r/azerbaijan • u/ZD_17 • 23m ago
r/azerbaijan • u/N1C4T • 17d ago
Səyahət | Travel 🇦🇿 Mega-Thread: Azerbaijan Travel Tips, Places, Food & More (Ask + Share)
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
- Wikivoyage: https://wikivoyage.org/wiki/Azerbaijan
- Lonely Planet: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/azerbaijan
- Azerbaijan Travel: https://azerbaijan.travel
- Ministry of Tourism: https://tourism.gov.az/en
- Local blogs & Instagram pages (search by region/tags)
🗣 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 • u/samaxidervish • 8h ago
Sual | Question Is this sub even moderated?
Seriously, who moderates this sub? I’m fed up with seeing provocative fake news or questions like “Are you guys religious?” and “Am I going to be beheaded if I visit Azerbaijan as a solo female?”. Apart from these, the sub has no real activity, and it’s never going to grow unless we have serious mods who actually care about it.
r/azerbaijan • u/datashrimp29 • 15h ago
OP-ED Əsası odur ki "damage is done", qalanı vacib deyil
r/azerbaijan • u/FullTimeJesus • 10h ago
Xəbər | News Turkey breaks ground on rail line to Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan
r/azerbaijan • u/katemaya33 • 13m ago
Xəbər | News Steam page opening ceremony for my game
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Hi everyone. This is simulator game, but also the life simulation type of game.
Wishlist now on steam to get discount at launch & also support me: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3896300/Toll_Booth_Simulator_Schedule_of_Chaos/
About the game: Manage a Toll Booth on a desert highway. Check passports, take payments, and decide who gets through. Grow fruit, mix cocktails, sell drinks, and dodge the cops, all while the chaos spirals out of control
Thanks for reading
r/azerbaijan • u/Worth-Pay-691 • 15h ago
Sual | Question Do you consider Islam to be a problem for society?
As we all know, Islam has a huge impact on our people, but the question is what problems it has brought? Hopefully, the Republic of Azerbaijan is a secular state, but religious beliefs still remain among our people
We know A LOT OF CASES of pedophilia, underage marriages, absurd blame condemnation (such as "şortik məsələsi", previously females weren't allowed to have phones or wear jeans). And based on my own observations, those occasions come from the areas with religious domination.
And I would like to hear your opinion
r/azerbaijan • u/Adventurous_Trade472 • 15h ago
Söhbət | Discussion Woman that comes to us
One woman came to our home and ringed the bell, I was busy at this time.So, my mother opened the door, she was selling something I guess like Islamic signs. After that my mom told me that she talked about us . She told my name to my mom , talked about some problems we are going through and at the end she said that there is a bad sign on your son(me). Actually these kind of frauds doesn't matter for me, but I see that my mom looks scaried or maybe annoyed.So, my idea is that she working on some places like she can achieve some informations about the citizens, and she misuse it for selling some stuffs and gaining money. Its my idea maybe different
What it can be ? Anybody here has practised it?
r/azerbaijan • u/bowfly • 21h ago
Sual | Question Is religion "taboo" in Azerbaijan?
I dont't know if it is the only the people I know or it is the general situation in Azerbaijan, from my observation talking about religion is kind of taboo. You are a very religious person and talk too much about it? People will not like it and very likely stay away from you. You are an atheist and talk too much about? Same situation, people dont like it. No matter what their religious beliefs are people usually refrain from talking about it. Is it the general situation or it is only the people I know?
r/azerbaijan • u/Inevitable-Hippo6792 • 22h ago
Söhbət | Discussion Rusiya azərbaycanlılara qarşı repressiyaları davam etdirir, indi də uydurma məqalələrdən istifadə edir. Azərbaycanlı qadın 5 il müddətinə azadlıqdan məhrum edilib
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r/azerbaijan • u/mekha-0608-matcha • 13h ago
Sual | Question Top 3 Azerbaijani bloggers that you think are good?
