central Asia

central Asia

Eurasia

Belarus

Russia

Kyrgyzstan

Moldova

Kazakhstan

armenia

read »

The caucasus

EASTERN EUROPE

eastern europe

read »

read »

read »

read »

read »

travel guides

Lithuania

read »

the baltics

Latvia

read »

the baltics

Estonia

read »

the baltics

the caucasus

A Planning Travel Guide

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Hello hello! With the Caspian sea to the east and the greater Caucasus mountain range to the north, Azerbaijan has been on my "to-visit" list for several years.   After booking a 1.5 month backpacking trip around the Caucuses (Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan),my trip was cut short due to COVID-19. A big bummer for this plov-lover right here. 

Of course I was incredibly bummed at the time, but now I am using this quarantine time to refine my Azerbaijan travel itinerary for when I eventually return. So I thought, heck, I can use as much help as I can get - let's plan together! 

This planning guide is meant for readers who are interested in visiting Azerbaijan, and are interested in seeing how exactly I plan my trips (steps I take, resources I use, etc.). It is also meant for those of you who have already traveled to Azerbaijan! Two heads are always better than one, so if you've visited Azerbaijan in the past, and you have any travel tips or recommendations, please let us know in the comments below

Let's plan a trip to...

Know

you go

before

Official Language(s) – Azerbaijani
Currency – Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
Capital City – Baku
Credit Cards & ATMs – ATMs that accept Visa/Mastercard are abundant in the larger regional cities such as Baku, Gakh, Sheki, Ganca, Lenkoran, and Zaqatala. Smaller towns are not as likely to accept credit cards/have available ATMS, so be sure to withdraw cash before leaving the larger cities.
Outlets – C & F
Popular SIM Card Providers – Azercell, Bakcell, Nar Mobile by Azerfon, Karabakh Telecom 

details

Let's get inspired

research, research, research

The very beginning of any travel adventure always begins the same way - by planning where you want to go! Personally, I love this stage of planning because I get all jittery just looking through photos and imagining myself there. See below for some links I've compiled to help you get some inspiration for your upcoming trip to Azerbaijan!

1

Map it out & create an itinerary

Itinerary inspo

2

➊ Where should I start and end my trip?
➋ Which cities and sites do I want to visit?
➌ How long should I stay in each city/town? 
➍ Should I need to stay overnight in each of these places, or can I see some of them as day-trips from big cities? 
➎ In what order should I visit these places?
➏ What kinds of transportation can I take between these places?

Not sure where to start? Here are the questions I always ask myself in order to create an itinerary for an upcoming trip! 


In addition to researching destinations on travel sites and Pinterest, I also use Instagram to discover the hidden gems of a country! If you find a picture and think "Holy moly, I must go here when I visit," check out the geolocation! From there, check the comments or similar posts to see if they give details on how to find the exact spot the photo was taken. 

tip 

Check it out  »

Zarifa Aliyeva street 27

Sahil Hostel & Hotel

baku

Utopia hostel

Check it out  »

Ильяс Афандиев дом 3

Utopia hostel

Check it out  »

Ильяс Афандиев дом 3

baku

Zarifa Aliyeva street 27

Sahil Hostel & Hotel

Check it out  »

baku

Utopia hostel

Check it out  »

Ильяс Афандиев дом 3

Zarifa Aliyeva street 27

Sahil Hostel & Hotel

Check it out  »

baku

Utopia hostel

Check it out  »

Ильяс Афандиев дом 3

Zarifa Aliyeva street 27

Sahil Hostel & Hotel

Check it out  »

baku

Utopia hostel

Check it out  »

Ильяс Афандиев дом 3

Zarifa Aliyeva street 27

Sahil Hostel & Hotel

Check it out  »

Check it out »

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

Evim Otel

Check it out »

Arakit quarter, T.Kazimov St.

Ancient Lahij Guest House

Check it out >>

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

evim otel

lahic

Check it out »

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

Evim Otel

lahic

Check it out >>

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

evim otel

Check it out »

Arakit quarter, T.Kazimov St.

Ancient Lahij Guest House

Check it out »

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

Evim Otel

lahic

Check it out >>

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

evim otel

Check it out »

Arakit quarter, T.Kazimov St.

Ancient Lahij Guest House

Check it out »

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

Evim Otel

lahic

Check it out >>

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

evim otel

Check it out »

Arakit quarter, T.Kazimov St.

Ancient Lahij Guest House

Check it out »

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

Evim Otel

lahic

Check it out >>

İsmayilli, AZ3123 

evim otel

Check it out »

Arakit quarter, T.Kazimov St.

