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: 2026-07-07
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 8.210597
AAVE 0.006420
ADA 3.254062
AED 2.160294
AFN 37.422725
AGIX 7.719638
AKT 0.942652
ALGO 6.817296
ALL 48.352041
AMD 216.087399
AMP 1,330.118406
ANG 1.058309
AOA 539.700265
APE 4.339307
APT 0.948970
AR 0.294708
ARB 7.532097
ARS 873.957540
ATOM 0.369135
ATS 7.077242
AUD 0.847037
AVAX 0.086619
AWG 1.052941
AXS 0.587671
AZM 5,000.000000
BAKE 786.308802
BAM 1.005929
BAT 6.724032
BBD 1.176471
BCH 0.002470
BDT 72.409141
BEF 20.747749
BGN 1.005929
BHD 0.221176
BIF 1,749.817870
BMD 0.588235
BNB 0.001017
BND 0.759958
BOB 4.071393
BRL 3.022807
BSD 0.588235
BSV 0.041515
BSW 1,746.871999
BTC 0.000009
BTCB 11.206824
BTG 1.709364
BTN 56.083571
BTT 2,198,468.744497
BUSD 0.588067
BWP 7.932575
BYN 1.701246
BYR 11,532.644218
BZD 1.183452
CAD 0.836370
CAKE 0.411933
CDF 1,357.205980
CELO 8.298470
CFX 13.340275
CHF 0.473882
CHZ 33.068414
CLP 545.271016
CNH 3.997391
CNY 3.996118
COMP 0.034200
COP 1,973.972924
CRC 267.841371
CRO 10.161189
CRV 2.834337
CSPR 309.912672
CUC 0.588400
CUP 15.592606
CVE 56.714425
CVX 0.465472
CYP 0.301020
CZK 12.431520
DAI 0.588576
DASH 0.016944
DCR 0.053384
DEM 1.005929
DFI 803.566394
DJF 104.671890
DKK 3.844513
DOGE 7.841882
DOP 34.736818
DOT 0.685970
DYDX 4.601895
DZD 78.347306
EEK 8.047431
EGLD 0.209143
EGP 28.735287
ENJ 19.685748
EOS 7.877692
ERN 8.823530
ESP 85.576189
ETB 94.455452
ETC 0.083826
ETH 0.000332
EUR 0.514323
EURC 0.514652
FEI 0.588646
FIL 0.756354
FIM 3.058027
FJD 1.316492
FKP 0.439295
FLOW 21.191452
FLR 86.607967
FRAX 0.594434
FRF 3.373739
FTT 2.537443
GALA 262.697047
GBP 0.439295
GEL 1.548846
GGP 0.439295
GHC 67,030.538313
GHS 6.703054
GIP 0.439295
GMD 43.486441
GMX 0.100673
GNF 5,157.445732
GNO 0.005593
GRD 175.255649
GRT 32.598608
GT 0.087665
GTQ 4.485395
GUSD 0.589422
GYD 122.838621
HBAR 8.153682
HKD 4.613592
HNL 15.733521
HNT 2.486210
HOT 1,704.130134
HRK 3.875169
HT 17.022304
HTG 76.741361
HUF 181.975009
ICP 0.269792
IDR 10,581.019078
IEP 0.405062
ILS 1.760490
IMP 0.439295
IMX 4.240347
INJ 0.124106
INR 56.083571
IQD 769.444584
IRR 809,462.175987
ISK 74.065511
ITL 995.868687
JEP 0.439295
JMD 92.874188
JOD 0.417059
JPY 95.219495
KAS 19.750793
KAVA 13.046625
KCS 0.084017
KDA 94.222519
KES 76.063170
KGS 51.451364
KHR 2,357.085159
KLAY 16.938139
KMF 253.030454
KNC 5.292663
KPW 529.560400
KRW 895.743619
KSM 0.171347
KWD 0.182484
KYD 0.489182
KZT 277.806939
LAK 13,270.631048
LBP 52,648.849937
LDO 2.113207
LEO 0.062622
LINK 0.074702
LKR 196.686249
