Roman since the last one week but his number is not in service. I am planning to go for 3days to azerbaijan. I know it is extremely short but this is the maximum leave I could manage. I have few doubts. 1. What is the possibility of taking car on rent and the prices for 3 days. 2. How to book the cable car at Tufandag? 3. Which places would you suggest to try local food?

Hi, I am Roman. You can reach me in mentioned phone number. +994703675139

Hello.. How much did Roman charge for each day?

Heyy guys Just back from beautiful Azerbaijan. Planned a sudden week long trip to Azerbaijan without doing any research and then stumbled upon your article. I was hesitant travelling alone with kids sans husband, but I Can’t thank you enough for the guide recommendation. Roman was a gem. He was there right from the time we landed at the airport till we departed. He was punctual and very very helpful. Not only did he take us around, he became a great companion for my kids. I would recommend him to anyone I know who is travelling to Azerbaijan. Thanks Roman for making the trip so memorable for us.

So happy to hear that 🙂 Glad you had an amazing time with Roman in Azerbaijan.

Hi, You your whole itinerary seems very exciting for me to visit Azerbaijan for atleast 10days.But will this itinerary be suitable even for solo female travellers?

Thanks Shiba! Very useful !

The last photograph on the beautiful road atop the car is which place?

That’s on the way to Khinaliq/Xinaliq 🙂

Hey, Thank you for sharing!!!

I’ve Canceled my trip to Azerbaijan last year because of the pandemic and I plan to visit it this year, and this guide will help me a lot. Thanks again

Hey, I was just looking up the airlines you mentioned to fly directly from new delhi to Baku. But there isn’t seems to be any. Did you fly from Delhi to Baku or from London?

Hi Srav – there are usually direct flights from both Delhi to Baku & London to Baku via Azerbaijan Airlines. But I believe they are currently suspended due to the pandemic

This is fab!

hi its easy drive to baku

I have visited Azerbaijan in jan 2020 with my wife. Our tour guider was ROMAN he was so Cooperative and know the historical information about Azerbaijan really enjoyed. It feels like he was my childhood friend. Highly recommended from my side.

Can we drive in Azerbaijan with Indian DL (english) or will need IDP

Hello an IDP is preferable though some local car rentals also accept Indian DL 🙂

Thanks for the detailed description its is both interesting and enriching.

We are going to be based out of Baku. Does it make sense to various short trips from Baku or take a longer trip and cover the places that you covered. Thanks.

Hey not all these can be covered on day trips but most can 🙂

Hello, Do you recommend renting an economy car for exploring the countryside or a 4×4? Thinking if I could pack some light trails while exploring. Any recommendations on where to recommend from? Thanks.

Hey Adil – a 4X4 is not compulsory for a road trip in Azerbaijan. You can pick something that is budget-friendly, no problem 🙂

It would be really helpful if you could give recommendation for where to take cars on Rent.

Hey you can compare prices and book car rentals for Azerbaijan here https://kayak.co.in/in?a=kan_148771&lc=en&url=%2Fcars

Hey, Would you suggest visiting Azerbaijan in winters to experience snow?

hey guys.. Awesomely explained 🙂 Just a question how about last week of October to the mountain of Xinaliq for a self driving road trip? Will it be snow and bitter cold?

Hey Nisar – yes I believe so but it’s still gorgeous 🙂

Ohhh what to say about Azerbaijan.. breathtakingly Beautiful country with amazing people .. But we personally cannot imagine Azerbaijan without our guide and friend Roman .. pure hearted soul .. Guys if you are planning to visit Azerbaijan please book Roman as your guide .. He will make your trip 100 times better .. never seen anybody as punctual as Roman .. He knows every nook and corner of Azerbaijan.. he will take you to the best food joints ..He will show the best of Azerbaijan.. Roman was with us throughout our stay ( 11 days ) in Azerbaijan.. he made everything soo easy and smooth for us with 2 toddlers in hand..he even bought jackets foods tea and what not for us .. he became a family.. I am really greatful for Savi and Vid for recommending this gem of a person .. even we loved spending time with his wife wasifa .. booking Roman was the best decision we have made while visiting Azerbaijan.. Thanks again guys ❤️❤️❤️

So so lovely to hear this Rameeza 🙂

Can you please give an idea about the charges

Hey did you visit Xinaliq during end of October, planning to go myself in few days from now. How was the weather and road conditions? Pls do share

Hey road was absolutely fine. Weather was cold, so do pack some woollens, especially a warm down jacket 🙂

Thanks for your detailed explanation. I am planning to travel from Saudi for 7 days with my family in December. I arrive from riyadh to baku and how about the return, should it be from Baku itself or is there any other airport to fly back from? for the ticket purpose.

Hey there – returning from Baku itself is most convenient 🙂

We just returned from our 10 day trip to Azerbaijan and I am really glad I found this blog before we left. We booked Roman as our guide during our stay there and we couldn’t be more grateful for him.

From taking us to breathtaking landscapes, to feeding us delicious local food, Roman helps you get a truly wholesome experience. He recommends and takes you to places based on your interest and is very mindful of your comfort, safety and budget. We particularly enjoyed our two day trip to quba and xinalig village in the mountains where Roman arranged warm azer chai,delicious jam and a home cooked meals for us. I would highly recommend Roman for anyone considering a holiday in Azerbaijan as having him around makes your experience stress free and relaxing.

Hey so happy to hear you enjoyed this guide to Azerbaijan and had a good time on your travels 🙂

Thank you for your detailed description. It is both interesting and informative.

How can we reach Roman? Thank you

Hey – the phone number is in the article above 🙂

I have been trying to reach the number, but it is sadly out of service :/

Hi I am Roman. My mobile is active. You can reach from +994 70 367 51 39

Thanks for sharing your experience in such detail. This is a huge help for those planning to travel to Azerbaijan. I have a question regarding the local currency Manat. Is forex card widely accepted there? Or do you recommend to carry more local currency in cash?

Forex cards are accepted in most of the places. We usually just withdraw a small amount of local currency from ATM when we land in a new place. Carrying Manat from India is not necessary.

hi…planning a 5 day trip to Baku in october…should we stay overnight at GABALA or a day trip is good enough. Any other place near Baku for overnight stay can also be recommended. Thanks in advance

The pictures said it all. Very beautiful captures.

I wanted to understand if we need the driving license for the country in case we opt for car rental and what is the process?

Hey Ananya – if you have an Indian driving licence in English, that will work 🙂

Hi Savi&Vid, The article is really insightful. Thanks for including each and every detail. I just wanted to know how safe it will be for a solo female traveller? Do share your thoughts. One of your ardent followers, Neeraj

Hey Neeraj – it is safe, don’t worry 🙂 However would recommend sticking to the more popular/bigger cities 🙂

Hi Savi& Vid,

your artical is very helpful. we are travelling to Azarbaijan i, on 25th of this month. our next destination is Georgia on 1st Oct from Baku. So we have exact 5 days in hand for exploring Azarbaijan. We are travelling with Family of 5 members(all are pure vegetarians)(Mom-Dad-Sister-in-law and two of us). How to plan the days so that we can explore maximum of Azarbaijan. Can you help? We have booked the flight tickets and visa. No bookings has been made for Azarbaijan. Any tips you will give as we are travelling with family. would you suggest self-driving?

Hello – you can plan based on the article! You should spend all your time in Baku with a day trip to Shamakhi and half-day trip to Ateshgah and Yanardag. Baku has a number of vegetarian restaurants but in remote places like Xinaliq, vegetarian food is harder to find

We are travelling- all adults to Azerbaijan for 5 days in October and were deciding between staying for 2 nights either in Gabala or Quba ? Which one would you guys suggest?

Hey it’s so hard to choose but we love Quba 🙂

The whole itinerary is exciting and helps to plan an efficient trip. Wanted to check if IDP is required or Indian licence would work here and in Georgia both.

Hey Aditya – you can use your Indian licence to drive in Georgia as long as it is in English 🙂

I’m planning on going with my boyfriend to Azerbaijan beginning of November for 10 days. Now we’re backpacking and lifting. Is it safe? We would sleep in hostels 🙂

Is there beautiful nature as well?

Yes it is very safe – we had a great time. Yes there is beautiful nature outside Baku – if y ou want, you can go to the northern village of Xinaliq -it’s very beautiful

Hi Savi and Vid,

You people are gems.Like seriously one in million.I have been following you since my college days and always wanted to plan the whole trip just like yours.

You people carry a pocketful of sunshine wherever you go, brightening the lives of those lucky enough to know you.

I wanted to follow your itinerary to Baku for 7 days.Can i plan in December?Is it worth going

Thank you so much for your kind words Sanya 🙂

Yes Baku should be nice in December but it will be a bit cold, which can always have its own magic 🙂 hope you have an amazing trip

Hi Savi & Vid, we have planned a trip on 15 Dec for a 5-day tour to Baku & Azerbaijan and close tourist attraction, we are vegetarians if you could recommend good veg restaurants.

Hi is end March a good time to visit? Loved ur blog. Keep it up.

Yes March end should be nice 🙂

Do you think AirBnbs (apartments ) are good/safe instead of hotels? We are 3 families and i think it will be economical if we just book a 3bedroom apartment via airbnb?

Rest i am trying to follow you iternaty as well as suggestions in comments.

Yes, they are safe. Go with the ones that have previous reviews and are hosted by superhosts

Hi ! Loved the itinary ‘. can I fly into Baku to visit Georgia and then fly back into Baku on the e – visa and back to mumbai or would have to book one way flights to each destination ?

You can do that theoretically, however make sure that your e-visa for Azerbaijan is a multiple entry one. To be honest, given the good direct flight connections with both baku and georgia from India, we’d do Mumbai-Baku-Georgia-Mumbai

Hello..We are travelling on 23rd March for 10 days. 1) Could you suggest a good travel insurance. 2) Also we are planning to use ThomasCook One Currency Forex card. Hope its accepted in Azerbaijan like every other country. 3) And we are staying in Shahdagh Mountain Resort for 2 nights. Will we get a taxi from Baku to drop us and pick us back after 2 days, or should we book another taxi from Shahdagh to Baku separately. How easy is it to get a cab from Shahdagh back to Baku.

1) We use HDFC ergo and Bajaj Allianz. Thankfully, never had to make a claim till now, but have heard that both these are good with claims 2) You should check that with ThomasCook. 3) I think your hotel should be able to arrange a taxi back from Shahdagh to Baku.

I have used TATA AIG in the past and had made medical claims as well. It was an easy process. I have explored a lot and find this policy to be the best.

Thanks for the amazing description and itinerary details. Also, would connect with Roman for our trip. thanks for recommending him.

I wanted to know:

1) if Azerbaijan is good for restricted mobility residents. I am asking because I have a heart condition due to which I can’t climb stairs and walk on difficult terrain.

2) Is June end a good time to travel. will it be too crowded because of vacations etc.?

Thanks a lot

Hey, any apps / website you would recommend for car rentals for self drive (Automatic) and can you guide on the procedure for international license?

We usually use an aggregator like Skyscanner or Kayak. In Azerbaijan we rented from Avis, and used an Indian license without any problem

Hello, regarding forex, I checked with a couple of forex agencies and they all told me to carry either usd or euros in my forex card because very few of them deal with Manat. Is it ok if I travel with usd or euros in my forex card? From your experience, do you think that’s a good idea or should I get Manat in my forex card?

Doubt that you’ll be able to get Manat added on your forex card. you can get EUR or USD added. You can withdraw Manat on reaching Baku

Hi Savi and Vid

I have followed numerous suggestions on your blog but your recommendation of Roman is completely off. He is a cheat and you should seriously think about removing his suggestion from your website. (I have proof of all that I have written below and am happy to provide you the same to take your decision).

I’d just like to provide my feedback about Roman who has been highly recommended here on this forum. I trusted it blindly as I have followed many suggestions on this website and all so far have been positive but it has been an appalling experience with him.

I asked for a quote for 8 people from the onset and got a quote from him which I agreed to. Just 10 days or so before my arrival suddenly he changed the price saying that we need a bigger vehicle. Again my requirement did not change at any point.

Even though this was a red signal I agreed to the cost revision not wanting to spoil my plans.

Then suddenly on the day before my tour planned by him I was told that the tour is without a guide. Now why would anyone contact a guide for a tour (2 months in advance as well) – take the itinerary suggested by him and go in just a car without a guide. Then he says he was booked out 3 months in advance (I had booked through him 2 months in advance).

I am still in Baku and honestly it has been an appalling experience with him. If after this warning you still plan to contact him please negotiate with Roman like you would a LEGAL contract not assuming anything and EVERY word should be mentioned and vetted and checked again because it will be conveniently used against you when required. Even if any punctuation is missing get it added as that will be used as an excuse later to cheat you and change the agreed to terms. I have proof of all this and am happy to show anyone interested so you do not face the same situation as me.

I have travelled to just about every country in North America, Europe and most of Asia, Austraila and many in Africa – so pretty much the world and nowhere have I seen such blatant volte face as I have right now.

BE careful and safe travels to all.

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A One-Week Travel Itinerary To Azerbaijan

Few can find it on a map, let alone travel to Azerbaijan. But the Land of Fire has history, incredible hospitality, and nine climatic zones creating astonishing diversity. With the new eVisa and fall in oil prices, Azerbaijan makes for an affordable destination to spend a week.

Day one: arrive in baku and sightseeing.

You’ll fly into Baku’s Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Getting to the city is easy: either take one of the black cabs (make sure you negotiate the price) or the bus, which drops passengers at 28 May tube station. The express bus departs every 30 minutes costing AZN1.30 ($0.80). You need to buy a BakiKart from the machine in the terminal and give it to the driver.

Depending on what time you arrive in Baku, the priority may be either sightseeing or food. For sightseeing, head to Icheri Sheher, the 15th-century old town and visit Maiden Tower, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and walk around the fortress walls. If you’re hungry, you’ll find several traditional restaurants in the old town area and international ones on Fountain Square.

Other must-visit attractions in Baku include strolling along the promenade (Baku Boulevard), riding the funicular to Martyrs Alley and Eternal Flame for views of the city, and taking a Caspian Sea Cruise. Walk along Nizami Street for shopping and to see late 19th century architecture, photograph the Flame Towers during both the day and night, and marvel at the futurist Heydar Aliyev Centre.

Day Two: Visit the Fire Temple and Burning Mountain

Azer translates to ‘fire’. Azerbaijan has strong cultural links to fire from the early Zoroastrians to the burning mountain at Yanar Dag and modern Flame Towers. Day two takes you to experience the full extent of the Land of Fire. Either join a tour or use the metro and bus, which cost less than $3 in total.

Get up early and visit Ateshgah Fire Temple and Yanar Dag, the burning mountain. The Fire Temple dates back thousands of years. The current temple was built 500 years ago. Take bus 184 from Koroglu Metro Station. After the temple, return to this station and take bus 217 to Yanar Dag.

Yanar Dag in a rural Baku suburb is both awe-inspiring and surreal. A 10 metre-horizontal strip (33 feet) across the scorched mountain continuously burns regardless of the sub-zero winter temperatures or occasional torrential downpour. Ignited natural gas leaks from underground reserves and burns.

Day Three: Gobustan’s Petroglyphs and Mud Volcanoes

Day three involves visiting Gobustan (Qobustan) National Park and the mud volcanoes. UNESCO Gobustan , 60 kilometres (37.3 miles) southwest of Baku, has more than 6000 rock carvings including some estimated to be 40,000 years old. Inside you’ll see Gaval Dash, a large rock that makes a similar sound to a tambourine when struck. The weird mud volcanoes spewing freezing mud from subterranean gas reserves are are nearby, too.

Be prepared to splurge on a tour or else settle for a complicated day on public transport. Tours start at $70 per person with an English-speaking guide and last six hours. If you use the bus, first get to Field of 20 (20-Ci Saha) bus stop in Baku and take 195 heading to Alat. Get off in Gobustan. Write the name in Azeri along with a request to stop here on a piece of paper and show the driver. They probably won’t speak English. From the bus stop, either take a taxi or walk the 3 kilometres (1.9 miles) to the National Park. You’ll need to get a taxi to visit the mud volcanoes.

