Asia · Western Asia

Azerbaijan

Republic of Azerbaijan

Flag of Azerbaijan
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+04:00
🏛️ Capital
Baku
👥 Population
10,241,722
📐 Area
86,600 km²
💱 Currency
Azerbaijani manat (₼)
🗣️ Languages
Azerbaijani
📞 Calling Code
+994
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+04:00
🌐 Region
Asia / Western Asia

About Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is one of the South Caucasus's most compelling and underexplored travel destinations — a country that straddles the boundary between Europe and Asia, ancient and ultra-modern, Islamic tradition and secular modernity in ways that are genuinely fascinating. Baku, the oil-rich capital on the shores of the Caspian Sea, presents one of the world's most striking urban contrasts: the pristine medieval walled city of Icheri Sheher sits in the shadow of the Flame Towers — three soaring glass skyscrapers designed to resemble leaping flames — a juxtaposition that perfectly captures Azerbaijan's determined leap from ancient crossroads to modern nation.

Azerbaijan calls itself "the Land of Fire," a name that references both the country's Zoroastrian fire-worship heritage and the natural gas vents that have burned on the Absheron Peninsula for centuries, famously seen by Marco Polo in the 13th century. The eternal flames of Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain) still flicker today, and the ancient temple of Ateshgah — a fire-worshippers' sanctuary built over a natural gas vent — stands as one of the most extraordinary historical sites in the entire region. Beyond the fire mythology, Azerbaijan offers rich cultural heritage, dramatic mountain landscapes in the Greater Caucasus, and a hospitality tradition so generous it can be genuinely overwhelming.

The country has invested heavily in tourism infrastructure in recent years, and Baku in particular has become a sophisticated destination with excellent hotels, a vibrant restaurant scene, and a well-maintained historic centre that UNESCO has recognised as a World Heritage Site. Away from the capital, the country's rural regions, alpine villages, and ancient caravanserai routes offer compelling experiences for travellers willing to venture beyond the obvious.

History & Background

Azerbaijan's strategic position on the Silk Road made it a crossroads of civilisations for millennia, and its history is correspondingly turbulent and rich. The region was part of the ancient kingdom of Caucasian Albania before being absorbed successively by Persian, Roman, Arab, Mongol, and Ottoman empires. The discovery of oil on the Absheron Peninsula in the 19th century transformed Baku into a boomtown of almost unimaginable wealth — by the early 20th century, Azerbaijan was producing nearly half the world's oil, and Baku's "Black City" refineries made it one of the most important industrial cities on Earth. Oil barons built extraordinary villas and palaces that still line Baku's streets today.

Azerbaijan declared independence in 1918, establishing one of the first democratic and secular republics in the Muslim world, before Soviet conquest in 1920 ended this experiment. The Soviet period brought industrialisation, literacy campaigns, and the suppression of traditional culture, but also preserved much of Baku's architectural heritage. Independence was restored in 1991 following the Soviet collapse, but the transition was immediately complicated by the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh with neighbouring Armenia — a war that displaced hundreds of thousands of people and remained unresolved for three decades until 2023. Azerbaijan's oil wealth has since funded extraordinary urban development, most spectacularly in Baku's transformed skyline.

Culture & People

Azerbaijani culture is a rich synthesis of Turkic, Iranian, and Russian influences, shaped by the country's position at the crossroads of major civilisations and trade routes. The country is predominantly Muslim but has a strong secular tradition inherited from Soviet rule, and the coexistence of mosques, Orthodox churches, and synagogues in Baku reflects a genuinely pluralistic society. Mugham — the country's traditional classical music, a complex, improvisatory style influenced by both Persian and Turkish traditions — is recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage and represents the emotional heart of Azerbaijani artistic expression.

Carpet weaving is another cornerstone of Azerbaijani cultural identity, with regional styles of extraordinary technical complexity and beauty that are recognised as UNESCO heritage. Azerbaijani people are celebrated throughout the Caucasus for their hospitality — an invitation to share tea, bread, and food is genuine and generous, and refusing is considered rude. The tea culture (from ornate samovars, served in distinctive pear-shaped glasses with sugar and jam) is as important a social ritual as any formal ceremony. Novruz, the Persian New Year celebrated at the spring equinox in late March, is Azerbaijan's most important traditional holiday, with bonfires, traditional foods, and family gatherings.

