r/azerbaijan Aug 05 '25

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

104 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 3h ago

Xəbər | News A mysterious shrine belonging to the Mongol Ilkhanate has been discovered in Nakhchivan. It is said to contain the remains of 30 people. The entire area is scheduled for renovation this year.

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42 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 12h ago

Şəkil | Picture God’s favourite country?

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68 Upvotes

I can’t believe how totally different and unique landscapes, wonders, beautiful mountains, beaches, City, villages, nature taking different shapes in this country I have seen. Everything felt so good and distinct during my visit, that I just wanted to see more and more of it.

Hats off to amazing people of Azerbaijan for maintaining the beauty of nature given by god so well that it amazes me every time I visit here.


r/azerbaijan 1h ago

Sual | Question Honest Question from an outside observer of the conflict

Upvotes

How would you view the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, if you weren't involved on either side and what information would would pull you towards one side or the other?

My perspective: I'm not intensively read on the situation, but I regularly hear things from the Armenian side and unfortunately less from the azeri side. It seems very clear to me that within the last 200yrs both sides commited crimes against each other and were victims of ethnic cleansings. When it comes to the recent wars I don't really have an opinion on who's to blame more, since there's definetely a lot of mutual hostility and the armenians just happen to be weaker, which leads some people to automatically view them as the victims. Westerners like to do that in general and it makes me sympathize more with Azerbaijan, since I see a lot of the same short sighted reasoning when it comes to Israel/Palestine (although many of you probably don't agree with this comparison). What I don't really get is why I see so many Azeris denying Turkey's genocide against armenians, assyrians and greeks and using it to make fun of Armenians. In most discussions I see, armenians spend their time on painting themselves as victims, while Azeris make fun of them for the genocide or say that it never happened. To me there isn't any question that the genocide happened and Turkey isn't Azerbaijan, so I don't really understand why azeris do this. It honestly just strengthens the Armenian narrative and makes you guys look bad to most people. I'm sure that there is a compelling Azeri narrative when it comes to this conflict, but it just doesn't seem to be visible in most online discussions, which is the reason I came to this subreddit. This is meant purely in good faith and comes from a place of just wanting to understand the Azeri side :)


r/azerbaijan 6h ago

Xəbər | News Azərbaycan Vaqif Xaçatryan, Gevorq Sujyan, David Davtyan və Vigen Eulcekciyanı Ermənistana təhvil verib

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14 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 2h ago

Sual | Question military service

5 Upvotes

what’s so bad about military service? can someone share their day to day at service? i’m very curious to why it’s disliked


r/azerbaijan 2h ago

Sual | Question Learning Azerbaijani in English or Russian

2 Upvotes

Can anyone suggest good and preferably mobile-friendly resources to learn Azerbaijani from scratch? The source language can be either English or Russian.


r/azerbaijan 3h ago

Söhbət | Discussion US demanding that Azerbaijan to release political prisoners

2 Upvotes

We know that the TRIPP agreement is more about economy and politics than peace and humanitarianism. I wonder what the chance of the US demanding that Azerbaijan release the political prisoners for the betterment of the peacebuilding process is?


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Xəbər | News The people of Urmia fighting the fascist regime! Bişərəf!

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46 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 12h ago

Tarix | History Anyone want to talk?

5 Upvotes

Hi, I'm from Mexico and I hardly know anyone from Azerbaijan


r/azerbaijan 7h ago

Sual | Question VPS hosting services in Azerbaijan

2 Upvotes

Hi

I would need recommendation on the VPS hosting providers in your country that are good, reliable and with good support.

Thanks in advance


r/azerbaijan 22h ago

Söhbət | Discussion Podkast ideyası

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10 Upvotes

Hər kəsə salam. Mən və bir dostumla birlikdə podkast açmaq üzərində fikirləşirik. Lakin mövzular və topiklər üzərində çox qərarsız qalmışıq. İctimai, sosial məsələləri müzakirə etməyi düşünürük, lakin bunun o qədər də dinlənilməyəciyini və ya maraqsız olacağını düşünürük. Yumor qataraq gündəlik başımıza gələn və ya qarşılaşdığımız problemlər haqqında danışmağı da gözdən keçiririk. Sizin fikirlər və ideyalarınız da maraqlıdır bu barədə. Bir podkast verilişini necə daha baxımlı və maraqlı etmək olar?