Day Four: Head to Ganja

Visitors who travel to Azerbaijan often visit the historical second city, Ganja. Dating back to the 6th century and the birthplace of famous 12th-century poet, Nizami Ganjavi, Ganja offers a glimpse into traditional Azerbaijan before the the wealth from black gold.

It’s a long journey from Baku to Ganja, taking up to four-and-a-half hours on the 370-kilometre trip (230 miles). Tickets cost AZN10 ($5.90) departing from Baku International Bus Terminal on the outskirts of the city. Take the green line to Memar Ajami and the purple to Avtovaghzal.

When you arrive in Ganja, head to the central square near Ataturk Avenue and grab a bite to eat. Don’t expect any English. If you have the energy, go sightseeing or wait until tomorrow.

Day Five: Sightseeing in Ganja

Ganja’s main attractions include the Bottle House, giant Tomb of Nizami, and 15th-century Shah Abbas Mosque. The History and Ethnography Museum along Ataturk Avenue makes for an exciting stop for an hour, and the ruins of Shah Abbas caravanserai are on the square opposite. Walk along the pedestrian street, snap a few photographs and head to the historical Khan Baghi Park.

Lake Goygol, a mountainous lake surrounded by lush forest, is 45 kilometres (30 miles) and accessible on a half-day trip. In the evening, take a taxi to the large Heydar Aliyev Park on the outskirts of Ganja.

Day Six: Travel to Sheki

Sheki, the historical mountain town near the Georgian border, is the final stop. Regular buses leave from Ganja, and depending on the weather, should take up to three hours.

Most who travel to Azerbaijan skip Sheki, but they miss out on the historical and natural wonders. The main attractions include the 18th-century Sheki Khan’s Palace (Khansarai), the caravanserai that once housed Silk Road traders and a set of medieval baths.

Day Seven: Final Day of Sightseeing

Stroll along the streets in Sheki and soak up the history one last time. Tourists who travel to Azerbaijan often visit neighbouring Georgia from Sheki. If this is your route, take the bus from Sheki to Azerbaijan’s border town at Balakan. Get a taxi to the border, cross into Georgia and then catch another marshrutka (minibus) from nearby Lagodekhi to Sighnaghi. Or, take the six-hour bus from Sheki back to Baku.

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Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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Guides & Tips

Money and travel costs in azerbaijan.

Chovgan: Azerbaijan's Thrilling National Sport

How Eurovision Shot Azerbaijan to Tourism Stardom

See & Do

When is the best time to visit azerbaijan.

Places to Stay

The best hotels in ganja, azerbaijan.

Bars & Cafes

The 10 best coffee shops in ganja, azerbaijan.

The 10 Best Bars in Ganja, Azerbaijan

Restaurants

The 10 best restaurants in ganja, azerbaijan.

Film & TV

10 azerbaijani films you need to watch.

Where to Watch the Stars in Azerbaijan

10 Azerbaijani Books to Read Before You Go

The Best Independent Cinemas in Baku, Azerbaijan

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What’s it REALLY like to travel to Baku, Azerbaijan?

Adventurous Kate contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

When I think back to my travels in Baku, Azerbaijan, one anecdote comes to mind. I’m driving through the highway as we speed past modern, silver buildings interspersed with sand-colored mosques and souks, set back against the arid landscape. My guide points out a cluster of buildings on one side of the highway.

“See those buildings?” he tells me. “Our journalists live there. They get to live there for free.”

I smile weakly and say, “Oh. For free. Cool.” Inside, I’m thinking, really? In exchange for what?

That’s what it’s like to grow up in a country without freedom of the press. Journalists living in government-provided housing is seen as something to extol to international visitors, rather than something that should be kept under wraps.

That’s not to say that Azerbaijan is horrifying. Far from it. I found Baku to be an intriguing destination, quite often perplexing, and well worth a three-day visit with my boyfriend before traveling on to Georgia and Armenia.

Table of Contents

Azerbaijan: A Modern Land of Fire

Azerbaijan is known as the Land of Fire — this is a country where flames can and do burst out of the earth in unexpected places. There are places close to Baku where you can see eternal flames billowing out of the ground, or even from the water. And the reserves of natural gas cause unusual geological effects, like bubbling mud volcanoes.

And sitting in the middle of that fiery desert, on the banks of an inland sea, is one of the world’s most prolific collections of modern architecture. The most famous of which are three modern towers shaped like flames, lighting up with even more flames at night.

If you mention modern architecture set against a desert, where do you think of first? Dubai, maybe, or Doha, Qatar? I got a similar vibe from Baku. Azerbaijan is rich with oil money, thanks to its location next to the Caspian Sea, which had led to insane levels of recent development.

While Dubai and Doha have their share of modern buildings, Baku sprawls like neither city. As you’re driving around Baku, it seems borderline uncanny that you can cruise over so many hills and still see all kinds of modern, interesting buildings.

Within this unusual setting, there are a lot of cool places in Baku to explore and enjoy.

Best Things to Do in Baku

The good thing about visiting a city like Baku is that there isn’t an established tourist trail — you don’t need to hop from sight to sight.

Have dinner overlooking the Flame Towers. On a whim, I ended up at Panoramic Restaurant . While most of the windows face away from the Flame Towers, there is a tiny outdoor patio with only three tables that has a view of the Flame Towers! Do what I did — go early in the day to check it out, then make a reservation for that exact table for sunset that evening.

Explore the old city of Baku. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a place where the architecture differs enormously from the rest of the modern city. The old city dates back to the 6th century and it gives you an idea of the incredible cultural history in this region from Zoroastrian, Sasanian, Arabic, Shirvani, Persian, Ottoman, and Russian cultures. The Maiden Tower is a great spot for a view of the Flame Towers. And just outside the old city is the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum.

Visit the markets. What struck me about Baku’s markets is how immaculate they are. I’m used to seeing piles of produce flung in every direction; it seems like Azerbaijanis make every effort to shape their produce into the most aesthetically pleasing piles. The conical shapes on the mango slices and dried flowers are perfect.

It extends to larger fruits, too. Apples were stacked in clean straight lines; perfect green watermelons made up the perimeter. One table even grouped tomatoes not just by type but by size, arranging them into perfect mounds!

Normally I’m a bit uneasy at markets because I feel guilty when I don’t buy anything, but I felt more relaxed here. That and men kept giving me macadamia nuts to sample — the best macadamia nuts I’ve ever tasted. (Did I buy any? Nope. Macadamias are one food that I avoid because if I have one, I’ll have a million.)

Check out Heydar Aliyev Center.  In a city filled with modern architecture, this is one of the most famous buildings of all (and a symbol of Azerbaijan, named after its most beloved leader). The building contains a museum and conference center with rotating exhibitions. But even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth it, because it’s in the middle of a giant park, which becomes a place to see and be seen at sunset.

This is easily the best Instagram spot in Baku. I recommend coming around sunrise or sunset for the best light.

Enjoy the cafe scene. While the old city was surprisingly more dead than I expected, I loved the neighborhood just east. This area was filled with all kinds of interesting cafes and restaurants, and I loved walking around and exploring.

Spend an evening down by the Caspian Sea. I was a bit surprised that there was so little seafood on the menus in Baku, despite being located on the sea. But there is one place where seafood is the star: Derya Fish House .

Once you step out of your cab, you arrive to a windy waterfront filled with locals celebrating the end of the day. Oh, and it’s cheap! The two of us had a whole fish, bread, a bowl of olives, eggplant caviar, lemons, pickled vegetables, cheese, and pomegranate sauce on the side for just $18.

Best Day Trips from Baku

The best day trip from Baku is its most famous day trip — to Qobustan to see the mud volcanoes and petroglyphs.  Qobustan National Park (sometimes written as Gobustan) is just under an hour’s drive from Baku.

Qobustan is known for its mud volcanoes. To get to them requires an off-roading vehicle. When my car pulled to the side of the road, I assumed we’d be getting into some kind of jeep — but was I ever surprised when we got into a tiny Soviet-era Lada! It didn’t look like it would last a day in the desert, let alone go off-roading to mud volcanoes!

And soon we reached the mud volcanoes.

The gurgling is a lot slower than I thought it would be — just a constant, slow BLURP! BLURP! every few moments. Like the volcano had eaten a lot of beans that day.

The landscape is beautiful and dramatic — but that wasn’t all we’d see.

Next up in Qobustan was the petroglyphs — ancient rock art. I’ve seen ancient rock art in other parts of the world, like Kakadu National Park in Australia , but this rock art is uniquely impressive. You see people dancing, people hunting, petroglyphs of animals. It has survived remarkably well, and this is why Qobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Seeing Qobustan was one of the highlights of my time in Azerbaijan, and I feel like you can’t go to Baku without making a stop here.  See tours to see Qobustan’s mud volcanoes and petroglyphs.

The other half of my day was spent touring the famous sites on the opposite side of Baku. Here you’ll find two more attractions that prove that Azerbaijan is the land of fire: Ateshgah, the Zoroastrian fire temple, and Yanar Dag, where the fire bursts from the earth.

Ateshgah is a temple on the outskirts of Baku. It was built in the 17th and 18th centuries, though ceremonies have taken place on the same site as early as the 10th century, and it has been a center of worship for Zoroastrians, Sikhs, and Hindus. The flame inside the temple is naturally occurring, but it actually went out in 1969 due to environmental destruction. The fire today is lit by Baku’s main gas supply.

At Yanar Dag, you can see a steady fire burning from the bottom of the hill. Fed by natural gas, this is another fire that never extinguishes. It was so toasty down by the fire — I have never wanted to have a stick and a bag of marshmallows so much in my life! (And let’s not kid ourselves, a bag of graham crackers and chocolate waiting by the table.)

Ateshgah and Yanar Dag are two places that show you how interesting of a natural environment Azerbaijan is. See tours to Ateshgah and Yanar Dag here.

Azerbaijan Food

What kind of food will you be eating in Azerbaijan? Delicious food. Surprisingly good food. The dishes I ate were most similar to Turkish cuisine, fresh and flavorful. While there were some similarities to their Georgian and Armenian neighbors, Azerbaijani food is very much its own thing. I was only in the country for a few days, so this is by no means an exhaustive guide, but it contains several of my top hits.

I ate a lot of dolma — vegetables stuffed with a mixture of rice and meat. While “dolma” can mean stuffed grape leaves or cabbage leaves in other cultures, in Azerbaijan it can mean any kind of stuffed vegetable.

Also popular are kebabs of all kinds, and plov, roasted rice and meat dishes.

Eggplant dip was everywhere — made from roasted eggplant, peppers, and onions and mixed with a variety of herbs and spices. This was the perfect start to a meal. You eat it with bread.

My absolute favorite dish was at Panoramic Restaurant in the Old City — I can’t remember the name and REALLY should have written it down, but it was a skillet filled with chicken, cherries, potatoes, and chestnuts. It sounds like a winter dish but it was solely on a hot summer night.

While you don’t see a ton of fish on the menus in Azerbaijan, you will down at restaurants on the Caspian Sea like Derya Fish House . I recommend ordering a grilled white fish with pomegranate sauce on the side — it brings the same kind of acidity that you get from lemons.

As for Azerbaijani wine, it does exist and it’s worth sampling, but it’s nothing to write home about. Georgia and Armenia have much better wine.

Azerbaijanis love sweets and pastries, and I tried a few different kinds of baklava — one made with walnuts, one made with almonds, one made with hazelnuts. I honestly think walnuts are king — they need that slightly bitter flavor to cut the sweetness. Hazelnut baklava was dangerously sweet!

And Azerbaijanis are crazy about tea. Tea breaks are important punctuation marks of the day. You can sweeten tea with jam, and they serve it with small pastries.

This is just a sample of the delicious food I ate in Azerbaijan.

Want to learn more about Azeri cuisine?

Go on a food tour in baku..

Travel Azerbaijan with JayWay Travel

On this trip I traveled as a hosted guest of JayWay Travel , a boutique travel agency specializing in Eastern and Central Europe.  I’ve worked with JayWay Travel in Ukraine in the past and they do such a good job putting together bespoke itineraries where you don’t have to worry about a thing. JayWay recently added Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia as new destinations where they have local experts.

For my three-day trip to Baku, that meant pick-ups and drop-offs at the airport; a full-day private tour to Qobustan and the fire region, including a stop at a market; a local SIM card, and support throughout the trip. That was perfect for me — I knew my first day would be spent napping and taking it easy due to the weirdly timed flight (see more on that below), and I liked getting to do my own exploring on the final day.

As I always say, if you’re an experienced traveler, you don’t need JayWay in order to travel. But JayWay is perfect for your parents, older travelers, less experienced travelers, and experienced travelers who want someone else to plan their trip for a change. It’s an enormous time-saver when you’re busy, too.

The Caucasus is a fantastic travel destination, but it’s not nearly as easy to travel as Europe. Azerbaijan is a country just waking up to tourism, and they don’t have the established tourism infrastructure of other countries. It’s a good place to have a helping hand.

Learn more about JayWay’s Azerbaijan trips here.

Where to Stay in Baku

Most of the time when I visit a new city, I stay in the old town or old city because it’s usually the prettiest, most central part of town.  Baku’s old city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which made it seem like a slam dunk, and so I stayed at a hotel in the old city, the Deniz Inn Boutique Hotel.

While I had a good stay there, I actually don’t recommend staying in the old city of Baku. It’s beautiful but it’s mostly inaccessible to cars (to get an Uber or taxi, you need to walk a distance outside the old city); you are constantly going up and down stairs; there are lots of aggressive touts around the Maiden Tower; there aren’t as many cafes and restaurants as you would think. If you have mobility challenges, you should absolutely avoid staying in the old city.

If you do want to stay in the old city, the Deniz Inn Boutique Hotel is a nice midrange choice. It’s comfortable, the internet works well, it’s not too deep into the old city, and the staff are great. And the best thing about this hotel is that it has an Illy cafe in the lobby. Reliable quality coffee isn’t always easy to find!

So which Baku neighborhood is best? I recommend staying in a hotel just east of the old city. This area is home to lots of cool restaurants, cafes, parks, and nightlife. And because it’s part of the main city, cars can drive the streets and you can hail Ubers close to your hotel. Most of it is flat, though there are some steeper parts.

Recommended Baku Accommodation:

• Luxury: JW Marriott Absheron Baku
• Midrange: Passage Boutique Hotel
• Budget: Renaissance Palace Hotel
• Find deals on more Baku hotels here.

Azerbaijan Visa

Azerbaijan requires a visa for most visitors. In the past it was difficult and expensive for most westerners to get an Azerbaijan visa for longer than a few days. Now it’s MUCH easier and cheaper — you can get an e-visa online for just $20! See the full list of nationalities eligible for the e-visa here.

You order the visa online, it takes around three days to process, and you print it out and bring it to immigration with your passport. Don’t keep it on your phone; bring an actual printed copy.

Order your visa directly from evisa.gov.az . NOTE: THIS IS THE CORRECT SITE; DO NOT BE FOOLED BY IMPOSTERS! There are many third party visa sites that mimic the layout of this site, then try to charge you $50 for the same exact thing. I almost got fooled by one of those sites.

Flying to Baku with Azerbaijan Airlines

I flew nonstop from New York to Baku on Azerbaijan Airlines.  This is the one direct flight from the United States to Azerbaijan. The flight takes 11 hours and currently flies twice per week.

While it’s awesome to fly nonstop, the flight leaves at an awkward time: it departs New York at 11:30 AM and arrives in Baku at 6:30 AM, which is 10:30 PM New York time. As a result, you probably won’t be able to sleep much if at all, and you’ll likely spend your first day in Baku in a jet-lagged stupor. Plan a low-key day for your arrival if you take this flight.

I was lucky to fly in Azerbaijan Airlines’s Comfort Club, as someone special upgraded me for my birthday. Comfort Club is like the stop between premium economy and business class.

You get comfier seats and a TON more space (the seats go much further back but don’t lie flat), you’re served multiple courses for meals, and you get lounge access at the airport (in my case, the cheese-and-champagne-filled Air France lounge at JFK). I was able to stick my feet straight out without touching the seat in front of me (I’m 5’4″). I didn’t get into the entertainment but there was a decent selection of movies. For an 11-hour flight where I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep much, I was so glad to have this level of service!

