Everything you should know before traveling in Azerbaijan

Are you planning to visit Azerbaijan and have no idea what to expect? This blog offers you tips and some practical information for planning your amazing Azerbaijan trip.

1) Do You Need Travel Insurance for Azerbaijan?

We definitely recommend purchasing insurance before you travel to Azerbaijan. While the country is pretty safe, you never know what kind of pickle you may get yourself into anywhere so it is better safe than sorry!

2)Is Azerbaijan Expensive?

It truly depends on what you’re going to be doing there.  Things like accommodation (at a hostel), food, and groceries are really affordable and you will never put much of a dent on your wallet. However, it is easy to end up somewhere with pricier food.  A meal along the promenade can easily set you back $15 or more.  But, for the most part, Azerbaijan is not expensive.

3) Language in Azerbaijan

The main language in Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani.  But, Russian is ubiquitously spoken there and you can get by with English pretty easily too.   Azerbaijani is extremely similar to Turkish, so if you have traveled to Turkey or know any amount of Turkish, you may find it easier to read and speak than Russian.  It is useful to know a little Azerbaijani or Russian if you plan to visit Azerbaijan.

4) Wifi in Baku

Azerbaijan ranks first among the countries of the Post-Soviet region for the level of broadband internet penetration. Thus, Azerbaijan left behind Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries. Moreover, Azerbaijan is the 58th country in the world for the number of its Internet users. So, The Wi-Fi works pretty well in Baku.

5) Do You Need a Visa to Visit Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan announced a couple of years back that they were opening up an e-visa system, which was a simplified (and cheaper) process for many nationalities to obtain a visa.  Don’t forget to double-check on the site to ensure you qualify for the e-visa, but if so, the process is pretty seamless. 

6) When is the Best Time to Travel in Azerbaijan?

It really depends on you!  If you’re an outdoors lover and plan to visit many of the awesome Baku day trips that exist, spring, summer, or autumn will be perfect for you.  If you’re going there for a cultural experience, traveling in winter can still be an opportune time as you can always eat and visit museums!  Many people travel to Baku for events, however.  These often take place in spring and summer.

7) Weather in Azerbaijan

The weather changes from season to season.  If you want to see snow, your best chance to see snow is in February.  On the contrary, July is usually rather hot but gets relief from the Caspian Sea. The average temperatures range from 4C (39.5F) in February to 26.5C (79.5F) in July. The highs in July are typically around 30C (86F) and it is usually sunny in Azerbaijan.

8) Wine in Azerbaijan

Yes, there is wine in Azerbaijan.  And while it may not be as recognizable as Georgia or Armenia’s wine scene, it is still good and actually quite big. There are wine bars in Baku where you can enjoy a wine tasting and you can buy a glass of the stuff almost anywhere. 

 

There are many things to know before you plan to visit Azerbaijan, but these are hopefully a few general tips to get you prepared for a trip there. If you have left any questions or comments, feel free to drop them below!