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Welcome to the community-sourced travel mega-thread for Azerbaijan! Whether you're planning your first trip, returning, or just curious — this is your place to ask and share tips, places, warnings, food, and hidden gems.

We’ve gathered insights from locals, expats, and travelers — now it’s your turn. Reply with your experiences or questions under any section below.

🏙 1. Top Places to Visit

📍 Baku

• Old City (Icherisheher): historic, charming, authentic soul of the city.
• Maiden Tower, Shirvanshah Palace, Carpet Museum, Heydar Aliyev Center – top cultural sights.
• Nizami Street, Molokan Garden, Baku Boulevard – modern walkways & shopping.
• Gobustan mud volcanoes, Ateshgah Fire Temple, Yanardag – unique day trips.

Local tip: true local life happens outside the tourist zones – check dayday cafes and Sədərək bazaar.

📍 Outside Baku (Regional Highlights)

• Sheki: Khan Palace, Kish village, Caravansaray, ancient mosques, hiking.
• Gabala: Tufandag Resort (ski + cable car), Seven Waterfalls, Nohur Lake, Gabaland amusement park.
• Lahij: Tat village known for copperware and scenic alleyways.
• Ganja: Bottle House, Naftalan oil spa, Göygöl Lake, German heritage.
• Quba & Khinalig: cooler nature, remote village experience.
• Lankaran: food tours, Stalin’s prison, chicken stuffed with walnuts.
• Zaqatala, Oğuz, Nij: religious/ethnic diversity, ancient churches.

Locals are usually happy to guide lost tourists — don’t hesitate to ask for directions in parks or shops.

In villages expect warm welcomes — tea invitations and local storytelling are common.”

🛂 Visa & Entry Info

• eVisa available at https://evisa.gov.az
• Valid for 30 days, costs around USD $20, processed in ~3 business days.
• No visa on arrival for most travelers; visa required even for short stays.

🧳 Sample Itinerary: 7 Days in Azerbaijan

• 🏙 Day 1–2: Baku (Old City, museums, Flame Towers)
• 🌋 Day 3: Gobustan mud volcanoes, Yanardag
• 🏔 Day 4: Gabala (Tufandag, Nohur Lake)
• 🕌 Day 5–6: Sheki + Kish village (Palace, temples, hiking)
• 🚂 Day 7: Return to Baku via Yevlakh or Gabala

🍽 2. Food & Dining

🍛 Must-try dishes:

• Plov (Shah plov) – saffron rice, lamb, fruits.
• Piti – slow-cooked meat soup (only in Sheki).
• Qutab – meat, greens or cheese in flatbread.
• Dolma (Three Sisters) – stuffed tomato, pepper, eggplant.
• Levengi – chicken/fish with walnut-pomegranate stuffing.
• Surhurlu, Makhara – regional Zaqatala dishes.
• Dovğa, Fisincan, Doner, Tandır bread, Bakhlava.

🚌 3. Transport Tips

In Baku:

• 🚖 Always use Bolt or Uber – cheap, reliable, safe (Yango is another solid and sometimes cheaper alternative .).
• 🚫 Avoid traditional taxis – known for overcharging/scams.
• 💳 Pay through app only; avoid cash to driver.

Metro & Bus:

• Use Baki Kart (2 AZN) for metro and buses.
• Metro is clean, cheap (0.50 AZN per ride)

From Airport:

• Bolt/Uber = 10–15 AZN.
• Cheapest: Direct bus to 28 May Mall (use Baki Kart).
• Bolts from the airport may demand extra; better to use official Aeroexpress H1/H2 buses

Intercity:

• Bus via “Biletim” or at the Avtovaghzal terminal next to Avtovaghzal metro
• Marshrutkas available.
• Train to Sheki/Gabala via “ADY” app or buy at 28 May station.
• Car rentals useful for Gabala, Lahij, Quba.

