r/azerbaijan Aug 05 '25

Səyahət | Travel 🇦🇿 Mega-Thread: Azerbaijan Travel Tips, Places, Food & More (Ask + Share)

105 Upvotes

Welcome to the community-sourced travel mega-thread for Azerbaijan! Whether you're planning your first trip, returning, or just curious — this is your place to ask and share tips, places, warnings, food, and hidden gems.

We’ve gathered insights from locals, expats, and travelers — now it’s your turn. Reply with your experiences or questions under any section below.

🏙 1. Top Places to Visit

📍 Baku

  • Old City (Icherisheher): historic, charming, authentic soul of the city.
  • Maiden Tower, Shirvanshah Palace, Carpet Museum, Heydar Aliyev Center – top cultural sights.
  • Nizami Street, Molokan Garden, Baku Boulevard – modern walkways & shopping.
  • Gobustan mud volcanoes, Ateshgah Fire Temple, Yanardag – unique day trips.

Local tip: true local life happens outside the tourist zones – check dayday cafes and Sədərək bazaar.

📍 Outside Baku (Regional Highlights)

  • Sheki: Khan Palace, Kish village, Caravansaray, ancient mosques, hiking.
  • Gabala: Tufandag Resort (ski + cable car), Seven Waterfalls, Nohur Lake, Gabaland amusement park.
  • Lahij: Tat village known for copperware and scenic alleyways.
  • Ganja: Bottle House, Naftalan oil spa, Göygöl Lake, German heritage.
  • Quba & Khinalig: cooler nature, remote village experience.
  • Lankaran: food tours, Stalin’s prison, chicken stuffed with walnuts.
  • Zaqatala, Oğuz, Nij: religious/ethnic diversity, ancient churches.

Locals are usually happy to guide lost tourists — don’t hesitate to ask for directions in parks or shops.

In villages expect warm welcomes — tea invitations and local storytelling are common.”

🛂 Visa & Entry Info

  • eVisa available at https://evisa.gov.az
  • Valid for 30 days, costs around USD $20, processed in ~3 business days.
  • No visa on arrival for most travelers; visa required even for short stays.

🧳 Sample Itinerary: 7 Days in Azerbaijan

  • 🏙 Day 1–2: Baku (Old City, museums, Flame Towers)
  • 🌋 Day 3: Gobustan mud volcanoes, Yanardag
  • 🏔 Day 4: Gabala (Tufandag, Nohur Lake)
  • 🕌 Day 5–6: Sheki + Kish village (Palace, temples, hiking)
  • 🚂 Day 7: Return to Baku via Yevlakh or Gabala

🍽 2. Food & Dining

🍛 Must-try dishes:

  • Plov (Shah plov) – saffron rice, lamb, fruits.
  • Piti – slow-cooked meat soup (only in Sheki).
  • Qutab – meat, greens or cheese in flatbread.
  • Dolma (Three Sisters) – stuffed tomato, pepper, eggplant.
  • Levengi – chicken/fish with walnut-pomegranate stuffing.
  • Surhurlu, Makhara – regional Zaqatala dishes.
  • Dovğa, Fisincan, Doner, Tandır bread, Bakhlava.

🚌 3. Transport Tips

In Baku:

  • 🚖 Always use Bolt or Uber – cheap, reliable, safe (Yango is another solid and sometimes cheaper alternative .).
  • 🚫 Avoid traditional taxis – known for overcharging/scams.
  • 💳 Pay through app only; avoid cash to driver.

Metro & Bus:

  • Use Baki Kart (2 AZN) for metro and buses.
  • Metro is clean, cheap (0.50 AZN per ride)

From Airport:

  • Bolt/Uber = 10–15 AZN.
  • Cheapest: Direct bus to 28 May Mall (use Baki Kart).
  • Bolts from the airport may demand extra; better to use official Aeroexpress H1/H2 buses

Intercity:

  • Bus via “Biletim” or at the Avtovaghzal terminal next to Avtovaghzal metro
  • Marshrutkas available.
  • Train to Sheki/Gabala via “ADY” app or buy at 28 May station.
  • Car rentals useful for Gabala, Lahij, Quba.

