Reasons to visit Azerbaijan

This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure about affiliate links here.

It has always been my intention to visit the entire Caucasus region of Asia. Having previously visited Georgia and enjoyed my time there, Azerbaijan was next on the list. In essence, my reason for visiting Azerbaijan was the same as George Mallory’s reason for climbing Mount Everest: because it was there.

I had better luck with Azerbaijan than Mallory had with Everest so here are 10 reasons to visit Azerbaijan.

REASONS TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN

1. Is Azerbaijan safe? Yes, I travelled to Azerbaijan on my own and felt safe pretty much most of the time. My only reservation was when our tour group was followed by a group of young men in Sheki. Nothing happened and perhaps they were just curious.
2. Azerbaijan is a secular Muslim-majority country that is tolerant of other beliefs and religions. Women do not appear to be restricted in ways that they are in neighbouring Iran. Beliefs are considered personal and play little part in the running of the country. However, women are required to wear head coverings such as a scarf in mosques.  
3. The visa process is reasonably easy. Some nationalities can apply for a visa on arrival. An as EU citizen, I was eligible for an eVisa in advance. Allow a week for this to be processed. Note that eVisas will not the processed during Nowruz week (end of March, usually).
4. Azerbaijan has a long and varied history so there are plenty of sites to see. As Azerbaijan was on the Silk Road, its culture and history is intertwined with other countries. It spent most of the 20^th century under Soviet rule.
5. Azerbaijan is an exotic mix of modernity and ancient times. It attracts an intrepid and open-minded type of traveller who will be willing to share their knowledge.
6. Capital city Baku is known as the Paris of the East. Expect elegant boulevards, serene parks and charming cafes. 
7. Azerbaijan caters for all types of travel budgets, from backpacker to the 5-star luxury seeker.
8. The locals are helpful and friendly.
9. Azerbaijan is known as the Land of Fire. It specialises in showcasing unique natural phenomenon such as Yanar Dag burning mountain and mud volcanoes. I’ve written about these sites in my Day Trips from Baku post.
10. Azerbaijan has a beautiful and varied landscape, from deserts to lush mountains. Outdoor pursuits such as hiking and kayaking are possible in Northern Azerbaijan.

AZERBAIJAN TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

What’s the best time to visit Azerbaijan?

I visited in April and found that I needed a light jacket during the day. It depends where in Azerbaijan you want to visit as weather depends on altitude. As a general rule of thumb, it is said that April to October is good for most of the country. However, low lying areas get quite hot in July and August.

How many days are needed to visit Azerbaijan?

It took me 5 days to see Baku and do the day trips. 7 days would have allowed me to visit the Guba region and central Azerbaijan.

Accommodation in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan had a wide variety of accommodation options. I was based in Baku, so here are some accommodation options in the city.

What languages are spoken in Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijani is the main language and I understand it has strong similarities to Turkish. Young people learn Russian and English in school. Those over fifty will tend to speak only Russian along with Azerbaijani.

What’s the food like in Azerbaijan?

The food is very much a Turkish affair. Kebabs, grilled vegetables, salad, rice and bread dominate menus. Sweets such as baklava and lokum (Turkish delight) round off meals. Tea, rather than coffee, is the national drink.

Is Azerbaijan at war?

When the Soviet Union collapsed, Armenians living in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Western Azerbaijan demanded that the region be subsumed into newly independent Armenia, resulting in the First Nagorno-Karabakh war in the early 1990s. Up to one million Azerbaijani’s were displaced from the region as a result of this war. Ongoing conflict resulted in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020.

The border region with Armenia is a constant tinderbox and my own government’s travel advice was to avoid this area. Always follow your own government’s advice when it comes to travelling to specific regions. No conflict existed in the areas I travelled to.

What’s the unit of currency in Azerbaijan?

Manat.

What plugs do they use in Azerbaijan?

The two round pin plug/socket of 220V-240V.