Food & Cuisine

Azerbaijani cuisine is one of the jewels of South Caucasus cooking — a sophisticated, flavourful tradition built around slow-cooked meats, saffron-scented rice dishes, pomegranates, dried fruits, and fresh herbs that reflects both Persian and Turkic culinary influences. The plov (pilaf) tradition in Azerbaijan is considered an art form: dozens of regional varieties exist, from shah plov (baked inside a crusty bread casing) to parcha-dosheme plov with chestnuts and lamb. The result is always fragrant, buttery, and deeply satisfying — rice as a serious culinary achievement rather than a mere accompaniment.

Dolma — vegetables and grape leaves stuffed with spiced lamb and rice — comes in extraordinary variety here, and Azerbaijanis debate the superiority of their regional versions with passionate conviction. Lamb is the predominant meat, appearing in the slow-cooked stew piti (traditionally cooked and served in individual clay pots) and the tangy, sour-sweet kufta bozbash meatball soup. Fresh pomegranate juice, ice-cold on a hot Baku afternoon, is one of the most refreshing drinks you will ever taste. The country's winemaking tradition, particularly in the Sheki and Gabala regions, is experiencing a revival worth exploring.

Top Attractions

  • Baku Old City (Icheri Sheher) — A UNESCO World Heritage walled city with 12th-century Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshah, ancient caravanserais, and carpet shops inside a remarkably preserved medieval urban fabric.
  • Flame Towers — Baku's iconic 21st-century landmark — three glass towers shaped like flames that glow with LED light displays visible across the city at night, representing modern Azerbaijan's ambition.
  • Sheki Khan's Palace — An 18th-century summer palace covered in extraordinary stained-glass shebeke windows, elaborate frescoes, and intricate geometric patterns that represent the pinnacle of Azerbaijani decorative art.
  • Gobustan National Park — A UNESCO World Heritage landscape of ancient rock carvings dating back 40,000 years, mud volcanoes, and dramatic stone formations about 60km from Baku.
  • Ateshgah Fire Temple — An ancient fire-worshippers' temple built over a natural gas vent on the Absheron Peninsula, visited by Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Sikhs for centuries and still burning today.

Practical Travel Tips

  • An e-Visa for Azerbaijan is easy to obtain online before travel and is available to most nationalities — apply at least a week before departure to be safe.
  • Baku's Old City (Icheri Sheher) is compact and best explored on foot — wear comfortable shoes as the cobblestone streets are uneven.
  • The Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain) eternal flame is best visited at dusk when the effect is most dramatic — the site is about 25km from Baku and easily reached by taxi.
  • Dress modestly when visiting mosques — women should cover their head and shoulders; conservative dress is also appreciated in rural areas.
  • Cash (Azerbaijani manat) is essential outside Baku; ATMs are available in the capital but scarce in rural areas, so carry sufficient cash before venturing into the countryside.
  • The overnight train from Baku to Sheki is an excellent and affordable way to travel to the northwest — book tickets through the national railway website or at the station in advance.

Visa Overview

Most nationalities require a visa to visit Azerbaijan, but the process is simple via the official e-Visa portal (evisa.gov.az), where eligible visitors can obtain a 30-day single-entry visa quickly and affordably. Citizens of a small number of countries (including Russia, Georgia, and some CIS states) have visa-free access. The e-Visa system has made Azerbaijan considerably more accessible in recent years. Ensure your passport has at least six months' validity beyond your planned stay, and always check the latest requirements for your specific nationality before travel.

Getting Around

Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport is well connected to Europe, the Middle East, and regional hubs. Within Baku, the metro system is efficient and inexpensive, covering the main city areas; taxis and Bolt ride-share are also widely available. For travel to regional cities like Sheki, Gabala, and Lankaran, buses, shared minibuses (marshrutkas), and the national rail network provide options. Renting a car from Baku is the most flexible option for rural exploration, though road conditions in mountain areas can be challenging. Many visitors hire a driver-guide for multi-day regional trips.

