Azerbaijan, a country of 10 million known mostly for its exports of oil, is rarely on any traveler's radar. However, this so-called "Land of Fire" has a ton of surprises for those who dare to step out of their comfort zones and visit Azerbaijan.
With its significant location connecting Europe and Asia as part of the ancient historical Silk Road, with the north straddling the lush green landscape of the Caucasus Mountains, and a hyper-modern metropolitan that is Baku, the capital city, we are going to explore everything Azerbaijan has to offer with our comprehensive 2-week backpacking itinerary.
Without further ado, let's begin our journey with a look at the overview map of where we will be visiting in Azerbaijan.
- Azerbaijan 2 Weeks Itinerary Map
- 2 Weeks Azerbaijan Backpacking Itinerary
- Azerbaijan Travel Video
- When to Visit Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan?
- How to Get to Azerbaijan?
- How To Get From Tbilisi, Georgia to Baku, Azerbaijan?
- How to Get from Baku Airport to the City Center?
- How to Get Around Azerbaijan?
- How Much Money Do I Need for Azerbaijan?
- ATM in Azerbaijan
- Is it Safe in Azerbaijan?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Azerbaijan?
- What to Pack for Azerbaijan?
- Further Reading for Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan 2 Weeks Itinerary Map
2 Weeks Azerbaijan Backpacking Itinerary
Day 1 - 2: Baku (3 Nights)
Baku, a hyper-modern metropolis that will shatter your perception of Azerbaijan the moment you set foot in the city. Striking a balance between the old and the new, you will find historical sites that will make you long for the old days and stunning curved architecture that will remind you of Singapore.
Given you have 2 full days in Baku, on your first day, you can spend your time exploring the Old Town, which is considered to be the most ancient part of the city. You will find many impressive structures here, such as the Maiden Tower, that are dated back to the 12th Century.
One of the sights in the Old Town that I highly recommend is the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, a 15th-century palace complex consisting of the palace, the burial vaults, and the shah's mosque. You can get quite a nice view of the city's contrast between the old and the new from the balcony in front of the palace.
- Gobustan & Absheron Tour All Entrance Fees included (Group or Private) (7 hours) 🏅 Top Pick
- Full Day Sightseeing Tour of the main Attractions around Baku (10 hours)
- Gobustan and Absheron tour (All Entrance Fees And Lunch Included) (8 to 9 hours)
The Old Town is also beautiful at night and a great place for you to go out for a drink while walking around the crisscrossing streets of the Old Town in solitude.
With the injection of oil money, the city has become a playground for architectural experiments. The futuristic Heydar Aliyev Art Center is a beautiful, fluid modern structure from the mind of Zaha Hadid, where art exhibitions are often held.
The beautiful design of the exterior of the Heydar Aliyev Art Center is worth appreciating from all angles, so be sure to spend some time walking around the building.
Another stunning piece of architecture in Baku is the Heydar Mosque, a huge mosque built with special stones based on the Shirvan-Absheron design architecture, located in the northern part of the city. The mosque is best visited at night when the entire structure is lit up with artificial light.
Baku is located along the balmy coast of the Caspian Sea, and they have built a beautiful, spacious promenade that stretches for 4 km along the coast. I highly recommend you spend your evening strolling along the promenade, checking out the Carpet Museum and Mini-Venice along the way.
From the Carpet Museum, you continue on and make your way up the stairs to the top of Highland Park, where you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the city and a stunning sunset.
You will also be able to see the Flame Towers from Highland Park at night, where they project beautiful light shows of animated fire, water, and waving flags every night.
On your second day in Baku, I would recommend that you take a tour to see cool sights like Gobustan, Mud Volcanoes, Ateshgah Fire Temple, and the Burning Mountain of Yanar Dag.
A tour I recommend you go with is the Gobustan and Absheron tour (All inclusive) tour, which will take you from Baku to Gobustan as well as mud volcanoes, Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain), and Ateshgah Fire Temple for around 50 USD AZN per person, including lunch.
Gobustan is a great place for you to learn about the prehistoric people who settled in this part of the world since the 8th millennium BC. You will find thousands of rock engravings and petroglyphs that depict hunting scenes, people, ships, constellations, and animals from the 12th Century BC.
Mud Volcanoes are another interesting sight to see near Baku. What makes the mud volcanoes here special is the fact that they are one of the few mud volcanoes in the world that are actually cold, due to the water from the Caspian Sea. You can even stick your hand in them. Really!
The tour will also take you to Ateshgah Fire Temple, a 17th-century place of worship that was frequented by Hindus, Sikhs, and most importantly, Zoroastrians. There is no better place to learn about Zoroastrians in this part of the world than here.
Personally, I think Yanar Dag is overrated. The burning fire is due to the natural gas reserve underneath it, and it seems like the reserve is going to be exhausted soon as the fire becomes less and less dramatic every day. However, since it is included in the tour, why not go check out what all the fuss is about?
After an entire day of exploring the surrounding landscape of Baku, you can end your day with a little stroll along the Nizami Pedestrian Street, find yourself a nice restaurant like Xezer Restaurant, and treat yourself.
Getting from Baku to Quba
From Baku, you will have to take a bus to Quba from Baku International Bus Terminal. The bus runs every 30 minutes from 7:30 AM to 5:55 PM, and the fare is 4 AZN per person.
The journey will take about 2 hours. For this bus, you do not need to book in advance as there are several buses going every day. You can also rent a taxi for 40 AZN per car, and the driver will take you directly to Quba.
For an official bus schedule and booking, you can check out the Baku International Bus Terminal Complex official website here.
If you are short on time and looking for a convenient way to travel from Baku to Quba and Khinaliq, you can also go with an organized tour. You will be able to easily visit 2 places, excluding Laza, with the Quba Khinaliq from Baku Group Tour, which costs only around 60 USD per person. This is not bad considering you are going directly from Baku.
Day 3: Quba (2 Nights)
After spending 2 full days in Baku, it is time to travel north and see what the Caucasus mountains have in store for you. Your second destination is Quba, a sleepy ancient town with not many things to do. But we are not here for Quba; we are here for Khinaliq and Laza, the mountain villages high up in the Caucasus Mountain Range.
After arriving in Quba, you can spend that evening exploring the city, visiting Juma Mosque and learning about the March Days, a period of troubled time when 12,000 Azerbaijanis and other Muslims were massacred in Baku at the Quba Genocide Memorial Complex.
After exploring Quba, you can spend the rest of your evening at your accommodation and organize a taxi driver to drive you to Khinaliq and Laza the following day.
Getting from Quba to Khinaliq and Laza
Getting to Khinaliq: There are a few ways you can get to Khinaliq, but the most convenient and reliable way is to hire a taxi through your accommodation. The price I got from my accommodation (Hostel Elvin) is 70 AZN for a round trip to Khinaliq, whereas a random taxi driver at a bus station tried to charge me 100 AZN for the same trip.
It takes around 45 minutes to get from Quba to Khinaliq, and you will go through some of the most stunning landscapes you will ever see in Azerbaijan. The best part is that, since you have a taxi, you can stop anywhere and take photos.
Getting to Laza: To get to Laza, I would recommend combining the trip to Khinaliq and Laza together in one day. You will get to see both places in one day, and it will be cheaper that way.
You see, the prices to go from Quba to Khinaliq and from Quba to Laza are the same at 70 AZN each, so you will be paying 140 AZN in total. However, if you combine these 2 trips into one day, the taxi driver will only ask you for 60 AZN for the Laza trip, and you will be paying only 130 AZN for the taxi.
Personally, I think there aren't enough things to do in Khinaliq and Laza to justify spending an entire day each. I recommend doing both in one day.
To get to Laza from Khinaliq, you will have to backtrack your way to Quba again and drive along another road to Laza, which should take about an hour or so.
Day 4: Khinaliq (Half-Day)
Looking around in Quba, the landscape may not look very impressive, but the moment you get out of town towards Khinaliq, the road will start to pass through some truly beautiful cliffs and canyons.
