Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan squeezes a lot between the Caspian Sea and the Greater Caucasus: Baku's walled Old City beneath the glass Flame Towers, Stone Age rock carvings at Gobustan, burning hillsides on the Absheron Peninsula and the silk-road town of Sheki in the green northern foothills. Distances are short, and few capitals mix medieval, Soviet and oil-boom architecture so boldly.
Overview
Azerbaijan is the Caucasus at its most cosmopolitan and most Caspian. Baku dominates: a medieval walled core with the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs, wrapped in 19th-century oil-baron mansions and then in the swooping curves of the Heydar Aliyev Centre and the Flame Towers. Most first trips spend three or four days there, with day trips to Gobustan's petroglyphs and mud volcanoes and the Absheron fire sites, then head north-west to Sheki and its caravanserais, or north into the mountains around Quba and the high village of Khinalug. A week covers the essentials; ten days adds Lahij, Gabala and Ganja.
Baku is pricier than the rest of the country but good value by western European standards: metro rides cost pennies, Bolt taxis are cheap, and a long lunch of kebabs, fresh herbs and tea rarely breaks the bank. Outside the capital, guesthouses are simple and English thins out quickly, so a few words of Azerbaijani or Russian help. Visitors are often surprised by how secular and relaxed Baku feels, by the scale of the hospitality (tea arrives unasked), and by the sensitivity around Armenia and Karabakh, a subject best left alone. It suits food lovers, architecture fans and anyone curious about the post-Soviet world.
Map of Azerbaijan
Top 5 highlights
- 1History
Icherisheher (Baku Old City)
Baku's walled medieval core is a UNESCO site of stone lanes, caravanserais and carpet shops. Climb the enigmatic Maiden Tower for Caspian views, then explore the 15th-century Palace of the Shirvanshahs and its royal tombs.
- 2History
Gobustan rock art and mud volcanoes
More than 6,000 petroglyphs of hunters, dancers, boats and animals cover the boulders of this UNESCO-listed reserve about 60 km south-west of Baku. Most tours add the nearby mud volcanoes, where cold grey mud gurgles from small cones.
- 3Architecture
Palace of the Sheki Khans
The khans' 18th-century palace in Sheki is covered in frescoes, and its windows are shebeke: coloured glass set in wooden latticework assembled without nails or glue. Stay in the town's old caravanserai and eat piti.
- 4Culture
Khinalug
This ancient stone village at around 2,300 m in the Greater Caucasus has its own language, spoken by only a few thousand people. The drive up from Quba through a deep canyon is spectacular, and simple homestays allow an overnight.
- 5Sacred site
Ateshgah Fire Temple
A pentagonal fire temple at Surakhani, built by Indian traders and used by Hindu and Zoroastrian worshippers into the late 19th century. Pair it with Yanar Dag, a hillside where natural gas has burned for decades.
Biggest cities
Baku
The capital and the reason most people come: a UNESCO-listed Old City, oil-boom boulevards, a long seafront promenade and outlandish modern landmarks, plus the liveliest restaurants and bars in the country.
Sumgait
A Soviet-planned industrial city about 30 km north-west of Baku with a pleasant seafront boulevard. Interesting only if Soviet urbanism appeals; most travellers skip it.
Ganja
The country's historic second city, home of the medieval poet Nizami and his mausoleum, the quirky Bottle House and leafy avenues; a good base for Lake Göygöl in the mountains.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Azerbaijan
Best time: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct.
Average climate in Baku
Festivals & events
- MarNovruz
The spring new year around 20–21 March brings bonfire jumping, painted eggs, trays of sprouted wheat (samani) and sweet pastries such as pakhlava and shakarbura, with street performances in Baku's Old City.
- Oct–NovGoychay Pomegranate Festival
Goychay, the heart of Azerbaijan's pomegranate country, celebrates the harvest in late October or early November with fruit stalls, juice and sauces, folk music and dancing.
How much does Azerbaijan cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Plov
Saffron-tinted rice cooked separately from its toppings of lamb, chestnuts, dried fruit and caramelised onion; shah plov arrives baked inside a crisp lavash crust.
Piti
Sheki's lamb and chickpea stew, slow-cooked in an individual clay pot. Eat it in two stages: broth poured over torn bread first, then the meat.