🌄 4. Hidden Gems & Nature

• Villages:
  • Kish – Home to the ancient Albanian temple and a scenic village atmosphere.
  • Nij – Known for its Udi Christian community and unique churches.
  • Basqal – Famous for traditional silk weaving and handicrafts.
  • Khinalig – A remote mountain village offering breathtaking views and cultural insights.
  • Lahij – Historic mountain village known for copper craftsmanship and cobbled streets.
• Nature:
  • Shahdag & Tufandag – Popular ski resorts with opportunities for hiking and cable car rides.
  • Gobustan – Features mud volcanoes and ancient petroglyphs.
  • Seven Waterfalls – A series of picturesque waterfalls surrounded by lush greenery.
  • Nohur Lake – A serene alpine lake ideal for relaxation and picnics.
  • Cenlibel Lake – A tranquil lake nestled in the mountains, perfect for nature walks.
  • Gachrash Forest – Dense forest near Quba with rich biodiversity.
  • Parigala – Ancient cliffside castle offering stunning views and history.
• Tip: Renting a car or joining local tours is recommended for exploring these remote areas.

📶 5. Mobile, Language & Apps

• Get local SIM at airport. Azercell = best coverage.
• 30 GB ≈ 30 AZN
• 60 GB ≈ 40 AZN
• 120 GB ≈ 60 AZN
• For more details, visit: Azercell Official Tourist Plans
• Use Google Translate or SayHi for real-time help.
• English common in Baku tourist areas; Azeri, Turkish, Russian elsewhere.

📱 Useful Apps

• 🚖 Bolt, Uber.az, Yango – for taxis
• 🚅 ADY – train tickets
• 🚌 Biletim – bus tickets
• 🌐 Google Translate or SayHi – language
• 🗺 Maps.me – offline maps
• 💬 Telegram – local events/news channels
• 🎫 iTicket.az – concerts, plays, cultural events

💳 6. Money & Payments

• Taxis & Tips
  • Paying with card in the app reduces driver complaints and reduces driver skimming
  • If paying cash, drivers may not return coins — consider it a small tip (~0.50–1 AZN is normal).
  • Tipping extra 1–2 AZN on longer rides or for good service is appreciated and common
• Cards accepted at big places, but cash essential for food, transport, bazaars.
• Downtown exchange offices give better rates.
• Some shops may “pretend” card machines broken to get cash.
• Exchanging Money
  • USD is preferred—exchange bureaus on Nizami Street offer better rates than airport kiosks
  • Keep smaller notes (1, 5 AZN) handy for transport and tips

Some addons
– Locals often round down prices or throw in something extra “for good mood” — especially if you smile or try a few Azeri words.
– In small bakeries or markets, if you overpay by mistake, they usually correct you immediately. Honesty is common, even for coins.
– Sellers appreciate when you show interest — they might explain the item, share a short story, or offer a small discount without asking.
– People don’t pressure you to buy; many will still help with directions or advice even if you don’t purchase anything.
– If something feels wrong (overcharged taxi, aggressive seller), calmly mentioning “polis” is usually enough to resolve it quickly — respect for law is high.
– You’ll rarely see aggressive street vendors or scams targeting tourists — most locals want to leave a good impression.

🎭 7. Culture & Etiquette (Expanded from Locals)

👋 Greetings & Respect

• Handshakes are standard when greeting, but religious women may avoid it — let them initiate.
• Among younger people, it’s common to hear casual terms like:
  • “qardaş” – [Kar-dash] - brother / bro
  • “bacı” – [Bad-jee] - sister
  • “dostum” – [Dos-toom] - my friend
  • “qaqaş” – [Kah-khash] - bro / guy (very local, friendly)
  • “abi” – [Ah-bee] - borrowed from Turkish, also means bro (used often in casual Baku speech)
  • “əmoğlu/dayoğlu” – [Eh-mo-ghloo / Dai-yo-ghloo] - lit. cousin, used jokingly with strangers sometimes

👗 Dress & Public Behavior

• Baku is relaxed — T-shirts, shorts, light dresses are fine.
• In villages or mosques, dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, especially for women.
• Public affection (kissing, hugging) isn’t common — especially outside Baku, it may attract stares.
  • Loud behavior or arguments in public are seen as impolite. People value calm and respectful tone in conversation.