If you’re coming from the US on another line, you can get connections on Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa. Azerbaijan Airlines flies to cities including Tbilisi, Tel Aviv, Paris, London, Dubai, and several Turkish and Russian destinations.

Travel to Azerbaijan BEFORE Armenia

If you’re planning to travel throughout the Caucasus, you should try to travel to Azerbaijan before Armenia. It will make your life much easier.

Azerbaijan and Armenia don’t have diplomatic relations, and all borders are closed. Armenians are not allowed to enter. (While Armenia doesn’t have diplomatic relations or border crossings with Turkey, Armenians are allowed to travel to Turkey anyway, so Azerbaijan is much stricter.)

When I arrived in Azerbaijan, I was asked if I had ever traveled to Armenia. I said no, and there was no evidence of Armenia in my passport. But I do know people who have been interrogated heavily for traveling to Armenia previously, regardless of their nationality.

If you have visited the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is Azerbaijani land currently occupied by Armenia, you will automatically be rejected. (They also ask you if you’ve traveled to Nagorno-Karabakh when you apply for your visa, which will also earn you a rejection if your answer is yes.)

However, Armenian immigration officials are more forgiving. They do ask you if you visited Azerbaijan and why, but if you only visited as a tourist, they don’t care and they let you in without any problems. This is why I recommend visiting Azerbaijan first and Armenia second. (It’s best to go via Georgia, either by land or by plane.)

Unfortunately, ethnic Armenians of different nationalities (whether they’re American, Russian, French, Lebanese, Argentine, or something else) are often rejected at the border based on their last name. From what I’ve researched, it seems to come down to the mood of the immigration officer, and I’ve heard that some people try to convince the immigration officials that their last name is Persian.

If you’re an ethnic Armenian who wants to travel to Azerbaijan, or a person whose last name ends in -ian or -yan, I recommend you do more research. This is beyond my pay grade.

Traveling to Baku: The Takeaway

I’m very happy that I got to travel to Baku — but I think this is a one-and-done trip. Which is fine! Not every destination has to be an “I can’t wait to go back” destination. I’m so glad that I visited and had the experience this interesting city had to offer.

Looking back at my two-week trip to the Caucasus, I think that starting with Baku was a good idea. I was able to take advantage of the only nonstop flight to the Caucasus from New York, and then I moved on to Georgia and Armenia, which were both more impressive. I wouldn’t have done it any differently.

Chisinau and Minsk: Two Offbeat Soviet Cities

Essential Info:  My trip in Baku was entirely organized by JayWay Travel , a travel company that organizes custom private tours in Central and Eastern Europe. They organize everything as soon as your feet touch the ground in your country, from flights and tours to airport pickups and a cell phone or SIM card. JayWay recently added Azerbaijan as one of their new specialties, along with Georgia and Armenia. In Baku I stayed at the  Deniz Inn Boutique Hotel . Rates from $56. When using Uber to get around Baku, be sure you check the license plate — some drivers here operate with a different car than the account they claim to have. Never get in a car unless they match. Travel insurance is essential before every trip — in case of an emergency, it could save your life and finances. I use and recommend  World Nomads  for trips to Azerbaijan.

Many thanks to JayWay Travel for hosting me on my Caucasus trip, including covering my expenses in Azerbaijan. All opinions, as always, are my own.

Have you traveled to Azerbaijan? What did you think?

10 Things to do in Azerbaijan & My 5 Day Azerbaijan Itinerary

10 Things to do in Azerbaijan – & My 5 Day Azerbaijan Itinerary

You want to know the main things to do in Azerbaijan? Don’t worry, I’ll try to keep it simple and not talk too much, you can scroll down to top 10 things to see in Azerbaijan, or my 5 day Azerbaijan itinerary and ignore the rest! Anyway, I love travelling in Caucasus region, home to Georgia, Armenia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Azerbaijan. The region is full of unique cultures, beautiful landscapes and has yet to be bombarded with tourists in the same way most of Europe has. Although Georgia is my favourite country in the region, Azerbaijan is the country most full of fascinating contradictions, and there is a lot of things to do in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan holidays are suddenly on the up and it’s easy to see why Wedged in the beautifully scenic Caucasus mountains (where you can climb Mt Elbrus , Europe’s highest mountain), between the semi-desert and the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is still carrying the memories of a difficult 20th century. Yet now awash with new optimism, Azerbaijan is buoyed by its newly minted status as a major player in oil. Suddenly it’s rich, and it’s not afraid to show it. Check out my Azerbaijan 5 day itinerary, full of Things to do in Azerbaijan, I hope it helps when you reach the country!

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU VISIT AZERBAIJAN

How long should you spend in azerbaijan.

You can get away with 3 days if you’re in a rush, you would be able to visit Baku, and the Gobustan Natinal park (the UNESCO world heritage site home to the mud volcanoes). You could also spend 2 weeks and see the whole country! Personally, though, I think 5 nights is the perfect amount of time to spend in Azerbaijan.

Is Azerbaijan expensive?

It’s certainly not cheap. You could squeeze by on $50 a day staying in the few hostels they have in Baku and eating street food. I spent about $100 a day in a decent hotel and not worrying too much about money.

Is it safe to visit Azerbaijan?

Very safe. The only thing to note is to not talk about the relationship they have with Armenia or the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabakh (and certainly don’t visit it from the Azerbaijan side, but you can visit it from the Armenian side if you visit there). 

Do I need a visa to visit Azerbaijan?

Yes. You can get it online here . It costs $25 to get it within 3 days, and $51 to get it within 3 hours. Most countries are eligible. You can check if you are eligible here . 

Anything else?

The Caucasus is a wonderful, ancient region to travel in. If you do travel to Azerbaijan, I’d really, really, really recommend making it at least a 2-week trip and doing an overland Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia trip (in that order, if you go to Armenia first, you can’t go to Azerbaijan due to their break down in relations). You can also then visit the 3 disputed territories of South Ossetia (accessible only via Russia though), Abkhazia (accessible from Georgia) and Nagorno-Karabakh (accessible from Armenia). It’s a true travel adventure. 

Top 10 Things to do in Azerbaijan

Before I go through my Azerbaijan 5 days itinerary, let me list the Top 10 things to do in Azerbaijan. If you visit Azerbaijan, regardless of your itinerary, try not to miss out on these, especially numbers 1-7!

• Baku Old City – the Unesco World Heritage site includes the City Walls, the Maiden Tower, and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs
• The Flame Towers – Baku, and Azerbaijan’s new modern icon
• Bibi Heybat Mosque – Home to one of the descendants of the Prophet Mohammed
• Ateshgah Fire Temple – A fascinating insight into Zoroastrianism and their worship of fire
• Sheki – Gorgeous traditional town on the former Silk Road perched on a hilltop 5 hours West of Baku
• Lahij – A culturally diverse settlement focused on local handicrafts and cobblestone alleyways, really cool.
• Gobustan Mud Volcanoes – Azerbaijan’s 2nd UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Mardakan or Buzovna beach – if you’re there in the summer, join the locals on the beach
• Quba and Tenghi Canyon – If you have time to kill, head north and go hiking in Caucasus mountain foothills in Azerbaijan
• Tufandag or Shahdag ski resorts – If you’re here in December, January or February go skiing for less than $12 a day!

Things to do in Azerbaijan; A 5 Day Azerbaijan Itinerary

5 nights is the perfect amount of time to get to grips with Azerbaijan and its main highlights, so let’s get started

Day 1 on your Azerbaijan itinerary: Baku Old City, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Baku is where it all starts. Spending two days in a city, which boasts arguably the world’s most awe-inspiring skyscrapers alongside a UNESCO listed old city, is a great introduction to the contrasts that Azerbaijan holds. The flashy capital, Baku, boasts architecture that even the Emiratis in Dubai would cast a jealous eye over. 

Baku Old City: Take a local breakfast on the city’s waterfront promenade, Azeri cheese and bread, and, head by foot to the old town and immerse yourself in what Baku used to be. You can take a free walking tour of the Old City, or spend the next few hours with your guidebook wandering the beautiful haze of cobbled, winding alleys and medieval architecture. Just make sure to spend some time in the sandstone Palace of the Shirvanshahs, home to the Azeri dynasties who led during the middle ages.

Next up is the imposing 29m Maiden’s Tower, the icon of Baku’s old town and well worth the knee-jerking climb for unparalleled views of Baku Bay and the old town.

Once you’ve had your fill of culture, venture back to the waterfront where you can stroll along the Bulvar, sampling all the national drinks ranging from the wonderful Azeri sherbert (a home-grown fruit juice with a generous helping of sugar and a touch of rose water) to the flavorful local teas, and maybe grab yourself a beer for sunset.

Day 2 on your Azerbaijan itinerary: Baku 

Wake yourself up with a wonderful local coffee at one of the endless coffee shops west of Fountain Sq. Then move on to the venue that Azerbaijan hoped would be their introduction to the Western world – the Crystal Hall. Built exclusively for the 2012 Eurovision song contest, the hall never fails to impress. Shining like a diamond snowflake on Baku bay, the venue truly is a sight to behold. The Crystal Hall spared no expense; the project (controversially) cost millions and is as lavish as it is expensive. The hall was built entirely on recaptured land from the Caspian Sea and basks in the glory of the world’s second tallest flag pole. It’s another site that is worth getting up close and personal within its own right.

After lunch by the hall, venture to the rickety funicular railway and take the free ride all the way to the top of Martyrs’ Alley. The sombre graveyard pays tributes to those who fell in World War II. After paying your respects you’re rewarded with the most breathtaking views of the entire city. Spin around and you’ll see Baku’s and Azerbaijan’s newest icons in all their glory – the Flame Towers.

After strolling back down to the city, pulling on your glad rags, it’s time to party in the Caucasus’ most cosmopolitan city. With both ex-pats bars and local hangouts aplenty, everyone is spoiled for choice when wanting to cut loose in Baku.

Day 3 on your Azerbaijan itinerary: Gobustan National Park, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Jump in a taxi, book a tour or from Maiden Tower hop on Bus 88 or 120 to take bus number 88 or 120 to the ‘Field of 20’ stop, then Bus 195 to the National Park. Today is two of the best half-day trips Azerbaijan has to offer. The Petroglyphs at Gobustan are another UNESCO listed site and date back as far as 12TH century BCE. The museum attached to the rock carvings will whet your appetite just enough before you go searching for the carvings. As you walk around the barren, semi-desert landscape of Gobustan you’ll be catapulted back in time amongst the cave paintings themselves, a true highlight of any trip to Azerbaijan.

Just another 10km or so beyond Qobustan is one of the more obscure destinations to be found in Azerbaijan or the surrounding region. The mud volcanoes are definitely worth adding to your itinerary. The ugly 10-foot tall mounds aggressively spout thick mud 24 hours a day, just don’t get too close or you’ll be wearing a nice little reminder of your time here (like the author). The volcanoes can be tricky to locate, so make sure your driver either knows the route personally or chat to some locals at Qobustan to get the lowdown on how to find them. And be prepared to tip a few extra dollars at the end, he may be required to do some minor off-roading!

NOTE: If you’re a fast tourist or super-pushed for time, you could squeeze Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3 into just 2 days. An early start to get to Gobustan, back for late lunch then a dash around Baku. 

That night, depending on your level of adventure, you can either stay in Baku once more, or take the slow 11pm nighttrain to Sheki, which will get you to Sheki around 6am in the following morning (that’s what I did). Luxury ticket, with a bed, is about $12!

GOOGLE MAP FOR DAYS 1, 2 AND 3 ON YOUR AZERBAIJAN ITINERARY  

Day 3 or 4 on your azerbaijan itinerary: sheki.

If you didn’t take the night train, you can take a four-hour taxi from Baku to Sheki.

First things first.

1. You have to visit Sheki when you visit Azerbaijan. It’s amazing, and often people consider it the highlight of there trip here.

And 2. Stay in the famous Caravansarai regardless of your budget ($30 or so per night). It’s an ancient hotel which was home to traders, poets and merchants in the Silk Road days, pretty cool! After that, Sheki is a place where you will just wander around and soak up the gorgeous views and beautiful architecture. Have brekki at the Sheki Bazaar, check out the Friday Mosque, the tea house inside the Palace of the Sheki Khans. If you have time, head out to see the church at Kish, and think about dinner ar the Karavan Palace. 

Day 4 or 5 on your Azerbaijan itinerary: Lahich

I wouldn’t be surprised if Sheki stole your heart, so if you’re travelling on a long trip, you may well spend another day and night there. But, if you live in the real world, and your holiday time is set-in-stone, then it’s time to get moving. Your last stop on the 5 night itinerary, Lahich. 

Lahich is kind of like Sheki before Sheki realised how beautiful it was. In Lahich, you may be the only tourist there, now that is a trip worth making! To get here, you have to get from Sheki to Ismaili, then Ismaili to Lahich. A taxi is your best bet (about 3 hours and $30), failing that you’re on the minibuses for most of the morning, on perhaps longer.

Lahich, or Lahij, is set in the valleys of the Caucasus mountains.You’ll be back in modern Baku tomorrow, so this is the last true taste of Azerbaijan culture. Walk the cobblestone nooks and crannies, or go for a little hike. 

NOTE: If you only have 3 or 4 days in Azerbaijan, you can skip Lahich and go straight back to Baku.

Day 5 or 6 on your Azerbaijan itinerary: Back to Baku

A 4 hour winding mini-bus ride from Lahich to Baku, or a 2.5 hour taxi journey and you’re back in the Capital just in time for your flight. I hope you guys will share the love I have for this region after your week or so in Azerbaijan. Countries like this are in short supply these days. Beautiful, cultural, friendly and yet to be overwhelmed with tourism. You made it, and you can tell your grandkids you did before everyone else!

Google map for your 5 day Azerbaijan Itinerary, including Quba as an optional hiking addition

AZERBAIJAN 3 DAY ITINERARY? 4 DAY? 1 WEEK?

3 DAYS: I would spend Day 1 in Baku and do the Old city, take the night train to Sheki. Spend Day 2 in Sheki, sleep there. Morning taxi back to Baku for half-day in Baku and sleep there.

4 DAYS: I would spend Day 1 in Baku and do the Old city, take the night train to Sheki. Spend Day 2 in Sheki, sleep there. Morning taxi back to Baku, but go via Gobustan and the mud volcanoes, sleep in Baku. 

1 WEEK+: I would follow the 5 day itinerary above, but after Lahich head north to Quba for a night or 2 hiking, and check the Tengealti canyon. Also, if it’s summer hit the beaches at Mardakan or Buzovna, and if it’s winer hit the slops at Tufandag or Shahdag resorts. Perfect!

Overlanding to Georgia, and on to Armenia:  If you’re going to Georgia, you can take a night train directly from Baku to Tblisi (Georgia’s Capital) but that means skipping Sheki, don’t do that, Sheki is so lovely. I’d do Baku (and then north to Quba if you want to hike, then back to Baku), then on to Lahich, then Sheki, then Tblisi. Done.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Writing this blog post has brought back so many amazing memories from my time in Azerbaijan. I overlanded from Iran, and then on through the Georgia, Armenia, Nagorno-Karabkh, back to Armenia, back to Georgia, into Turkey and all the way across Turkey. A brilliant, brilliant trip, and a route I’d recommend so highly. And now, with this blog post, I’m going to take my mum back to Azerbaijan next year I think, I just haven’t told her yet! 

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9 Must-Know Tips for Travelling to Azerbaijan

Updated: Jan 2

Azerbaijan, The Land of Fire

Thinking of travelling to Azerbaijan? Welcome to Azerbaijan travel guide by Almosafer! Let's explore this captivating country and its renowned attractions that make it an enticing destination for travellers.

As its nickname suggests, Azerbaijan is blessed with several natural phenomena related to fire. The country is known for its abundant natural gas and oil reserves, which have been sources of fire for centuries. The presence of a burning mountain (Yanar Dag) and numerous mud volcanoes that emit flames further contribute to this nickname.

Azerbaijan is a country with a rich cultural heritage mirrored in different forms of arts. You will be amazed by Azerbaijan's traditional music. Its vibrant dance forms such as Yalli and Mugham are outstanding. Its craftsmanship in carpets, ceramics, and metalwork is exquisite.

Adding to its allure, Azerbaijan is the ideal choice for adrenaline junkies seeking exhilarating outdoor adventures.

