Azerbaijan: Baku Hotels & Flights

April to June and September to October are the best times to visit Azerbaijan, with comfortable temperatures for walking around Baku and exploring the mountains.

Summer is hot and humid in Baku but pleasant in mountain towns such as Sheki and Gabala; winter is cool and windy in Baku, with skiing in Shahdag.

Baku has hot, dry summers (around 30–35°C) and cool winters, and it is famously windy — its name is often linked to 'city of winds'. The mountains are cooler and greener.

Azerbaijan uses the manat (AZN). Cards are widely accepted in Baku hotels, restaurants and shops; carry cash in the regions, at markets and for taxis.

Azerbaijan is good value: around €40–60 per day on a budget and €80–140 per day mid-range. Baku city centre hotels near the Old City and the Boulevard cost more but save transport time.

Azerbaijani is the official language. Russian is widely understood, and English is spoken in hotels, restaurants and by younger people in Baku.

Many nationalities can apply online for an Azerbaijan e-visa through the official ASAN Visa system, usually within a few working days; some nationalities can enter visa-free. Rules change and depend on your passport, so always confirm on the official government website or with the embassy before you book.

Baku has an inexpensive metro and plenty of ride-hailing taxis (such as Bolt); the Aero Express bus connects the airport with the city centre. Buses and trains reach Sheki and Gabala in about 5–6 hours.

For Gobustan and the mud volcanoes, join a tour or hire a driver.

Try plov (saffron rice, the national dish), dolma, qutab (stuffed flatbreads), dushbara (tiny dumplings) and piti, a lamb stew from Sheki. Black tea with jam is served everywhere, and Sheki halva is a famous sweet.

Azerbaijan is a secular, majority-Muslim country with strong traditions of hospitality, carpet weaving and mugham music. Dress smartly in Baku and modestly in mosques and rural areas.

Mobile internet is good in Baku and main towns. Local SIMs from Azercell or Bakcell are sold at the airport and in phone shops with your passport, and free Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés.