4 Days in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan Itinerary

4-Days Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan Backpacking Itinerary

Day 1: Explore Nakhchivan City

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.

Yezidabad Castle is a reconstructed pre-medieval Sassanid castle named after Yazdgerd III, the last king of the Sassanid Empire. It is one of the largest tourist attractions in the city, and yet you will rarely find any tourists walking around it.

The castle consisted of a large, spacious garden square with a museum in the middle, surrounded by a large wall that you can walk on. Along the walls, you will find a few cafes; they are usually open in the evening.

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 wall, you might see a large mosque with pastel-blue domes from afar.

This mystery mosque complex is finally completed and if you have time, be sure to drop by and check it out. From the outside, it looks incredible!

After seeing the mosque from the wall, you will notice a mausoleum with a tall, sharp roof. That is the Noah’s Mausoleum, a historical location of a mausoleum that was built in the 8th century. The new mausoleum you are seeing was built on top of the old site in 2006.

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.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get inside to see the actual burial site as it was locked, but at least the view from Noah's Mausoleum is nice. You can see Iran across the river from the Mausoleum.

After spending a few hours at Yezidabad Castle, you can continue your exploration by walking north along Azadlig Street and checking out The Palace of Nakhchivan Khans, formerly known as the Museum of Carpets.

The Palace of Nakhchivan Khans used to be a carpet museum, but it was moved into a new building, leaving the Khan's Palace and its beautiful interior for you to check out.

The palace is built in a beautiful 18th-century Nakhchivan-Maragha architectural school, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Unfortunately, the exhibits inside are only in Azeri, so don't expect to learn more about the history of the palace inside.

Located within the same park as the Palace of Nakhchivan Khans, you will find the Momine Khatun Mausoleum, one of the most important landmarks in the city. The mausoleum is 25m high, and the exterior is covered in exquisitely carved Arab writings, a complex geometric pattern, and quotes from the Koran.

There's a small museum inside, but all of the content is in Azeri. So, do not expect to learn about the history of the mausoleum from there either.

Just outside of the Mausoleum, you will find an open-air museum showcasing all the ancient stone artifacts, sculptures, and scriptures from different periods that were discovered in Nakhchivan.

After spending some time at Momine Khatun Mausoleum, you can walk a little further north to check out the Juma Mosque, another historical landmark of the city that was originally built in the 12th century.

You can also walk a little bit further and visit a local bazaar to see what a market is like in Nakhchivan. Here, you can always find nice and curious locals wanting to interact with you.

The best place in the city to see the sunset is right back where your day began, from the walls of Yezidabad Castle. So, an hour before sunset, be sure to walk out there and watch the sun go down behind Aras Dam Lake over Iran.

Day 2: Visit Alinja Castle and Ashab-i Kehf Cave

After spending a day exploring Nakhchivan City, it is time to go out and explore what the Nakhchivan region has to offer. One of the most impressive sights you will see in Nakhchivan is the Alinja Castle, "the Machu Picchu of Azerbaijan."

The Alinja Castle is a reconstructed medieval fortress perched high on Alinja Mountain. The stronghold was used by several ruling dynasties, including the Seljuks, Atabeys, and Safavids, and famously resisted the forces of Tamerlane for years. Its scenic views, unbelievable location, and the challenging climb are a few reasons why you will love Alinja Castle.

Right from the road, you will see the castle wall up above on top of a mountain, 1,811m above sea level, and you will have to climb from the bottom to the top. It's quite a steep climb that takes about half an hour to reach the top.

I would recommend you to visit Alinja Castle early in the morning and start the climb at about 8:30 - 9 AM as the trail will still be under the shade. After 9:30 AM, you will be exposed to the blazing heat of the desert sun, which will make the hike even more unbearable.

After approximately 30 minutes of climbing up the stairs, all of your tiredness will evaporate when you see Alinja Castle in its full glory.

Once you arrive at Alinja Castle, you will find yourself wandering through a maze of reconstructed stone walls and buildings that give you an idea of what this formidable medieval fortress might once have looked like. The site you see today is a modern reconstruction of the historical stronghold rather than an intact 7th-century castle.