Travellers can experience thrilling activities in the Caucasus Mountains. Hiking its majestic peaks is one option. Skiing the slopes in winter is another. For those feeling adventurous, mountaineering routes provide stunning panoramic views.

Before you pack your bags and head to this stunning country, it's essential to familiarize yourself with some important information. Almosafer will provide you with valuable insights and tips to make your journey to Azerbaijan a memorable and hassle-free experience. Our comprehensive guide covers all the essential Azerbaijan travel tips, including visa requirements, cultural etiquette, and must-visit attractions. We promise that you'll have the necessary information to make the most of your journey.

Azerbaijan Visa Requirements & Documentation

To enter Azerbaijan, you need to meet the requirements, including:

Have a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining.

Check the Republic of Azerbaijan visa process according to your nationality (state migration service).

Consider applying for an e-visa, which allows for a convenient online application process.

Make sure to make copies of all documentation, including your passport and visa, and carry them throughout the trip.

Azerbaijan Visa Requirements: Saudi Nationals & Residents

Climate and Weather in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan experiences a diverse climate due to its location. Azerbaijan's temperature during summer can be fairly high. Whereas in winter, it’s cold and snowy, particularly in the mountainous areas.

The capital Baku, for example, is marked by hot summers and mild winters. When travelling during the summer, pack lightweight clothing. For the winter season, include warm layers in your luggage. It’s recommended to check the weather forecast before your trip and plan your activities accordingly.

Language and Communication

The official language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani. The local language is widely spoken in urban areas, however, English is common too. The younger population in the tourism industry specifically speaks good English. We suggest that you learn a few basic phrases or carry a translation app to assist you during your stay.

Currency and Money Matters

The national currency in Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijani Manat (AZN). It's advisable to carry some local currency for small purchases and to have access to ATMs for cash withdrawals. Moreover, credit cards are widely accepted, but it's always smart to carry some cash.

Safety and Security Tips While Travelling to Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is generally a safe country to visit, with a low crime rate. Nevertheless, it's always wise to take necessary precautions. You should keep an eye on your belongings and avoid isolated areas at night. You should also familiarize yourself with emergency contact numbers and the location of the nearest embassy or consulate.

Furthermore, carrying a medical kit is essential when traveling to any destination. It is advisable to have basic medications for common ailments such as fever, cold, cough, headache, and painkillers readily available.

Needless to say, if you are on specific prescribed medications, it is important to carry them with you at all times. Being in a different country may pose challenges in obtaining the same medications prescribed by your doctor. Therefore, having a well-prepared medical kit is always beneficial during your vacation.

Cultural Etiquette and Customs in Azerbaijan

When traveling to a foreign county, it’s crucial to have an idea about the local customs and etiquette. It's customary to remove your shoes when entering someone's home. And if you enjoy experimenting with cuisines, you should try the traditional cuisine. Additionally, avoid discussing sensitive political or religious topics unless initiated by locals.

Getting Around Azerbaijan

When traveling from the airport, it’s recommended to avoid taxis waiting outside the airport, as they often overcharge tourists. Instead, it is advisable to opt for ride-hailing services like Uber or Yandex taxis, which offer fair and reasonable prices. These services are readily available and offer a convenient and affordable transportation option.

For getting around, the metro is highly recommended as it is the most cost-effective and efficient mode of transportation. In case you prefer taxis, note that bargaining skills are crucial. Taxi drivers often charge significantly higher fares, sometimes up to 10 times the actual amount for tourists.

Must-visit Attractions in Azerbaijan

There’re plenty of places to visit in Azerbaijan. The country offers a wealth of attractions that cater to various interests. Some of them are:

Baku Old City - UNESCO World Heritage site in Azerbaijan (Icherisheher).

The stunning Gobustan mud volcanoes and the ancient rock carvings.

The Caspian Sea coastline, the Absheron Peninsula, and the lush greenery and enchanting waterfalls of the Sheki region.

The iconic Flame Towers and the modern architectural marvels in Baku.

Itinerary Planning & Bookings

As you are planning your trip to Azerbaijan, arranging your stay and reserving your flight tickets get a bit challenging. Therefore, Almosafer got your back with a smooth booking experience.

*Helpful Tip: Azerbaijan Airlines is the national flag carrier and the largest in the country. Hence, you may want to book your flight with it through Almosafer to find convenient timings and reasonable prices.

Fly to Baku: It offers a fascinating blend of history, culture, and modernity, yet has a history that dates back to several centuries. The city, thus, attracts tourists from all over the world.

Check cheap flights to Baku (Traveling from KSA? We got you the cheapest flights from DMM to Baku as well as RUH to Baku ).

If you decide to stay in Baku, we recommend checking Baku hotels available on Almosafer.

Fly to Gyandzha : Gyandzha has something to offer every visitor. The city is packed with historical landmarks, natural spaces, and fine diners. Immerse yourself in local traditions while indulging in culinary delights.

Check cheap flights to Gyandzha (You can find exclusive offers & discounts on Almosafer ).

Almosafer offers a diverse range of hotels in Gyandzha to suit your preferences, whether budget-friendly accommodations or luxurious stays.

If you consider all the above information about Azerbaijan, you'll be well-prepared to enjoy all it has to offer. Remember to plan your itinerary and make your bookings as soon as you can to get the cheapest possible rates. Have a wonderful trip!

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17 Fascinating Places to Visit in Azerbaijan

Discover the weird and wonderful places in Azerbaijan you need to visit. From Baku and beyond.

You’ve probably never thought of traveling in Azerbaijan. Admittedly, I hadn’t. Many people haven’t even heard of Azerbaijan before.

I’ll admit it’s a fairly obscure tourist destination, especially for North American travelers. However, I’m in the business of exposing you guys to new, fascinating, and sometimes strange places.

Azerbaijan is one of them.

There are few countries in the world where you can dip your toes in the cool waters of the Caspian Sea, watch natural, unprovoked fires burn from the earth, and take a relaxing bath (Or highly stressful? You decide…) in pure crude oil.

Yep, all of these are things you can do while traveling in Azerbaijan.

An oil-rich country located off the ancient Silk Road, Azerbaijan has a history and culture that spans many centuries.

However, it was occupied for several years (and many of its historic buildings destroyed) by the Soviet Union until its downfall in 1991.

Since then, Azerbaijan and its people have been on a quest to restore their independent identity, and attract visitors to come learn about it in the process.

Today, Azerbaijan is most famous for being rich in energy resources such as natural gas and crude oil.

If you do find yourself in the Caucasus region and want a taste of what Azerbaijan has to offer, read on!

Best Places to Visit in Azerbaijan

No list of places to visit in Azerbaijan would be complete without the metropolis of Baku.

Azerbaijan’s capital city is known for being the headquarters of the country’s oil and gas operations. Energy executives and rig workers come here to extract these precious resources from the ground near the Caspian Sea.

As a result of the rampant oil production in the area, Baku is, in one word, flourishing.

From a distance, the city feels shiny, cosmopolitan, and buttoned-up. The flame towers peek over the skyline and dazzle through the night with a spectacular light show.

Seaside boardwalks meet busy streets lined with the world’s most coveted brand-name stores. Men and women dressed in the most stylish clothing and designer sunglasses walk hurriedly down the street.

It’s basically the New York City of Azerbaijan (minus the pizza).

Upon a closer look, you can still find small pieces of Baku’s history that give it character.

Tandir bakeries with the smell of warm bread wafting through the window. A refurbished old city with a few too many souvenir shops. Fruit stands set up on the sidewalk and underground traditional restaurants.

The zenith of city attractions in Baku is the strange, spaceship-looking Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center. It’s the weirdest building I’ve ever seen in my life, taking the shape of something between a melted marshmallow, a cloud, and a mushroom.

Yeah, try and picture that. Inside, there’s a museum boasting local contemporary art and other rotating exhibits.

While exploring, you can see some of the city’s museums, like the Carpet Museum. I also recommend taking a free walking tour to orient yourself to some of the legends and history of the city.

At night, you can head to the Upland Park viewpoint (you can go via the Funicular car if you so choose) to watch the 8:30 PM light show on the Flame Towers and treat yourself to a stunning sunset view of the city and the Caspian Sea below.

Towards the west of Azerbaijan lies Ganja, one of the country’s largest cities after Baku.

It is a very historic city, having changed hands throughout the centuries of its existence. And thus, it boasts several interesting and ancient attractions that visitors can explore.

While in Ganja, you can start off your days strolling around the Heydar Aliyev Park, which is one of the largest in the Caucasus region. There’s an iconic archway near the entrance to admire.

You can also explore the Jume Mosque and Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, both important historic institutions for the city folk of Ganja.

Also, you can’t miss the Ganja Bottle House, an extremely strange (but unique!) structure built out of various glass bottles.

If you’re interested in religious sites or Islam, you can head to Imamzadeh outside of the city to see a pilgrimage site, which consists of a beautiful mausoleum for the Prophet Ali’s descendants.

One of my favorite experiences in Azberijan was seeing Xinaliq, a tiny mountain village near the border of Russia.

As the highest-altitude village in Azerbaijan (and, arguably, all of Europe), a visit to Xinaliq is a glimpse into the ‘real’ Azerbaijan. Here, friendly shepherds, wooly sheep, and friendly villagers come to greet you.

The views in Xinaliq are spectacular and, despite the 1 or 2 tours that come through here daily, it truly feels like an untouched destination.

To get there, I took a Xinaliq day tour from Baku with Azerbaijan Traveller. The tour brought us from the paved sidewalks and shiny buildings of Baku to the dirt roads, small village homes, and the provincial area of Xinaliq, and back over the course of about 12 hours.

While in Xinaliq, we ate a local lunch in the home of a Xinaliq native, Zaur, who had deep smile lines and loved showing off his postcard collection from around the world. He seemed to be a popular guy!

Afterward, we walked around the foggy, rocky streets of the city, played with local children, and admired the views of the eerie, treeless mountains in the distance.

If you get the chance to stay here longer than one day, there are countless trails and paths around the mountains, where the only other souls you’ll see will be sheep, cows, and their corresponding caretakers.

Located at just 2 hours outside of Baku, Quba is an easy day trip from the city.

The most popular destination in Quba is the Jewish Quarter. Although Azerbaijan is a predominantly Muslim country, Quba is home to a fairly large population of Jewish people.

Many of them don’t live here year-round – they simply own homes here and come when they want to get away from the bigger cities. Here, you can walk around the streets full of giant, sometimes colorful houses, or pop into one of the historic synagogues to have a look.

I’ll be honest – I didn’t  love Quba. After visiting for a short time, I didn’t find there was a ton to do there besides exploring the Jewish Quarter and eating some of the local sweets and pastries.

However, I still think it belongs on this list as it is a culturally significant and unique area of Azerbaijan. I’d recommend stopping by if you’re in the area, particularly if you are headed to nearby Xinaliq, as it is on the way.

Located northwest of Baku en route to Sheki (below) is Lahic, a small metalwork artisan town resting high up in the mountains.

It’s a bit more developed for tourists than places like Xinaliq, so it’s perfect for a weekend getaway from Baku or a pit stop on the way to another destination. It’s a bit of a trek to get here from the city, but it’s worth it for the local immersion a trip to Lahic provides.

While in Lahic, you can wander the town’s cobblestoned streets, stop into local metal design shops, and even stumble upon livestock that runs amok in the streets.

You can also experience the provincial Azerbaijani life by staying in a homestay and sampling some unique local dishes.

Gabala is another ancient city which rests in the rural area of Azerbaijan. It is home to the famed Chakur Gabala ruins, a centuries-old walled city that now stands crumbling.

There are also a handful of museums, like the Historical Ethnography Museum of Gabala. And if you get lucky, you might catch a music festival in the city as well.

Many Azerbaijani people come to Gabala as a resort destination because it’s located in such a naturally beautiful area. Therefore, tourism here is pretty developed.

In addition to Gabala’s historic sites, there are hiking trails, waterfalls, ski resorts, shopping malls, and more.

Sheki is a small town near the border of Georgia that served as a prime trading post on the Silk Road. Here, the local townspeople manufactured their own silk products (aptly-named “Sheki silk”) and ran large caravanseray to trade goods from around the world.

Today, Sheki still stands as a quaint area where visitors can explore historic buildings and trading posts, purchase local artisan handicrafts, and enjoy the laid-back pace of life in the more provincial part of Azerbaijan.

While in Sheki, one of the most significant sights in the area is the Palace of the Sheki Khans, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Built in 1797, the palace is full of intricate tile work, beautiful interior murals and art, and a small garden.

On the grounds surrounding the palace, there are a few areas to shop or drink tea. Just outside of the palace area lies Sheki’s historic district, complete with an old Caravanseray converted into a hotel, lots of antique shops, and some beautiful historic homes to admire.

Perhaps the nicest thing about Sheki is that it’s surrounded by hills and forests, making it a nice getaway from the busier cities.

Qax is home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and has the ruins to show for it. It has changed hands over the years, from Albania to Turkey to Georgia and others.

As you can imagine, this area has a lot of fascinating history, and there’s a lot to see here.

Within Qax, you can see the Albanian Church ruins and the Georgian church, two strange sights in a predominantly Muslim country. You can also simply amble around the streets, admiring the historic homes and the slow pace of life.

Some of the most fascinating places to visit in the Qax area include Ilisu Village (which used to be the epicenter of a sultanate), Qum Village, and the Iceri Bazaar.

Located in the Absheron Peninsula, Yanar Dag is a mound of dirt that would look like an ordinary hill, except there’s a perpetual fire coming out of the ground on one side of it.

Yes, you heard me right, the ground here is  literally burning. This is caused by the abundance of natural gas in the area, and the fire burned completely unprovoked.

There’s a reason why Azerbaijan = the land of fire (literal translation).

To visit Yanar Dag, you can base yourself in Baku and take a day trip from there.

Yanar Bulag

Have you ever turned on your bathroom faucet only to realize that fire was coming out along with the water? Yeah, me neither. But in Yanar Bulag, there’s a natural spring that flows with water and fire…AT THE SAME TIME.

Yeah, it’s possible, and this quirky attraction near the border of Iran is here to prove it.

This phenomenon happens because of the methane concentration located deep in the ground, mixed in with the water source. When you turn on the water, it flows out like normal, but the catch is you can light it on fire with a match or a lighter. Crazy, right?

Well, people come to Azerbaijan just to collect and use water from the Yanar Bulag spring, which is said to have special healing properties.

To visit Yanar Bulag, base yourself in the city of Astara and take a day trip to the spring.

Mud Volcanoes

Next up is one of the weird natural attractions in Azerbaijan – the bubbling, brown mud volcanoes.

A mud volcano is exactly as you might imagine – a cone-shaped mound of dirt with a crater filled with spewing mud. These are caused by pockets of underground gas bubbling to the surface of the Earth and bringing with it some cool, liquid clay.

Unlike in other countries (e.g., Iceland) that have this natural phenomenon, the mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan are typically cool to the touch.

There are mud volcanoes all over Azerbaijan, but the easiest to access are located a short taxi ride or drive from Baku.

Naftalan Oil Baths

Here’s where it gets really weird. In Azerbaijan, they love their oil so much they’ll literally bathe in it. And as a tourist, you can too.

In an area called Naftalan, near Gabala in the west, there are many resorts and spas dedicated to the service of crude oil baths. Yeah, that’s a real thing.

This type of crude oil, called “green oil,” is believed by many people to have health benefits for those who bathe in it.

One of the most beautiful and least-explored areas of Azerbaijan, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is an incredibly tranquil and picturesque place to visit, especially for photographers and landscape lovers.

Flights to the region from Baku are pretty inexpensive, and visitors could spend days gallivanting through its empty roads and beautiful mountain areas.

Shirvan and Agh-Gol National Parks

Wildlife lovers, rejoice! Azerbaijan has some incredible areas for bird watching, wildlife viewing, and hiking.

Two of the best places to do these things are Shirvan and Agh-Gol National Parks. As protected wildlife reserves, these parks boast amazing flora and fauna for the National Geographic-type traveler in you.

Gobustan National Park

From afar, Gobustan National Park looks like a heap of boulders and large rocks piled onto the side of a mountain.

However, the special thing about this park is not the rocks themselves, but the ancient petroglyph carvings on them that give us a hint of what life was like in the earliest Azeri civilizations.

