Smart Self-Managed Tours

Country guide

Azerbaijan

A photograph of Azerbaijan
Photograph · Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0

Azerbaijan lies on the boundary between Western Asia and Eastern Europe, in the South Caucasus, with the Caspian Sea along its entire eastern edge and Iran to the south. Baku is both the capital and the largest city. The country is not one continuous block. The exclave of Nakhchivan is cut off from the rest by Armenian territory, and it holds the only stretch of border Azerbaijan shares with Turkey. Georgia is the neighbour to the northwest and Russia's republic of Dagestan to the north. It is one of six independent Turkic states, and the first secular democratic Muslim-majority state in the world, declared in 1918.

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Azerbaijani
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+994
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C and F · 220 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor drinking-water statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: no seasonality data recorded
  2. February: no seasonality data recorded
  3. March: no seasonality data recorded
  4. April: no seasonality data recorded
  5. May: no seasonality data recorded
  6. June: no seasonality data recorded
  7. July: no seasonality data recorded
  8. August: no seasonality data recorded — this month
  9. September: no seasonality data recorded
  10. October: no seasonality data recorded
  11. November: no seasonality data recorded
  12. December: no seasonality data recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Sharg Bazaar Sharg Bazaar
    02 45 min

    Sharg Bazaar

    Şərq Bazarı

    Sharg Bazaar is a restored domed bazaar in Baku, Azerbaijan, known locally as Şərq Bazarı. It represents a modernised interpretation of a traditional eastern market hall.

    • Must see
    • Market
    • Baku
  2. 28 Mall 28 Mall
    05 45 min

    28 Mall

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  3. Ganjlik Mall
    06 45 min

    Ganjlik Mall

    Gənclik Mall

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  4. Deniz Mall
    09 45 min

    Deniz Mall

    Dəniz Mall

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  5. LeDiOr
    11 45 min

    LeDiOr

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  6. Nargiz Mall
    14 45 min

    Nargiz Mall

    Nərgiz Mall

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  7. AF Mall
    31 45 min

    AF Mall

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  8. Bazar
    46 45 min

    Bazar

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  9. Bazar
    47 45 min

    Bazar

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  10. Butasat
    52 45 min

    Butasat

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  11. Caspian
    54 45 min

    Caspian

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  12. Jasmin
    66 45 min

    Jasmin

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  13. Kosmos
    71 45 min

    Kosmos

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  14. Market
    73 45 min

    Market

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  15. Nasimi Bazar
    82 45 min

    Nasimi Bazar

    Nəsimi Bazarı

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  16. Panda
    88 45 min

    Panda

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  17. Park 20 Shopping
    89 45 min

    Park 20 Shopping

    Park 20 Velotrek Ticarət

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku
  18. Teze bazar
    98 45 min

    Teze bazar

    Tәzә Bazar

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Baku

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Azerbaijan be?

Six to nine days can cover Baku, Gobustan or Absheron and one overnight route toward Sheki or the mountains. Western Azerbaijan and remote villages add real road time, so do not schedule them as casual extensions from a three-day capital stay.

What entry documents are needed for Azerbaijan?

Check Azerbaijan’s official ASAN Visa portal against your nationality and intended entry date. The service states the applicable electronic-visa process; border access and passport conditions should be confirmed there rather than inferred from a previous Caucasus trip.

What is the best way to travel around Azerbaijan?

Baku has metro and bus services, while rail and coaches connect selected cities. Rural monuments and mountain areas often need a hired driver or car; verify current road and boundary-area access before setting out, since the shortest mapped route may not be open to visitors.

When is a practical time to visit Azerbaijan?

Late spring and early autumn generally balance Baku walking weather with regional travel, but the Caspian coast and highlands do not share one climate. Build dates around the highest or most exposed leg and check official access information for mountain roads.

What money and payment basics apply in Azerbaijan?

Prices are recorded in Azerbaijani manat. Keep some AZN for smaller regional businesses and use regulated banking or exchange channels; in Baku, confirm the final manat amount before accepting a card terminal’s optional foreign-currency conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Azerbaijan?

Dial 112 for the recorded emergency service and expect Type C or F plugs at 220 V. Tap-water advice is Not recorded, so ask the accommodation or local utility; also retain current official guidance for any journey near restricted boundary areas.