Qutab
Thin half-moon flatbreads griddled with fillings of herbs, pumpkin or minced meat, brushed with butter and often dusted with sumac.
Getting around
Baku has a cheap, efficient metro and city buses paid for with a rechargeable BakuCard, and Bolt and Uber work well. Intercity trains link Baku with Ganja, while buses and minibuses leave the main bus terminal for Sheki, Quba and Gabala; shared taxis are quicker. Hiring a car or driver makes mountain villages such as Khinalug and Lahij far easier.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CF230V — bring a UK-to-C/F adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +994
- Time zone
- UTC+4 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Not safe — drink bottled or treated water
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Around 10% is usual in restaurants, but check the bill first, as many Baku places already add a service charge. Round up taxi fares.
- Etiquette
- Remove shoes in homes and mosques, dress modestly outside Baku, and accept tea when offered. Greet older people first, and avoid raising Armenia or Karabakh politics in conversation.
- Main airports
- Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD), Baku
Visas & entry for Azerbaijan
Shown for a British passport.
Visa required — apply before you go
You must have a visa to visit Azerbaijan.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Hepatitis ATetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- Hepatitis BMeaslesRabiesTuberculosisTyphoid
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Azerbaijan
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Sun 8 Nov 2026 | Victory Day |
| Mon 9 Nov 2026 | National Flag Day |
| Tue 10 Nov 2026 | Victory Day (observed) |
| Thu 31 Dec 2026 | International Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Sat 2 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Mon 4 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day (observed) |
| Wed 20 Jan 2027 | Martyrs' Day |
| Mon 8 Mar 2027 | Women's Day |
| Tue 9 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Wed 10 Mar 2027 | Eid al-Fitr (date may shift) |
| Sat 20 Mar 2027 | Spring Festival |
| Sun 21 Mar 2027 | Spring Festival |
| Mon 22 Mar 2027 | Spring Festival |
| Tue 23 Mar 2027 | Spring Festival |
| Wed 24 Mar 2027 | Spring Festival |
| Thu 25 Mar 2027 | Spring Festival (observed) |
| Fri 26 Mar 2027 | Spring Festival (observed) |
| Sun 9 May 2027 | Victory over Fascism Day |
| Mon 10 May 2027 | Victory over Fascism Day (observed) |
| Sun 16 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Mon 17 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (date may shift) |
| Tue 18 May 2027 | Eid al-Adha (observed, estimated) (date may shift) |
| Fri 28 May 2027 | Independence Day |
| Tue 15 Jun 2027 | National Liberation Day |
| Sat 26 Jun 2027 | Armed Forces Day |
| Mon 28 Jun 2027 | Armed Forces Day (observed) |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Azerbaijani
| English | Azerbaijani | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Salam | sah-LAHM |
| Thank you | Təşəkkür edirəm | teh-shek-KYUR ed-ee-REM |
| Please | Zəhmət olmasa | zah-MET ol-mah-SAH |
| Excuse me | Bağışlayın | bah-ghish-LAH-yin |
| How much is this? | Bu neçəyədir? | boo neh-cheh-YEH-dir |
Know before you go
- Buy a rechargeable BakuCard at a metro station on day one: you need it for the metro and city buses, which do not take cash.
- Carry manat in cash outside Baku. Cards work in city hotels and restaurants, but village guesthouses, markets and shared taxis expect cash, and ATMs thin out in the mountains.
- Check the FCDO travel advice before planning any overland route into or out of Azerbaijan, as land border arrangements have changed in recent years and may change again.
Azerbaijan travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Azerbaijan?
The best time to visit Azerbaijan is generally Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Peak months are April, May, June, September and October. Average highs in Baku range from 7°C to 31°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Azerbaijan cost per day?
Roughly £35 a day on a tight budget, £80 mid-range and £170+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijani manat (AZN).
What plug type does Azerbaijan use?
Type C and F sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Azerbaijan?
Traffic drives on the right in Azerbaijan, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Azerbaijan?
Not safe — drink bottled or treated water.
Do I need a visa for Azerbaijan?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You must have a visa to visit Azerbaijan. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Azerbaijan before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/azerbaijan/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Azerbaijan?
TravelHealthPro recommends Hepatitis A and Tetanus for most travellers, with Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies, Tuberculosis and Typhoid sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
