The Ultimate Travel Guide to Baku in Azerbaijan
The exotic capital of Azerbaijan, Baku is a must-visit place, when traveling around the country. Read our travel guide on the best things to do in Baku, top attractions, must-visit places and sights, and best one-day trips from Baku including information on how to get around, when to visit, where to stay and safety advice.
Almost everywhere in the world, you can notice a trend that the capital city is always a bit different than the rest of the country. Usually, it is larger, more modern, more rushed, and more developed. Of course, it is not true in a hundred percent cases, for example, Australian cities such as Sydney or Melbourne are not any worse than the capital Canberra, but this trend, at least what we could see was doubly true in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, until recently an off-beaten country located in the Middle East at the intersection of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
Traveling around Azerbaijan was for us absolutely new experience, as at that time we were newbie travelers, who'd never been in a similar country before. And we loved it. The infrastructure was undeveloped, tourism was almost an unknown word, and during almost four weeks in the country, we barely met a foreign travelers except for a few Russians, Iranians and a few American engineers who worked there in the oil industry.
We explored ancient towns, the beautiful mountainous landscape around the highest village in Europe, Xinaliq or swam in the sea and relaxed on undeveloped beaches near Lenkoran, and drank tea. A lot. Although during almost four weeks in the country we passed Baku several times, because it is not only a capital city but also a major transport hub for Azerbaijan, we properly discovered the city during the last five days in the country as it finally fitted in our itinerary.
If you are thinking if five days for Baku are not too much, we can genuinely tell you it is not.
The city offers so many things to see and do, it combines the old historical center, mosques and centuries-old palaces with modern architecture. Iconic Flame Towers looming over the old town are unmistakable.
Even when walking the streets of Baku, you'll be wondering how those two worlds, the traditional one, when an elderly looking man is selling Persian carpets outside a small shop, and the new one, which is represented by people in expensive suits strolling the beautiful waterfront, can coexist together. But they can.
At the very first sight, you can tell there is plenty of money in Baku. This city is fueled by the oil industry as Azerbaijan is one of the world's most important countries when it comes to oil export, and the futuristic buildings show the progress. But for us, tourists, travelers, visitors, it was rather the mix of the new and the old which enchanted us the most.
In this travel guide, we would like to inspire you to travel to Baku, one of the most captivating capitals we've ever visited.
Top attractions, must-see places, best things to see and do, and worthwhile one-day trips from Baku, plus information you should know before traveling to Baku, all of that is in this post. What is not here is the omnipresent smell of pilaf, kebab, black tea, and crushed spices.
Hopefully, the scent of exotic flavors will come to you through our story and photos.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN BAKU
Honestly, before arriving in Azerbaijan, we did not know much about the country, so logically, we did not have an idea of what to expect from Baku. But we had tons of questions. Is it safe? How expensive is the country? How are we going to get around? What are the must-visit places? And so on.
How did we decide to travel there?
We were inspired by one article we found in the old-fashioned paper travel magazine where the author was super excited about the country because of beautiful mountains, abandoned villages, and no tourists. Mind you, he brought a tent with him and was camping the whole time.
That must have been one of those once in a life-time adventure. Because these three characteristics we’ve mentioned above are usually those we value the most, we bought flight tickets, arranged visas, and in two months we landed in Baku. Little we knew what are the best things to see and do in Baku, what are the top attractions, must-see places, highlights and if there are any one-day trip possible to do near the city.
Luckily, we soon found out, and today we can share with you our personally tried and tested list. In this guide we will focus mainly on Baku and its surroundings, hopefully, we'll add more articles about this mesmerizing country soon.
Seafront Walkway
We start with something nice and easy.
The Baku Boulevard is a pleasant promenade and a Baku's hotspot that stretches along the Caspian Sea coast for a few kilometers and is popular with locals and tourists as well.