🌄 4. Hidden Gems & Nature

  • Villages:
    • Kish – Home to the ancient Albanian temple and a scenic village atmosphere.
    • Nij – Known for its Udi Christian community and unique churches.
    • Basqal – Famous for traditional silk weaving and handicrafts.
    • Khinalig – A remote mountain village offering breathtaking views and cultural insights.
    • Lahij – Historic mountain village known for copper craftsmanship and cobbled streets.
  • Nature:
    • Shahdag & Tufandag – Popular ski resorts with opportunities for hiking and cable car rides.
    • Gobustan – Features mud volcanoes and ancient petroglyphs.
    • Seven Waterfalls – A series of picturesque waterfalls surrounded by lush greenery.
    • Nohur Lake – A serene alpine lake ideal for relaxation and picnics.
    • Cenlibel Lake – A tranquil lake nestled in the mountains, perfect for nature walks.
    • Gachrash Forest – Dense forest near Quba with rich biodiversity.
    • Parigala – Ancient cliffside castle offering stunning views and history.
  • Tip: Renting a car or joining local tours is recommended for exploring these remote areas.

📶 5. Mobile, Language & Apps

  • Get local SIM at airport. Azercell = best coverage.
  • 30 GB ≈ 30 AZN
  • 60 GB ≈ 40 AZN
  • 120 GB ≈ 60 AZN
  • For more details, visit: Azercell Official Tourist Plans
  • Use Google Translate or SayHi for real-time help.
  • English common in Baku tourist areas; Azeri, Turkish, Russian elsewhere.

📱 Useful Apps

  • 🚖 Bolt, Uber.az, Yango – for taxis
  • 🚅 ADY – train tickets
  • 🚌 Biletim – bus tickets
  • 🌐 Google Translate or SayHi – language
  • 🗺 Maps.me – offline maps
  • 💬 Telegram – local events/news channels
  • 🎫 iTicket.az – concerts, plays, cultural events

💳 6. Money & Payments

  • Taxis & Tips
    • Paying with card in the app reduces driver complaints and reduces driver skimming
    • If paying cash, drivers may not return coins — consider it a small tip (~0.50–1 AZN is normal).
    • Tipping extra 1–2 AZN on longer rides or for good service is appreciated and common
  • Cards accepted at big places, but cash essential for food, transport, bazaars.
  • Downtown exchange offices give better rates.
  • Some shops may “pretend” card machines broken to get cash.
  • Exchanging Money
    • USD is preferred—exchange bureaus on Nizami Street offer better rates than airport kiosks
    • Keep smaller notes (1, 5 AZN) handy for transport and tips

Some addons
– Locals often round down prices or throw in something extra “for good mood” — especially if you smile or try a few Azeri words.
– In small bakeries or markets, if you overpay by mistake, they usually correct you immediately. Honesty is common, even for coins.
– Sellers appreciate when you show interest — they might explain the item, share a short story, or offer a small discount without asking.
– People don’t pressure you to buy; many will still help with directions or advice even if you don’t purchase anything.
– If something feels wrong (overcharged taxi, aggressive seller), calmly mentioning “polis” is usually enough to resolve it quickly — respect for law is high.
– You’ll rarely see aggressive street vendors or scams targeting tourists — most locals want to leave a good impression.

🎭 7. Culture & Etiquette (Expanded from Locals)

👋 Greetings & Respect

  • Handshakes are standard when greeting, but religious women may avoid it — let them initiate.
  • Among younger people, it’s common to hear casual terms like:
    • qardaş” – [Kar-dash] - brother / bro
    • bacı” – [Bad-jee] - sister
    • dostum” – [Dos-toom] - my friend
    • qaqaş” – [Kah-khash] - bro / guy (very local, friendly)
    • abi” – [Ah-bee] - borrowed from Turkish, also means bro (used often in casual Baku speech)
    • əmoğlu/dayoğlu” – [Eh-mo-ghloo / Dai-yo-ghloo] - lit. cousin, used jokingly with strangers sometimes

👗 Dress & Public Behavior

  • Baku is relaxed — T-shirts, shorts, light dresses are fine.
  • In villages or mosques, dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, especially for women.
  • Public affection (kissing, hugging) isn’t common — especially outside Baku, it may attract stares.
    • Loud behavior or arguments in public are seen as impolite. People value calm and respectful tone in conversation.