From the castle itself, climb a little further up to see the castle from above. Now, you will realize why they called it the Machu Picchu of Azerbaijan.

At the center of the Castle, you will notice a pattern that resembles those gardens you find in Western Europe. The view from above the Castle is also quite a sight to behold.

If you are there in the early morning, you will find yourself all alone, having the entire castle and the mountain all to yourself. You can sit at the top, relax, and enjoy the castle at your own leisure until local tourists arrive at about 11 AM.

After spending the morning at the Alinja Castle, you can continue on to the Tomb of Sheikh Khorasan, located just east from the Alinja Mountain, where you will be able to appreciate the scale of the Alinja Mountain from afar.

From the tomb, you will have to backtrack your way to the main road to get to our next destination, the Ashab-i Kehf Cave, or as it is known, the Seven Sleepers Cave.

The reason why it is known as the Seven Sleepers Cave is that the cave resembles a story told in both the Bible and the Quran about a group of youths who hid inside a cave to escape religious persecution and emerged some 300 years later.

The cave is an important religious site for pilgrims to come and visit. 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, you will find a mosque and several shrines that form part of the Ashab-i Kehf pilgrimage complex. It remains an important religious site, and you will often see local visitors coming here to pray and pay their respects.

After exhausting yourself from all the stairs you had to climb today, you can end your day by visiting the cave and relax at Qala Restaurant and enjoy the delicious organic food they serve there.

Getting from Nakhchivan City to Alinja Castle and Ashab-i Kehf Cave

To get to Alinja and Ashab-i Kehf Cave independently, hiring a taxi for the half-day is still the simplest option. When I visited, my accommodation arranged a driver who took me to both places, waited for me, and drove me back for 60 AZN per car. Treat that as a record of what I paid rather than a current fixed fare and ask your accommodation for the latest quote. Allow around 4-5 hours for the trip, depending on how long you spend at Alinja Castle.

For more detail on how to get from Nakhchivan City to Alinja Castle and Ashab-i Kehf Cave, check out: How Much Does the Taxi Cost to Get from Nakhchivan to Alinja and Ashab-i Kehf Cave

Day 3: Visit Batabat Lake, Duzdag Therapy Center, and Qarabaghlar

On your third day, you will have to start early again as we will be visiting several spots around Nakhchivan that are not exactly near each other. The first destination you will visit for the day is Batabat Lake.

One nice photo spot I found along the way was along the road passing through Sələsüz village where the Heydar Aliyev Water Reservoir is located. The artificial lake is particularly beautiful in the morning, so when you drive towards it, be sure to tell your taxi driver to stop for photos.

Batabat Lake 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 scenery 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, we will have to return to Nakhchivan City, where you can ask your taxi driver to stop for lunch. After lunch, you can continue your journey to the Duzdag Therapy Center, a former salt mine. Its underground tunnels have been converted into a unique salt therapy center where one can spend the night inside the salt cave.

The entrance to the salt cave is free, as usual, 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. Therefore, many people come here and stay overnight to help alleviate their allergies.

Along the cave, you will find several places that have been converted into rooms for the patients, giving you a glimpse of what it is like to stay overnight inside Duzdag cave.

Unfortunately, you do not have access to it if you are not a patient, and you can only walk to a certain point where you will have to turn back. It is still a pretty cool place to visit, in my opinion. I have never seen a salt mine turned therapy center before.

After exploring the unusual salt tunnels at 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 14th-century cylindrical mausoleum, 30m high, and two minarets connected by a portal that I was unable to enter.

The amount of detail that can be seen from the exterior of Qarabaghlar Mausoleum still blows me away today. The pattern and intricate detail reminded me of a Persian-style pattern found in mosques around Uzbekistan and Iran.

The facade ornament of the mausoleum, which looks like a pattern, actually consists of repeating words saying "There is no God but God, and Muhammad is His prophet. May God bless him." This is something I didn't catch on to until later when I found out about it.

I have heard that you can climb up one of the minarets to see the complex from above. Unfortunately, there was no one there to open the door for me. So, in the end, I simply sat there and stared at the stunning detail of the mausoleum from the outside.