As the road twists and turns, you will arrive at an opening where the road will take you along a riverbed through the valley and up to Khinaliq, the ancient Caucasian village standing at 2,350m above sea level.
Legend has it that this settlement has been inhabited for the past 5,000 years. It is considered to be one of the oldest villages in the region. Due to its isolation, they have been able to preserve their language, tradition, and their indigenous roots.
One of my favorite places to sit and relax while looking at the breathtaking scenery of Khinaliq is at the Juma Mosque, located on the highest point of the village. Be sure to hike all the way up there for a rewarding view.
I would recommend spending around 2 hours in Khinaliq, walking up to the Juma Mosque, exploring every narrow dusty road of the village, and striking up a random conversation with curious locals.
Day 4: Laza (Half-Day)
After spending half a day in Khinaliq, you can continue your journey to Laza, which will take about 2 hours. You will have to go back to Quba and take a different road to Laza.
Laza is another mountain village located 1,300m above sea level at the foot of Mount Shahdagh. Due to the high cliff face and the number of waterfalls one can find in this area, Laza is one of the most popular destinations for local tourists to visit.
The taxi will drive you down into the valley and park at the foot of a huge cliffside where you will see three large waterfalls clustered on one cliff. You can spend an hour hiking around the waterfall and checking it out up close if you don't mind being sprayed by it.
The landscape around Laza is pretty incredible, especially if the sun is out. So, be sure to spend some time hiking up some of the hills near the waterfall to appreciate the true beauty of the landscape around Laza.
Both Khinaliq and Laza offer you a different perspective of the Caucasus Mountains, where Khinaliq is more about the village and surrounding rolling hills, and Laza is more about the large cliffsides and waterfalls. Hence, I recommend you to visit both.
After 2-3 hours at Laza, it is time to head back to Quba. In about an hour, you will be back at your cozy accommodation in Quba, feeling accomplished for all the things you have seen in the Caucasus Mountains in one day.
Getting from Quba to Sheki
To get from Quba to Sheki, you will have to go back to Baku first on one of the many marshrutkas from Quba Bus Station.
The bus from Quba to Baku runs every half an hour, and it will cost you 4 AZN per person. The journey should take about 2 hours, and you should be able to catch the afternoon bus from Baku to Sheki on time.
The bus from Baku to Sheki runs every 2 hours from 9 AM to 11:50 PM daily. The bus ticket will cost you 8.4 AZN per person, and the journey will take around 6 hours due to the terrible road condition.
If you are worried that you might not catch the bus on time, you can check out the official bus schedule and book the bus in advance here: The Official Baku International Bus Terminal Complex Website.
Day 5 - 6: Sheki (2 Nights)
Sheki is a small, but beautiful historic town located along the ancient Silk Road that will charm both your heart and your stomach. The city is well-known for its local cuisine, sweets, and many beautiful remnants of the once prosperous Silk Road.
In the morning, I would recommend you visit the Church of Kish, a Caucasus Albanian Church located in the town of Kish, a few kilometers north of Sheki. You can reach Kish by taking the marshrutka #15 at a bus stop heading north in Sheki and in about 15 minutes, you should arrive at the Kish Bus Stop where you can then hike up to the church.
By the way, the Caucasus Albanian has nothing to do with the modern-day Albanian in the Balkans. The Caucasus Albanian got its name from the Ancient Greek name Albanía, and the prefix "Caucasian" is added solely to prevent confusion.
The Church of Kish is a great place to learn a little bit about the people who inhabited this part of the world so many centuries ago. It is said that the church was built on a ceremonial ground that dates back to 3,000 B.C., which I think is pretty mind-blowing 🤯.
After Kish, you can take the marshrutka back to Sheki and make your way to Caravanserai through the Old Town of Sheki, where you will find many red-brick buildings with a unique blend of Persian and Russian influences. Not something you would see every day.
Caravanserai (Karvansaray) is an ancient roadside inn from the Silk Road era that accommodated travelers and merchants (caravaners) traveling along the Silk Road. The travelers often stop at Caravanserai to rest and recover from a long day's journey.
