Azerbaijan travel – Information and tips

Azerbaijan is a country many people in India may not have heard of, but it’s quickly becoming a popular spot for Indian tourists. In this post, I’ll share useful information and tips from my experience visiting Azerbaijan.

Where is Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan is located in the Caucasus region, surrounded by Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Iran. Its enclave, Nakhchivan, also shares a border with Turkey.

Entering Azerbaijan

As of August 2024, the only way to enter Azerbaijan is by air, since the land borders remain closed after COVID. The main entry point is Baku, which is well-connected by airlines, including Indigo from New Delhi and Azerbaijan Airlines from Mumbai and New Delhi.

Visa and Immigration

Azerbaijan is easy for Indians to enter. I’ve explained the process of getting a visa in another post on my blog.

Airport Experience

We flew from Tbilisi to Baku, landing just before midnight. Public transport wasn’t available at that hour, so we had to rely on taxis. We had been warned about airport taxis overcharging tourists, so we used the Bolt app to book a ride. However, the app didn’t accept my Indian credit card, so we had to select cash as the payment option. Since we didn’t have Azerbaijani currency, I tried to withdraw cash from an ATM, but it didn’t work.

Subbu, my travel companion, went back inside the terminal and exchanged a small amount of dollars for the taxi ride.

Currency Exchange

In Baku, we didn’t find dedicated currency exchange shops. Only banks exchange money, and they deal mostly with major currencies like USD, Euros, and Pounds. My Georgian currency wasn’t accepted, and I ended up exchanging it at the airport while exiting the country.

How Long to Stay in Azerbaijan?

The length of your stay depends on your interests. We spent three days visiting Xinaliq, Baku city, and Qobustan. I think 5-6 days is ideal for exploring Azerbaijan. If you want a deeper experience, you can extend your trip. Here’s a typical itinerary:

• Baku City: 1-2 days
• Baku Surroundings: 1-2 days
• Shahdag Mountains: 2 days

Combine with Armenia and Georgia

Many travelers, including us, plan to visit Armenia and Georgia along with Azerbaijan. This allows you to explore three countries in one trip and save on airfare. I’ve shared more details in my post about our trip to the Caucasus.

Getting Around Azerbaijan

In the City: We mostly used Bolt taxis in Baku. It’s similar to Ola and Uber in India and is affordable. In smaller towns like Quba, we used regular taxis and bargained for a good price.

Between Cities: Buses run from Baku to various parts of Azerbaijan. Bigger buses are generally more comfortable than smaller ones.

Day Tours: You don’t need to book tours before arriving in Azerbaijan. Day trips can easily be arranged once you’re there. We used GetYourGuide, and it worked well for us.

Food

We didn’t face any issues with food in Baku. Vegetarian options were readily available. Even in Xinaliq, our homestay hosts made sure to cater to our vegetarian preferences. In smaller towns, you may need to explore local options.

Dress Code

One of the biggest surprises for me was how modern Azerbaijan is, despite being a Muslim-majority country (over 97%). Most women wear Western clothing, and it was rare to see women in hijabs or burqas.

Our guide mentioned that he’s an atheist, and no one in Azerbaijan gets excited. It’s a sign of the country’s progressive mindset.

The only downside I noticed was the widespread smoking habit. Almost every man we met smoked, and this seems to be common not only in Azerbaijan but also in Armenia and Georgia.

Costs

Azerbaijan is a wealthy country with a high standard of living, especially in Baku. It’s not a cheap destination, but still more affordable than Europe. Cheap flights from India make it an attractive travel spot. 

Impact of the War with Armenia

We didn’t feel any direct impact from the war. Unlike in Armenia, we didn’t hear people discussing it much. However, in almost every village, we saw memorials with photos of soldiers who died in the war. Even for the victors, war is costly in terms of human lives.