AZERBAIJAN
TRAVEL GUIDE
Explore the enchanting land of Azerbaijan with our comprehensive travel guide. Discover the captivating blend of ancient history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes in this unique country at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. From the modern marvels of Baku to the timeless beauty of its mountain villages, this guide provides everything you need to plan an unforgettable adventure in Azerbaijan. Learn about must-see attractions, local cuisine, travel tips, and more to make the most of your visit.
Azerbaijan Itineraries
Top 5 Things See & Do In Azerbaijan
BAKU OLD TOWN
PALACE OF THE SHIRVANSHAHS
SHEKI
CARAVANSERAI
PARKS
Need To Know - Azerbaijan Travel Guide
- Nationals from most countries need a visa to travel in Azerbaijan. See the Visa Tab for more details.
- Azerbaijan has an excellent mini bus network that ferries both locals and visitors to each corner of the country. Learn the word Avtovağzalı (Bus Station)
- ATM’s are easily found in Baku and most reasonable size towns across Azerbaijan.
- When ordering food in Azerbaijan bread and salad will be automatically be brought to the table. These are not free and they will be added to your final bill so if you do not want them you need to tell the waiter to take them away.
- Very little English is spoken outside Baku so learn a few essential phrases.
Weather
Azerbaijan has warm to hot summers ranging from 20-30 degrees with frequent storms. The winters are cold with the temperature hovering around zero. The mountainous regions of Azerbaijan are known for severe weather conditions and extremely cold weather during the winter months, with very strong winds and snowstorms.
Money
The currency of Azerbaijan is the Azerbaijan Manat.
ATMs are available in Baku and the larger regional towns.
Visa
You must have at least 6 months on your passport.
If you are planning to stay longer than 15 days in Azerbaikan you MUST be registered within 3 days of arriving in the country. You can be registered by your hotel, at the migration police, via a mail from your host to the migration police or online. You can no longer register at the post offices.
If you plan to visit Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh (the de facto Republic of Artsakh), its surrounding territories and the Azerbaijani exclaves of Karki, Yuxarı Əskipara, Barxudarlı and Sofulu do so after you have been to Azerbaijan. Due to ongoing conflict in the area if you have evidence of visiting any of these areas in your passport you will not be permitted into Azerbaijan.
In recent years getting a visa for Azerbaijan has been simplified enormously and for most, it is a straight forward process of applying online for an e-visa.
Ensure you apply for your e-visa through the Azerbaijan Government portal. There are a number of other sites with similar URLs who will charge a lot more and deliver the same thing. EVISA
Visa Policy
Citizens of the following 10 countries can visit Azerbaijan without a visa for up to 90 days.
Belarus Georgia Kazakhstan | Kyrgyzstan Moldova Russia | Tajikistan Turkey (30 days) Ukraine | Uzbekistan |
Citizens of the following countries can obtain a visa for Azerbaijan on arrival valid for 30 days obtainable at any international airport.
Bahrain China Indonesia Iran | Israel Japan Kuwait Malaysia | Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore | South Korea United Arab Emirates |
Limited visa on arrival
Citizens of United States can obtain a 30 days visa on arrival only if arriving on a direct flight of Azerbaijan Airlines from New York City.
Electronic visa
Azerbaijan introduced electronic visas for citizens of designated countries in January 2017. The system is called ASAN Visa and the visas are issued for a single-entry visit up to 30 days. The e-visa should be printed and presented together with the passport (that should be valid at least 3 months more than the validity period of the electronic visa) at the border checkpoint.
European Union All European Union citizens Albania Algeria Andorra Argentina Australia Bahamas Bahrain Barbados Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Brazil Brunei Canada Chile China Colombia Cuba | Costa Rica Djibouti Ecuador Guatemala Honduras Iceland India Indonesia Iran Israel Jamaica Japan Jordan Kuwait Liechtenstein Malaysia Maldives Mauritius Mexico Mongolia | Monaco Montenegro Morocco Nepal New Zealand North Macedonia Norway Oman Pakistan Panama Paraguay Peru Qatar San Marino Saudi Arabia Serbia Seychelles Singapore South Africa Sri Lanka | South Korea
Switzerland Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates United States Vatican City Vietnam |
From 15 May 2018 citizens of Bahrain, China, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, United Arab Emirates can obtain an electronic visa on arrival in Baku International Airport.