For the history and archaeology lovers out there, Gobustan National Park is a must-see. Many of the petrogylphs in the park date back thousands of years, and are still easy to spot on the rocks today.

There are several pathways around the park that lead to some of the most distinct carvings. Better yet, you can explore Gobustan as a day trip from Baku.

Lake Goygol

Located near Ganja, Lake Goygol is arguably one of the most beautiful places to visit in Azerbaijan.

It’s a beautiful lake region located in a natural park area and surrounded by mountains and forests.

For outdoor lovers, this is a fantastic getaway from Ganja, as it’s incredibly serene and full of outdoor activities like hiking.

The Caspian Sea

Last but not least, one of the most special places to visit in Azerbaijan is its coastline bordering the Caspian Sea. But it’s not really a sea.

The Caspian Sea is technically the largest lake in the world, and is composed of saltwater like an *actual* sea.

While much of the sea is being used for oil drilling, there are a few resort areas in Azerbaijan where you can explore the water and relax by the shore.

Where to Stay in Azerbaijan

When visiting Azerbaijan, it’s likely you’ll be visiting Baku. Here are some brilliant places to stay.

Viva Boutique Hotel

If you’re looking for a great value in a central location,  Viva Boutique Hotel  is a fantastic hotel option.

Located in the heart of Baku and just a short walk from main attractions like the Boardwalk and the Old City, Viva is an affordable option for budget-conscious travelers.

Check Rates and Availability

Art Club Baku

One of the coolest hotels in the city, Art Club Baku is my top choice for accommodation. Rooms are decked out with exposed brick, wooden furniture, and light linens.

Take my advice and book a suite with a balcony – the city views are worth the extra splurge.

Best Places to Visit in Azerbaijan: Practical Tips

• Want to book your stay ? Booking.com is the best place to start.
• Trying to find a flight to Azerbaijan? Compare flights on Skyscanner.
• Need travel insurance ? We love World Nomads – and they’ve got your back in Azerbaijan.

Read More Azerbaijan Guides

• A Perfect Weekend in Baku: A Sample Itinerary
• A Day Trip to Xinaliq, Azerbaijan’s Highest Altitude Mountain Village

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I’m Kay. I’m originally from small town Virginia, but have moved all around the East Coast and the United States for basically my entire life. I spent my childhood days blissfully wandering through the Blue Ridge Mountains, rolling in leaves, playing in creeks…you know, the usual overly adventurous 5-year-old stuff.

But those early years spent outside gave me a real problem: I’m now an adventure addict. Basically, if I’m not at my computer banging out articles or photos, I’m probably out hiking, biking, or camping somewhere beautiful.

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‘I didn’t love Quba’ – I had to laugh when I read that! I had the absolute worst travel day of my life when I went to Quba. It was raining, grey and miserable, none of the ATMs in town were working, the owner of our guesthouse ran off with our passports, and we couldn’t find anything decent to eat except kebabs. I was so depressed!

But then… We visited an amazing carpet weaving workshop, which was one of the highlights of our whole trip!

Funny how travel can be like that.

Sheki was my absolute favourite, and I’d go back to Baku in a heartbeat!

These pictures are amazing! I would love to visit Azerbaijan. Thanks for sharing such cool pictures and showing a different side of Azerbaijan

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Home » Asia » Travel Safety

Is Azerbaijan Safe for Travel? (Insider Tips)

Food you’ve never heard of before, incredibly scenic mountain ranges and valleys, epic centuries-old history and some truly friendly people. The reasons to go to Azerbaijan – not usually a sought after destination – are more numerous than you would probably have ever have thought!

There is a whole lot of stuff that you can do around this country, from exploring the Soviet grandeur of its capital city (Baku) to going skiing at the resort area of Gebele. We promise, you will find yourself slowly falling in love with Azerbaijan when you travel here.

The problem is that it’s not a paradise here – far from it, in fact. Beginning with petty theft and pickpocketing and ending with an ongoing border dispute with neighbouring Armenia, there sure are some real ugly issues going on here.

To help you make smart choices when you are travelling around this country and ensure that you stay as secure as possible we have created this epic insider’s guide to staying safe in Azerbaijan…

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How Safe is Azerbaijan? (Our take)

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Azerbaijan has an interesting history with both Silk Route era things to learn about as well as Soviet heritage to discover. Today however, life in Azerbaijan is centred around its cosmopolitan coastal capital Baku, which boasts a historic core that’s UNESCO certified.

There’s also the Caucasus Mountains to see, rural villages, mud volcanoes and semi-deserts to get to grips with. Despite this abundance it is only just now that Azerbaijan has piqued travellers’ interests.

The question of how safe Azerbaijan is safe to travel is often asked as little is known about the country. But rest assured this is actually a very safe country; some even tout it as one of safest countries not just to travel to, but to live in (more on that later).

The capital, like most cities in the world, does have some crime to contend with. Things like petty crime, pickpocketing and scams aren’t unheard of and tourists are often targted. Azerbaijan also has to deal with political instability as well as violent conflict in the region Nagorno-Karabakh (disputed with Armenia).

You will also have nature to worry about, too. Seasonal flooding, landslides and earthquakes can definitely affect the safety levels and transport around the country.

However, for the most part, Azerbaijan is pretty safe. What you’re going to have to watch out for the most is dodgy taxis, fake police, and scams.

Let’s take a closer look at the details…

There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. The question of “Is Azerbaijan Safe?” will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. But this article is written for savvy travellers from the perspective of savvy travellers.

The information present in this safety guide was accurate at the time of writing, however, the world is a changeable place, now more than ever. Between the pandemic, ever-worsening cultural division, and a click-hungry media, it can be hard to maintain what is truth and what is sensationalism.

Here, you will find safety knowledge and advice for travelling Azerbaijan. It won’t be down to the wire cutting edge info on the most current events, but it is layered in the expertise of veteran travellers. If you use our guide, do your own research, and practise common sense, you will have a safe trip to Azerbaijan.

If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). Otherwise, thanks for your ear and stay safe!

It’s a wild world out there. But it’s pretty damn special too. 🙂

Azerbaijan is a pretty interesting place to visit. There is a whole lot to explore within the 86,600 square kilometres of the country. It is however unfortunate that 7,614 square kilometres of this is disputed territory.

It has a population of 9,981,457, and considering that, the number of tourists that arrive in the country each year is relatively large. For example, in 2018 Azerbaijan received 2,849,600 tourists from over 196 countries. That figure was actually up 5.6 percent in 2017, marking a big increase in visitor numbers.

Considering that tourism has been rising around the world in general, the World Travel and Tourism Council stated that, between 2010 and 2016, Azerbaijan was one of the top 10 countries in the world to have the greatest increase in visitors.

This just shows you how much tourism is on the rise in Azerbaijan – and how important it is to the country. In fact, in 2017 it boasted the world’s fastest developing travel and tourism economy, with a 46.1 percent increase.

When it comes to crime in Azerbaijan, it’s said that one in every five crimes is related to narcotics; there’s a lot of drug trafficking across its borders and the country’s authorities have failed to intercept over 90 percent of what does come over the borders.

Despite the drug problem, crime in general in Azerbaijan has been declining. In 1993, there were 246 crimes recorded per 100,000 people; in 2004 there were 185 crimes per 100,000 – the homicide rate also decreased and more crimes were solved.

According to the Statistic Committee (taken from the Azerbaijan government site), in 2016 there were 26,611 reported crimes; in 2017, 26,113; and in 2018, there were 26,381. This shows that, in recent years at least, there is no spike or sudden downfall in crime.

The Global Peace Index of 2019 ranked Azerbaijan surprisingly low in its list of 163 countries: it came 130th. That’s below the USA, Saudi Arabia, and just above Ethiopia. So whilst on the surface, Azerbaijan is safe to visit, the stats don’t seem to say the same thing.

This Southwest Asian nation has, in recent times, had a bit of tumultuous political instability. Declaring independence from the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the country has since grown to become the country it is today. Obviously, however, there are still some problems.

One of the largest issues that Azerbaijan is facing right now is border disputes. Nagorno-Karabakh is the area in question, where there remains a military-occupied ceasefire line. Travel within 5 kilometres of the Line of Contact is highly discouraged, as is travelling anywhere near Armenia.

Though there has been a ceasefire since 1994, gunfire is regularly exchanged, tensions are high, and the disputed region is still heavily land mined.

According to the law, it’s actually illegal to enter the region without the permission of Azerbaijani authorities. It has been reported recently that foreign nationals have had criminal proceedings brought against them. Azerbaijani authorities have even requested for offending individuals found to have visited Nagorno-Karabakh, be extradited back to Azerbaijan to face charges! They take this issue VERY seriously.

There are also tensions around the borders of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Whilst the Azerbaijan-Dagestan (Russia) border is no longer closed, the UK governments travel advisory office, advises against travel to Dagestan.

Being a (relatively) newly independent country, there are a lot of issues that come with this. Demonstrations and political disturbances do occur. There has been violence at these and they are usually heavily policed so we would recommend keeping well away from these.

In short: it’s safe to visit Azerbaijan right now, it’s just important to be aware of the political situation and how sensitive things have been (and still are) in border areas.

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Azerbaijan is a cool place to visit. People are friendly even in the capital city. Men give up their seats on buses for women, the history is fascinating, and the landscapes are epic. Understandably, more and more tourists are choosing to visit Azerbaijan, but that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to worry about here. Here are some safety tips for Azerbaijan to make sure your trip goes as smoothly as possible.

• Protect yourself against crime  – crime levels are low in Baku, but pickpocketing – even mugging – occurs, so be vigilant
• Don’t carry large sums of money  – if a would-be thief sees you pull out a note from a bulging wallet, you may become a target
• Ensure taxis drop you off outside where you want to be – this helps you avoid walking around at night, which is something that puts you at risk
• Report any crimes to the police – call 102 and you can speak to English-speaking staff; just don’t sign any documents you don’t understand
• Don’t pay bribes  – sadly this is part of everyday life, but it’s not encouraged for visitors to be doing this
• Respect local customs and religions  – Islam, though mostly secular, is the majority religion here, so it’s important to be respectful and sensitive around things like Ramadan, for example
• It’s illegal to proselytise  – thinking of converting people to any other religion? Think again!
• Keep your passport with you at all times  – the police can and do carry out checks of passports and other ID
• Try to blend in with what you wear  – in Baku, Western-style clothing for men and women is normal; outside of the city, wearing shorts (male or female) might cause you some hassle
• Stay away from drugs – possession is illegal and can get you a long (6-7 years) spell in prison, or hefty fines
• LGBTQ+ travellers should consider cultural differences  – whilst not illegal, the LGBTQ+ community is not accepted in much of wider Azerbaijani culture: especially outside of Baku
• Don’t take photographs around military bases or government buildings  – these are sensitive areas and you may be questioned or detained if you do photograph them. Just don’t – no matter how cool they look
• Avoid talking about politics  – even saying derogatory things about the president (or his family) can get you jailed or deported!
• Don’t mention Armenia  – or the Nagorno-Karabakh region, it’s still a sensitive issue (not even a private conversation)
• If you’re of Armenian descent, you may have trouble entering Azerbaijan  – Sorry Kardashians…
• Hide travel books – Rough Guide? Lonely Planet? Keep it low key; authorities have been known to take them for some reason
• Be wary of antiques and rugs – exporting either requires a certificate and can be difficult; even if you do secure a certificate there can be a lot of trouble at customs on the way home
• Ask a local before you go hiking – isolated areas can be quite dangerous, so it’s best to follow local advice
• Watch out for bears!  – this is a real danger, especially in spring (after hibernation); they live in forested, upland areas. Do not approach them
• Be careful of snakes, too  – Azerbaijan has two brands of venomous vipers
• And yellow scorpions…  – Watch your step!
• Travel during the daytime – distances can be deceptively long, so it’s important to plan to be on the road only in daylight hours (due to road conditions, mainly)
• Register your presence  – in Azerbaijan for longer than 10 days? Let the State Migration Service know; hotels will (usually) do this for you, but Airbnbs and self catering lodgings probably won’t
• Protect against mosquitoes  – malaria, believe it or not, is present in the country (high risk between May and October), as is encephalitis
• Learn some Russian  – English isn’t spoken very much in Azerbaijan, but Russian is; learn a few phrases to help you get around

As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when you are planning to travel to Azerbaijan. As well as all of the above, the climate, the earthquakes, and other natural threats, can pose a risk to your safety. In general, most of all, it’s not so much a case of keeping “safe” as it is being sensitive: of people’s traditions, their religions, the politics and the government of the country. Be a respectful traveller.

Losing your money anywhere in the world is not only not a very fun experience that puts a dampener on your trip – it can actually mean not being able to pay for travel, accommodation or food.

Not having any money is bad enough as it is, but is made even more frustrating when you find out somebody actually stole it from you… and unfortunately, there is a bit of an issue with tourists being targeted by pickpockets and petty thieves in Azerbaijan.

To make sure that you keep your money safe in Azerbaijan, then, we would highly recommend purchasing a money belt. We recommend packing one for every trip .

Though it can seem like a pretty simple choice – it’s just a money belt, right? – there is actually a whole world of money belts out there to think about.

If you ask us, however, many of these money belts aren’t that great: they have too many pockets, they’re overcomplicated, they can be uncomfortable and they can actually be quite obvious, clearly bulging out under clothing.

The Pacsafe Money Belt is our best bet. It’s affordable, it looks and acts like a belt, and it’s sturdy – what more could you ask for out of a money belt!

First of all, it’s literally just a belt – no fuss, just a belt with a buckle and a secret zipper pocket where you can stash your cash. We love the simplicity of this.

Even if a potential pickpocket tries to pick your pocket, or dip into your bag, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that your money for the day is securely stashed in this awesome money belt.

Let’s be honest: travelling solo to Azerbaijan will be a truly amazing experience. Even just visiting the capital, Baku, is a fascinating city which has plenty of food, history and friendly people for people travelling to this country by themselves to get totally enamoured with.

Being by yourself allows you to soak up everything the country has to offer, at your own pace, without having to stick to someone else’s itinerary. It’s great! Then again, travelling alone does come with its own risks, so here are some tips for solo travellers in Azerbaijan.

• Do not be afraid of using the Baku Metro by yourself. This 50-year-old, Soviet-era extravaganza of a public transport system is not only beautiful but a very convenient way of getting around the city. Though this metropolitan amenity is not known for its crime (of any type), it still pays to be aware of your surroundings.
• Be careful with what you wear because even men wearing shorts can be taboo – scratch that, it’s just not ok. Maybe if you’re in a tour group, you could get away with wearing shorts – and maybe in Baku, by yourself – but outside of the capital, and especially travelling solo, you should stick to long pants.
• Get out and about in Baku’s parks, museums and interesting attractions. Everybody is very welcoming, eager to talk to you and help you out, and you shouldn’t ever feel in danger. Feel free to wander the city, but still – doing so at night does come with more risks than daytime explorations.
• Plan your trip! Though winging it is fine in other countries, Azerbaijan is not Southeast Asia and you will get a lot more out of the country by planning your itinerary. It’s much easier to travel around if you book in advance; for example, turning up at accommodation without a booking is something that doesn’t really happen here.
• Keep in touch with your friends and family back home – let them know what you’re doing, where you are, and when you plan to do these things and be at these places. Having someone know your route is much safer than going off grid; people will know your last whereabouts if something should happen. If your itinerary changes, tell people. Consider starting a Google Doc for this.
• We all know that having a few drinks is fun, but we really wouldn’t recommend going out and getting completely wasted. Not only is it dangerous because you won’t be able to find where you’re staying, but you’ll also put yourself at risk of scams or mugging, with more capacity to make bad decisions.
• You should have more than one way of accessing your money. It’s all well and good having a load of savings, but if you lose your bank card, you have no way to get to all that money. How will you pay for your accommodation, your bus ticket, even your next meal? Have at least one other current bank account, an emergency credit card, and a stash of cash – just in case.
• Travel light! It’s no fun lugging a whole lot of baggage around with you when you’re supposed to be hot-footing it around a cool new country. You’ll feel out of place, it’ll be uncomfortable, and you may be more at risk from potential thieves. Try travelling with one bag.