Today, the Caravanserai in Sheki is a hotel for those who want to experience what it was like to rest like caravaners during the Silk Road era. You can enter the premises for free, but you can only stay in the large, beautiful courtyard.
It is always fun to walk around the beautifully decorated courtyard of a Caravanserai. You can almost imagine how bustling the place would have been back in the ancient Silk Road days.
Around the corner from Caravanserai, you will find one of the main attractions in Sheki, the Palace of Sheki Khans. The palace is a beautiful historic building covered in intricate Persian-style patterns, and the rooms are filled with lavish decorations and colorful mosaic windows.
I highly recommend you visit the palace, but since it gets quite crowded and photography of any kind is prohibited, you might have to think twice about paying 5 AZN to go inside. If you do not like the crowds and want to take photos inside, I have another place just for you.
The Winter Palace, located not too far from the Palace of Sheki Khans, is the true hidden gem of the city. Although not as grandeur as the Palace of Sheki Khans from the outside, the Winter Palace boasts the same lavishly decorated rooms, beautiful wall-to-wall paintings, and stunning mosaic windows that you can find in the Palace of Sheki Khans.
The Winter Palace is the best part, as you won't find many tourists here. Upon arriving at the palace, there was no one else except for me and the woman working at the gate. For the price of 5 AZN, you get to have the palace to yourself and can take photos inside too.
Around the Palace of Sheki Khans, you will find many interesting historical buildings that you can check out, such as the Three Saints Church, a beautiful round-shaped Caucasian Albanian Church, and the Wall of Art and Crafts, displaying the ceramic artwork of local artists.
A trip to Sheki doesn't end until you try the local cuisine. Sheki is known for the delicious local food and snacks such as Piti, an aromatic, rich, and tasty soup, and Halva, a confection of hazelnuts, walnuts, butter, sugar, rice flour, and spices. Both originated from Sheki, so be sure to try them before you leave.
Getting from Sheki to Ganja
To get from Sheki to Ganja, you will have to grab a marshrutka at Sheki Central Bus Station. There are 5 buses from Sheki to Ganja daily, running at 8:00, 8:30, 9:10, 11:50, and 13:30. The bus will cost you 4 AZN per person, and the journey will take about 3 hours.
You do not have to buy the bus ticket at the kiosk. Simply go to the marshrutka with a GƏNCƏ sign on the windshield, find a seat, and you can pay the bus driver directly. Be sure to go there early to get a seat as it gets full quite quickly.
Day 7 - 9: Ganja (3 Nights)
Ganja, the second-largest city in Azerbaijan, has a name that is hard to forget. It is a city full of beautiful red brick architecture, a plethora of things to do and see, and a great base to explore the beautiful lakes of Goygol and Maralgol.
One of the first things you should do when you arrive in Ganja is to check out the Shah Abbas Square in Ganja Old Town where you will find some stunning old architecture like the Shah Abbas Mosque, the Chokak Turkish Baths, and the Tomb of Javad Khans, the last Khan of Ganja.
Shah Abbas was the great ruler of the Safavid dynasty that reigned over this part of the world, as well as Iran and other parts of the Caucasus, in the 16th Century. Hence, you can see his name all over Ganja Old Town as many of these buildings were erected by him.
Not too far from Shah Abbas Square, you will find a large space with a huge building and a monument of Heydar Aliyev on the side. This is the Heydar Aliyev Square and the grand building is the Ganja City Hall.
I would recommend that you visit Ganja City Hall at sunset when the sky turns purple and the building is illuminated by lights. You will also find many people out and about here in the evening as it is a popular meeting point among the locals.
After spending an evening in Ganja Old Town, it is time to go outside the city and visit Lake Goygol and Lake Maralgol. Before the day ends, go back to your accommodation and organize a taxi driver to drive you to the lakes the next day. It should cost you no more than 60 AZN for a round trip to Lake Goygol and Lake Maralgol.
Lake Goygol, one of the 8 great lakes around Ganja, is one of the most beautiful sights you can see in Azerbaijan. You can reach the lake by taxi, but the taxi will only go as far as the parking lot, and then you will have to continue on foot.
