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All You Need To Know About Azerbaijan In 2022

Azerbaijan is a strange and fascinating country.

Azerbaijan Visa from Pakistan

Located on the border between Asia and Europe, Azerbaijan has one of those cultures that are particularly difficult to define, as it is a Caucasian country with great Turkish and Iranian influence, which was once part of the Soviet Union. , so the end result is such a strange mixture of opposing cultures that leaves the traveler very confused.

I have traveled to Azerbaijan twice.

During this period, they introduced an electronic visa system. Thus, in just two years, tourism has grown exponentially and the country has begun to enjoy significant international exposure.

Azerbaijan's weirdness is what makes it a particularly interesting country, and in this guide, I've compiled everything you need to know about traveling to Azerbaijan.

COVID-related travel bans and restrictions for Azerbaijan

According to the official travel advisory to Azerbaijan, all travelers wishing to enter Azerbaijan must be fully vaccinated, at least 2 doses.

The negative PCR test is not mandatory for departure but your country of destination may require it.

Tests cost around 75 manats and are usually arranged with your hotel. Note that good hotels may add additional fees.

Travel insurance for Azerbaijan with COVID-19 coverage

IATI Insurance is one of the few providers to offer full coverage against the coronavirus, not only for treatment but also for cancellation costs in case you tested positive before departure.

Yugo.pk readers can take advantage of an exclusive 2% discount.

What is the process for getting a tourist visa to Azerbaijan

E-visa is available for travel to Azerbaijan

Since January 2017, you can apply for an electronic visa to travel to Azerbaijan and this is the official government portal.

It costs $25 and takes 3 business days to process. It costs 50 USD to get an urgent visa.

Who is eligible to apply for an Azerbaijan tourist visa?

All countries in this list include all western nationalities and many more.

How long is the validity of the visa for Azerbaijan?

The single visa is valid for 30 days within a 90-day window - note that there is no double entry visa.

Registration in Azerbaijan

If you are traveling to Azerbaijan for more than 15 days, you will need to register. You can do this at your hotel or at the police station itself.

For more information, I recommend reading this Caravanistan article.

Important – Registration is no joke! In 2016 I skipped this recording (at that time there wasn't much information about it and the limit was 10 days) so when the police found out they told me made to choose between paying a $300 fine or being deported and banned from entering Azerbaijan within a year. After 11 months I tried to apply for the e-visa and it was instantly rejected. In 2019, I managed to enter without any problems.

Best time to visit Azerbaijan

Best time to visit Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, you find 9 out of 11 climatic zones.

From glaciers to vast hot deserts, the Azerbaijani landscape is full of contrasts. This means that the climate is also very varied, so depending on where you want to go, Azerbaijan can be a year-round destination.

For example, the mountains are good to visit from April to October but, if you want to go trekking, summer would be the ideal season.

The region around Baku has a continental climate, which means that the summer is extremely hot and the winter very cold, but it can be visited all year round.

It would be best to travel to Azerbaijan in Mid-Spring and Mid-Autumn, however.

Travel insurance for Azerbaijan

  • Azerbaijan is an adventurous destination, so go with the right travel insurance.
  • I recommend IATI Insurance because:
  • Whether you're a backpacker or a family, it's got a plan for you
  • One of the few providers with full coverage against COVID-19
  • Readers of this blog can get an exclusive 2% discount
  • A book for traveling in Azerbaijan
  • Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia Travel Guide by Lonely Planet
  • There is no guide focusing exclusively on Azerbaijan, not even from Bradt, but you should get the LP guide to the area.
  • The country, the people, and the culture

Azerbaijan today

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan gained independence in 1991.

Since 1993, it has been ruled by a political party called the New Azerbaijan Party, a party founded by Heydar Aliyev, who ruled from 1993 to 2003. After his death, his son Ilham Aliyev took over and he still reigns today.

This political party is said to have no real ideology but is based on nationalism and a cult of personality centered on Heydar Aliyev, who is considered the first to make Azerbaijan great and whose name is seen in many streets, museums, and venues across the country.

On the other hand, Azerbaijan is one of those fake democracies where the ruling party has been accused of several human rights violations and authoritarianism, but it seems that its citizens don't complain about it not a lot.

Arriving in Baku, you will feel like you are in an extremely developed country, as the majesty of its immaculate streets is perfectly comparable to many European cities.

However, as soon as you step out of the capital, things change and you suddenly find yourself in a third-world country. This huge contrast is explained by the fact that Baku is what it is thanks to oil and, due to obvious corruption; this growth has been exclusively concentrated in the capital.

This kind of false development is also explained by the fact that, while Baku feels much more developed than Tbilisi for example, the capital of Georgia is much more socially developed than Baku, a city where it is sometimes even difficult to see mixed groups of men and women.

Religion in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a supposedly Islamic country, with 85% of the population being Shia Muslims and the rest Sunnis. Nevertheless, Azerbaijan was the first Islamic country to declare itself a democratic and secular republic (in 1918).

This means that many people in the country are atheists, like their Central Asian brothers and sisters, so religion is not really a big issue here, especially in Baku. In fact, there are very few functioning mosques.

