The Cultural Traveler’s Guide to Baku, Azerbaijan

Baku Travel Guide

We had a few free weeks between talking at the World Tourism Forum and exploring Israel, so we decided to visit a few other neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan.

Home to countless architectural and historical icons, this cosmopolitan city snaking along the Caspian Sea is experiencing rapid tourism growth and it is not hard to understand why. Like Istanbul nearby, it is a city of great contrast being neither really Asian nor European and has been home to many historical empires throughout its rich history. Being rich in both oil and ancient heritage, the buzz of this destination will be immediately noticeable, and although a Muslim country is an incredibly open and metropolitan place, we felt so comfortable here by walking in the pedestrian streets lined with trees and experiencing such a welcome the hospitality of all those we met!

Here is our guide for a quick trip to Baku, Azerbaijan and we hope your trip is as incredible as ours!

When to Travel to Baku, Azerbaijan?

Summer (April to October) offers the warmest weather, with peaks of 30 degrees Celsius in July and August, however, the city is ideal for winter vacations too. We visited in February and experienced temperatures of up to 10 degrees, which was perfect for exploring the old town.

How to get the Visa to Baku, Azerbaijan?

My personal experience: the visa rules in Azerbaijan are very different from those of the other 2 Caucasian countries (Armenia and Georgia), there are two options for obtaining the visa - from the embassy or from the accredited incoming tourist agency! We chose the latter; I had to contact the company via e-mail and Skype - sent them our passport copies and paid $ 55 in cash via Western Union. I was a little hesitant at first, but that's how they work, I finally got a 10-day single-entry visa that was sent electronically. The cost of the visa would depend on the period of treatment; we have chosen the waiting period of 8 to 9 days, you can get an urgent visa up to $ 200! Oops!

For others: citizens (and family members) of the following countries can enter Azerbaijan without a visa: Albania, Austria, Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Hong Kong, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Estonia, France, Georgia, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Libya, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Republic from Korea, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Uruguay with any type of valid passport are entitled to travel without a diplomatic visa, military, (official / special) and ordinary for a maximum of 90 days.

Documents required for Visa Application in Baku, Azerbaijan?

• 1 application form;
• 2 colour photos (3×4 cm on a white background);
• Passport of a foreigner or relevant ID document of a stateless person;
• Invitation of the receiving party or, in case of a foreigner applying for a visa for tourist purposes, a tourist voucher or other information confirming the tourist nature of the visit;
• Receipt confirming payment of the state duty.

Unfortunately, none of our nationalities (United Kingdom and the Philippines) offered us a visa-free entry, so we used an agency and each paid $ 55, receiving our visas 9 days after the request, but for more information on this process, check out this website. You can also read my very detailed visa guide here.

How to get Online in Baku, Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan is one of the leaders in speed and Internet coverage for the former Soviet countries. As such, the regional telecommunications infrastructure is highly developed, particularly with its public Wi-Fi project allowing users to connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot in different public places. However, to encrypt your connection and access content from your home, you must log in using a VPN with servers in the Philippines.

How to get around Baku, Azerbaijan?

Taxis:

Local taxis cost at least $ 2 each way (local currency AZN3). When coming and going from the airport, you can use a pre-booked taxi that will cost between AZN15-18, but if you take a non-reserved taxi, it will be closer to AZN30.

Bus:

On most buses in the city, you can pay in cash (20 q per trip), but the new services will only accept a prepaid card, this system is called BakiKart and can be bought and recharged at subway and a few bus stops. Tourists have the option to pay AZN2 for a reusable card or pay AZN1 for a disposable card valid for 4 trips. To find your bus routes, visit www.gomap.az and click on "Avtobuslar" on the left hand side, but most of the staff at the hotel reception will be happy to help you plan your routes in the city . If you take the bus from and to the airport, the journey takes about 45 minutes from the airport to the station, the services depart every half hour between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm and cost 1.30 AZN.

Metro:

The city also has a metro system that connects the train station to the old city and also takes you further into more suburban areas. The fare is also 20 q per trip and can be paid using the BakiKart.

Where to Stay in Baku, Azerbaijan?

Kempinski Hotel, Baku is an impressive resort-style hotel located about a 5-minute drive from the city center. With a shuttle service that puts the city at your fingertips, the hotel offers a wide variety of room types without compromising comfort, as well as an impressive spa, swimming pool and entertainment facilities. For us, the most memorable part of our 3 night stay was the wonderful service we received from all staff members, friendly and knowledgeable reception staff to qualified spa therapists who perform traditional massages, leaving you completely relaxed and stress free to explore this wonderful city.

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