Azerbaijan

When to Visit Azerbaijan?

The best time to visit Azerbaijan is in autumn from late August to October when the temperature (13 - 26°C) is not too hot in the lowland and not too cold up in the mountains, making it the perfect time to experience the beautiful outdoors of the country.

The mid-summer months, from June to early August, can be quite hot in the lowland, with temperatures hovering around 30-35°C due to the nature of the semi-desert landscape the country has.

Spring, from April to May, is not as bad, but rainfall tends to occur during this period, which might hinder your ability to travel the country's backcountry efficiently.

Winter in Azerbaijan is cold both in the highlands and lowlands. The temperature can be quite extreme, with an average of -5°C in the mountains and 7°C in the lowland area. Therefore, I would recommend avoiding this period if you want to enjoy the outdoors.

How to Get to Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan has a well-established connection with Istanbul and Ankara, so the best way to get to Azerbaijan is to fly with Turkish Airlines from literally anywhere in the world. You could also fly into Turkey with other airlines and then fly into Azerbaijan with low-cost airlines such as Pegasus Airlines.

From the US, there is no direct flight to Baku, but you can fly via Turkish Airlines to Istanbul or Ankara and transfer to Baku from there.

From within Europe, you should be able to fly directly from the UK via Azerbaijan Airlines, from Paris via Air France, or from Frankfurt via Lufthansa.

From Asia, there is no direct flight from the Far East to Baku, but the region is pretty well-connected via Turkish Airlines. So, you can fly to Baku via Istanbul or Ankara. Other Middle Eastern airlines like Qatar, Emirates, and Etihad Airlines are also great options as well.

To find a cheap flight to Baku, I would recommend that you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.

How To Get From Tbilisi, Georgia to Baku, Azerbaijan?

If you are already in the Caucasus, you can travel from Tbilisi, Georgia to Baku with an overnight train. It's a long journey, though, taking around 12 hours and on a train that has seen better days.

The train leaves from Tbilisi daily at 8:35 PM, and you will arrive in Baku at 9:00 AM the next day. You will be passing through immigration at around 11 PM, so do not get cozy and ready for the night before then.

The train ticket should cost you around 15 USD (24 AZN) for a 3rd class sleeper (open plan). If you want a 4-person/2-person private compartment, go for a 2nd or 1st class sleeper seat instead, respectively.

Keep in mind that a lot of people take this train every day, so I would recommend you get your ticket a day or two earlier before your departure date.

SCAM to Watch Out: I have received a report that sometimes, an old train lady will come up to your private compartment if there's space left and tell you that a big snoring guy is coming, and she can redirect the guy to another compartment if you give her money. This is often a ruse, so avoid giving her money.

Looking for a complete guide on things to do in Tbilisi?8 Hippest Things To Do In Tbilisi

How to Get from Baku Airport to the City Center?

There is a 24/7 Airport Express bus that will take you from the airport to Baku Central Station and vice versa. The Airport Express runs every 30 minutes from 6 AM to 7 PM. From 7 PM to 9 PM, it runs every 40 minutes, and from 9 PM to 6 AM, it runs every hour.

In order to get on the bus, you will need to get the BakuCard electronic payment, which can be purchased from a machine on the left-hand side of the Terminal Exit in front of the airport, near the bus stop.

From the machine, there are 2 options: a 2-times paper card for the Airport Express and a plastic card that can be topped up and used on the city bus/metros/museums, etc. I would recommend getting the plastic card so you can use it elsewhere in the city.

The plastic card will cost 2 AZN, and then you can add money to it. I would say 5 - 10 AZN should cover everything (city bus will cost 0.3 AZN per trip), including a round trip to the airport via the Airport Express (1.5 AZN per trip).

After you get the card, go on the bus and tap the card on the machine. You should then be able to see how much money is deducted from your card and the remaining balance.

The Airport Express should take around 45 minutes to take you to the 28 May bus stop right in front of Baku Central Station, and from there, you can walk or take a taxi, ideally using Uber or Bolt.

How to Get Around Azerbaijan?

There are several ways to get around Azerbaijan, and we are going to use them all with this itinerary. Here are the most common ways to get around Azerbaijan:

Things to Note: Most of the signs on buses, as well as on booking websites, might be in Azerbaijani language. To make your life easier, here are all the city names in Azerbaijani.

• Baku: Bakı.
• Quba: Quba
• Sheki: Şəki
• Ganja: Gəncə Ganja: Gəncə
• Nakhchivan: Naxçıvan

Trains: This is by far the most convenient and cheap way to get around the city. Azerbaijan has modernized its trains with European-style double-deck train cars, and yet the price is only slightly higher than that of a marshrutka or bus.

