Things to do in Azerbaijan: best places to visit
Azerbaijan comes down to Baku and Sheki: the walled Icherisheher with the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, the seafront boulevard and the Flame Towers in the capital, then the Palace of the Shaki Khans and the Upper Caravanserai in the northern hills. Sheki is four to five hours by road, so plan at least one night.
Sights in Azerbaijan
20 places in 2 cities
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Baku, Azerbaijan
1 h 15 min24 AZN for foreign visitorspalaceshistorymuseums
Palace of the Shaki Khans
Sheki, Azerbaijan
45 min≈ 15 AZN for foreigners (unofficial)palaceshistorymuseums
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Baku, Azerbaijan
1 h 30 min10 AZN for foreigners, students 3 AZNmuseumshistory
Gobustan rock art and mud volcanoes
Baku, Azerbaijan
3 h≈ 10–15 AZN, volcanoes extrahistoryancient ruinsmuseums
Itineraries across Azerbaijan
City itineraries in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan travel guide
Before you go: Baku and Sheki, visa and money, getting around, weather by month, food and tea.
Azerbaijan on your own: the essentials
- Visa
- Most visitors apply for an ASAN e-visa online
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Azerbaijani manat (AZN); cards widely accepted in Baku
- First trip
- Baku for 3 days and Sheki for 1–2
- When to go
- April–June and September–October
- Time zone
- UTC+4 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Azerbaijan”Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage ListSourcei
UNESCO Intangible Cultural HeritageSourcei
Wikipedia, “Caspian Sea”Best places to visit in Azerbaijan
For a first trip, give Baku three days with trips to Gobustan and the Absheron peninsula, then spend 1–2 days in mountain Sheki. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above; the “Map” button shows them on a map.
| Baku | Old City, Flame Towers, the Caspian | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Sheki | Khan’s Palace, caravanserai, mountains | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
Also popular: Gabala with its cable car, Quba, Lahij and Ganja — we will cover them next. Ready trips around the country are above on this page.
Azerbaijan visa and currency
Most visitors need a visa and can get one online through the official ASAN e-visa portal in a few days; some nationalities are visa-free. The currency is the Azerbaijani manat (AZN); cards are widely accepted in Baku.
Apply only through the official ASAN Visa portal and check the rule for your passport before you book.
Carry some cash for the regions, markets and minibuses.
Getting around Azerbaijan
Baku has a metro and buses on the BakuCard, and taxis via apps. Buses and trains link the cities; a car with a driver is easiest for the mountains.
- Metro — three lines in Baku, paid with a BakuCard.
- Buses — from Baku to Sheki, Gabala and Quba.
- Car — rent or hire a driver for Sheki, Gabala and Lahij.
Azerbaijan weather by month
The best time to visit Azerbaijan is April–June and September–October — warm and dry. Baku is about 30 °C in summer, the mountains cooler. Winter in Baku is mild but windy, with snow in the mountains. Below is Baku.
BakuiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 7° | 7° | 10° | 16° | 22° | 27° | 30° | 30° | 26° | 20° | 14° | 10° |
| Night | 2° | 2° | 4° | 9° | 14° | 19° | 22° | 22° | 18° | 13° | 8° | 4° |
| Rain | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: April–May and September–October
- day ≈ 7°
- night ≈ 2°
- rain 7 days
Mild but windy.
- day ≈ 7°
- night ≈ 2°
- rain 7 days
Cool, windy.
- day ≈ 10°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 7 days
Spring, Novruz.
- day ≈ 16°
- night ≈ 9°
- rain 5 days
Warm — a good time.
- day ≈ 22°
- night ≈ 14°
- rain 4 days
Warm and dry — one of the best months.
- day ≈ 27°
- night ≈ 19°
- rain 2 days
Hot, the Caspian season begins.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 22°
- rain 1 days
Hot — Absheron beaches and the mountains.
- day ≈ 30°
- night ≈ 22°
- rain 2 days
Hot, the sea about 26°.
- day ≈ 26°
- night ≈ 18°
- rain 3 days
Warm — a great time for trips.
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 13°
- rain 6 days
About 20°, mild and sunny.
- day ≈ 14°
- night ≈ 8°
- rain 8 days
Cool, windy.
- day ≈ 10°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 8 days
About 10°, quiet.
Each city page has its own weather: Sheki is greener and cooler than Baku.
Tips
- Bring a windproof layer — Baku is windy in any season.
- Try plov, qutab and tea with jam — tea is drunk all day.
- Exchange money at banks rather than at the airport.
FAQ
Do I need a visa for Azerbaijan?
Most visitors do and can apply online through the official ASAN e-visa portal; some nationalities are visa-free. Check the rule for your passport.
What currency is used in Azerbaijan?
The Azerbaijani manat (AZN). Cards work widely in Baku; carry cash for the regions.
Is Azerbaijan safe for tourists?
Baku and the main tourist areas are generally considered safe; check your government’s travel advice, especially for border regions.
What are the best places to visit in Azerbaijan?
Baku’s Old City and Flame Towers, Gobustan’s rock art, the fire sites of Absheron, and mountain Sheki with the Khan’s Palace.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List — sites in Azerbaijan; UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (Novruz)
- Wikipedia, “Azerbaijan”; “Caspian Sea”; Baku climate (1991–2020 normals)
- ASAN Visa — official e-visa portal of Azerbaijan