Safety Notes

Azerbaijan is generally safe for tourists, with low violent crime rates in Baku and major cities. The capital has a visible security presence particularly around government buildings and the Old City. Avoid photography of military installations, government buildings, and police officers — this can lead to detention. The border regions near Armenia and areas formerly associated with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be avoided; check your government's travel advisory for current guidance on these areas. General urban caution — particularly regarding pickpockets in busy areas — is advisable as in any major city.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
Updated: 2026-05-19
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 6.427349
AAVE 0.006606
ADA 2.339621
AED 2.160286
AFN 36.769705
AKT 0.729715
ALGO 5.477949
ALL 48.276558
AMD 216.488993
AMP 703.051194
ANG 1.059783
AOA 540.335992
APE 4.078875
APT 0.623055
AR 0.275344
ARB 5.032969
ARS 821.227686
ATOM 0.285912
ATS 6.953094
AUD 0.824195
AVAX 0.063735
AWG 1.052937
AXS 0.500953
AZM 5,000.000000
BAKE 795.593624
BAM 0.988283
BAT 6.071555
BBD 1.176466
BCH 0.001548
BDT 72.284290
BEF 20.383793
BGN 0.988283
BHD 0.221176
BIF 1,752.389605
BMD 0.588233
BNB 0.000916
BND 0.752966
BOB 4.076953
BRL 2.946927
BSD 0.588233
BSV 0.039101
BSW 687.243844
BTC 0.000008
BTG 1.529135
BTN 56.699261
BTT 1,828,364.687953
BUSD 0.588531
BWP 7.997059
BYN 1.617635
BYR 16,176.346809
BZD 1.183957
CAD 0.808693
CAKE 0.416102
CDF 1,349.965436
CELO 7.310128
CFX 9.989513
CHF 0.462245
CHZ 11.963752
CLP 530.013367
CNH 4.002347
CNY 4.000968
COMP 0.026700
COP 2,234.779308
CRC 266.302631
CRO 8.417569
CRV 2.493170
CSPR 199.126371
CUC 0.588233
CUP 14.114678
CVE 55.719545
CVX 0.338919
CYP 0.295740
CZK 12.284217
DAI 0.588525
DASH 0.013714
DCR 0.034946
DEM 0.988283
DFI 599.033220
DJF 104.669511
DKK 3.775997
DOGE 5.639853
DOP 34.820954
DOT 0.471047
DYDX 4.066814
DZD 78.092653
EEK 7.906263
EGLD 0.150074
EGP 31.366033
ENJ 13.695803
EOS 7.271717
ERN 8.823495
ESP 84.075018
ETB 92.626301
ETC 0.066049
ETH 0.000276
EUR 0.505301
EURC 0.504907
FEI 0.590477
FIL 0.609563
FIM 3.004384
FJD 1.297105
FKP 0.438556
FLOW 16.301503
FLR 70.419203
FRAX 0.592372
FRF 3.314558
FTT 1.820599
GALA 174.948926
GBP 0.438556
GEL 1.571456
GGP 0.438556
GHC 67,293.372412
GHS 6.729337
GIP 0.438556
GMD 43.454762
GMX 0.088905
GNF 5,159.853928
GNO 0.004973
GRD 172.181327
GRT 23.388129
GT 0.082916
GTQ 4.484324
GUSD 0.589545
GYD 123.026947
HBAR 6.534949
HKD 4.606621
HNL 15.648319
HNT 0.714255
HOT 1,482.552965
HRK 3.807191
HT 4.056506
HTG 76.992433
HUF 182.208549
ICP 0.227761
IDR 10,426.500310
IEP 0.397957
ILS 1.707245
IMP 0.438556
IMX 3.455518
INJ 0.112860
INR 56.699261
IQD 770.738539
IRR 775,385.626474
ISK 72.459721
ITL 978.399231
JEP 0.438556
JMD 93.015429
JOD 0.417057
JPY 93.490194
KAS 17.021619
KAVA 10.213832
KCS 0.073432
KDA 70.717414
KES 76.069365
KGS 51.456728
KHR 2,359.223194
KLAY 11.308790
KMF 248.591812
KNC 4.096944
KPW 529.398183
KRW 885.394111
KSM 0.118132
KWD 0.181082
KYD 0.489265
KZT 276.016752
LAK 12,902.597062
LBP 52,733.865772
LDO 1.651634
LEO 0.058311
LINK 0.060690
LKR 195.904167
LRC 36.295992
LRD 107.810632
LSL 9.793666
LTC 0.010833
LTL 1.744703
LUF 20.383793
LUNA 9.293836
LUNC 7,483.963594
LVL 0.355126
LYD 3.735210
MAD 5.413495
MANA 6.674494
MBX 15.022170
MDL 10.179425
MGA 2,461.369719
MGF 12,306.848594
MINA 10.297213
MKD 31.138775
MKR 0.000341
MMK 1,234.845427
MNT 2,105.273949
MOP 4.744820
MRO 235.189784
MRU 23.518978