Due to the proximity of the lake to Nagorno Karabakh, where they are still technically at war, the security is extra strict in the area and you cannot wander away from the designated area. So, other than the viewpoint at Goygol Hotel Restaurant, there is not much left to do.
Thankfully, there is Lake Maralgol, which is a smaller lake, but in my opinion, better of the two as it is not as crowded and you can wander off on the trail a little bit.
Lake Maralgol is located deeper into the national park, and you can only get there by transportation provided by the park through Lake Goygol, so your taxi won't be able to drive you there.
The park's mini-bus will take you from Lake Goygol to Lake Maralgol, where you will then have to hike up for about 10 minutes. Once you arrive at the top, you will find yourself face-to-face with Lake Maralgol and the iconic Mount Kapaz looming behind.
At Lake Maralgol, you will have the opportunity to explore the lake a little bit more than at Lake Goygol. There are a few short walking trails along the lake that you can take to get away from the crowds.
Unfortunately, you cannot swim in any of the lakes here due to security reasons, so there is no need to pack your swimsuits. After spending an hour or two at Lake Maralgol, you can catch the mini-bus back to Lake Goygol and return to Ganja with your taxi driver.
Photos by Tarkhan Pashazade
For your second day in Ganja, you can check out some of the stunning sights around the city vicinity such as Imamzadeh Complex, a beautiful complex of old buildings covered in beautiful Persian-style patterns, and the photogenic Ganja Heydar Aliyev Park.
To reach these places, you can either hire a taxi for the day, like you did for Lake Goygol, which is quite expensive, or you can use the app Bolt, which is efficient and reliable, to travel to these 2 places separately.
Where to Stay in Ganja?
Getting from Ganja to Nakhchivan
There used to be a domestic flight from Ganja to Nakhchivan, but unfortunately, the connection has been discontinued, and the only way to get to Nakhchivan is to fly from Baku. So, you will first have to get back to Baku.
From Ganja, you can take one of the three trains that run daily from Ganja Central Station to Baku. The train should take about 4 hours, and it should cost you around 7 - 10 AZN.
For an official train schedule and online booking, you can visit Azerbaijan Railways' official website here.
After arriving at Baku Central Railway Station, depending on the flight you book to Nakhchivan, you might have to stay in Baku for a night. I would recommend staying at the Freedom Hostel as it is near Baku Central Station and the Airport Express Bus Stop.
To get from Baku to Nakhchivan, the only way is to take a domestic flight via Azerbaijan Airlines, the only operator, and they have four flights going to Nakhchivan and back daily.
The cost is fixed at 70 AZN for a foreign passport holder, and you should definitely book it in advance as they sell out pretty fast. The flight time from Baku to Nakhchivan is about 1.5 hours, and once you arrive, you will have to get a taxi to drive you to your accommodation, which should cost no more than 3 AZN.
Day 10 - 13: Nakhchivan (4 Nights)
Nakhchivan, a peculiar autonomous exclave republic of Azerbaijan, borders Iran, Turkey, and Armenia, but not Azerbaijan. This peculiar situation is due to the Armenia-Azerbaijan War that ravaged the land. The war resulted in the republic being cut off, with Armenia controlling the Kraki exclave, leaving Nakhchivan isolated from the Azerbaijan mainland.
On your first day in Nakhchivan, you can spend the day exploring Nakhchivan City on foot, starting from one of my favorite places in the city, the Yezidabad Castle, which consists of a large spacious garden square with a museum in the middle, surrounded by a large wall that you can walk on.
In the morning, when the sun is not too hot, you can spend some time walking along the walls of the castle to get a view of the surroundings. From the walls, you might notice a mausoleum with a tall, sharp roof not too far from the castle.
That is the Noah’s Mausoleum, a historical location of a mausoleum that was built in the 8th century. According to Armenian tradition and many sources from 19th-century Russia and Europe, Noah's tomb is located in Nakhchivan, and the locals here consider it a holy place of worship.