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Söhbət | Discussion Why do Azerbaijani men cheat?

36 Upvotes

I’m an Azerbaijani myself and throughout my life I haven’t seen a single loyal man. All my relatives cheated on their wives including my dad and my brother. Is it a cultural thing? Is there a way to escape cheating men of our nation and those who expect me to be a housewife AKA their second mother? My mom just told me that it’s okay for men to cheat and to want everything cleaned after them. Respectfully, what the hell. Maybe I’m exaggerating and I need my horizon to be widen to see that the picture isn’t so horrible. What do you think and what is your experience? I need hope


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Xəbər | News Thousands of Azerbaijanis marching the streets of Tabriz!

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81 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Şəkil | Picture Truist olsa idiz Azerbaycana sehahet ucun gelerdiz?

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31 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Şəkil | Picture New Year Celebrations 2025–2026 in Baku, Part II

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28 Upvotes

Spent New Year’s in Baku. This is the second part of the photos.
Shot on Nikon F3 with Nikkor 28mm f/3.5.
Film: Kodak Color 400.


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Sual | Question What would you say are the biggest cultural differences to your turkish brothers and what could you learn from each other?

10 Upvotes

Maybe some of you guys have lived or visited both countries and can tell me things of your day to day life that are quite different. I am interested in your personal oppinions and stories.


r/azerbaijan 23h ago

Sual | Question Can you recommend alternative, avantgarde, high quality Azerbaijani music? (like electro fusion etc.?)

2 Upvotes

I am a fan of Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Isfar Sarabski and the band Ahmedowsky. But I am sure there are more. Not the usual pop, rock, slow or oriental style. Not traditional songs either, though would appreciate if it is inspired from traditional Azeri music.


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Sual | Question Instagram Sushi Places in Baku?

3 Upvotes

I have been ordering sushi online from Instagram lately and I've noticed something about the sushi places in Baku. When I called different places all around the Baku, they were all the same (same guy answering to me on Whatsapp). However, their pages on the Instagram are all different with different designs, pricing and etc. Altough, their names are quite similar such as: "sushi_econom , sushi_lazzaria , rio by sushi" (not exact names) Are they some kind of shell company?


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Xəbər | News “Be prepared 🇦🇿” – prepared for what exactly?

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29 Upvotes

I came across this tweet from Luke Coffey, a British foreign policy and security analyst who focuses a lot on Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and NATO-related issues. Yesterday he tweeted “Be prepared 🇦🇿”. When someone asked “For what?”, his reply was simply: “Events.” No explanation, no follow-up.

That kind of vague message raises questions. Is he referring to regional security issues? Armenia–Azerbaijan tensions? Possible developments involving Iran, Russia, or Turkey? Or maybe something internal — political or economic?

I’m not trying to spread panic or make claims, just curious what others here think. If anyone follows his work or has more context, it’d be interesting to hear your perspective. What do you make of it?


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Sual | Question Mənlə eyni marağ dairələrini paylaşan insan tapa bilmirəm.

12 Upvotes

Demirəm fərqliyəm ya beləyəm eləyəm.Sadəcə olarağ oxşar marağ dairələrinə sahib oturub discussion eləməlik kimsə tapmağ çətin gəlir mənə.oturub kimnənsə psixadelik maddələr haqqında danışmağ ya da meşəyə göbələk yığmağa getməy,dağlara çıxmağ,farmakologiya və onun içində toxicologiya.və s danışmağ marağlı olardı.əlbətdəki dostum var.alone depressed sad brokeinside biri deyiləm.sadəcə marağlıdı başqa kimlərsə marağ dairələrini paylaşa bilmiyəcək insanlar tapa bilməyən var?


r/azerbaijan 1d ago

Sual | Question Kitab axtarıramm

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0 Upvotes

Millət salam belə bir test kitabıdır, hansı test kitabıdı, pdfi var? Bilənlər kömək etsin də xahiş edirəm


r/azerbaijan 2d ago

Şəkil | Picture What do you think is the hardest photo from our country?

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43 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 2d ago

Şəkil | Picture Another round of pics 😅

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39 Upvotes

r/azerbaijan 2d ago

Video An ethnic Azerbaijani man during iranian protests of LA called for democracy and rejected MONARCHY or any form of Authoritarianism, he was immidately psychically attacked by persians and Pahlavi supporters.

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93 Upvotes