Travelling by yourself in Azerbaijan is going to be a lot of fun. There is a whole load of cool stuff to see here, a load of history, and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. On top of that, you pretty much get to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it.

That doesn’t mean that everything is going to run smoothly. In fact, being a tourist can make you a target for pickpockets and scammers; being by yourself, that risk increases. It’s important to be vigilant, say no to overly friendly strangers, and be aware of your surroundings.

Travelling as a female by yourself in Azerbaijan might not seem like a good idea, but in fact, you can travel solo as a female quite safely in this country. It’s a hospitable place where most people will welcome you – and where women are treated with a fair amount of respect.

That said, being a solo traveller who also happens to be a woman, there are a lot more things to look out for than a male traveller. You will have to watch out for everything from what kind of hotel you book yourself into, what streets you walk around, or what bar you choose to visit. To help stay safe and ensure that enjoy your trip to the fullest, we’re sharing our top tips for solo female travellers in Azerbaijan.

• You may be surprised to find out that men in Azerbaijan are pretty chivalrous. It will not be uncommon to see, on the metro, for example, men giving up their seats for women – even if they’re not elderly women. Women are the priority when it comes to seating on public transport and men will stand up to make that happen.
• On a similar gender and public transport note, if you are going to travel on a marshrutkas , be aware that women travel up the front and men travel at the back.
• Whilst Azerbaijan is pretty safe, some solo female travellers do get unwanted attention – for things like walking around alone at night, or even simply catching a taxi by yourself. It’s not normal in Azerbaijan for women to go out alone after 9pm; if you want to avoid the hassle, consider venturing out in a group.
• Meet up with other women! The best way to do this is through online groups like Host A Sister, where locals of cities and towns around the world advertise themselves to potential travellers to their home countries. You get a bit of local knowledge, travel around safely, and make a new friend; you may even get a place to stay.
• Don’t feel that booking yourself on a tour is a cop-out: it’s not. A tour is a sensible way to travel around Azerbaijan; it will allow you to explore more of the country (in fact, sometimes it’s the only way to explore deeper). Make sure you do your research and only go with a reputable tour company. Consider booking in person at tour offices, since online prices tend to be pricier – for some reason.
• Be careful with what you wear. Yes, Azerbaijan – as a Muslin country – is generally more liberal than its neighbours, but you might be stared at for wearing things like strap tops and shorts in the capital. In more rural areas, you should definitely dress more modestly, covering shoulders and knees.
• Don’t worry about covering your head: that’s not a thing in Azerbaijan. However, if you are going into religious buildings – not only mosques but also churches – then you will have to wear a headscarf. Perhaps keep one of these handy, just in case.
• In more conservative places, it can be a bit of an eyebrow-raiser if a woman is drinking alcohol by herself. Similarly, the çayhane  (teahouse) is not somewhere that women go – at all – being only frequented by men, as are cheap local restaurants called a yemekhane . As fun as they might seem, they’re just not for women and you will almost certainly feel uncomfortable.
• When it comes to accommodation, there are choices to mull over, from villas and hotels to bed and breakfasts and family homes; there’s a mix of places to stay here, even hostels make an appearance. With any of them, it’s important to do research: make sure they come well-reviewed by other female travellers, are in safe areas and won’t make you feel insecure.

It turns out that Azerbaijan is pretty safe for solo travellers. But as with anywhere in the world, it’s probably not a good idea to be walking around dark, deserted areas of towns and cities by yourself. However, this may be your everyday experience back at home anyway.

Not like everywhere in the world, however, dressing modestly in Azerbaijan is something that you should do. Even in the fairly liberal capital of Baku, shorts will elicit some stares from the locals. Outside of cities, expect eyes on you if you wear shorts and strap tops.

Although it’s not somewhere we would recommend for first time solo female travellers, this country is still a very visitable place. Even then, to get more into Azerbaijan, you should consider a tour; this will keep you safe, secure, and you’ll get to meet people, too.

Surprise, surprise: Children are a huge part of Azerbaijani society and are regarded very highly. If you take your children on a trip to the Southwest Asian country, you can expect to have a great of (positive) attention showered on you and your kids.

You will get a very warm reception. Local people will really enjoy meeting you and your children and will even help you out if you look like you need some.

It’s pretty normal for adults to just start chatting to your kids, or take them off you, but don’t be alarmed! This is just a way of being friendly.

When it comes to things to do for families in Azerbaijan… In Baku, for example, there is plenty to you and your kids occupied – from fairground rides and amusements to shopping malls and parks.

A particularly lovely part of the city is Baku Boulvar, a 10 kilometre stretch of coastline that’s pedestrianised and family friendly, filled as it is with restaurants and other amenities and attractions.

The hotels, in general, are pretty family friendly and there are often resort areas; these will have hotels that boast child friendly rooms (where children can share for no extra cost) and be located near to some cool attractions, such as Gebele – with its lakes and ski resorts, as well as the biggest theme park in Azerbaijan.

Be aware, however, that when you are in Azerbaijan, journeys can take a long time; they can prove pretty tricky if you’re with your children and you don’t have the spare cash to pay for a more seamless way of getting around. Delays are common. Before you know it could be spending hour after hour in a cramped minibus in the sweltering heat.

Don’t worry though: extensive travel around the country may not be overly interesting for your children. Outside of the capital and surrounding areas, much of the country’s attractions involves hiking, old monuments and horseriding (for example); if your kids aren’t keen on this, or they’re too young to appreciate it, then it may not be worth the time or the effort involved.

Speaking of being outside the large cities, be prepared to not have easy access to products such as disposable nappies and baby food.

Though Azerbaijan is safe for families, our suggestion (especially if you are travelling with really young children) is to simply stick to Baku and its environs. You can still see some amazing places, but without the hassle or the stress.

Well, driving in Azerbaijan is pretty much a must if you want to get to some truly remote areas. That’s virtually the same for every country in the world.

Then again, it’s not always easy and it’s definitely not always safe.

Many of the most remote areas can only be accessed by 4×4 vehicles, such as Jeeps, as the roads are simply not in good enough condition for regular vehicles. There are, however, new highways – for example, Baku to Quba in the north, and Baku to Astara (Iran) – which makes long-distance travel slightly easier.

If you are planning on renting a car, make sure you have insurance. If you get into some kind of collision, do not move the vehicle before the police arrive to make a report, otherwise, you may just void your own insurance.

Drivers should only take to the road in Azerbaijan if you’re experienced. It can be pretty chaotic, to say the least, here: the road conditions can be very poor; the drivers can be unpredictable, and there are often pedestrians indiscriminately crossing the street. Don’t expect for one-way streets to be respected, for road closures or diversions to be marked, or for traffic lights to even work (they often just flash).

Even in Baku, roads have potholes, open manholes, a lot of garbage and even sinkholes to contend with; obviously these cause a danger to drivers and pedestrians alike.

If all this sounds dangerous in the daytime, imagine trying to tackle it at night – and without street lights.

Be wary of other drivers; it’s not uncommon for locals to ignore traffic rules completely, skip red lights, not pay attention to lanes, not be aware of other motorists and pedestrians.

Speeding is pretty typical, which results in some nasty accidents. This is exacerbated on rural roads, often unpaved and sometimes winding and mountainous.

During the winter, snowfall can create issues, especially further into the mountains. If you are travelling outside of Baku by car during the winter, you should definitely make sure you are prepared with provisions like extra food, a torch, a shovel, a blanket, and warm clothes.

One good thing: There is zero tolerance for drink driving. This means no amount of alcohol is allowed to be in your system, so it’s best not to – and very stupid to do so anyway (but do you think everyone heeds that rule here…?).

All in all, you can rent a car and drive in Azerbaijan. Is it safe? Not really. However, if you really must, then we highly recommend that you are an experienced driver who has driven abroad, and/or in adverse conditions, before.

Trying to figure out if Uber is actually operating in Azerbaijan is somewhat confusing.

There are conflicting reports regarding its availability – and whether or not it is easy to use. However, we can report that Uber is active, though it is operated under a local franchise in Baku.

Locals themselves highly recommend using Bolt, a similar service which allows you to book taxis through an app. It’s very popular and, most importantly, it’s safe.

There are a number of options on offer when it comes to choosing a taxi service in Azerbaijan; from London-style cabs in Baku to app-based options and more local companies, there’s a fair bit to choose from.

However, there are a few issues. One of these is being ripped off by local taxis, something that is particularly common with rides from the airport often costing way more than they should.

When you want to take a taxi, make sure you either agree on the fare upfront, before you start the journey, or you make sure (or insist) that the meter is switched on. You should also make sure that the seatbelt is working.

A good alternative to paying the inflated prices of taxis at the airport is to simply use the airport bus. It’s a tiny fraction of the price a taxi will charge you, so we would say go for that instead.

If the driver is speeding – which is, in all likelihood, a possibility – you can (and should) ask him to slow down.

A good thing to do, if you want to take a taxi, is to ask at your accommodation for a recommendation of a reputable company; arrange for the taxi to pick up at the door of your where you’re staying.

As with most taxis around the world, it’s important to have the right change. Don’t try and pay a taxi driver with a large bill; they may not genuinely have the cash to break your huge note, or they may just say as much. Either way, have smaller denominations of money to be able to pay your fare exactly.

A hot tip would be to learn a few phrases of Russian; this goes a long way in dealing with many day to day occurrences in Azerbaijan, including taxis.

To conclude, taxis are safe in Azerbaijan, but just aren’t so great from the airport – so try to avoid those.

Public transport in Azerbaijan varies throughout the country, though for the most part, it’s just two main modes of transport: buses and trains.

First of all, let’s dive into the world of Azerbaijan’s buses.

In Baku, the bus station is the central hub for all bus travel throughout the country. Here is where you can buy tickets at the ticket windows; just make sure you know the name of your destination and the employees will be able to point you in the right direction.

This is, however, an international bus terminal spread across four storeys with very little English spoken anywhere. Make sure you get there with plenty of time to spare because it could take a while.

Minibuses, as well as buses, are used to connect towns and cities – both long and short haul.

There are also the matrushkas. They are sort of like shared taxis that run along set routes, often making their way to remote villages. Though that sounds good, they often leave very early and will only leave when they’re full – if you’ve been on local transport elsewhere in the world, you’ll know the “fun” of this.

Buses are generally pretty safe in Azerbaijan, just keep your belongings in sight and stay vigilant in the Baku bus terminal.

Then there are trains. Baku has a great metro system, which is good for budget travellers: a ride on the metro costs as little as 0.2 AZN (i.e. very cheap). To use the metro system you’ll need a card which you can top up, costing 3 AZN (around $2 USD), which includes 5 rides. It’s a bargain – and the metro is beautiful, too; grand and Soviet-style.

However, you’ve probably never seen it because it’s forbidden to take pictures on the Baku Metro (picture St Petersburg’s metro). It’s quite well looked after and has things like safety equipment and emergency procedures in place.

Worried about using the Baku Metro? Don’t be: it’s pretty safe and the signs are in both English and Azerbaijani. There are also police at every station and security checks of bags.

You can also catch international and intercity trains throughout Azerbaijan, too. Journeys on these are usually without issue, but it’s important to keep your belongings close to you and be wary of suspicious characters.

If you’ve got a compartment, don’t leave your valuables unattended and lock your door from the inside whenever you’re in there.

Many of the trains travel overnight (which is when you should be most vigilant) and they’re very, very cheap. You can book your ticket online, up to 10 days in advance, or buy it at a station; note that you will need your passport to buy a ticket.

Overall, the public transport in Azerbaijan is surprisingly safe – not too many issues here.

Although many people in the world couldn’t tell you one dish from Azerbaijan, you are in for a treat if you like food and you’re heading to this country. There’s a lot to look forward to here, from almost Chinese dumplings to huge, succulent watermelons and al fresco dining.

Best of all, eating out in Azerbaijan is not very expensive at all, but in Baku, there is a developing high-end, fine dining scene. A great deal of the food is local, hearty, inexpensive. To help you navigate your way around, here are our tips for eating only the best Azerbaijani food.

• Don’t skip out on the shwarma . You may think you know what a shwarma is, but you haven’t had a shwarma until you’ve had Azerbaijan’s succulent take on the dish. If you’re thinking of trying one, either ask at your accommodation or go somewhere that looks like it’s popular with locals – they know the score when it comes to shwarma.
• Local bakeries are a good place to get a cheap snack. Here you can pick up pastries (many new and wonderful to you) and freshly baked bread. Definitely take advantage of this, for two reasons: you can always stash a pastry away for an emergency snack later on; and you’re not likely to get ill from eating breaded goods, either!
• Another thing to take advantage of is the people selling local produce at the side of the road. It won’t be just like random fruit, but actual handcrafted goods like preserves, jams and other delicious things, presented nicely and sold cheaply. Don’t be scared to try: these people do this all the time and know what they’re up to.
• Get on the beers! Azerbaijan, as a country, is the largest Muslim consumer of beer in the world – the favourite being Xirdalan. It’s very nice to drink on a hot day. Tip: Do as the locals do and pair it with smoky, salty and sometimes plaited lengths of cheese that seem to go so well with a refreshing beer.
• Visit local markets. These are always a good measure of the culture of a country, so don’t be afraid to dive in there and see what’s going on. In Baku, hit up Yesil and Meyveli Markets for two of the city’s best places to peruse fresh produce. (A good spot for cheap food, too).
• Don’t go all in on the food straight away. The diet here is meat-heavy and involves a lot of spices that you may not be used to; a sudden change in diet can easily upset your stomach, so eating everything all at once may cause you more than a little discomfort. Take it slow!
• Make sure that what you are eating has been cooked properly. If you are able to see who is cooking your food, ensure that it is being cooked freshly as opposed to just being served up as something that has been sitting around all day.
• Probably the most basic tip of all is to wash your hands. All the grime and dirt on your hands could definitely lead to you getting sick, especially if you are handling your food directly with your hands, so make sure that you cleanse your hands before you eat any meal.
• As a failsafe, it might be a good idea to bring some anti-diarrhoea medicine as well as some rehydration sachets; though the food in Azerbaijan isn’t unsafe, it might just be the case that something disagrees with you.

Azerbaijani food is pretty amazing, and won’t be much like anything you’ve had before. National dishes of the country include piti – a simple mutton and vegetable soup (well worth trying) – as well as  dushbara  (dumplings) and  ayran  (sort of like an Indian  lassi ).

Round it up with some of those tasty pastries and you’re on to a winner. The best tip of all, we would say, is to go where the locals go: ask people you meet, the staff at your hotel, or simply see where is the busiest and join the crowds to try the tasty food that’s on offer here.

Unlike a lot of places, in a strange turn of events, in rural areas of Azerbaijan, the water is much better than it is in the cities.

Why? This is because the water in rural areas is often drawn from natural springs. You can often see people at roadsides filling up at dedicated bulaq (springs) for everyone to use.

In the cities, however, the tap water is not safe in Azerbaijan. You should boil it first (1 minute vigorous boil; 3 minutes for higher altitudes).

We recommend taking a water bottle with a filter; yes, plastic bottles of water are available at shops, but let’s not add to the already plastic problems of the planet.

Probably not the first destination you would think of when you think “I’m going to emigrate,” Azerbaijan may not attract as many people looking for a change in scenery as, say, Bali, but it’s definitely got its pluses.

Baku is, despite everything we’ve just mentioned, is a pretty safe city. It’s surprisingly beautiful, as well.

It is surprisingly expensive to live there, but most days you can walk through the streets of the city late at night and see families and their children together; you can see this quite a lot in the family friendly Boulvar area – even until the early hours of the morning.

People in Baku, or in Azerbaijan in general, are pretty friendly, and will often stop to chat with you (though neither of you may know very much of the other’s language).

It’s a pretty safe country on the whole and, if you want to move there, there’s no overarching risk involved in doing so.

However, it is good to know about some of the issues that currently face the country. One of the biggest things you should never do is try and broach the subject of Armenia or the ongoing disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh; it’s probably best that you never even mention Armenia – even to the new Azerbaijani friends you make in private.

Corruption is an issue that many people in Azerbaijan have to face at some point and may end up affecting your life at some point. It’s up to you whether you bribe or not, but it’s not really something you should encourage.