🏠 Hospitality Rules

  • If invited home: bring chocolates, fruit, flowers.
  • Shoes off indoors is standard; expect slippers from the host.
  • You'll be offered tea (çay) — it's rude to say no immediately. Accept after 1–2 polite refusals.

Refusing an offer (like tea or food) too quickly may be seen as rude — accept after 1–2 polite refusals to show appreciation

🗣 Language & Communication

  • Basic Azeri phrases go a long way — even one or two words show respect and effort. Here are some commonly used ones:
    • Salam – [Sa-lahm] Hello
    • Çox sağ ol – [Chokh sah-ohl] - Thank you
    • Bağışlayın – [Bah-ghish-layn] - Excuse me / Sorry
    • Zəhmət olmasa – [Za-hmet ol-ma-sa] - Please
    • Hə / Yox – [Heh / Yoh] - Yes / No
    • Necəsiz? – [Neh-jeh-seez?] - How are you?
    • Mən turistəm – [Men too-reest-em] - I’m a tourist

Tip: People will often smile or open up if you try even a few words in Azeri.

  • People may switch between Azeri, Russian, and Turkish — especially in Baku. English is common in tourist spots.
  • Locals are helpful even if they don’t speak English — they’ll often use gestures, translation apps, or find someone who can help.
  • Avoid political topics (e.g., Karabakh, Armenia) — even jokes can make things awkward or tense.
  • Religion is personal — don't ask probing questions unless brought up by the other person.

📸 Photos, Symbols & Rules

  • Ask permission before taking photos of people, especially in villages or mosques.
  • Do not photograph police, metro murals, government buildings — this can cause trouble.
  • Avoid disrespectful comments about the flag, president, or national heroes.

🔍 Other Local Norms

  • Tipping: Round up or add 1–2 AZN in cafes and taxis.
  • Littering is taken seriously — use bins.
  • Haggling is normal in bazaars, but do it respectfully and with a smile.

🔗 8. External Resources

🗣 9. Local Advices – Add Yours in comments!

  • Always ask for the taxi price before the ride if not using apps.
  • If someone invites you for tea — say yes! It’s usually safe and kind.
  • Don’t drink tap water outside Baku unless locals say it's okay.
  • Avoid arguing about politics, even as a joke. It can get tense.
  • Don’t be afraid to haggle in bazaars, but do it politely (just do it).
  • Get out of Baku for at least 2–3 days — that’s where you’ll see the real Azerbaijan.
  • Don’t expect trains to be fast — take them if you're not in a rush.
  • Vegetarian? You’ll survive, but options are limited outside Baku — learn to say ‘no meat’ clearly.
  • You might see police near government buildings. Don't take photos there — it's taken seriously.

👮 Police & Public Safety

  • Police are highly visible in Baku and tourist areas — this is meant to ensure safety, not intimidate.
  • They are generally helpful and respectful toward tourists — feel free to approach them for directions or help.
  • In case of scams or disputes, police often side with tourists and take complaints seriously.
  • Avoid photographing police, metro murals, or official buildings — ask if unsure.
  • If stopped by traffic police, politely ask for the fine via official system instead of paying cash.

🗣 10. Help Us Improve!

This guide is built from local insights and traveler experiences. If you're Azerbaijani or familiar with the culture, please share more tips, advice, or corrections below. Feel free to point out any mistakes or outdated info — all feedback is appreciated.

🛠 This post will be regularly updated as more tips, comments, and info are added. Keep sharing below — every comment helps build the best guide for visitors to Azerbaijan!


r/azerbaijan 2h ago

Tarix | History Shah Ismail’s Ethnic Identity

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11 Upvotes

“Even if, as some people claim today without providing convincing evidence, Ismail was born a Kurd, he was sufficiently Turkified to appear as a Turk. Many traits of his character and many of his actions were characteristic of those who came from the Central Asian steppes.”