Banned Countries
Due to a state of war with Armenia, the government of Azerbaijan has banned the entry of citizens from Armenia, as well as citizens of any other country who are of Armenian descent (including Armenian Russians) to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The government of Azerbaijan strictly bans any visit of foreign citizens to the separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh (the de facto Republic of Artsakh), its surrounding territories and the Azerbaijani exclaves of Karki, Yuxarı Əskipara, Barxudarlı and Sofulu which are de jure part of Azerbaijan but under control of Armenia, without prior consent of the Government of Azerbaijan.
Foreign citizens who enter these occupied territories, will be permanently banned from entering the Republic of Azerbaijan and will be included in to the “list of persona non grata”.
Visa policy of Azerbaijan for ordinary passport holders.
Republic of Azerbaijan
Visa free
Visa issued upon arrival by air. Also eligible for ASAN electronic visa.
Eligible for ASAN electronic visa. Visa on arrival under special conditions.
Eligible for ASAN electronic visa.
Visa obtained in person required prior to arrival.
Admission refused
Visa policy of Azerbaijan for ordinary passport holders
* This information is a guide only, do your own research
What to pack for Azerbaijan is very dependant on when you will be travelling to the country and where you will be going. Summers are warm to hot but if travelling to the mountains a jacket or coat is advisable.
Winters are cold especially in the mountains so cold-weather gear will be needed.
It’s all about layering which allows you to add or loses clothing as needed
Packing List
Clothing
1 pair jeans – I know they are heavy and take ages to dry but I wear them constantly and find them comfortable
1 pair black travel type pants – Black pants are little smarter than jeans so good if going somewhere a little dressier. Mine is the lightweight fabric in the style of jean,
2 x pair of shorts. 1 denim and one lightweight travel fabric
2 x singlets – good for layering and sleeping in
4 x short sleeve cotton shirts, lightweight and breathable
1 x long sleeve sloppy joe.
1 x zip-up shell jacket
1 x lightweight raincoat – packable version that packs down into a small bag.
5 x socks
5 x underpants
2 x bras
Shoes
1 x pair walking or hiking shoes.
1 x pair slip on flats
1 x pair flip flops (great for hostel showers)
Toiletries
Shampoo & Conditioner
Bar of Soap
Deodorant
Razor
Tweezers
Brush / Comb
Hair Ties
Electronics
1 x Earbud headphones.Light and small,
1 x IPad
1 x 6S iPhone
Charging leads for above
2 x USB
1 x power bank
1 x Cable organiser which keeps everything tidy
1 x 14” laptop – we run a business so this is essential for us.
Photography
This year I have left behind my DSLR and lenses to travel only with a GoPro and a LUMIX TZ80. At the end of the day it came down to weight when travelling a long way and having to carry a pack – so let’s see how we go….
1 x GoPro Hero 5
2 x Spare GoPro Batteries
1 x LUMIX TZ80
Spare micro SD Cards
Other Stuff
1 x padlock
1 x headlight or torch
1 x Swiss knife
1 x medical kit
Ziplock bags
Azerbaijan borders Georgia, Iran, Russia and Armenia.
All border between Azerbaijan and Armenia are closed due to war and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
It is not a problem travelling into Azerbaijan with an Armenian stamp in your passport, however, we have heard of travellers being given a hard time by border guards before being allowed to pass. It may be advisable to travel to Armenia after Azerbaijan.
If you have a Nagorno-Karabakh stamp in your passport you will be denied entry to Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan – Georgia Border Crossing
Balakan – Lagodekhi.
Connecting Sheki and Telavi this is a beautiful drive through pretty countryside. This crossing is a relatively quiet border crossing.
Money exchange and an ATM are available on the Georgian side of the border.
Azerbaijan to Georgia.
Mini-buses run from Sheki to Balakan daily, then take a taxi the remaining 16km to the border.
Once you have crossed the border and are in Georgia take a taxi to the Lagodeki bus stop where you can pick up a mini-bus to destinations such as Tbilisi and Telavi.
Read More On Crossing the Azerbaijan-Georgia Border Crossing
Shikhli/Sixli – Tsiteli/Red Bridge
This is the main and busiest border crossing between Azerbaijan and Georgia, connecting Rustavi (GEO) with Qazax (AZ).
Public transport is easily available on both sides of the border as are exchange places.
If catching the train between Baku and Tbilisi this is the border you will cross at.
Azerbaijan – Russia Border Crossing
Yarag-Kazmalyar – Samur: Between Quba and Derbent
AZ-RU – Catch a taxi from Quba to Samur and the border. Bypass the queue of trucks to Azerbaijan border control.
Once through border control catch a mini-bus 900 metres to the Russian border. Then catch a mini-van or taxi to Derbent.