Ancient Lahij Guest House

Check it out »

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

Old Town Sheki

Check it out »

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

Ruma Qala Hotel

Check it out »

RUMA QALA HOTEL

Check it out »

OLD TOWN SHEKI

sheki

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

Check it out »

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

Old Town Sheki

Check it out »

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

RUMA QALA HOTEL

Check it out »

RUMA QALA HOTEL

Check it out »

OLD TOWN SHEKI

sheki

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

Check it out »

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

Old Town Sheki

Check it out »

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

RUMA QALA HOTEL

Check it out »

RUMA QALA HOTEL

Check it out »

OLD TOWN SHEKI

sheki

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

Check it out »

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

Old Town Sheki

Check it out »

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

RUMA QALA HOTEL

Check it out »

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

RUMA QALA HOTEL

Check it out »

OLD TOWN SHEKI

sheki

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

Check it out »

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

Old Town Sheki

Check it out »

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

RUMA QALA HOTEL

Check it out »

 Mirzə Fətəli Axundov 34

RUMA QALA HOTEL

Check it out »

Mirzə Fətəli Axundov küçəsi 43

OLD TOWN SHEKI

sheki

now viewing:

Find where to stay

ACCOMMODATION resources

❖ Booking.com - Search here for hostels, hotels & guesthouses :)

Airbnb - Get $28 off your first booking here!

Where To Stay in Baku: A Neighbourhood Guide to the Azerbaijani Capital by Culture Trip

Where to Stay in Baku for EVERY BUDGET! by One Weird Globe

Where To Stay in Baku, Azerbaijan: Best Hotels, Airbnbs & Hostels by The World Was Here First

3

Click on a city to see the different accommodation options for each destination! I chose these hostels & hotels based on other travel bloggers' recommendations and their ratings on Booking.com. 

now viewing:

Discover what to do 

4

Click on a city to see the different sightseeing activities for each destination on the map! You can see the marked locations on the map below with pictures as well.

Palace of the Shirvanshahs

Maiden Tower

Carpet Museum

Mini-Venice

Heydar Aliyev Center

baku

Tbilisi Sulfur Baths

Maiden Tower

Gallery 27

Meidan Bazaar

Holy Trinity Cathedral

baku

Tbilisi Sulfur Baths

Leaning Tower of Tbilisi

Carpet Museum

Meidan Bazaar

Holy Trinity Cathedral

baku

Tbilisi Sulfur Baths

Leaning Tower of Tbilisi

Gallery 27

Mini-Venice

Holy Trinity Cathedral

baku

Tbilisi Sulfur Baths

Leaning Tower of Tbilisi

Gallery 27

Meidan Bazaar

Heydar Aliyev Center

baku

Flame Towers

Yanar Dağ (Fire Mountain)

Heydar Mosque

Gadzhi Gaib Bathhouse

Bibi Heybat Mosque 

baku

Dry Market

Yanar Dağ (Fire Mountain)

