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Azerbaijan travel guide

Medieval Baku and its modern skyline, fire temples and mud volcanoes, and the green Caucasus foothills, about three hours from the UAE.

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Azerbaijan packages from USD 450
The Flame Towers and Baku Boulevard across the bay A cobbled street in Icherisheher, the Old City of Baku The Maiden Tower in the walled Old City of Baku

Azerbaijan pairs one of the most striking capitals in the region with mountain country a few hours away. In Baku, a walled medieval city sits beneath the glass Flame Towers, and the seafront boulevard runs for kilometres along the Caspian. Outside it, the Absheron Peninsula has hillsides that have burned for centuries.

With no time difference from the UAE, a short flight and a largely Muslim population, it is an easy first trip to the Caucasus. Families come for the Gabala cable cars and lakes, and couples for Baku's evenings and the old silk town of Sheki.

Visa and entry

  • UAE residents can apply for an eVisa online before they travel or take a visa on arrival at the airport. Either way the stay is up to 30 days, and both cost about AED 140.

    Source: Gulf News (Lakshana N Palat)

  • You need a passport valid for at least six months and a UAE residence visa valid for at least three more months.

    Source: Gulf News (Lakshana N Palat)

  • With a visa on arrival, you scan your passport at the machines in the arrivals hall and enter your trip details; with an eVisa you go straight to the immigration counter.

    Source: Gulf News (Lakshana N Palat)

Entry rules for Azerbaijan can change at short notice. Share your nationality and residence details and our team will confirm what applies to you before you book.

Things to do in Azerbaijan

  1. Icherisheher, the Old City

    Baku's walled old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Maiden Tower, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and lanes of carpet shops and tea houses.

  2. The Flame Towers and Baku Boulevard

    The three towers light up at night above the city; below them the seafront boulevard is the place for an evening walk.

  3. Heydar Aliyev Center

    Zaha Hadid's flowing white cultural centre, as much a sight from outside as within.

  4. Gobustan

    Rock carvings tens of thousands of years old, a UNESCO site, with the mud volcanoes close by.

  5. Ateshgah and Yanar Dag

    A fire temple once used by Zoroastrian and Hindu pilgrims, and a hillside of natural gas that has never stopped burning.

  6. Gabala

    Forested foothills of the Caucasus with the Tufandag cable car and Lake Nohur, about three and a half hours from Baku.

  7. Sheki

    An old silk-road town with the painted Palace of the Sheki Khans and caravanserais, also on the UNESCO list.

Dos and don'ts

Do

  • Carry some manat in cash for markets, tea houses and the countryside.
  • Use the Bolt app for taxis in Baku, or agree the fare before you get in.
  • Dress modestly when visiting mosques; women are asked to cover their hair.
  • Spend an evening in a traditional tea house; tea comes with jam and sweets.
  • Keep your passport with you; hotels and some sights ask to see it.

Don't

  • Photograph government buildings, police or military sites.
  • Drink tap water; bottled water is cheap and everywhere.
  • Plan a drive to the mountains after dark in winter, when snow and ice close roads.
  • Leave the visa until the last minute in peak holiday periods; apply for the eVisa a few days ahead.

Food to try

Plov
Saffron rice layered with lamb, dried fruit and chestnuts, the centrepiece of a family meal.
Qutab
Thin folded flatbreads filled with greens, pumpkin or minced meat, cooked on a griddle.
Dolma
Vine or cabbage leaves wrapped around spiced rice and meat.
Lyulya kebab
Minced lamb kebab grilled over charcoal and served with sumac and onions.
Dushbara
Tiny dumplings in a clear broth, a speciality of the Caucasus kitchen.
Pakhlava
Diamond-shaped layers of nuts and syrup, served with tea.

Practical tips

Getting around
Bolt is the easiest way around Baku, and the metro is cheap. For Gabala, Sheki or Shahdag, a car and driver makes the long day trips comfortable.
Money
Cards are accepted in Baku hotels, malls and most restaurants. Outside the city, carry cash in manat.
Halal food
Most food in Azerbaijan is halal by custom, and pork is rare on menus.
Weather
Baku is hot in July and August and windy year-round; the mountains are cooler, with snow from December to March.
Staying connected
Local SIM cards from Azercell or Bakcell are sold at the airport.

Azerbaijan holiday packages

Two itineraries in Azerbaijan, built on the places in this guide, with the hotel, tours and transfers in one price.

All holiday packages

Azerbaijan in photographs

The Flame Towers and Baku Boulevard across the bay A cobbled street in Icherisheher, the Old City of Baku The Maiden Tower in the walled Old City of Baku Ateshgah, the fire temple of Surakhani on the Absheron Peninsula Natural gas flames burning from the hillside at Yanar Dag, Absheron Green slopes of the Greater Caucasus in northern Azerbaijan The Baku funicular running down towards the city and the bay The Flame Towers of Baku above the Caspian waterfront

Questions about travelling to Azerbaijan

Do UAE residents need a visa for Azerbaijan?

Yes. UAE residents can apply for an eVisa online or take a visa on arrival at the airport, each for up to 30 days. A passport valid for six months and a UAE residence valid for three months are needed.

How many days are enough for Azerbaijan?

Three nights cover Baku and the Absheron Peninsula. Four or five let you add a day in Gabala or travel on to Sheki.

Is Azerbaijan good for families?

Yes. The boulevard, the Gabala cable cars and Lake Nohur suit children, distances are manageable, and halal food is the norm.

When is the best time to visit Baku?

Spring and autumn are mild and clear. Summer is hot in the city but pleasant in the mountains, and winter brings snow to Shahdag and Gabala.

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