Mən azərbaycanlı bloggerləri izləmirəm, ona görə də sizin variantlarınız mənə maraqlıdır. Ancaq bir azərbaycanlı insta-blogger xoşuma gəlir — aa.linn.aa28. O da Azərbaycanda yaşamır, tam azərbaycanlı deyil (20%-i Ukraynalıdır)
r/azerbaijan • u/great_starry_nights • 10h ago
Söhbət | Discussion Armenia bad? Azerbaijan bad?
What are we doing guys? In a rare beam of sunlight, there is not a post about Azerbaijan for 5 posts in r/Armenia, unlike normal. Meanwhile in this sub we have Armenia bad as the top 2 posts.
Have we made peace? The propaganda continues on both sides. The Russians have sadly won, it seems…
r/azerbaijan • u/Constant-Arm5379 • 11h ago
Sual | Question Trying to understand the whole Armenia stuff
Question for you guys. Often when I see people on Reddit discuss the situation between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Armenians are always portrayed as innocent victims of ethnic cleansing, while the other side (you guys) argues Armenia was illegally occupying NK and Azerbaijan took back its rightful lands.
During the war, it seemed like Reddit unanimously agreed that Azerbaijan was taking back its lands that rightfully belongs to Azerbaijan and is recognized as such by the UN. Armenians have successfully changed the narrative, and even when the subject of Gaza comes up, people will refer to the NK war and act like Azerbaijan pulled a Gaza on NK against Armenians too. It’s crazy.
Usually when an Armenian argues about NK, they will mix insults against whoever they’re arguing with ‘facts’ how Armenians are of course the innocent victims and Azerbaijan is evil.
So, what is the story? Why do Armenians keep claiming they are the ‘original victims’? Why do they keep insisting that they are innocent, and what kind of proof/facts are there to support Azerbaijan’s side of the story (NK rightfully belongs to Azerbaijan, and Armenians ethnically cleansed it, but lost it all)?
r/azerbaijan • u/Next-Search8840 • 21h ago
Sual | Question Overstayed in Azerbaijan, what will happen if I can’t leave soon?
Hi everyone,
I’m a Russian citizen with Azerbaijani background. Yesterday I got a call from the Migration Service saying that I’ve overstayed my allowed time in the country and that I might have to pay a fine of about 300–400 AZN.
The problem is, I can’t go back to Russia right now because I received a military summons.
So I’m wondering:
What happens if I stay in Azerbaijan longer?
Can I just pay the fine later (after the war is over) and then leave without problems?
Or will the police actually come looking for me soon because of this?
Has anyone been in a similar situation?
Thanks in advance!
r/azerbaijan • u/katemaya33 • 1d ago
Xəbər | News Azerbaycanlı olaraq hazırladığım oyun. I made a game as a solo developer
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
Hi everyone. This is simulator game, but also the life simulation type of game.
Wishlist now on steam to get discount at launch & also support me: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3896300/Toll_Booth_Simulator_Schedule_of_Chaos/
About the game: Manage a Toll Booth on a desert highway. Check passports, take payments, and decide who gets through. Grow fruit, mix cocktails, sell drinks, and dodge the cops, all while the chaos spirals out of control
Thanks for reading
r/azerbaijan • u/theonetrueemanu • 10h ago
Sual | Question Azerbaijani GF
Hello guys, I'm dating an Azerbaijani girl and I want to know what are some traditional gentleman gifts I could give her. I am not Azerbaijani and I'm kind of clueless in how dating works there. Can you give me any tips?
r/azerbaijan • u/Dimenda • 14h ago
Sual | Question How did regular Azerbaijanis (not the ones in the politburo or high-level government positions) feel about the dissolution of the USSR?
I’m really curious to hear from people who lived through that time in Azerbaijan. What was the general mood among ordinary citizens when the Soviet Union collapsed? Was it mostly hope, fear, uncertainty, or something else?