Whether you just want to sit and relax, have a cup of tea, enjoy ice cream, or walk the whole stretch, Baku Boulevard is the must-visit place while in the capital city where to do all those things.
On a particularly hot day, the evening gentle walk by the breezy sea will for sure refresh you.
Wander around the streets in Old Town
No matter if you hear different names like Old City, Inner City, Old Town or Icheri Sheher, they all mean the same, the historical stone-walled core of Baku.
Old cobblestone streets, narrow alleys and a full bag of history, all that and much more forms the oldest part of Baku. Old City is an amazing place to explore, quite compact, easily walkable, and the top attractions here are the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower.
There are many hotels, restaurants, cafes and if you have arrived with large luggage, you can even buy a fantastic souvenir, a beautifully sewed rug.
A small tip before buying anything from street sellers, don't settle for the first price they ask and bargain.
If you are short on time and want to see the best of Baku, book a Baku Full-Day Tour.
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Azerbaijani history is extremely fascinating and in the heart of Baku, you will find another medieval gem from the 15th century, Palace of the Shirvanshahs. The palace itself is rather small, so don't expect too much and you might be pleasantly surprised. Later on, the palace was badly damaged in the 18th century and has been restored recently.
However, as at Maiden Tower, the entrance fee for foreigners is steep, 15 AZN.
Maiden Tower
When you enter the inner city, you can't miss the enigmatic Maiden Tower that is shrouded in many legends and mysteries.
The tower was supposedly built in the 12th century, or at least that's what the officials say, but the evidence of materials they used during the construction suggests, that it could have been even earlier. Another mystery is the purpose of the tower, which is still unknown.
You can climb to the top of the tower for great views, there is no elevator though if you have bad knees.
Mind you, the entrance fee of 15 AZN is quite steep for what you get, so if you travel on a budget, you might want to just admire the structure from outside.
Post-Modern Architecture
SOCAR Tower, Baku Crystal Hall, Heydar Aliyev Center, Port Baku Towers, Flame Towers or Trump Tower. All these buildings have something in common. Modern design and stunning architecture.
When talking about modern architecture, we must point out several buildings like the Baku Crystal Hall, which was completed in 2012 to host the Eurovision Song Contest which now serves as a concert and event hall for big names like Rihanna.
Or the Socar Tower, headquarters of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic, and currently, with 209 meters, the tallest building in Baku.
And lastly, we can't fail to mention the stunning Heydar Aliyev Center.
Heydar Aliyev Center
Named after the former president of Azerbaijan, and probably the most influential politician in the recent history, Heydar Aliyev Center features many exhibits, concerts, cultural events, youth programs. As many modern buildings in Baku, the center was also designed by famous designer Zaha Hadid.
The curved lines are in high contrast with gray residential buildings in its vicinity.
This is something you won't see every day, and even if you don't have time to go inside, it's worth to just make a quick visit and admire the stunning design from outside.
Flame Towers
The trio of Flame Towers, towering above the city and symbolizing the eternal fire, symbol of Zoroastrianism, as Azerbaijan is allegedly the birthplace of the spiritual leader, Zoroaster, is one of the most dominant structures of the city.
On thirty-three floors, you will find Fairmont Hotel, residential apartments and plenty of office space. But that's not all. When it gets dark, the three skyscrapers light up and more than 10000 LEDs will put on a spectacular light/fire show.
The best part is that you can see it even from the Old City or waterfront promenade.
Take a Funicular to the Viewpoint Over Baku
Some of the Baku's top attractions are located on the top of the hill, like Flame Towers, or Martyr's Lane.
Nevertheless, you can use the modern funicular to get up and down the hill for 1 AZN per ride. The time between departures is usually between ten to twenty minutes. Once you get to the top, you can see the flame towers from up close and then walk the Martyr's Lane.
The lower station resides near Azerbaijan Carpet Museum and the future Caspian Waterfront Mall. Or climb the stairs for free and get some exercise.
Martyr's Lane
From the upper funicular station, walk a little bit straight, and then turn left to Martyr's Lane, a memorial and cemetery.
This place is quite moving, as you will be walking past the graves of soldiers and ordinary citizens, who put their lives for Azerbaijani independence during the Soviet invasion and Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Engraved pictures of all persons who died on the same day remind their heroism and a terrible outcome of all conflicts around the world.
The Eternal Fire Memorial
At the end of the Martyr's lane you will find a memorial of the Eternal Flame and a vantage point that has excellent views of the city and the Caspian Sea below.
The best time to visit is just before the sunset when the sky turns pink and the eternal fire creates a very solemn atmosphere.
Mosques
Azerbaijan is a secular state, but 97% of the population is Muslim.
It's no wonder, that there are many notable mosques in Baku such as Cuma Mosque, Bibi-Heybat Mosque, or Teze Pir Mosque, and you have a great opportunity to visit some of them during your time in the city.
Make sure you are dressed properly, wear long trousers, remove your shoes, and women should cover head and shoulders with a scarf before they go inside. Also, don't disturb praying people.
It's always smart to carry a sarong in your daypack, though at some mosques, you can rent a robe. Bibi-Heybat Mosque is a bit down south from the city center, and you can take a taxi to get there or stop there on the way to Gobustan.
Cuma Mosque is a small structure in the Old City and Teze Pir Mosque is outside the walled city just a short walk north from there. Our favorite mosque in Baku was a beautiful Mosque of the Martyrs on the intersection of funicular uppers station, Flame Towers and Martyr's Lane.
One more thing to know, you can't enter mosques whenever you want because of prayers, so don't be surprised, if they don't allow you to go in, you can always ask, when the mosque will be open for public and come back later.
Nizami Museum of Literature
There is a high chance, that you have never heard of Nizami before your trip to Azerbaijan. At least we haven't and we believe, that we were not alone.
Nizami was born in an ancient Seljuq empire in Ganja, which is now a modern Azerbaijan, and he was the greatest poet in Persian history. His influence had an enormous impact on Persian poetry and his fame and reputation exceeded the region, and many other countries like Iran or Afghanistan appreciate and share his legacy.
Not until you travel around Azerbaijan, you can fully understand how important Nizami was for the culture. There are statues of him in every town an city, and streets named after him are almost everywhere. Nizami Museum of Azerbaijani Literature, that also carries his name, preserves heritage of Azerbaijani literature and reflects Azerbaijani culture.
You can go inside and take a guided tour in English if you wish.
Once inside, there are exhibits of literature, artifacts or paintings. Even if you just walk past the building, take at least a quick stop and admire its beautiful exterior decorations with six statues representing the most important authors in Azerbaijani literature.
Government House
A breathtaking Soviet-era building completed in 1952 is nowadays home to many Azerbaijani ministeries, and its enormous size will leave you in awe. The great thing about Government House is its location just across Neftchilar Avenue from Baku Boulevard, which means, you are going to visit it anyway.
National Flag Square
As you would guess from the title, National Flag Square near Baku Crystal Hall features one of the largest flags in the world, and with its incredible dimensions of 70 x 35 meters, and 162 meters tall poles, it's really impressive.
Said that this attraction is a hit or miss, as when we were there, there was no flag, just a big mast, and it seems the flag is missing even now.
So when you come back from Baku, let us know, if the flag is still gone or they put it back.
Fire Temple
Fire Temple also known as Ateshgah of Baku, is an interesting temple located about 20 kilometers east of Baku, and used to be a holy place for Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Sikhs in ancient times, who worshipped Atesh - fire.
Why this place became the fire temple, and why it even got its straightforward name? Well, Azerbaijan is an extremely rich country on gas and in this place, the liquid gas was leaking from the surface, and when it got in contact with oxygen, it started to burn.