LRC 46.955484
LRD 106.575922
LSL 9.548112
LTC 0.013353
LTL 1.775855
LUF 20.747749
LUNA 11.909175
LUNC 9,646.934354
LVL 0.361466
LYD 3.767913
MAD 5.507461
MANA 8.448503
MBX 22.988433
MDL 10.352431
MGA 2,494.616212
MGF 12,473.081058
MINA 11.869593
MKD 31.699431
MKR 0.000421
MMK 1,235.175609
MNT 2,107.337502
MOP 4.752000
MRO 234.359185
MRU 23.435918
MTL 0.220799
MUR 27.686201
MVR 9.093851
MWK 1,018.120009
MXN 10.231979
MXV 1.167049
MYR 2.397625
MZM 37,569.837340
MZN 37.569837
NAD 9.548112
NEAR 0.291448
NEO 0.299654
NEXO 0.787658
NFT 2,221,056.598731
NGN 804.647955
NIO 21.629160
NLG 1.133419
NOK 5.764318
NPR 89.775777
NZD 1.032201
OKB 0.007406
OMR 0.226384
ONE 476.711994
OP 5.586382
ORDI 0.169930
PAB 0.588235
PAXG 0.000143
PEN 1.999917
PEPE 220,161.826109
PGK 2.581657
PHP 36.121203
PI 5.256536
PKR 163.288201
PLN 2.206204
POL 7.923206
PTE 103.112555
PYG 3,559.027343
QAR 2.141177
QNT 0.008968
QTUM 0.843105
ROL 26,898.324849
RON 2.689832
RPL 0.322813
RSD 60.356172
RUB 45.364665
RUNE 1.485681
RVN 155.144528
RWF 862.016540
SAND 11.922076
SAR 2.205883
SBD 4.760086
SCR 8.593093
SDD 35,304.957120
SDG 353.049571
SEK 5.667610
SGD 0.759958
SHIB 135,842.178476
SHP 0.439295
SIT 123.252425
SKK 15.494502
SLE 13.509772
SLL 13,509.771907
SNX 2.657656
SOL 0.007264
SOS 335.314348
SPL 0.098039
SRD 22.226866
SRG 22,226.865952
SSP 2,795.348105
STD 12,682.400445
STN 12.682400
STX 3.525955
SUI 0.801347
SVC 5.147059
SYP 65.037110
SZL 9.548112
THB 19.601109
THETA 4.119841
TJS 5.434896
TMM 10,294.205934
TMT 2.058841
TND 1.734071
TOP 1.416736
TRL 27,549,955.150593
TRX 1.785022
TRY 27.549955
TTD 3.986403
TUSD 0.589397
TVD 0.847037
TWD 18.870873
TWT 1.699903
TZS 1,544.766876
UAH 26.236560
UGX 2,146.462728
UNI 0.188126
USD 0.588235
USDC 0.588514
USDD 0.589409
USDP 0.590171
USDT 0.588865
UYU 23.624965
UZS 7,076.943022
VAL 995.868687
VEB 39,369,111,274.2201
VED 393.719007
VEF 39,371,900.693697
VES 393.719007
VET 119.394407
VND 15,471.614679
VUV 70.785349
WAVES 2.249154
WEMIX 2.220028
WOO 49.698802
WST 1.628114
XAF 337.373939
XAG 0.009640
XAU 0.000143
XAUT 0.000143
XBT 0.000009
XCD 1.592850
XCG 1.058309
XCH 0.366775
XDC 21.314845
XDR 0.433324
XEC 112,276.127312
XEM 1,402.226641
XLM 3.004407
XMR 0.001805
XOF 337.373939
XPD 0.000465
XPF 61.375090
XPT 0.000364
XRP 0.522001
XTZ 2.390831
YER 139.461124
ZAR 9.548112
ZEC 0.001312
ZIL 192.565445
ZMK 10,793.724579
ZMW 10.793725
ZWD 212.882374
ZWG 15.821066
ZWL 39,532.479536

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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.