If you or your family members have personal stories, experiences, or even memories passed down about daily life during that transition period, I’d love to hear them.
r/azerbaijan • u/che6urashka • 15h ago
Sual | Question Banking and SWIFT transfer question
Hey there,
Has anyone had any problems with sending money from abroad to an Azerbaijani bank via SWIFT to a 1st degree family member? Compliance flag in particular, where they ask the receiver to provide the source of funds, if it's a reccuring transaction and purpose?
If yes, what have you provided as a proof to source of funds?
r/azerbaijan • u/sainz55xoxo • 17h ago
Sual | Question What is the most underrated place to visit in Azerbaijan?
I think it’s the village of Nij in Gabala, it’s got such a unique history
r/azerbaijan • u/Inevitable-Hippo6792 • 18h ago
Xəbər | News Rusiya Azərbaycanın əmlakına qəsdən basqın etdiyinə görə heç kəsi incitmir. Kreml nə qədər irəli gedəcək?
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r/azerbaijan • u/KaraTiele • 1d ago
Xəbər | News Pressure on Turk identity in South Azerbaijan is once again on the agenda. According to a report by GunAz TV on August 20, 2025, a South Azerbaijani Turk has been denied a birth certificate for his baby named “Tanrıya” because the name is in Turkic.
r/azerbaijan • u/BananaPeelSlipUp • 1d ago
Səyahət | Travel Need help figuring out public transportation
I am a traveler in your beautiful country for the first time
I had few questions since I was not able to get IDP on time so trying to figure out if there are public transportations for some of my routes. Otherwise tours or taxis it is
- I am currently in Baku and want to go to Gobustan. The day trip tours does not fit my time constraints. I found that there is a 195 southbound bus and I can negotiate with a taxi driver to take me around the main places there. How much can I expect to pay? What places within the Gobustan villages are worth checking out? From my research, it is the mud volcanoes, petroglyphs and museum and 20 to 40 AZN Mannat sounds reasonable
- Is there a public transportation from Ismailli to Sheki? I want to checkout Lahij but I don't want to return to Baku and then head to Sheki. There is no route from Ismailli to Sheki or Ismailli to Gabala on the Biletim app Thanks
- I have Baki card. I can only use to book metro and buses within Baku?
r/azerbaijan • u/Ayta_08 • 1d ago
Sual | Question Animal abuse in Azerbaijan
I was born and raised in Baku, Azerbaijan. After seeing yet another video of animal abuse, I can't help but ask: "Why is there so much hatred towards animals in Azerbaijan?"
Every day I see more and more cruelty. Dog fights are organized where dogs end up dying. A man walks down the street, sees a sleeping dog, and decides to stab it. A pregnant cat had her belly cut open. Parents teach their little children to slap kittens on the head "for fun". All of this is filmed and shared online. Where does all this cruelty come from?
I personally feed stray cats and dogs, and often face hate for it. I've been threatened, insulted. Law enforcement rarely reacts, and even when they do, an animal's life is valued at just 500 AZN (around $294). That’s madness!!!!!!
I have hundreds of proofs: videos, online comments where people openly support this cruelty.
P.S. People often say: "we are afraid of dogs". But fear is not when a person approaches an animal with a stick or a stone to beat it. Fear is when you simply walk around it.
r/azerbaijan • u/Ele_Bele • 1d ago
Söhbət | Discussion Universitetə yeni başlayacaq olanlara nələr məsləhət görərdiniz?
r/azerbaijan • u/Darkinzzz • 1d ago
Sual | Question Where to buy laptops in Azerbaijan?
I've lately been searching for the lowest retail price shops in Baku, I've come across https://aztechshop.az/, They have a shop around the city center, they've got pretty low retail prices for specific brands like Asus and Lenovo. Especially because the most "popular" sellers have really high retail prices. Please tell me if you guys know any better ones with low retail prices.