Nowadays the gas source is long gone, probably due to extensive oil drilling in the surroundings, and the fire is kept artificially. You can even see the old rusty pipe laying on the ground and feeding the fire in the central structure. The original temple was eventually destroyed and later on, in the 18th century, rebuilt, as you can see it today.
There is a small museum on-site and a few rooms with different displays.
The easiest way to get there is by taxi or Uber, but you can also choose a budget way and take a metro to Koroglu station, from there take a bus bus number 184 which goes directly to the Fire Temple.
The entrance fee is 4 AZN.
You can also join an organized tour if you want to visit the site with a guide. You will visit not only the Fire Temple, but also Yanar Dag - Fire Mountain with eternal fire, and the traditional bazaar.
Bazaar
While in the Middle Eastern country, you have to visit a traditional market full of colors, smells, and tastes.
There are many places to go, to name a few, Taza Bazaar and Yasll Bazaar (Green Market) are the most famous bazaars in Baku. You can see mainly fruits, veggies, herbs, fresh meat, fish, spices, nuts, sweets or dairy.
The vendors are nice and friendly, however, if you decide to purchase anything, bargain, otherwise you will pay many times more than you should!
Nizami Street
Whether you are looking for a great place for food, accommodation or shopping, Nizami street has it all.
This more than 3 kilometers long street is in Baku's downtown and has a safe pedestrianized area where you can have a lovely walk after a long day out. Even if you don't like shopping, you should still go there, as it's home to many remarkable historical buildings and landmarks.
We especially enjoyed roaming the street in the evening, when the lights were on, and the street was lively with people.
Fountain Square
In the evening, the public Fountain Square parallel to Niyami street comes to life. There are many boutiques, shops, cafes, and restaurants around, and it's a great place to visit at the end of the day. Oh, and by the way, there are some fountains too.
Mud Volcanos in Gobustan National Park
One of our favorite places in Azerbaijan we've visited were the mud volcanoes in Gobustan National Park. Although the volcanoes are surprisingly small, they're active and you can see mud bubbling and streaming down the mounds.
When we arrived in Qobustan, we hired a taxi driver to get us there. He didn't speak English, so we communicated in our non-existent Russian, and settled for the price. However, we were not able to talk about the length of the trip which turned out to be a tiny problem on our trip. But first things first. He drove an old Lada and the ride was quite bumpy. He took us to the place with many small volcanoes, where we walked around for quite some time.
Eventually, our driver became quite annoyed by us, as we really enjoyed the place and took many photographs, taking advantage of being the only travelers there, he even threatened that he will leave us there, at least what we could tell from his complex gesticulation. He was saved when one of the volcanoes kind of exploded with a terrifying thundering sound, and we hurriedly left the area.
What we didn't like about the place was the complete lack of infrastructure for visitors, as there weren't any walkways, signs or anything and anyone could walk pretty much everywhere they wanted, even climb the small volcanoes. We think that such a unique place like this deserves better care, and we would love to see some conservation effort to help preserve this place for the future.
For the best travel experience, you can book this well-rated Gobustan Tour, which combines the Mud Volcanoes, Museum of Petroglyphs and the Bibi Heybet Mosque.
Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape
Did you know that Azerbaijani and Norwegians are related?
Well, it's one of many revolutionist theories you can hear and is highly disputed by probably all scientists, except for the author, late Thor Heyerdahl. You see, there are many carvings on the rocks of Gobustan but only one of them is behind all that controversy, a depiction of a boat resembling a Viking boat.
Nevertheless, the Petroglyphs of Gobustan are together with mud volcanoes totally worth seeing, as they illustrate the way of life in ancient Azerbaijan around 5000 to 8000 BC. There are thousands of engravings in the area, and you can see images of wild animals, such as deer, boars and paintings of humans hunting or dancing. You can walk around the place independently or hire a guide.
You can also visit the museum to learn more about history and petroglyphs. Lastly, the view from the hill of the Caspian Sea is breathtaking.
Go Swimming
Because our flight was late in the evening, we were looking for an activity to do on our last day, because we had already seen all the top sights within the city center. We were in a lazy mood, so we decided to go swimming. Even though Baku lies on the shore of the Caspian Sea, it is true it is not known as a beach destination.
No, the beach we visited was not the most beautiful one we've ever seen, it definitely cannot be compared with beaches in the Philippines or Indonesia, but it did the job for us that day. Because of the oil extraction, the sea can be polluted, so always check the situation beforehand.
On the other hand, beaches in Azerbaijan were the most bizarre ones we've ever seen, with oil drilling platforms off the coast, and people drinking hot tea on the sandy straps.
There are several beaches near Baku you can choose from, we traveled to Mardakan Beach. Although you can take a taxi, the cheapest way to get there by bus.
We do not remember the bus number we got on, but we waited along the road leading to the beach from the center and flagged down buses going that direction until we finally stopped one going to the beach. What we could find online, you should take bus 184 or 34 from Ulduz metro station, and then change to bus 136.
Museums - Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum & Miniature Book Museum
As it's common in almost every capital city in the world, there are a lot of museums spread around the city.
Some are more interesting and some less, but it depends on the taste of the visitor.
We are going to mention two museums we found the most interesting.
Miniature Book Museum was founded in 2002 by Zarifa Salahova and the museum features more than 6500 small-sized books from all over the world. If you didn't know, Azerbaijan used to be an ancient center of carpet weaving, and today you can visit a national museum in Baku, which exterior was designed to look like a semi-rolled carpet, and interior features hundreds of beautiful carpets.
Even if you buy your carpets in IKEA and don't know a squat about them, this is a must-visit place.
The entrance is only 7 AZN, and you can easily spend two or three hours here. To learn more about carpets and carpet-weaving tradition, hire a guide in the museum.
Besh Barmag Mountain
Technically not in Baku, but an hour drive north from there towers above the Caspian Sea and the Sizan District the sacred Five Finger rock on the top of 382 meters high hill. It kind of looks like a hand with five fingers (that's the name), but you need to look from the proper angle and use a little bit of imagination.
Besh Barmag is a great day trip from the capital for everyone tired of the city and for everyone who wants to visit the Azerbaijani countryside and do some hiking.
It's a holy place for many people, so be respectful, and even though, it might be really hot, pack long trousers and a long-sleeved t-shirt and sarong. Some of the people stay there during their pilgrimage for several days in the small caves in the rock, so keep that in mind. If you have a rental car, there is a parking lot.
It's not that easy to get to Besh Barmag Mountain on a budget, but we share how we've done it.
We took the bus heading to Quba from the main bus terminal and told the driver to drop us off at Zarat village. Then we hiked to the mountain, and climbed the hill. Once we returned to the highway, we hitchhiked back to Baku. We sat at the back of a van with a family (no seats) and ate just-picked apples they gave us.
Drink tea and Taste Baklava
Azerbaijan is the country of tea.
You won't find many coffee shops here, and if yes (mostly in Baku or generally larger cities), it might be a daunting task to discover a coffee shop serving quality coffee. But because we are tea lovers, and always prefer tea over coffee, we could not be happier when we found out that tea is served in even the tiniest village high in the mountains.
Baku has many places serving tea in a nicely shaped glass cups, we do not have any favorite teahouse, as we visited quite many of them, and all of them were perfect, not only because of the quality tea leaves but also because of the atmosphere.
If you will go to a tea house, do not be discouraged by the fact that Azerbaijan is still influenced by macho culture, and you won't see any women inside a tea house, only men. We always came inside as a couple, but I never had a feeling that I am stepping the line, and I was never stared at.
We are not sure how would that be for solo female travelers, but we are pretty confident no one should experience any unpleasant situation.
We believe you know kebab as it is a common fast food dish in many countries, but if there is one thing you should try in Baku, it is baklava.
The insanely sweet dessert made of layers of nuts and honey is a real treat, and because of its sweetness, it is best when paired with bitter black tea. Azerbaijanis like sweet stuff a lot in general, we remember, the first time we met our host in Sheki, he offered us a cup of tea. When he brought the tea, he put like ten sugar cubes in his cup, and until now, we still can't believe how he could have finished the drink.
WHERE TO STAY IN BAKU
Baku is a sprawling city, and the number of hotels and hostels have been growing constantly.
You will find here ultra-cheap accommodation close to the city center, but also on the other side of the scale are expensive chain hotels offering perfect services, luxury and views over the city.
We've handpicked three best hotels in Baku for every type of traveler and every type of budget.
Budget | Baku Butik Mini-Hotel - This basic but clean hotel is well-located close to the metro station, and all budget travelers will for sure appreciate the price and friendliness of the staff.
Mid-range | Shah Palace Hotel - Elegant hotel inside the traditional house with high ceilings and well-decorated rooms is the top pick for all travelers. Thankfully, accommodation in Azerbaijan is still cheaper than in Europe or the USA. The decor of the rooms and hotel overall is just stunning.
Luxury | Four Seasons Hotel Baku - Absolutely splendid hotel offers views of the Caspian Sea, wonderful rooms in a former palace, indoor swimming pool, spa and fitness facilities.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation via Hostelworld.
VISA FOR VISITING AZERBAIJAN
Getting visas to Azerbaijan is much easier than it was a few years ago, nowadays, most of the countries can fill the application and pay the fee online via this link, therefore more and more tourists are going to explore the country in the future.
When we visited the country a couple of years back, we had to go to the embassy first, then pay a hefty fee, arrange the letter of invitation, wait three weeks, have a fake hotel reservation for the length of our stay, and we could continue.
We can imagine that this process put off many people from visiting the country.
Nowadays Baku welcomes travelers with arms wide open, because the city is for many travelers the first and the last destination in Azerbaijan, especially when traveling by air.
WHEN TO VISIT BAKU
Azerbaijan is called the land of fire, but Baku could be easily nicknamed the land of the wind.
Although the weather is quite stable throughout the year, and you can expect mild winters and warm summers, the wind can often pick up out of nowhere and completely change your experience. But generally, the best months to visit are during summer between June and September when days are dry and warm.
Winter brings lower temperatures, although temperatures are not that cold in Baku such as in the mountains (where it is pretty common to have snow in January and February), it can be rainy and foggy at times. It rains more often in Baku between October and November.
Overall, weather-wise, the best time to travel in Baku is between June and September.
We visited Azerbaijan at the turn of June and July, and although we had some rainy days in the mountains, it was always hot and sunny in Baku. As the city is still not firmly put on a travel map, even when traveling in the season the city is not unpleasantly overcrowded, and prices also do not grow that dramatically during high season.
WHAT TO PACK FOR VISITING BAKU
Unless you are visiting only Baku on your trip, in case you are going to spend in Azerbaijan more days and have on your itinerary more destinations, we believe you should have everything necessary already in your luggage or backpack.
For walking around Baku pack comfortable shoes because your feet will be tired after all day walking the cobblestone streets, we also recommend either sandals or closed shoes because of the dust.
As it is often windy, even in the summer it is a good idea to wear a sarong around your neck, as you can also use it when entering mosques, and cover your head and shoulders. A comfortable daypack, shorts, and fleece jacket is also a must.
Tap water is not drinkable, to be as environmentally friendly as possible, pack a filtered water bottle, so you do not need to buy water in plastic bottles.
There are many fancier cafes and restaurants in the city center so you can pack something nice and enjoy the evening out.
Travel Wallet is also great to have to keep your travel documents organized.
SAFETY IN BAKU
We never had a single reason not to feel safe and comfortable in Baku.