After visiting three places in one day, you are probably exhausted, so it is the perfect time to end your third day in Nakhchivan after Qarabaghlar. It should take about an hour to get back from Qarabaghlar to Nakhchivan City, just in time for another sunset at the Yezidabad Castle.

Getting from Nakhchivan City to Batabat Lake, Duzdag Therapy Center, and Qarabaghlar

A taxi is the easiest way to combine Batabat Lake, Duzdag Therapy Center, and Qarabaghlar in one day. When I made this trip, I was quoted 90 AZN per car for the route. Prices can change, so use that as a record of what I paid and get a current quote from your hotel or driver before setting out. Allow roughly 5-6 hours for the journey.

For more details on how to get from Nakhchivan City to these 3 places, check out: How Much Does the Taxi Cost to Get from Nakhchivan to Batabat Lake, Duzdag Therapy Center, and Qarabaghlar

Day 4: Explore Ordubad, the Second Largest City in Nakhchivan

Last but not least, you can spend your final day exploring Ordubad, one of Nakhchivan's most historic towns. Once an important Silk Road trading center, its old quarters are known for narrow streets, traditional houses, mosques, bathhouses, orchards, and especially its locally grown fruit and lemons.

In Ordubad, you can find quite a few old buildings worthy of your attention, including the Juma Mosque, which dates to 1604, and Qeyyseriye, a 17th-century bazaar that now houses a history museum. You can also spend time wandering around the town's narrow old streets and soaking up the atmosphere.

Getting from Nakhchivan City to Ordubad

You can either hire a taxi for the day or take a marshrutka from Nakhchivan Bus Station. When I visited, marshrutkas ran during the day, the trip took around 1.5 hours, and I paid about 2 AZN each way. I would confirm the current departure times and fare at the bus station before planning the day around a specific service.

Where to Eat and Drink in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan?

Eat Organic Local Cuisine at Qala Restaurant

One of the best restaurants I had in Azerbaijan is actually in Nakhchivan, and it is called Qala Restaurant, located at the bottom of the hill where Yezidabad Castle is located.

The restaurant is decorated in different ways, from the water platform above a pool of fish to a cave-themed section of the restaurant. They serve delicious kebabs and other organic, local cuisine at a very cheap price compared to the rest of Azerbaijan.

When I ate here, many dishes cost around 5 AZN, which made it excellent value at the time. Treat that as my trip price rather than a current menu quote. The menu was in Azerbaijani, but a few waiters spoke English and were happy to explain the dishes and make recommendations.

I love this restaurant so much that I ended up going there almost every day and loving every minute of it. It is also a great place to dine after watching the sunset at Yezidabad Castle.

Where to Stay in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan?

Unfortunately, there is no hostel in Nakhchivan, and the number of options for hotels is pretty limited. However, the ones that are available are actually very good for the price. Here are your options:

Budget

Grand Nakhchivan Hotel

Double Room | $

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👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Tebriz Hotel Nakhchivan

Double Room | $$

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High-End

Saat Meydani Nakhchivan

Double Room | $$$

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When to Visit Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan?

Nakhchivan has a dry continental climate with hot summers and cold winters, so the most comfortable times for an itinerary like this are generally spring and autumn. April-May and September-October are particularly good for walking around the city and tackling the exposed climb to Alinja Castle without the strongest summer heat.

The mid-summer months of June-August are also not a bad time to visit, if you can handle a bit of the desert dry heat. The temperature during this period will be around 30-35°C, and the sky will be as clear as day.

Spring can actually be a beautiful time to visit, especially around Batabat when the mountain landscape is greener and wildflowers begin to appear. Weather can be more changeable than in early autumn, but I would no longer rule spring out for this itinerary.

Winter is the least convenient season for this particular itinerary because temperatures can fall below freezing and snow or ice can make mountain excursions less straightforward. Nakhchivan does have winter attractions, but for Alinja, Batabat, and long days outdoors, I would favor spring or autumn.

How to Get to Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan?

How to Get to Baku?