The personal story of my local friend

During my trip, I met a young man from Baku who turned out to be very religious. In fact, he has a Muslim beard and his wife wears a hijab, which is not very common in Azerbaijan. Anyway, he told me that his wife got a job in a public TV station, but they told her that she had to take off her hijab to come to the office. She obviously refused to do it, and apparently, that wasn't an option, so she ultimately couldn't get the job. It's probably the only Muslim country where these things happen.

People: Azerbaijanis

Physically, most Azerbaijanis look a bit Iranian but a bit different. From a cultural point of view, as I said at the beginning, it is difficult to define them as a single culture. Certainly, they have similarities with their neighbors in Georgia, even Armenia, but they also have many Iranian customs.

For example, they are big tea drinkers, and they drink it the same way Iranians do, using the same type of glasses and the same amount of sugar.

However, you are likely to see them drinking a glass of vodka right after tea, and when you go to rural areas, you really feel like you are in Georgia, because the people look a bit alike and the houses have a very similar style of architecture.

To make it even more surreal they speak Turkish and you can still see a lot of Russian influence.

It's just weird and no matter how hard you try, you can't quite define their culture as a whole.

Hospitality

Azerbaijanis are hospitable, not as much as my friends from Iran obviously, but they were fine, maybe more than in other Caucasus countries. Is it because they are Muslim

I do not know, maybe. In my case, random tea invites were common and I keep in touch with 1 or 2 friends who never allowed me to pay for a meal.

Language in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani is the official language of the country, which is a Turkish dialect. Of all the Turkic languages spoken, from Kyrgyzstan to Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani is the closest to Turkish.

Most people will also speak Russian but, apparently, not as well as their Central Asian neighbors. As for English, in Baku, some young people can speak it but that's all.

Is Azerbaijan an off-the-beaten-path destination?

Glad you asked.

As I said at the beginning, after the introduction of the electronic visa system in January 2017, tourism has grown exponentially.

You will see that today Baku is full of backpacker hostels and tour groups abound. Destinations such as Sheki or Lahic also welcome a fair amount of tourists, and in remote villages such as Xinaliq, you can already find a wide range of official homestays.

Nevertheless, Azerbaijan is still an emerging tourist destination, and the number of tourists is not even comparable to any country in Europe. In fact, outside of the main tourist towns, you're probably the only tourist hanging around.

Places like the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Ivanovka, and towns and villages around Ganja are truly unspoiled destinations you don't want to miss.

If you want to experience the real Azerbaijan, I strongly encourage you to check out these destinations. In my itinerary, in Azerbaijan, you will find more information about these places.

  • How to get to Azerbaijan
  • Traveling in Azerbaijan is very easy.

Getting to Azerbaijan by plane

Baku International Airport has many connections to Europe and many other countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Traveling to Azerbaijan by land

Georgia - There are two very friendly open borders with Georgia, one connecting Zaqatala with Sighnaghi and the other connecting Ganja with Tbilisi. The second can be crossed by train, and in fact, there is a direct night train from Tbilisi to Baku.

Iran – The border with Iran is also open and very user-friendly, but remember that if you are going to Iran you will need to have an Iranian visa.

  • I also recommend that you read my 80 tips for traveling to Iran.
  • Russian border - Foreigners are currently barred from entering this country.

What's going on with Armenia?

Armenia and Azerbaijan are technically at war, mainly due to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, so the border with Armenia is permanently closed. Nevertheless, you should know that having an Armenian visa on your passport does not prohibit you from traveling to Azerbaijan (and vice versa), so you shouldn't worry about it at all, other than undergoing a standard interrogation.

However, if there is evidence that you have traveled to Nagorno-Karabakh, which is only accessible from Armenia, you will be banned from entering Azerbaijan for the rest of your life. Please note that to enter Nagorno-Karabakh you get a different passport stamp but apparently, nowadays you can ask them to stamp it on a separate sheet of paper.

Traveling to Azerbaijan by sea

Kazakhstan - You can travel to Azerbaijan by boat on the Caspian Sea from a Kazakh town named Aktau. It takes 24 hours and you need a dose of patience because it leaves every few days, randomly. Read my 35 useful tips for traveling to Kazakhstan.

Turkmenistan – If you are lucky enough to have a Turkmen visa, you can also take the boat from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan.

Money in Azerbaijan

There is an Azerbaijani manat (ANZ) in use in Azerbaijan, and the following is its approximate value:

1€ = 1.80AZN

ATM and credit cards

In Baku, you can use your credit card just about anywhere and there is no shortage of ATMs. However, once you leave the capital, it is best to bring some cash with you. You can find ATMs in smaller towns, but you can't really pay by card.

Change money in Azerbaijan

There are many exchange offices across the country.

How much does a trip to Azerbaijan cost?