We traveled independently all the time, using public transport, once we even stayed at a guy's house we met on a bus late at night, and never had a single problem. Though, we probably don't recommend to look for the accommodation this way, it is always better to book something in advance.
Surprisingly, we felt in Baku like we do in Prague, safe.
Using your common sense should be completely enough. Of course, it is better to walk outside during the day rather at night, do not flash around valuables, and leave a large sum of money in your hotel room. Muggings from time to time occur in the historical center in the dimly-lit streets, but if you will be vigilant all the time, you should not have a single problem.
We found people in Baku and Azerbaijan overall incredibly helpful, friendly and nice, probably because of the fact they were not used to tourists (we had a similar experience in Salvador in Central America).
One thing to consider, there is one topic more sensitive than others, and yes, you've guessed right, it's politics. It is better not to comment on local politics publicly, and not to offend the current president and government, but why would you do that anyway.
The biggest danger can await you on the roads because drivers are often speeding, so watch out when crossing the street, even when you are on zebra.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
HOW TO GET AROUND BAKU
Getting around Baku could not be easier.
As we were staying in the city center, we did not have to use public transport many times, only when we wanted to get to top attractions further away from the heart of Baku.
You can cover the central part of Baku on foot, remember when crossing roads, use the underground pedestrian walkways, because there are many of them, and there are safe. Buses and metro are easy to use, and you will never have a problem to get anywhere you need.
Tickets are very cheap, so it is definitely a way to go when traveling on a budget. One ride costs 0.2 AZN. Getting around by public transport will allow you to explore the city a bit further from the center on a budget. If you ever get lost, try to find one of the metro stations, as the last stop on the Red line is Iceriseher - Old City.
If you don't enjoy sometimes adventurous getting around by public transport, you can hail a cab on the street. However taxis are not cheap by any means and the drivers tend to increase the price, when they notice, you are a foreigner.
They have also introduced modern London-looking cabs for tourists.
Luckily Uber is a safe and fair choice for everyone who likes to travel by taxi.
Things to Know
If you don't speak Azeri or Russian, it's going to be a little bit harder for you to communicate, but nowadays many young people can understand English. Also in hotels and restaurants, English is widely spoken.
We would strongly reccomend you to bring an English-Azerbaijani phrase book though. You might find it useful in other parts of the country too.
Official currency is Azerbaijani Manat. Currently one Manat is about 0.6 USD or 0.5 EUR. They also use coins called Qapik, a hundred Qapiks is one Manat. There are many ATMs around the city, so you don't have to exchange money before your trip.
You can also pay by credit card at some more up-scale places, like hotels, shops and restaurants.
HOW TO GET FROM AND TO THE AIRPORT
Heydar Aliyev International Airport receives flights from all over the world, and the transport from and to the airport is getting better every year.
Nowadays, the cheapest transport from the airport to the city center is by Aero Express Line which runs all day, either every thirty minutes or every hour depending on the time of the day. The ticket costs 1.50 AZN, and the bus will take you all the way to 28 May Metro Station, from where you can carry on to your next destination.
The first time we arrived in Baku, we wanted to get straight away to the central bus terminal because our first stop was another city Quba, and our first ride on the metro was a disaster.
We could not find where to buy a ticket (you must buy a top-up card), so a kind lady let us pass on her ticket, and we also chose the wrong direction, but later we mastered the metro in Baku. Depending on traffic, the bus ride from the airport takes approximately thirty minutes.
Another, more comfortable way how to get either from, or to the airport is by taxi. It is pretty hard to get along Azerbaijani taxi drivers, who usually take advantage of tourists, especially if they do not speak Azeri or Russian.
Therefore, it is probably better to reserve your taxi in advance, so you know how much you will pay. You can check the prices via this link.
Another option is to call a driver via the Yandex app, which is an equivalent for more known Uber. Now you can also use Uber.
If you are getting ready for your Azerbaijan road trip, it is possible to rent a car directly at the airport and travel from here around the country on your own.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