Getting to Nakhchivan is a little more complicated than in most places in Azerbaijan due to it not being connected to the mainland.

For most travelers, the simplest route is to fly into Baku first and then take a domestic flight to Nakhchivan. Baku is well connected to major regional hubs, including Istanbul, and there are also nonstop and one-stop options from a range of European, Middle Eastern, and Asian cities.

From North America, you will generally need at least one connection, commonly through a major European or Middle Eastern hub.

From Europe, Baku has nonstop links with a number of major cities, but routes change seasonally, so compare your dates rather than relying on a fixed airline list.

From Asia, one-stop itineraries through hubs such as Istanbul, Doha, or Dubai are usually the easiest options, with some nonstop routes available from selected cities.

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.

Looking for a complete backpacking guide to Baku?14 BEST Things To Do In Baku, Azerbaijan

How to Get from Baku to Nakhchivan?

For a typical foreign traveler, flying from Baku is still the most straightforward way to reach Nakhchivan. Azerbaijan continues to restrict ordinary tourist use of most international land borders, and the overland routes between mainland Azerbaijan and the exclave involve crossing another country. Check the current border rules before considering an overland alternative.

When I traveled this route, there was a fixed fare for foreign passport holders, but I would not rely on that old price today. Search the current Baku-Nakhchivan schedule and fare directly with Azerbaijan Airlines and book ahead if your dates are fixed, as this is an important domestic connection and convenient departures can sell out.

The nonstop flight from Baku to Nakhchivan International Airport is short, generally around 1-1.5 hours. From the airport, the city center is only a short drive away.

To book your flight from Baku to Azerbaijan online, visit the Azerbaijan Airlines Official Website here.

How to Get from Nakhchivan Airport to Nakhchivan City Center?

The moment you arrive at Nakhchivan International Airport, there will be several taxi drivers waiting at the entrance. More often than not, they will be looking for three people to fill up their taxi before going to Nakhchivan City, and you will be sharing the cost among the passengers.

When I visited, I paid around 2 AZN per person for a shared taxi, while a private ride was roughly 3 AZN. Those are historical prices rather than current fixed fares, so agree on the fare before getting in or ask your accommodation what a reasonable current airport transfer should cost.

Usually, I do not go with a taxi driver who approaches me at the airport because they are usually scammers in disguise. However, this guy seems genuine, the price he gave me was reasonable, and due to the lack of tourists visiting Nakhchivan, I believe most of the people there are probably just looking for work.

If you use one of the waiting taxis, agree on the total fare before leaving. Here's a tip: when negotiating a price, use a calculator app on your phone to show the driver the exact number if there is a language barrier.

How to Get Around Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan?

Most of the tourist attractions within Nakhchivan city are concentrated in one area, requiring around 30 minutes of walking to cover them all. So, you should have no trouble exploring the city. However, visiting the other tourist attractions outside of Nakhchivan city is another story.

Tourism infrastructure in Nakhchivan is still fairly limited compared with Baku, especially once you leave the city. For independent travelers without a car, hiring a taxi or driver remains the easiest way to combine remote sights such as Alinja Castle and Batabat Lake efficiently.

Usually, the taxi seems to be operating on a fixed price plan depending on the places you want to see. You can organize a taxi for the day through your accommodation, and they should be able to quote you the price.

How Much Does the Taxi Cost to Get Around Nakhchivan?

From my experience traveling around Nakhchivan with a taxi to different places, here is what I paid to visit Alinja, Ashab-i Kehf Cave, Batabat Lake, Duzdag Therapy Center, and Qarabaghlar:

How Much Does the Taxi Cost to Get from Nakhchivan to Alinja and Ashab-i Kehf Cave?

For a half-day trip from Nakhchivan to Alinja Castle and Ashab-i Kehf Cave, I paid 60 AZN for the 3-4 hour trip. The hotel I stayed in (Grand Nakhchivan Hotel) organized the taxi for me, and the taxi operator quoted me the price.

I tried negotiating the price, but they rejected all my proposals, telling me that they quote this price for every tourist, local, or foreign. Of course, there is no way of knowing that this is true, but after playing the negotiation game for hours and realizing that they are not going to sway, I decided to accept the price as it is.