RU – AZ – Take a taxi from Derbent to Yarag, pass through the two border control and then pick up a taxi to Xudat, Xacmaz or Quba. From there buses or min-buses are available to Baku.
Shirvanovka- Novo-Filya
The preferred border crossing as it is much friendlier and has been a multilateral border since 2018. It is open non-stop
Get a car to the border, then another car to Derbent. Mini-buses runs from Derbent to the border.
Garax-Zukhul
A bilateral border crossing for locals only.
Azerbaijan – Iran Border Crossing
Astara – Astara
Get to Astara on the Azer side and walk across the border to Astara on the Iranian side its that simple. Exchange offices can be found on the Iranian side.
This border crossing ranges from insanely busy to quiet depending on the geopolitical situation at the time.
Azerbaijan – Armenia Border Crossing
All border crossings between these two countries are closed.
Azerbaijan Travel Guide | The Best Guide To Azerbaijan
Enchanting Azerbaijan Travel Guide: Your Gateway to Unforgettable Adventures
Azerbaijan, a hidden gem nestled between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, offers an irresistible blend of rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty. Whether you’re an avid adventurer or a history enthusiast, this comprehensive Azerbaijan Travel Guide will help you plan the perfect journey. From ancient cities to breathtaking landscapes, your travel to Azerbaijan promises a memorable experience.
How to Plan a Journey with the Azerbaijan Travel Guide
When considering travel to Azerbaijan, it’s essential to choose the right time of year. The best periods to visit are spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) when the weather is mild and ideal for exploring both urban areas and natural wonders. Summers can be extremely hot, particularly in Baku, while winters bring cooler temperatures, especially in mountainous regions.
Securing a visa is straightforward for most nationalities, with an e-visa available through the official portal. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure. Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku is the primary entry point, with direct flights available from major cities worldwide. Once in Azerbaijan, getting around is easy, thanks to a well-developed network of trains, buses, and taxis, as well as Baku’s modern metro system.
Accommodation Options in Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijan Travel Guide recommends booking your accommodation in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons. In Baku, you’ll find a range of luxury hotels offering modern amenities, while rural areas boast cozy guesthouses that provide a more authentic experience. For a unique stay, consider lodging in a traditional caravanserai or exploring the vibrant neighborhoods of Baku.
Top Attractions to Explore with the Azerbaijan Travel Guide
Crafting your itinerary is a breeze with the Azerbaijan Travel Guide. Start in Baku’s UNESCO-listed Old City, where ancient architecture and narrow streets tell stories of a bygone era. Don’t miss the mud volcanoes of Gobustan National Park, a natural wonder unique to this region. For outdoor enthusiasts, the Caucasus Mountains offer excellent trekking opportunities, while the charming villages of Sheki and Lahij provide a glimpse into Azerbaijan’s rich cultural heritage.
Azerbaijani Cuisine: A Taste of Tradition
No Azerbaijan Travel Guide would be complete without highlighting the local cuisine. Azerbaijani food is a delightful fusion of Middle Eastern, Turkish, and Central Asian influences. Savor traditional dishes like plov, a fragrant rice dish cooked with saffron, dried fruits, and meats. Kebabs, including shashlik (skewered meats) and lula kebab (minced meat), are also staples that you’ll find grilled to perfection across the country.
Indulge in sweet treats like pakhlava, a rich pastry layered with nuts and honey, and shekerbura, a pastry filled with ground nuts and sugar. Don’t forget to enjoy a cup of Azerbaijani tea, typically served with sweets and preserves, a symbol of the country’s renowned hospitality.
Culture, Religion, and Safety in Azerbaijan
The Azerbaijan Travel Guide explores a culture shaped by its history as a Silk Road crossroads. The Azerbaijani language (Azeri) is widely spoken, alongside Russian in urban areas. While Shia Islam is the predominant religion, Azerbaijan is known for its secular governance and religious tolerance.
Safety is a priority when you travel to Azerbaijan. The country is generally safe for tourists, but it’s wise to stay informed about regional developments, especially near the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone. Tap water is not always potable, so drinking bottled or filtered water is recommended. Comprehensive travel insurance is advisable, covering medical expenses and ensuring access to healthcare facilities across the country.
Conclusion
Azerbaijan beckons travelers with its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and warm hospitality. By following this Azerbaijan Travel Guide, you can plan a journey that encompasses the best of what this enchanting country has to offer. Whether you’re exploring Baku’s ancient streets or trekking through the majestic Caucasus Mountains, your travel to Azerbaijan will be a truly unforgettable adventure.