MTL 0.216926
MUR 27.813442
MVR 9.085013
MWK 1,023.794415
MXN 10.179226
MXV 1.151884
MYR 2.337832
MZM 37,570.683608
MZN 37.570684
NAD 9.793666
NEAR 0.364556
NEO 0.203452
NEXO 0.661337
NFT 2,079,811.088193
NGN 806.504612
NIO 21.622040
NLG 1.113537
NOK 5.455049
NPR 90.761342
NZD 1.004721
OKB 0.007194
OMR 0.226275
ONE 286.973220
OP 4.581701
ORDI 0.141321
PAB 0.588233
PAXG 0.000130
PEN 2.013068
PEPE 159,732.119092
PGK 2.598885
PHP 36.300521
PI 3.875313
PKR 163.885267
PLN 2.143673
POL 6.471201
PTE 101.303762
PYG 3,580.246643
QAR 2.141168
QNT 0.007862
QTUM 0.651446
ROL 26,323.419206
RON 2.632342
RPL 0.338935
RSD 59.306936
RUB 42.632163
RUNE 1.314382
RVN 106.434908
RWF 860.063680
SAND 8.168179
SAR 2.205874
SBD 4.709490
SCR 8.635615
SDD 35,307.564546
SDG 353.075645
SEK 5.534724
SGD 0.752966
SHIB 102,053.177811
SHP 0.438556
SIT 121.090340
SKK 15.222699
SLE 13.473401
SLL 13,473.401209
SNX 1.898988
SOL 0.006921
SOS 336.137497
SPL 0.098039
SRD 21.896858
SRG 21,896.858431
SSP 2,773.300302
STD 12,513.332516
STN 12.513333
STX 2.462482
SUI 0.555950
SVC 5.147039
SYP 65.020722
SZL 9.793666
THB 19.188344
THETA 2.979535
TJS 5.475456
TMM 10,315.317861
TMT 2.063064
TND 1.708293
TON 0.292327
TOP 1.399361
TRL 26,813,707.374500
TRX 1.649191
TRY 26.813707
TTD 3.990011
TUSD 0.588950
TVD 0.824195
TWD 18.610381
TWT 1.231043
TZS 1,530.594499
UAH 25.965521
UGX 2,216.871958
UNI 0.166596
USD 0.588233
USDC 0.588431
USDD 0.588835
USDP 0.589030
USDT 0.588771
UYU 23.578514
UZS 7,077.635373
VAL 978.399231
VEB 30,430,830,639.8929
VED 304.294730
VEF 30,429,473.021359
VES 304.294730
VET 87.325428
VND 15,488.414920
VUV 69.843220
WAVES 1.547688
WEMIX 2.177552
WOO 34.831214
WST 1.585320
XAF 331.455750
XAG 0.007728
XAU 0.000129
XAUT 0.000130
XBT 0.000008
XCD 1.592552
XCG 1.059783
XCH 0.211934
XDC 18.922836
XDR 0.430329
XEC 80,191.097102
XEM 883.849736
XLM 4.006808
XMR 0.001522
XOF 331.455750
XPD 0.000420
XPF 60.298453
XPT 0.000299
XRP 0.425573
XTZ 1.720365
YER 140.364119
ZAR 9.793666
ZEC 0.001027
ZIL 149.617911
ZMK 11,117.602448
ZMW 11.117602
ZWD 212.881526
ZWG 15.241248
ZWL 38,083.674440

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Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Azerbaijan needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Azerbaijan?
The capital of Azerbaijan is Baku.
What currency does Azerbaijan use?
Azerbaijan uses the Azerbaijani manat (₼) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Azerbaijan?
The official language(s) of Azerbaijan include Azerbaijani.
What is the population of Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan has a population of approximately 10,241,722 people.
What region is Azerbaijan in?
Azerbaijan is located in Asia, specifically in the Western Asia subregion.
What is the international calling code for Azerbaijan?
The international dialing code for Azerbaijan is +994.
What time zones does Azerbaijan observe?
Azerbaijan observes the following time zone(s): UTC+04:00.
What is the current time in Azerbaijan?
The local time in Azerbaijan is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Azerbaijan?
Azerbaijan covers a total area of 86,600 km².
How many states or provinces does Azerbaijan have?
Azerbaijan is divided into 15 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Azerbaijan in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Azerbaijan in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Azerbaijan?
Visa requirements for citizens of Azerbaijan vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.