That said, they do not run as often as buses, and they often get fully booked quickly. So, if somehow the train isn't available, you can go for marshrutkas or buses instead.

For an official train schedule and online booking, you can visit Azerbaijan Railways' official website here.

Marshrutkas: Marshrutkas are the cheapest way to get around the country. These little Soviet-era minivans run like buses leaving from a bus station (all leave from Baku International Bus Terminal) on schedule, with the cost depending on the city you are going to, and you pay it directly to the driver.

They are not the most comfortable, though, as they often cram a lot of people, bags, and sometimes livestock into the limited seating area. However, they are cheap, go everywhere, and are one of the best ways to see the countryside and experience how the locals actually travel themselves.

Buses: There are also big buses leaving from the Baku International Bus Terminal, but you might have to book a seat in advance as some routes, like Sheki and Ganja, can get packed quite fast.

For an official bus schedule and booking, you can check out the Baku International Bus Terminal Complex official website here.

To get to the bus terminal from Baku city center, you can either call a taxi via Bolt (Android|iOS) or take the metro to Avtovaghzal Station for 0.3 AZN per trip.

Taxi: The most convenient but expensive way is to take a taxi. Within cities like Baku and Ganja, you can use Bolt, a taxi-calling app, which is way cheaper than getting a regular taxi and much more reliable.

To use Bolt in Azerbaijan, you will have to get a local SIM card at the airport and download Bolt (Android|iOS) on your phone. Then, type in your destination, request a ride, and you are on your way.

For traveling to remote places like Khinaliq or around Nakhchivan, your only option is to hire a taxi driver, which may cost from 60-90 AZN for a day, depending on the distance of the location you are going to. You can easily organize these taxi-for-hires through your accommodation.

How Much Money Do I Need for Azerbaijan?

With this particular 2-week itinerary, we can roughly calculate the minimum amount of money you will be spending in Azerbaijan as follows:

Accommodation: With a total of 15 nights, you will be paying around 194 USD (330 AZN).

Food: The average meal in Azerbaijan costs around 8 AZN, so you can expect to pay around 360 AZN for 15 days.

Transportation: Including the expensive taxis to remote places, marshrutkas and trains to each city, and a flight to Nakhchivan and back, you can expect to pay around 454.5 AZN for 2 weeks on transportation.

Activities: You can expect to pay around 62 AZN for 2 weeks of activities, not a lot because you are paying most of the cost to the taxi drivers who will be taking you there.

Total Budget for 2 weeks in Azerbaijan: 1206.5 AZN (710 USD)

ATM in Azerbaijan

Not all banks and ATMs accept foreign debit cards in Azerbaijan, and after several attempts, I found Bank Republika Azerbaijan to be the most reliable. It has a high daily limit and works well with a VISA debit card. So when in doubt, get your money out from Bank Republika Azerbaijan.

Is it Safe in Azerbaijan?

Generally, Azerbaijan is pretty safe to travel around. You might get a little stare here and there, especially if you are a solo female traveler, but that happens mostly in Baku. In all the other places, especially in Nakhchivan, people are just curious to see a foreigner there.

As some of you may know, there is an ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed area of Nagorno Karabakh. Some attractions I recommend here are near the disputed borders, so you might encounter stricter security in these border areas.

Food can be quite unclean in random restaurants in Quba and Ganja, so be sure to pick a restaurant carefully. My friend and I got food poisoning in Ganja and Quba, respectively, and it is not something you would want to have while you are traveling.

Other than these points, Azerbaijan is very safe, and you can travel the country worry-free.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Azerbaijan?

In big cities like Baku and Ganja, you should have no trouble finding reliable WIFI in restaurants or in your accommodation, but for other places, it would be best if you get a local SIM card at the airport. With the local SIM card, you will also have the ability to use the Bolt app to call a taxi, saving you costs and a ton of headaches dealing with regular taxis.

Azercell is a great option if you are looking to buy a local SIM card. You can buy one right at the airport in Baku when you arrive. The prices range from 29 AZN (1 GB) all the way to 65 AZN (unlimited data), depending on the amount of data you need.

I would recommend that you get around 5 GB of data (40 AZN), especially if you are planning to travel further in Azerbaijan after Baku.

For more information about Azerbaijan local SIM card: Azerbaijan Prepaid Data SIM Card.

Tips: To stay connected with your loved ones at home, make sure to have a VPN service like NordVPN installed before traveling. This will allow you to bypass any local Internet censorship you may encounter while in Azerbaijan.

What to Pack for Azerbaijan?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Azerbaijan:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.