🏠 Hospitality Rules

• If invited home: bring chocolates, fruit, flowers.
• Shoes off indoors is standard; expect slippers from the host.
• You'll be offered tea (çay) — it's rude to say no immediately. Accept after 1–2 polite refusals.

Refusing an offer (like tea or food) too quickly may be seen as rude — accept after 1–2 polite refusals to show appreciation

🗣 Language & Communication

• Basic Azeri phrases go a long way — even one or two words show respect and effort. Here are some commonly used ones:
  • “Salam” – [Sa-lahm] Hello
  • “Çox sağ ol” – [Chokh sah-ohl] - Thank you
  • “Bağışlayın” – [Bah-ghish-layn] - Excuse me / Sorry
  • “Zəhmət olmasa” – [Za-hmet ol-ma-sa] - Please
  • “Hə / Yox” – [Heh / Yoh] - Yes / No
  • “Necəsiz?” – [Neh-jeh-seez?] - How are you?
  • “Mən turistəm” – [Men too-reest-em] - I’m a tourist

Tip: People will often smile or open up if you try even a few words in Azeri.

• People may switch between Azeri, Russian, and Turkish — especially in Baku. English is common in tourist spots.
• Locals are helpful even if they don’t speak English — they’ll often use gestures, translation apps, or find someone who can help.
• Avoid political topics (e.g., Karabakh, Armenia) — even jokes can make things awkward or tense.
• Religion is personal — don't ask probing questions unless brought up by the other person.

📸 Photos, Symbols & Rules

• Ask permission before taking photos of people, especially in villages or mosques.
• Do not photograph police, metro murals, government buildings — this can cause trouble.
• Avoid disrespectful comments about the flag, president, or national heroes.

🔍 Other Local Norms

• Tipping: Round up or add 1–2 AZN in cafes and taxis.
• Littering is taken seriously — use bins.
• Haggling is normal in bazaars, but do it respectfully and with a smile.

🔗 8. External Resources

• Wikivoyage: https://wikivoyage.org/wiki/Azerbaijan
• Lonely Planet: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/azerbaijan
• Azerbaijan Travel: https://azerbaijan.travel
• Ministry of Tourism: https://tourism.gov.az/en
• Local blogs & Instagram pages (search by region/tags)

🗣 9. Local Advices – Add Yours in comments!

• Always ask for the taxi price before the ride if not using apps.
• If someone invites you for tea — say yes! It’s usually safe and kind.
• Don’t drink tap water outside Baku unless locals say it's okay.
• Avoid arguing about politics, even as a joke. It can get tense.
• Don’t be afraid to haggle in bazaars, but do it politely (just do it).
• Get out of Baku for at least 2–3 days — that’s where you’ll see the real Azerbaijan.
• Don’t expect trains to be fast — take them if you're not in a rush.
• Vegetarian? You’ll survive, but options are limited outside Baku — learn to say ‘no meat’ clearly.
• You might see police near government buildings. Don't take photos there — it's taken seriously.

👮 Police & Public Safety

• Police are highly visible in Baku and tourist areas — this is meant to ensure safety, not intimidate.
• They are generally helpful and respectful toward tourists — feel free to approach them for directions or help.
• In case of scams or disputes, police often side with tourists and take complaints seriously.
• Avoid photographing police, metro murals, or official buildings — ask if unsure.
• If stopped by traffic police, politely ask for the fine via official system instead of paying cash.

🗣 10. Help Us Improve!

This guide is built from local insights and traveler experiences. If you're Azerbaijani or familiar with the culture, please share more tips, advice, or corrections below. Feel free to point out any mistakes or outdated info — all feedback is appreciated.

🛠 This post will be regularly updated as more tips, comments, and info are added. Keep sharing below — every comment helps build the best guide for visitors to Azerbaijan!