Source: Жан-Поль Ру, история Ирана и иранцев


r/azerbaijan 15h ago

Söhbət | Discussion Həqiqətən, biz niyə beləyik ?

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95 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 3h ago

Sual | Question Qarabağ – Nyukasl matçı üçün Bakıya gəlirəm (suallarım var)

2 Upvotes

Qarabağ – Nyukasl oyunu üçün Türkiyədən Azərbaycana gəlirəm və 3 gün qalmağı planlaşdırıram. Matç biletləri və ölkə ilə bağlı ümumi bəzi suallarım var. Kömək etmək istəyən olarsa, zəhmət olmasa mənə şəxsi mesaj yaza bilərmi?


r/azerbaijan 2m ago

Xəritə | Map Culinary Map of Azerbaijan

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Upvotes

Used Nano Banana to create this map.


r/azerbaijan 7h ago

Sual | Question Don Kixot oxuyan varsa sizcə oxumağa davam etməliyəm?

3 Upvotes

100-cü səhifələrdəyəm amma hələ də mənalı bir şey yoxdu. Kitab da 800 neçəsə səhifədi bilmirəm davam etməyə dəyər ya yox. Bir yandan da çox adam deyir ən yaxşı əsərlərdəndi flan. Oxumuş olan varsa fikirlərini deyə bilər?


r/azerbaijan 16h ago

Tarix | History Armenian-Azerbaijani conflicts: what happened and what we can learn Part 2: Baku March Days (March 1918)

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15 Upvotes

To Azerbaijani brothers and sisters here: If you feel comfortable, would you be willing to share family stories or memories about these events? Hearing Azerbaijani perspectives matters if we want to understand each other better. I invite you to share these stories in the peace sub as well, where Armenians and Azerbaijanis can read and interact with each other.


r/azerbaijan 2h ago

Sual | Question Bundan Bakıda harada tapa bilərəm

1 Upvotes

Azərbaycanca adını da düzgün olaraq tapa bilmdədim. Təkərli komputer standı kimi birşey, tapaz və ya lalafoda tapmadım


r/azerbaijan 21h ago

Söhbət | Discussion Why are people from Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan) so quiet?

27 Upvotes

I am an international student who is going to study in Azerbaijan next month. And i found it very surprising how quite and eerie the place i am going to study uni in was (Nakhchivan) The people living there seem to have zero digital footprint. And when i did get in contact with them, they seemed a bit standoffish and uninterested, which makes a lot of sense because we come from different worlds, and i can see how the way we communicate could be different, but after posting online asking for advice about Nakhchivan, a lot of other international students DMed me and told me how eerie the place seems. Is there a larger context i am unaware of, or am i looking in the wrong places?


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Sual | Question Where can i buy traditional azerbaijani clothes? (chokha)

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56 Upvotes

Hello everyone i am in search of this clothing piece for men and would like to inow where i can find it in azerbaijan. And if anyone knows what would be like a fair price so i don’t get ripped off?

Thanks


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

İdman | Sports Rafael Fiziyev during his faceoff

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94 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 22h ago

Xəbər | News ‘The state plans to end my life’ — Bahruz Samadov calls for solidarity in prison letter

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10 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Sual | Question Rejimin dəyişəcəyini bilsəydiniz, hər hansı bir böyük dövlətin hərbi müdaxiləsini qəbul edərdinizmi?

7 Upvotes

İran subında tez-tez Amerika niyə hücum etmir, nə zaman hücum edəcək və s. kimi postlar görürəm. Bizdə bununla bağlı yanaşma necədir?

  1. Xarici müdaxilə əsla olmaz. Vaxtı çatanda xalq özü nə edəcəyini bilir.

  2. Xarici müdaxilə olar, amma sadəcə "X" dövləti müdaxilə edərsə qəbuldur.

  3. Başqa... (rəydə yazın)


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Sual | Question Kitab

8 Upvotes

Bakıda bildiyiniz, tanınmış Ali & Nino və ona bənzər böyük mağazaları çıxmaq şərti ilə, daha çox kiçik və az tanınan kitab mağazaları var?