Azerbaijan is really cheap. In fact, leaving chic Baku aside, it's one of the cheapest countries I've been to. Here are the costs of the most typical things:

  1. Backpackers hostels – 7 to 15AZN (3.50€ to 7€)
  2. Cheap bed and breakfast – 30 to 40AZN (15 to 20€)
  3. Hotels in the mid-range - 60 to 80AZN (30 to 40€)
  4. Fast food (Doner kebab, sandwich, etc.) – About 2AZN (1€)
  5. Local gastronomy (one meal) – 2 to 5AZN (1 to 2.50€)
  6. Mid-range restaurants (Normally, only available in Baku) – 8 to 15AZN (4 to 7.50€)
  7. Supermarket (can of beer) – 0.50 to 1AZN (0.25 to 0.50€)
  8. Economy bars or happy hour (local draft beer) – 1AZN to 2AZN (0.50 to 1€)
  9. In Baku, you can get a taxi between 2 and 3AZN (1€ - 1.50€).
  10. It costs 0.30AZN (0.15€) to ride the metro in Baku
  11. Getting from Baku to Quba takes three to four hours by bus for 6AZN (3€).

Food and cuisine in Azerbaijan

Like its people, Azerbaijan's cuisine is a true blend of cultures and flavors, with influences from across the region, from Turkey to Russia, Iran, and even Greece.

From many tzatziki Greek yogurt skewers to Uzbek plov, Turkish dolma, and Iranian dizi, during my trip, I tasted something different every day.

The majority of Azerbaijanis have never left their country, so they will always tell you that these dishes originated in Azerbaijan, and depending on how you look at it, they may be right, as all of their dishes are local variations of the dish original.

Azerbaijan travel tip - Baku is certainly more expensive than the rest of the country, but from Monday to Friday most restaurants offer a set lunch menu where, for just €2 or €3, you'll get a full menu.

My favorite dishes from Azerbaijan

Piti - One of the most typical dishes consists of vegetables, lamb, and chickpeas, all cooked in a clay pot and covered with lamb fat. When served, you mash it as if it were mashed potato. You can also find a variation of this dish in Iran called dizi.

Yarpak Xangal - It consists of layers of pasta, meat, caramelized onions, and yogurt. A very heavy dish. In Central Asia, there is a similar thing called beshbarmak.

Dushbara - A dumpling soup typical of the northwestern part of the country. The Kazakhstani call it pelmeni and you can find it here as well.

Drinking alcohol in Azerbaijan

As in other beloved ex-Soviet Muslim countries, alcohol is not really haram (things forbidden in Islam), so beer and vodka are available all over the country, even in small villages.

In fact, many cafes in rural areas have a barrel of draft beer but it's really very bad because it's low on gas and it's really badly served.

Drink vodka with locals

If you're lucky, you might be able to drink vodka with Azerbaijanis, but remember that if you're okay with it, you have to finish the whole bottle. When I was in Nakhichevan, I went to dinner with my host's family, and when we ordered drinks, his father asked me if I wanted to drink vodka.

I said OK, figuring everyone at the table would be drinking, so we'd have 1 or 2 shots per person.

However, apparently, everyone said no except me, so her dad forced me to drink half the bottle before I even finished eating. I was the drunken person in the restaurant and the next day I felt so embarrassed but luckily in Soviet countries, they are used to people being drunk so everyone laughed the next day.

Just know that if you don't really like drinking, it's better to say no from the start. Otherwise, if you only have one or two hits, you will be considered a pussy.

Beer snacks

If you take beers with Azerbaijanis, you'll see that they always have to order something called beer snacks, which range from smoked cheese to fried meatballs. If you want to do what the locals do, order them every time you have a beer at a bar.

Transport: how to get around in Azerbaijan

  • Getting around in Baku
  • Metro – In Baku, there is a pretty cool metro and a single ride costs 0.30 AZN. However, you must first buy a 4AZN metro card.
  • Uber – Download this app to get around Baku by taxi.
  • For more information on transport in Baku, read my guide to the city of Baku

Getting around in Azerbaijan

Marshrutka - Locals travel across the country in marshrutkas, which is what public minivans are called in former Soviet republics. They're really cheap, leave when they're full, and they're connected to virtually every city in the country.

Train – The train goes from Baku to Ganja and then continues to Tbilisi. However, it does not follow the main tourist trail, so you will have to rely on marshrutkas.

Domestic flights - I took a domestic flight from Baku to the enclave of Nakhichevan, which is the only way to get there. I flew with Azerbaijan Airlines.

Car rental - Traveling in Azerbaijan with a rental car is safe, doable, and efficient, especially around Quba, as you will be able to get to places that are a bit difficult to reach by public transport.

Accommodation: where to stay in Azerbaijan

There is a wide range of accommodation throughout the country, from hostels to guesthouses, homestays, and regular hotels, including many 5-star hotels in Baku.

  • In my itinerary in Azerbaijan, I recommend several hotels in each city.
  • Internet and SIM card
  • Wi-Fi – This works surprisingly well nationwide.
  • SIM card – I recommend Azercell. You can buy a SIM card in many mobile stores, but you need to go to Azercell's official store because you will be charged the actual price. There's a big one in Fountain Square, and for a few manats, you get a lot of data.
Related Articles:

Useful Things to Know Before You Visit Baku, Azerbaijan

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