So, if you are planning to visit Alinja Castle and Ashab-i Kehf Cave, use my 60 AZN per car fare as a historical benchmark, not a guaranteed current minimum. Ask your hotel or driver for a fresh quote before you go.

How Much Does the Taxi Cost to Get from Nakhchivan to Batabat Lake, Duzdag Therapy Center, and Qarabaghlar?

For my full-day trip to Batabat Lake, Duzdag Therapy Center, and Qarabaghlar, I was quoted 90 AZN. The route covers quite a lot of ground and Batabat is around 65 km north of Nakhchivan City, so having one driver for the day made the itinerary much easier. Use 90 AZN as what I paid at the time and ask for a current quote.

Another option was to hire a taxi only for Batabat Lake and Duzdag for around 70 AZN, then make the Qarabaghlar trip separately by marshrutka for about 2 AZN. Those were my trip prices, and local transport schedules can be irregular, so check the current options at Nakhchivan Bus Station before relying on this cheaper approach.

If you are planning to take a marshrutka to Qarabaghlar, I would recommend that you ask your accommodation for the bus schedule to Qarabaghlar and back. Otherwise, you can improvise and go to the Nakhchivan Bus Station in the morning and acquire the latest schedule from there.

To summarize what I paid on my trip: the full Batabat-Duzdag-Qarabaghlar route was 90 AZN per car, while Batabat and Duzdag alone were quoted at 70 AZN. These are useful historical benchmarks, but get a current price before booking a driver.

How Much Money Do I Need for Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan?

With our 4-day itinerary in Nakhchivan, we can calculate the minimum amount of money you can expect to pay for the trip as follows:

Accommodation: For a private budget room in Nakhchivan, I would currently allow around 45 - 65 AZN per night. For 5 nights, budget roughly 225 - 325 AZN.

Food: Allow around 20 - 30 AZN per day for inexpensive local meals, drinks, and snacks, or roughly 80 - 120 AZN for four days. You can spend less if breakfast is included with your hotel.

Transportation: Local transport is the biggest variable because the two sightseeing days rely heavily on private taxis. Based on my historical taxi routes but allowing room for higher current quotes, budget around 190 - 270 AZN for airport transfers, the Alinja/Ashab-i Kehf day, the Batabat/Duzdag/Qarabaghlar day, and the Ordubad trip. This excludes your flight between Baku and Nakhchivan.

Activities: Many of the outdoor and religious sights on this itinerary were free when I visited, but museum, monument, and visitor-access policies can change. I would set aside around 10 - 20 AZN for small entrance fees or donations rather than assuming every attraction is still free.

Total Budget: 505 - 735 AZN (297 - 432 USD) per person

Is it Safe in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan?

Nakhchivan generally felt calm and low-key during my visit, and I had no problems walking around the city. Normal travel precautions still apply, especially with valuables and when agreeing on taxi fares.

I also spent a fair amount of time walking around the quiet city at night without encountering anything out of the ordinary. That said, Nakhchivan borders Armenia, Iran, and Turkey, and regional conditions can change, so check current official travel advice before visiting and avoid restricted border or military areas.

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 Nakhchivan, 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 Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan:

Good reliable WIFI is hard to come by in Nakhchivan, as it isn't as widely available in restaurants and cafes as it is in Baku or Ganja. However, your accommodation should have good enough WIFI for you to stay connected.

If Nakhchivan is part of a bigger trip to Azerbaijan, I would recommend getting a local SIM card instead.

Azercell remains a convenient option for visitors. Its current 30-day travel packages include 30 GB for 39 AZN, 60 GB for 59 AZN, and 120 GB for 79 AZN, with a SIM or eSIM included. Foreign visitors need a passport to activate a tourist package at an Azercell sales or service point.

For most travelers, the 30 GB / 39 AZN package should already be more than enough for maps, messaging, social media, and normal travel use during a trip around Azerbaijan.

Alternatively, if your phone supports eSIMs, you can set one up before arriving and have mobile data as soon as you land. You can browse through available eSIMs here.

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.