Whilst crime rates are low across Azerbaijan, there are petty criminals who will target (mainly) foreigners in (usually) large, crowded places. The best way to not be a victim of this is to try to blend in with how you dress as much as possible. Chances are that, living there, you won’t be looking like a tourist every time you step out of the house anyway.

There is also a concern about human rights – something you will have to come to terms with living here. International organisations have shown “concern” over issues related to freedom of speech, which is always a worrying sign.

As we mentioned earlier it’s an actual offence to criticise the name or the de facto ruling Aliyev family. Journalists have been arrested and harassed for doing this, so if you’re an expat in Azerbaijan, we would warn against doing this. Whilst the actual people are pretty friendly here, the government is less so, which is like so many otherwise incredible countries in the world.

If you really are planning a move to Azerbaijan, either off your own back or if you’ve received a job offer, then we would recommend doing research – and a lot of it. Find other expats who live there, do thorough research into the safest places to live and pay a visit to the country before you take the plunge.

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When it comes to the healthcare in Azerbaijan, firstly it’s important to note that medical facilities are not equal throughout the country.

In Baku, however, there are shiny new hospitals and clinics with brand new equipment. These are usually clean and reliable, but you should still take care: many people are not convinced of the quality (or skills) of the staff on offer here.

To give you a general idea… The healthcare system in Azerbaijan is free, government-run and is often seen as inefficient, under-financed and disorganised.

If you really need to go to a hospital or clinic, going private is the way to go. This is the ideal scenario if you really need medical attention. In this case, you should make sure that your medical insurance covers the costs of private treatment in Azerbaijan – and you should take evidence of it to the hospital (or clinic) in question.

Further afield, which means pretty much anywhere that isn’t Baku, it’s going to be pretty difficult to find any sort of medical facility that’s safe or well maintained; much of the time, these don’t exist anyway. Locals in this case either have to travel a very long way to get any level of healthcare, or just avoid getting it altogether.

Because of this, if you are planning to travel anywhere outside of Baku, we advise that you take a well-stocked first aid kit with you on your trip.

In an emergency you should dial 103 and ask for an ambulance; in a serious situation, you may have to be evacuated to Turkey or Western Europe. Medical insurance is very important.

Even though the rest of the country may be pretty safe, the healthcare in Azerbaijan isn’t so good. It’s of a decent standard in the capital city, but don’t expect much in the way of good health services anywhere else. For that reason: make sure you’ve got medical insurance; have a first aid kit at your disposal, and bring plenty of medication you may need to take.

Here are some quick answers to common questions about safety in Azerbaijan.

How dangerous is Azerbaijan?

For the most part, Azerbaijan is not dangerous at all. Things like petty crime, pickpocketing and scams aren’t unheard of and tourists are often targeted. Azerbaijan also has to deal with political instability as well as violent conflict in the region Nagorno-Karabakh (disputed with Armenia).

What should you avoid in Azerbaijan?

These are the things to avoid in Azerbaijan: – Don’t speak about Armenia – Don’t bring anything from Armenia into the country – Don’t share any political opinions with locals or people in uniform – Don’t be rude to women

Is it safe to travel Azerbaijan?

Yes, it is safe to travel to Azerbaijan, as long as you don’t come from Armenia, or have an Armenian stamp in your passport. In that case, you won’t get into the country anyway. Petty and violent crime is something to keep in mind and watch out for.

Can you drink alcohol in Azerbaijan?

Yes, you can drink alcohol in Azerbaijan, but only in the capital city. Here you can buy alcoholic drinks in normal supermarkets. Be aware of where you’re drinking though. Alcohol is not allowed in or sometimes even near religious places such as mosques.

Azerbaijan is not somewhere that you would imagine as a safe country. Being situated where it is, Russia to the north, Turkey to the west, Iran to the south – and with smaller, often undefined (and unrecognised) neighbours besides – the region is theoretically a volatile one that could go one way or the other. Border disputes are still a real issue in Azerbaijan, and probably the greatest threat to the country’s safety.

Then again, that’s speaking in terms of the country. Armenia and Azerbaijan may both lay claim to the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and there may be potshots and landmines in that area, but it’s localised to that particular part of the country. Unless it turns into full scale madness (not likely), then this particular issue is not likely to affect you – unless, that is, you choose to talk about Armenia at all…

And not being able to criticise the government (or the “ruling” family)? That doesn’t sound cool to us. However, it’s important you know these things, because then you realise that sometimes you have to tread carefully through a country – not just blaze through without a care. Besides, there’s petty crime to concern yourself with. Just make sure you travel sensibly, and respectfully, and you will be fine here.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

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Travel to Azerbaijan in 2024 – Everything you must know

By Joan Torres 30 Comments Last updated on March 22, 2024

Azerbaijan is a weird, fascinating country. 

Located on the border between Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan has one of those cultures which is particularly difficult to define, as it is a Caucasian country with a large Turkish and Iranian influence, that used to be part of the Soviet Union, so the end result is such a strange mix of opposed cultures that leaves the traveler very confused. 

I traveled to Azerbaijan twice.

During this period of time, they introduced an e-visa system so, in only two years, tourism has grown exponentially and the country has started to get significant international exposure.

The weirdness of Azerbaijan is what makes it a particularly interesting country and, in this guide, I have compiled everything you need to know for traveling to Azerbaijan . 

For places to visit, don’t forget to check my complete Azerbaijan travel itinerary

In this Azerbaijan travel guide you will find:

Table of Contents

• COVID-19 travel bans
• Best time to visit
• Travel insurance
• Useful books
• The country and culture
• Tourism in Azerbaijan
• How to get in
• Food and alcohol
• Transportation
• Accommodation
• More information

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😷 COVID travel bans and restrictions for Azerbaijan

According to the official Azerbaijan travel advisory , all travelers wishing to enter Azerbaijan must be fully vaccinated, 2 doses at least.

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🪪 How to get a tourist visa for Azerbaijan

E-visa is available for traveling to in azerbaijan.

Since January 2017, you can apply for an e-visa to travel to Azerbaijan and this is the official Governmental portal .

It costs 25USD and takes 3 working days to proceed. If you want an urgent visa, it costs 50USD. 

Who can apply for a tourist visa for Azerbaijan?

All countries from this list , which includes all Western nationalities and many more.

How long is the Azerbaijan visa valid for?

The single visa is valid for 30 days within a 90 days window – note that there is no double entry visa.

Registration in Azerbaijan

If you are traveling in Azerbaijan for more than 15 days, you will need to register. You can do it in your hotel or at the police station itself.

For more information, I recommend you read this article from Caravanistan . 

Important – Registration is no joke! In 2016, I skipped this registration (at that time, there was not much information about it and the limit was 10 days), so when the police found out, they made me choose between paying a $300 fine or being deported and banned from entering Azerbaijan within 1 year. After 11 months, I tried to apply for the e-visa and it got instantly rejected. In 2019, I managed to get in without any problem.

⛅ Best time to visit Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, you find 9 out of the 11 climate zones .

From glaciers to vast, hot deserts, the landscape in Azerbaijan is full of contrasts. This means that the climate is also very varied so, depending on where you want to go, Azerbaijan can be a year-round destination. 

For example, the mountains are good to visit from April to October but, if you want to do some trekking, summer would be the ideal season. 

The region around Baku has a continental climate, which means that summer is extremely hot and winter very cold, but it can be visited all year round. 

However, I would say that mid-spring and mid-autumn would be the ideal time to travel to Azerbaijan. 

Read: Things to do in Baku in 3 days

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Azerbaijan is an adventurous destination, so go there with the proper travel insurance.

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📚 A book for traveling to Azerbaijan

Travel guide to azerbaijan, georgia and armenia by lonely planet.

There is no guidebook focusing exclusively on Azerbaijan, not even from Bradt, but you need to get the LP guide to the region. 

🕌 The country, the people and the culture

Azerbaijan today.

Azerbaijan is a former Soviet Republic that got its independence in 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Since 1993, it has been ruled by a political party named the New Azerbaijan Party , a party founded by Heydar Aliyev, who ruled from 1993 to 2003. After his death, his son Ilham Aliyev took over and he still rules today. 

It is said that this political party doesn’t really have an ideology but it is based on nationalism and a personality cult centered on Heydar Aliyev , who is believed to be the first person to make Azerbaijan great and whose name is seen in numerous streets, museums, and places around the country. 

On the other hand, Azerbaijan is one of those fake democracies where the ruling party has been accused of several human rights abuses and authoritarianism but it seems their citizens don’t complain much about it. 

When you arrive in Baku , you will feel that you are in an extremely developed country, as the majesty of its impeccable streets is perfectly comparable to many European cities. 

Traveling to Georgia? Here’s my ultimate guide to travel to Georgia!

However, as soon as you step out of the capital, things change and you will suddenly find yourself in a third-world country. This huge contrast is explained by the fact that Baku is what it is thanks to the petrol and, due to obvious corruption, this growth has been exclusively focused on the capital. 

This kind of fake development is also explained by the fact that, whereas Baku feels much more developed than Tbilisi for example, the capital of Georgia is much more socially developed than Baku, a city where sometimes it is even difficult to see mixed groups of men and women. 

Read: 80 Useful tips for traveling to Iran

Religion in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a supposedly Islamic country, 85% of the population being Shia Muslims and the rest Sunni. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan was the first Islamic country to ever declare itself a democratic and secular Republic (in 1918).

This means that many people in the country are atheist, similar to their brothers and sisters from Central Asia , so religion isn’t really a big deal here, especially in Baku. In fact, there are very few functional mosques. 

The personal story of my local friend During my journey, I met a local, young guy from Baku who turned out to be very religious. In fact, he has a Muslim beard and his wife wears a hijab, something not very commonly seen in Azerbaijan. Anyways, he told me that her wife got a job in a public TV channel but they told her that she had to remove her hijab to come to the office. She obviously refused to do so and, apparently, it was not an option, so she couldn’t get the job in the end. Probably, this is the only Muslim country where these things happen. 

The people: The Azerbaijanis

Physically, most Azerbaijanis look kind of Iranian but a bit different. From a cultural point of view, like I said in the beginning, it is difficult to define them as a single culture. Definitely, they have similarities with their neighbors from Georgia , even Armenia, but they also have many customs from the Iranians.

For example, they are heavy drinkers of tea, and they drink it in the same way Iranians do, using the same sort of glasses and the same amount of sugar.

However, you are likely to see them drinking a shot of vodka right after the tea and, when you go to the rural areas, it really feels like you are in Georgia , as people look kind of the same and the houses have a very similar architecture.

To make it even more surreal, they speak Turkish and you can still see great Russian influence. 

It’s just weird and, no matter how hard you try, you can’t really define their culture as a whole. 

Hospitality

Azerbaijanis are hospitable, not as much as my friends from Iran obviously, but they were all right, perhaps more than in other Caucasian countries. Is it because they are Musli

I don’t know, maybe. In my case, random tea invitations were common and I still keep in touch with 1 or 2 friends who never allowed me to pay for a meal. 

Check out my off-beat guide to Tbilisi

Language in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani is the official language in the country, which is a Turkish dialect. Out of all the Turkic spoken languages, from Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani is the closest one to Turkish.

Most people will also speak Russian but, apparently, not as well as their Central Asian neighbors. As for English, in Baku, some young people can speak it but that’s it. 

Read: 75 Useful tips for traveling to Kyrgyzstan

Is Azerbaijan an off the beaten track destination?

Glad you asked. 

Like I said in the beginning, after introducing the e-visa system in January 2017, tourism has grown exponentially. 

You will see that today, Baku is actually filled with loads of backpacker hostels and tour groups abound. Destinations such as Sheki or Lahic also see a fair amount of tourists and, in remote villages such as Xinaliq, you can already find a wide range of official homestays. 

Nevertheless, Azerbaijan is still an emerging tourist destination, and the number of tourists is not even comparable to any country in Europe. In fact, outside of the main touristic towns, you are likely to be the only tourist hanging around. 

Places like the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan, Ivanovka and the towns and villages around Ganja are really unspoiled destinations, which you don’t want to miss. 

If you want to experience the real Azerbaijan, I strongly encourage you to check those destinations out. In my Azerbaijan itinerary , you can find more information about these places.

Read: Tips for traveling to Iraqi Kurdistan

🛫 How to get to Azerbaijan

Insurance for traveling in Azerbaijan I strongly recommend IATI Insurance : COVID-19 coverage + 5% discount BUY IT HERE TO GET YOUR SPECIAL DISCOUNT

Traveling to Azerbaijan is very easy. 

Travel to Azerbaijan by air

The international airport of Baku has many connections to Europe and many other countries in Asia and the Middle East . 

Travel to Azerbaijan by land

Georgia – There are two very friendly open borders with Georgia, one linking Zaqatala with Sighnaghi and other one linking Ganja with Tbilisi. The second one can be crossed by train and, in fact, there is a direct night train from Tbilisi to Baku .

Iran – The border with Iran is also open and very friendly but remember that, if you are going to Iran, you will need to be in possession of an Iranian visa .

I also recommend you read my 80 Tips for traveling to Iran . 

Russia – This border is currently closed to foreigners. 

What happens with Armenia? Armenia and Azerbaijan are technically at war, mainly due to the dispute of Nagorno-Karabakh, so the border with Armenia is definitely closed. Nevertheless, you should know that having an Armenian visa on your passport does not ban you from traveling to Azerbaijan (and vice-versa), so you should not worry at all about that, other than getting some standard questioning.  However, if there is any evidence that you have traveled to Nagorno-Karabakh, which is only accessible from Armenia, you will be banned from entering Azerbaijan for the rest of your life. Please note that for entering Nagorno-Karabakh you get a different passport stamp but, apparently, nowadays you can ask them to stamp it on a separate piece of paper. 

Travel to Azerbaijan by sea

Kazakhstan – You can travel to Azerbaijan by boat over the Caspian Sea from a Kazakh city named Aktau. It takes 24 hours and you need a dose of patience because it departs every few days, randomly. Read my 35 Useful tips for traveling to Kazakhstan . 

Turkmenistan – If you are lucky to be in possession of a Turkmen visa, you can also take the boat from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. 

💻 Internet and connectivity in Azerbaijan

Wi-Fi – It works surprisingly well all over the country. 

SIM Card – I recommend Azercell. You can buy a SIM Card in many mobile stores but you should go to the official store of Azercell, as you will be charged the real price. There is a big one in Fountain Square and, for a couple of manats, you get loads of data. 

eSIM for browsing, calling and traveling in Azerbaijan

Basically, an eSIM is a regular SIM card with a digital format that works like a normal physical SIM card, with the added benefit that you can buy it from home before the beginning of your trip, hence avoiding the hassle of buying it at your destination. 

With Holafly , you can get a SIM Card for a wide range of destinations, including Azerbaijan . 

Moreover, you can benefit from a 5% discount with the following code:  AGAINSTTHECOMPASS

Get a VPN for traveling in Azerbaijan

You should always use a VPN when you travel, especially when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

Your connection will be much safer. 

Moreover, you will be able to access content which is typically censored in Azerbaijan. 

I recommend ExpressVPN – Extremely easy to use, fast and cheap. 

If you want to learn more about VPN, check: Why you need a VPN for traveling .

💰 Money in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, they use the Azerbaijani manat (ANZ) and, approximately:

1 USD = 1.70 AZN

ATM and credit cards

In Baku, you can use your credit card pretty much anywhere and ATMs abound. However, once you leave the capital, it is better to bring cash with you. You may find some ATMs in smaller towns but you can’t really pay by card.

Exchanging money in Azerbiajan

There many exchange offices around the country. 

How much does it cost to travel to Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan is really cheap. In fact, leaving the fancy Baku aside, this is one of the cheapest countries I have ever been to. These are the costs of the most typical things:

• Backpacker hostels – 7 to 15AZN
• Budget guest houses – 30 to 40AZN
• Mid-range hotels – 60 to 80AZN
• Fast food (Doner kebab, sandwich, etc.) – Around 2AZN
• Local eateries (a meal) – 2 to 5AZN
• Mid-Range restaurants (Normally, only available in Baku) – 8 to 15AZN
• Supermarket (beer can) – 0.50 to 1AZN
• Budget bars or happy hour (local draft beer) – 1AZN to 2AZN
• Night bars  (local draft beer) – 2 to 5AZN
• Short taxi ride in Baku – 2 to 3AZN
• Metro ride in Baku – 0.30AZN
• Bus from Baku to Quba – 6AZN and the journey takes 3 to 4 hours.