Other interesting tourist attractions in Nakhchivan that you should check out are the Palace of Nakhchivan Khans, Khan's Palace with a beautiful exterior and an even prettier interior, the Momine Khatun Mausoleum, a 25m high mausoleum covered in exquisitely carved Arab writings and patterns, one of the most important landmarks in the city, and the Juma Mosque, another historical landmark of the city originally built in the 12th century.
After spending your first day exploring Nakhchivan City, it is time to go check out the Machu Picchu of Azerbaijan. Alinja Castle is a 14th-century fortress built on a slope at the top of Alinja Mountain. Its scenic view from the top, unbelievable location, and the challenges required to reach the top are some of the reasons why you will love Alinja Castle.
To get to Alinja Castle, I recommend you ask your accommodation to hire a taxi driver for a half-day trip to Alinja Castle as well as Ashab-I Kehf Cave, our next destination. It should cost no more than 60 AZN for a roundtrip ride to Alinja Castle as well as Ashab-I Kehf Cave.
After you arrive at Alinja Castle, you will have to hike up a mountain for about 30 minutes to reach the top, and you will see why they called Alinja Castle the Machu Picchu of Azerbaijan.
After Alinja Castle, continue your journey to Ashab-I Kehf Cave, or as it is known, the Seven Sleepers Cave. This cave is an important religious site that attracts pilgrims from all over the country.
The cave itself is not huge. It sits at the foothill of a mountain, and you will have to climb up more stairs to see the cave. Right by the cave, a mosque was erected by the Ottomans in the 19th Century, and you will find many locals attending and paying respect to the mosque and the cave.
Spend about an hour at the cave before heading back to Nakhchivan City and preparing for the next day's adventure to Batabat Lake, Duzdag Therapy Center, and Qarabaghlar.
To get to Batabat Lake, Duzdag Therapy Center, and Qarabaghlar, you will, again, have to hire a taxi to take you to these places. Since these three places are all in different directions, the cost to hire a taxi should be around 90 AZN, and the trip should take an entire day.
Batabat Lake, the first stop of our third day in Nakhchivan, is a lake located among the mountains of the Caucasus at 2,500 m above sea level, right by the border between Nakhchivan and Armenia. It is a nice scenic break from all the desert you've seen the day before.
In the middle of the lake, you will find a floating island shifting around slowly at the center. The island is made out of grass and peat, and it is not attached to anything underneath it. The weather is quite cold up there, so prepare a jacket for the visit.
After visiting the lake, you can continue to the Duzdag Therapy Center, an old salt mine. Its underground tunnels have been converted into a unique salt therapy center where one can stay overnight inside the salt cave.
The entrance to the salt cave is free, and you can walk along the main walking path surrounded by 130 million tons of pure natural salt. Apparently, this amount of salt is known for its ability to cure allergies, asthma, and pulmonary disorders, and many patients paid the Therapy Center to spend a night inside the cave.
After you've cleared your body of all the allergies in Duzdag, it is time for us to visit Qarabaghlar Mausoleum, hands down the most beautiful mausoleum in Nakhchivan, even more so than the one in Nakhchivan city.
Qarabaghlar Mausoleum is a mausoleum complex consisting of a stunning 30m tall 14th-century cylindrical mausoleum with the exterior covered in one of the most beautiful Persian-style patterns I've seen on a mausoleum.
Near the Mausoleum, there are also 2 minarets attached to a portal which I heard you can climb up one, but unfortunately, there was no one there to open the door for me. So, in the end, I simply sat there and was mesmerized by the intricate detail of the mausoleum.
After Qarabaghlar, you can end your trip in Nakhchivan with a bang by going to Qala Restaurant and celebrate your Azerbaijan trip with the local organic cuisine for which Nakhchivan is known.
Where to Stay in Nakhchivan?
Baku (1 Night)
After Nakhchivan, you will have to fly back to Baku and spend the night there before leaving Azerbaijan.
When to Visit Azerbaijan, 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.
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?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Azerbaijan without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in 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 people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
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.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Azerbaijan
Looking for more information for your trip to Azerbaijan? Here is a collection of articles about Azerbaijan that you might find useful.
- The hypermodern capital city of Baku is unlike any other city in the Caucasus. It's full of surprises, and you will need a good guide to see them all. Here are 14 BEST Things To Do In Baku, Azerbaijan.
- Two of the best sights you will see in Azerbaijan are Khinaliq and Laza, the ancient mountain villages in the Caucasus. To get there, be sure to check out A Backpacking Guide to Khinaliq and Laza.
- Standing on the ancient Silk Road, Sheki is a historical town rich in history and culture. To visit Sheki, check out: Top 7 Things To Do In Sheki, Azerbaijan.
- Ganja, the second largest city in Azerbaijan, with a name that is hard to forget, has a ton of hidden gems for you to explore. From Lake Goygol and Maralgol to the beautiful Imamzadeh Complex, there is so much to see and do in Ganja. Here’s everything you need to travel to Ganja: 8 Best Things To Do In Ganja, Azerbaijan.
- Nakhchivan, an autonomous exclave republic of Azerbaijan that is not attached to Azerbaijan itself due to conflict with Armenia, is a republic you will have to see for yourself. To travel there, check out The Ultimate Backpacking Guide To Nakhchivan.
- Looking for something more visual to convince you to visit Azerbaijan? How about a travel video? Azerbaijan, The Land Of Fire Travel Video
- Wondering where to go after Azerbaijan? How about you drop by the charming hipster city of Tbilisi, and after, visit Yerevan, Armenia?
- For all articles about Azerbaijan, visit the Azerbaijan Travel Guide page.
- Looking to travel to the Caucasus Region? Check out all my articles about the region here: The Caucasus Travel Guide page.
- You can see all my Asia-related articles here: Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
11 Comments
Hi, great informative post! When did you visit Azerbaijan to be able to see those green fields at Khinaliq and Laza? Because during Autumn (August to October), those green fields will be gone?
Hi TeYang,
Spring to Summer would be best if you would like to see the greenery around the Caucasus mountain so from May - July will be perfect. I was there in August and the colors a turning orange a bit but still really beautiful all around. I hope this helps!
Thanks Pete! I guess going to the Caucasus this year for the greenery will be out of the question. =(
Hi Pete,
Would you recommend to visit Azerbaijan in winter months like January? I am looking for a budget snow destination to travel and thought Azerbaijan would be an option.
Hi Andrea, Depending on your itinerary. If you want to visit mountain areas like Laza and Qinaliq, winter might not be the best time to visit but if you stick to cities, it should be fine. Cold but manageable. :) You can also go skiing in places like Qusar and Gabala but it won't be super budget as you expected. It will be cheaper than Europe but still expensive than your average attractions.
I hope this helps!
Hi Pete,
I will be traveling to Azerbaijan by 2nd week of October and I will probably follow your itinerary except I want to do hiking Laza-Kuzun trail. Will it is still advisable to visit both Laza and Qinaliq during this time?
Thank in advance :)
Hi Whena, there may be some snow already in October at high peaks and it can be quite cold at times but I'd say, it is still a great time to visit as it is still autumn and it will still be pretty warm if the sun is out so go for it! :)
Hi Pete,
I am planning to travel to Azerbaijan in February 2023 for about 10-12 days. Since I will be traveling alone this trip and am not backpacking but I am more into small hotel and unique places to stay, any recommendations? I am definitely following your itinerary and your recommended travel agents - is it suitable for February ? By the way, is it safe to travel. for female solo travelers?
Hi Syan,
That's great to hear. Yes, it is pretty safe for solo travelers. I have a female solo friend traveling there right now as well. You can follow her journey here: @SyifaAdriana
February can be a bit cold so you might not be able to visit some parts in the mountains but you should be fine for the rest of the itinerary. I have hotel recommended under Where to Stay section under each location here as well, so be sure to check them out. :)
was glad that prior to my trip to azherbaijan i came across your article about azhebaijan specially nakhchivan ,and it was very helpful and very accurate ,my whole trip was base on your article
nakhchivan what a great place
till now i have travelled to 35 countries,i went through your other articles it will be very helpful in my future travels
best of luck