Aerial Cable Car

Narikala Fortress

Mother Georgia

baku

Dry Market

Peace Bridge

Heydar Mosque

Narikala Fortress

Mother Georgia

baku

Dry Market

Peace Bridge

Aerial Cable Car

Gadzhi Gaib Bathhouse

Mother Georgia

baku

Dry Market

Peace Bridge

Aerial Cable Car

Narikala Fortress

Bibi Heybat Mosque 

baku

Government House

Nizami Street

Fountain Square

Baku Boulevard

Teze Pir Mosque

baku

Tbilisi Botanical Garden

Nizami Street

Historic Tbilisi

Mtatsminda Park

Tbilisi Zoo

baku

Tbilisi Botanical Garden

Blue House

Fountain Square

Mtatsminda Park

Tbilisi Zoo

baku

Tbilisi Botanical Garden

Blue House

Historic Tbilisi

Baku Boulevard

Tbilisi Zoo

baku

Tbilisi Botanical Garden

Blue House

Historic Tbilisi

Mtatsminda Park

Teze Pir Mosque

baku

Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre

Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature

Bilgah Beach

Baku Martyrs Lane

Old Town

baku

The Chronicle of Georgia

Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature

Turtle Lake

Georgian National Museum

Liberty Square

baku

The Chronicle of Georgia

Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tbilisi

Bilgah Beach

Georgian National Museum

Liberty Square

baku

The Chronicle of Georgia

Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tbilisi

Turtle Lake

Baku Martyrs Lane

Liberty Square

baku

The Chronicle of Georgia

Opera and Ballet Theatre of Tbilisi

Turtle Lake

Georgian National Museum

Old Town

baku

Queen Darejan Palace

Tbilisi Central Mosque

Sioni Cathedral

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Jvari Monastery of Mtskheta

baku

Queen Darejan Palace

Tbilisi Central Mosque

Sioni Cathedral

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Jvari Monastery of Mtskheta

baku

Queen Darejan Palace

Tbilisi Central Mosque

Sioni Cathedral

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Jvari Monastery of Mtskheta

baku

Queen Darejan Palace

Tbilisi Central Mosque

Sioni Cathedral

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Jvari Monastery of Mtskheta

baku

Queen Darejan Palace

Tbilisi Central Mosque

Sioni Cathedral

Svetitskhoveli Cathedral

Jvari Monastery of Mtskheta

baku

Lahij Museum of Local History 

Lahij Trade Street

Ismayilli

Juma Mosque, Shamakhi

lahic

Green Bazaar

Lahij Trade Street

Nikortsminda Cathedral

Bagrati Cathedral

Gelati Monastery

lahic

Green Bazaar

Kolkheti Fountain

Ismayilli

Bagrati Cathedral

Gelati Monastery

lahic

Green Bazaar

Kolkheti Fountain

Nikortsminda Cathedral

Juma Mosque, Shamakhi

Gelati Monastery

lahic

Green Bazaar

Kolkheti Fountain

Nikortsminda Cathedral

Bagrati Cathedral

Gelati Monastery

lahic

Martvili Canyon

Kutaisi Parliament Building

Kutaisi State Drama Theatre

Sataplia Nature Reserve

Prometheus Cave

lahic

Martvili Canyon

Kutaisi Parliament Building

Kutaisi State Drama Theatre

Sataplia Nature Reserve

Prometheus Cave

lahic

Martvili Canyon

Kutaisi Parliament Building

Kutaisi State Drama Theatre

Sataplia Nature Reserve

Prometheus Cave

lahic

Martvili Canyon

Kutaisi Parliament Building

Kutaisi State Drama Theatre

Sataplia Nature Reserve

Prometheus Cave

lahic

Martvili Canyon

Kutaisi Parliament Building

Kutaisi State Drama Theatre

Sataplia Nature Reserve

Prometheus Cave

lahic

Kutaisi Botanical Garden

Sanatorium Iveria

Motsameta Monestary

Okatse Canyon

Rioni River Cable Car

lahic

Kutaisi Botanical Garden

Sanatorium Iveria

Motsameta Monestary

Okatse Canyon

Rioni River Cable Car

lahic

Kutaisi Botanical Garden

Sanatorium Iveria

Motsameta Monestary

Okatse Canyon

Rioni River Cable Car

lahic

Kutaisi Botanical Garden

Sanatorium Iveria

Motsameta Monestary

Okatse Canyon

Rioni River Cable Car

lahic

Kutaisi Botanical Garden

Sanatorium Iveria

Motsameta Monestary

Okatse Canyon

Rioni River Cable Car

lahic

Sheki Khan’s Palace

Karvansaray Hotel 

Three Saints Church

Albanian Church in Kish

Galarsan-Gorarsan Fortress

Sheki

Batumi Old Town

Karvansaray Hotel 

Statue of Ali and Nino

Alphabetic Tower

Europe Square

Sheki

Batumi Old Town

Batumi Botanical Garden

Three Saints Church

Alphabetic Tower

Europe Square

Sheki

Batumi Old Town

Batumi Botanical Garden

Statue of Ali and Nino

Albanian Church, Kish

Europe Square

Sheki

Batumi Old Town

Batumi Botanical Garden

Statue of Ali and Nino

Alphabetic Tower

Galarsan-Gorarsan Fortress

Sheki

The Boulevard

Batumi Tower Ferris Wheel

Batumi Archaeological Museum

Batumi Port

Batumi Riviera Cruise

Sheki

The Boulevard

Batumi Tower Ferris Wheel

Batumi Archaeological Museum

Batumi Port

Batumi Riviera Cruise

Sheki

The Boulevard

Batumi Tower Ferris Wheel

Batumi Archaeological Museum

Batumi Port

Batumi Riviera Cruise

Sheki

The Boulevard

Batumi Tower Ferris Wheel

Batumi Archaeological Museum

Batumi Port

Batumi Riviera Cruise

Sheki

The Boulevard

Batumi Tower Ferris Wheel

Batumi Archaeological Museum

Batumi Port

Batumi Riviera Cruise

Sheki

Start booking!

booking resources

5

Once you're all finished planning your trip, it's time to start booking flights, accommodations, and any activities/tours you'd like to experience. Check out my booking resources below!

Booking.com

get the goods

Language & Travel Shop

Get on the Newsletter

Sign up for the monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date with my travels and Russian language resources! 

When you sign up, you'll get a FREE 11-page #OnTheBoc Starter Kit!


оставаться на связи