Backpacking Budget for Azerbaijan From 30€ – 40€ a day

🍲 Food & cuisine in Azerbaijan

Like its people, the food of Azerbaijan is a real blend of cultures and flavors, with influences from all over the region, from Turkey to Russia, Iran and even Greece. 

From plenty of kebabs to the tzatziki Greek yogurt, Uzbek plov , Turkish dolma , and Iranian dizi , during my journey, I tasted something different every day. 

The majority of Azerbaijanis have never left their country, so they will always tell you that those dishes are originally from Azerbaijan and, depending on the way you look at it, they may be right, as all their dishes are local variations on the original dish. 

Azerbaijan travel tip – Baku is definitely more expensive than the rest of the country but, from Monday to Friday, most restaurants have a lunch deal in which, for only 2 or 3€, you will get a full set menu.

My favorite dishes of Azerbaijan

Piti – One of the most typical dishes consists of vegetables, lamb and chickpeas, all cooked in a clay pot and covered by lamb fat. Once served, you smash it like if they were mashed potatoes. You can also find a variation of this dish in Iran called dizi . 

Yarpak Xangal – It consists of layers of pasta, meat, caramelized onion and yogurt. A very heavy dish. In Central Asia, there is a similar thing called beshbarmak . 

Dushbara – A dumpling soup typical of the northern-western part of the country. You can also find it in Kazakhstan and it is called pelmeni . 

Drinking alcohol in Azerbaijan

As in other beloved ex-Soviet Muslim country, alcohol is not really haram (things which are forbidden in Islam), so beer and vodka are available all over the country, even in small villages.

Actually, many cafés in rural areas do have a barrel of draft beer but it is really, really bad, as it has little gas and is really badly served. 

Drinking vodka with locals

If you are lucky, you may be able to drink vodka with some Azerbaijanis but remember that, if you agree to it, you need to finish the whole bottle. When I was in Nakhchivan, I went for dinner with my host’s family and, when we ordered drinks, his father asked me if I wanted to drink some vodka.

I said OK, thinking that everybody in the table would drink, so we would have 1 or 2 shots per person.

However, apparently, everybody said no but me, so his father forced me to drink half of the bottle before even finishing my food. I was the drunkest person in the restaurant and the next day I felt so embarrassed but, fortunately, in Soviet countries, they are used to people being drunk, so everybody just laughed on the day after. 

Just be aware that, if you aren’t really into drinking, it is better to say no from the very beginning. Otherwise, if you have just one or two shots you will be considered a pussy. 

Beer snacks

If you are having beers with Azerbaijani people, you will see that they always need to order something called beer snacks , which range from smoked cheese to fried meat balls. If you want to do what the locals do, order them whenever you get a beer in a bar. 

🛺 Transportation: how to move around Azerbaijan

Moving around baku.

Metro – In Baku, there is a pretty cool metro and one single ride costs 0.30AZN. You need, however, to buy a 4AZN metro card first. 

Uber – Get this app to move around Baku by taxi. 

For more information on transportation in Baku, read my Baku city guide

Moving around Azerbaijan

Marshrutka – Locals move around the country by marshrutkas, which is what public mini-vans are called in the former Soviet Republics. They are really cheap, leave once they are full and they are connected to pretty much any town and city in the country. 

Train – The train goes from Baku to Ganja and then continues until Tbilisi . However, it doesn’t follow the main touristic trail, so you will have to rely on marshrutkas. 

Domestic flights – I took a domestic flight from Baku to the exclave of Nakhchivan, which is the only way to get there. I flew with Azerbaijan Airlines . 

Car rental – Traveling around Azerbaijan by a rental car is safe, feasible and effective, especially around Quba, as you will be able to go to places that are a bit hard to reach by public transportation.

🏨 Accommodation: where to stay in Azerbaijan

There is a wide range of accommodation all over the country, from hostels to guesthouses, homestays and regular hotels, including plenty of 5-star hotels in Baku. 

In my Azerbaijan itinerary , I recommend several hotels in each city. 

❗ More information for traveling in Azerbaijan

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Azerbaijan destination

• Baku Travel Guide
• Best Hostels in Baku
• Qobustan Petroglyphs and Sovietism
• Reasons to Visit Azerbaijan
• Azerbaijan Itinerary

Travel guides to former Soviet countries

• Georgia Travel Guide
• Ukraine Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Tajikistan
• Belarus Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Moldova
• Travel Guide to Kyrgyzstan
• Uzbekistan Travel Guide
• Kazakhstan Travel Guide

30 comments

This is a wonderful write-up to provide potential travellers with an estimate budget. I just wanted to ask, minus accommodation if I estimate 50AZN per day to roam around the city, maybe go to sheki by bus and stay a night there – is it enough? Accommodation is not included in the 50AZN per day budget. I have budgeted accommodation separately.

Prices have slightly increased since the last time I was there but if you stay in budget dorms, I am sure you can make it!

Amazing article about Azerbaijan. I love that you added personal stories of your friends. It’s really devastating how women aren’t always seen as individuals who are entitled to their opinion and choices on some parts of the world.

Hey, I think you got the cost of the metro ride wrong in euros 🙂

thanks for telling me

Hi, I am completing a visa application for Azerbaijan. On the visa application it asks for hotel accommodation details. I will be backpacking starting in Turkey, Georgia etc and I don’t have a definite date I will arrive In Azerbaijan. Can I book a hotel for my last 3 days in Baku before I fly home and include those details in the visa application or do I need to book and detail all the time I expect to be there? By the way I went to Iran in March this year based on your travel blog and then onto Turkey and the Balkans. I had a great time. Your help on the visa would be appreciated.

Hey Michael! The evisa for Azerbaijan only takes a couple of days to proceed, so you could apply during your last days in Georgia. In any case, the accommodation details are for just reference, so you could just make a booking in any random hotel in Azerbaijan, and it should be fine.

Hi Joan, Thanks for your response. My visa came through in 36 hours. As I have already booked my flight leaving from Baku I wanted to ensure I had a visa for Azerbaijan well in advance. I tend to avoid countries which make it difficult to get a visa. I understand in Azerbaijan I will need to register as I will be staying longer than 10 days. I will look at your Pakistan report when I return as I intend to start in southern India and do 3 months and then into Pakistan. The visa for Pakistan looks complicated with letters etc required while India have recently increased the time for Australians to 3 months which is much better for my style of travelling. Keep up the good work and stay safe.

Thank you michael, enjoy Azerbaijan, and your future trip to Pakistan. And yes, the visa can be a pain, but it is really worth the shot. Cheers!

It was really enjoyable to read your review! Azerbaijan is definitely worth to visit. But i don’t really understand why you can’t define Azerbaijanin culture and cousine as a whole. I don’t see any point of comparing Azerbaijanis with any other nation, since they are unique. Coming to cousine, pelmeni are being cooked not only in Kazakhstan. There are many interpretations of this dish in various cousines, but i find Dushbara completely different and unique, as well as other national dishes of Azerbaijan. Ptrobably you’ve never tried levengi, turshkabab, fisincan, which i believe you hardly find anywhere else in the world, but in Azerbaijan. Cheers!!

Thanks for the explanation, I googled these dishes and they look absolutely delicious 😉

Thanks for the great information.

I am based in Denmark and my International Driving License from here states that it doesnt cover Azerbaijan – What is the situation to drive there? What do I need to do / have?

Thanks very much 🙂

Hi Brenda, as far as I know, any EU driving license should be enough to drive around Azerbaijan, as long as you are on a tourist visa. If your Danish license has different requirements, that’s something I can’t know

Is border between Azerbaijan and Iran open for international tourists?

As of today, Azerbaijan landborders remain closed

I like to go to hil quasar to see the village in country life vlog in you tube. Is that possible?

Thanks so much for this write up on Azerbijan, the best uptodate information I’ve read. I am travelling to Nakhichevan from UK with my son in a weeks time as he is in a chess tournament. I just wanted to ask as a women in this area, how will it be regarding what I wear etc. I also want to swim and wondering if I need to buy a special swimsuit? We are also vegan, any advice there?! Thanks Zoe

Hi Zoe, Azerbaijan is generally pretty relaxed, compared to any other Muslim countries. You can dress as you like, within modesty, of course. Regarding vegan food, it’s not the best place for that, but azari cuisine has some pretty elaborated salads

I’m glad that you gave your point of view, Baku seems a very interesting place to go as a tourist but is way better if you can see the city in a whole different point of view.

Hello This is Mr Murad from Sialkot Pakistan.. I would like to tour for azirbahijan..I want to marketing about appare How can I apply visa.. Regards Mr Murad Ali

Hey Beautiful article, thank

Hi Joan. Thank you for the itinerary and the article about Azerbaijan. I’m going to be in Azerbaijan for a week and interested in visiting the South (either hirkan national park or talysh mountains. Do you have any advice about travel there? And if 3 nights are enough (, for one of them only).

Never been in that area, unfortunately!

Hello, I read your post and I think it’s great how you described and explained everything.. iv But I have a question. Yesterday I wanted to apply for an e-visa on the official website of Azerbaijan. They refused my payment. So I wanted to apply for the visa at “Ivisa”. But it says that you can only fly to Azerbaijan and that’s the only way you can apply for a visa. But your post says that the entry by sea is possible. Is entry by ferry via sea really allowed, or could my entry into the country be rejected? I would be happy if you would answer

As long as you have a valid visa, you can use any port of entry to enter Azerbaijan

Just FYI to fill out bank forms before you go. I’m in country right now and all of my cards (from 3 separate banks) were suddenly cut off on Day 3 because Azerbaijan apparently is in a “red zone” that my pre trip research hadn’t uncovered. Aargh. Spending the evening arguing with the banks wasn’t on my bingo card.

Hi Jadzia, I am very surprised! where are your banks from?

Hi there! Thank you for a very informative article about Azerbaijan. We are planning a car trip with kids driving from Greece to Turkey to Georgia and reaching our final destination Azerbaijan. Maybe you could share any update on land borders with Georgia and land border crossing permit for those entering by car; What requirements i need in order to get it? Flying from Greece to Baku is super pricey and not really convenient connection flights either. .. thank you.!!

Hi Liana, borders are open but I’ve never crossed borders with a car, so I can’t tell whether you need permits or not

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Explore Baku's Old City

A city within a city, the Old City is Baku's historic core and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has so much to explore, from the Maiden's Tower and Shirvanshahs' Palace to art galleries, theatres and cafés.  More

take a walking tour of Baku’s oil-boom architecture

Discover the stunning old architecture built in Baku during the late 19th century, early 20th century oil boom. Be inspired by its mix of styles, marvellous details and amazing stories. More

Discover Gobustan's ancient rock art

Uncover an astonishing collection of over 6,000 ancient petroglyphs charting ways of life dating back tens of thousands of years. More

Take a masterclass of Guba cuisine

Learn how to cook the most delicious and traditional Guba sweets like pakhlava or bukma, from local chefs! Take a quick look and see how! More

Play golf in the beautiful countryside of Guba

If you are a golf and nature fan, you should visit Guba’s National Golf Club course in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, a splendid place to play! More

Stroll through time in central Gusar

Discover a peaceful old city highlighted by a few colourful old cottages reminiscent of a time when Gusar was part of the Russian Empire. More

Hit the target at Gabala Shooting Club

Gabala has many shooting experiences set for you to enjoy. Visit the Gabala Shooting Club to improve your aim and enjoy its beautiful natural surroundings. More

Call into Sheki's craft shops

Step into Sheki's boutiques and admire their authentic craftsmanship. Meet artisans and buy some pots, papags, instruments and more. More

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Historical pilgrimage site Imamzadeh Complex

The term ‘Imamzadeh’ signifies ‘descendant of an Imam’ or ‘child of an... More

Embrace of nature Kükü village

The village of Kükü is among the larger settlements of Shahbuz District.... More

Kamil Aliyev carpets shine with weaving mastery

“Art will never disappear as long as every artist, every professional, no matter their field of art, approaches their work with seriousness and respect,” believed Kamil Aliyev, which is reflected in his works that are on display at Sunny Carpets Gallery in Baku. More

Recreation centres in Nakhchivan

If you're still wondering how best to spend your summer or winter holiday in Nakhchivan, you’ve come to the right... More

Huseyn Javid House Museum and Memorial Complex

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Salam azerbaijan practical information.

Here in Azerbaijan you can count on the help of our generous people in every step of your journey. Still, here is some useful information we’d like you to know before you jump on a plane.

Find out if you need a visa to enter Azerbaijan and learn how to apply to get your e-visa. It is easy and fast. learn more

Practical information

Planning a trip can get really complicated, so to make it easier for you here’s a list of all the things you need to consider when planning a visit to Azerbaijan. learn more

There’s plenty to see and do in Azerbaijan all year round, but every season has its own special vibe.  learn more

Useful vocabulary

English and Russian are widely understood and spoken in the capital, Baku, but as you travel across the country knowing a few words of Azerbaijani will definitely enrich your experiences. learn more

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Azerbaijan Travel Advisory

Travel advisory november 2, 2023, azerbaijan - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued after periodic review with general security updates.

Exercise increased caution in Azerbaijan due to  terrorism concerns and areas of armed conflict . Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. 

Do not travel to:

• The border region with Armenia.
• The  Nagorno-Karabakh  region and surrounding territories due to recent hostilities.

Country Summary:  Terrorist groups that continue to plot attacks pose a risk in Azerbaijan. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. 

Until September 2020 the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding territories were under Armenian control. Following armed hostilities in the fall of 2020 and fall of 2023, Azerbaijan took control of these seven territories and Nagorno-Karabakh. Further military activity could occur in the region.  

Read the  country information  page for additional information on travel to Azerbaijan.

If you decide to travel to Azerbaijan:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report  for Azerbaijan.
• Avoid demonstrations. 
• Stay alert in locations frequented by foreigners. 
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

Border with Armenia– Level 4: Do Not Travel There is the potential for fighting along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border as part of the ongoing armed conflict. U.S. citizens should avoid the area.  Exercise caution on roads near Azerbaijan’s border with Armenia. Be aware that some portions of the road may cross international boundaries without notice. Roads may be controlled by checkpoints or closed to travelers without notice. The U.S. embassy has prohibited embassy employees and their families from non-essential travel to the border region. 

Nagorno-Karabakh – Level 4: Do Not Travel The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in and around Nagorno-Karabakh due to landmine contamination and restricted access.

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Swedish PM on shooting: 'Another line has been crossed'

Stockholm shooting: PM says 'another line has been crossed' after son watched his father be shot in confrontation.

A 39-year-old Polish man was fatally shot following a confrontation with a group of youths in Stockholm on Wednesday evening, April 10. The man's nationality was confirmed by his brother-in-law to the Polish Press Agency (PAP) on Thursday.

The incident occurred as the man and his 12-year-old son were en route to a swimming pool in the Skarholmen district of Stockholm. Reports suggest that they encountered a group of youths in an underpass, leading to a verbal exchange between the man and the teenagers. The situation escalated, resulting in a fatal gunshot that took the man's life, witnessed by his own son.

Speaking at the scene of the shooting, Ulf Kristersson, the Prime Minister of Sweden, said: "It's a kind of inhumane, an animalistic attitude. We just can't have this."

"Yes, in its own way, shooting dead a person who has nothing to do with any of this. In front of his son - a child. It's a ruthlessness that I think is... it can hardly be described. It`s an unimaginable cruelty. It's a kind of inhumane, an animalistic attitude. We just can't have this."

"I have talked to many people here today and many feel strong sadness, despair but also a tremendous anger actually. And not least against you politicians. They think you come here and say nice words and you come when there are elections, but they don`t think enough is happening. What do you want to say to those who feel that way?"

"Firstly, I fully understand anger. There is no other human reaction than that. But I also want to say that I came here to show my respect for talking to relatives, but also to tell them what we are doing now. We are now doing everything that we said we would do and everything that is required. We are doing it with force. We are doing it with the speed that the Constitution allows. We are even pushing it, so some people think that we are pushing too hard. But we are doing all this and I am determined. This will be solved, but we must not hesitate now. Now we will do whatever it takes to stop these killers who are destroying the lives of so many people."

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