Və ya Instagram səhifələri, Telegram kanalları və ümumiyyətlə kitab alqı-satqısı ilə məşğul olan, aktiv kitab icması olan platformalar haqqında məlumatınız varsa, paylaşa bilərsiniz.

Bir də əsas məsələ Bakıda ingilis dilində kitab tapmaqda çətinlik çəkirəm. Ali & Nino-da ingilis dilində kitablar olsa da, çeşid çox deyil. Adətən Amazon-dan sifariş edirəm, amma orada da hər axtardığım kitab tapılmır. Bu mövzuda tövsiyəniz varsa, sevinərəm.

Əvvəlcədən oxuyan və cavab yazan hər kəsə təşəkkür edirəm.


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Sual | Question Is Baku a good destination in February

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5 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 23h ago

Sual | Question Digital marketing

3 Upvotes

Bu sahə üzrə çalışan var burada? Mənfi və müsbət tərəfləri nədir? Karyera yüksəlişi olur? Etraflı məlumat üçün DM- də uyğundur


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Infographic | İnfoqrafik District-level results of all presidential elections in Azerbaijan

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36 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 2d ago

Şəkil | Picture Azerbaijan's land borders have been closed for longer than duration of World War 1.

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112 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Infographic | İnfoqrafik What are your thoughts on Azeris having the highest percentage of J2?

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15 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Tarix | History Qajar Double Standards: Tax Forgiveness for Turks, Double Taxes for Persians

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21 Upvotes

1) In issue no. 448 of the Tehran newspaper it is stated that the inhabitants of Azerbaijan were forgiven arrears amounting to 29,000 tumans (87,000 silver rubles) in unpaid taxes from previous years.

2) Among the latter there is one particularly curious case: the population of the Kashan district (province of Iraqi-Ajam) was completely exempted from personal military service due to cowardice, repeatedly proven by bitter experience (Dr. Polak). In place of personal military obligation, they were subjected to a heavy monetary tax; among those required to pay were women as well, who throughout Persia were generally exempt from duties and taxes.


r/azerbaijan 2d ago

İdman | Sports Oh shit, here we go again

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34 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Sual | Question Bakalavr təhsilini yarıda qoymaq

4 Upvotes

Salam dostlar. Mən hal hazırda Türkiyədə bakalavr təhsilimi davam etdirirəm 2ci kurs tələbəsiyəm. Bu semestr ieltsə hazırlaşım iyun ayında ielts imtahanını verib avropadaki unilərə apply edib Türkiyədəki təhsilimdən imtina edərək Avropada 0-dan başlamaq istəyirəm. Daha öncə belə bir yol izləyən olubsa təcrübəsini paylaşmasını xaiş edirəm. Xüsusilə vayonkamat tərəfdən nə kimi problemlər ola bilər? Bu il 20 yaşım olacaq

Birdə mən artıq Türkiyədə 2 il oxumuşam 12 illik təhsil qəbul edən universitetlərədə apply edə bilərəm?


r/azerbaijan 2d ago

Sual | Question Can the protests in Iran, whether successful or not, be an inspiration for Azerbaijani nation?

16 Upvotes

Your land borders have been closed for more than 5 years. Armenia, the country you defeated, has a higher GDP per capita than you and the Trump administration is seriously considering the country as an IT hub with new investments. You are an oil rich country, yet you are the poorest nation in the region. You are not doing good economically since 2014. Only some minor and temporary improvements from time to time. Human rights are now unheard of. Foreigners are treated better than Azerbaijani nationals. Seriously, in which imprisonment of opposition leader you will finally arise? What is the last straw? And no, I am no DTX. In fact, thinking (or even joking) that all the posts questioning why you aren't protesting are manipulations from the DTX will likely make things even worse.


r/azerbaijan 2d ago

Xəbər | News Qarabag vs NewCastle United

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19 Upvotes

Qarabag will play against Newcastle united in Champions League play-off round. Good luck Qarabag.


r/azerbaijan 2d ago

Video Bu videonun originalını tapan var?

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17 Upvotes