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Information about Azerbaijan

The Republic of Azerbaijan is located in the eastern part of Transcaucasia on the coast of the Caspian Sea. It has borders with Russia, Armenia, Georgia, and Iran. Azerbaijan also has an exclave - the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

People settled here a very long time ago - a large number of ancient cave paintings of different periods were found near modern Baku. The territory of Azerbaijan was part of the mighty Scythian kingdom, the ancient eastern kingdom of Midia, the Arab caliphate. The main heyday came in the Middle Ages - the reign of the Shirvanshahs. It was during this period that the modern capital Baku was built. UNESCO included the Old City in Baku, rock paintings of Gobustan, and the historical center of Sheki with the Khan's Palace in the list of World Heritage of Humanity. All these objects can be visited during a tour around Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is called the "Land of Fire" because of an amazing phenomenon - natural non-dying fire. According to legend one of the oldest religions of the world Zoroastrianism was originated here.

The heyday of Azerbaijan began with industrial oil production in the 19th century. Today it is a socialite country that is actively developing tourism and promoting holidays in Azerbaijan. In recent years Baku has been thoroughly restored. Since 2017 one of the stages of the Formula 1 race has been held in the capital of Azerbaijan.

Traveling in Azerbaijan can be combined with a visit to the neighboring countries - Georgia and Armenia. But the borders between Azerbaijan and Armenia are closed due to the unfinished Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, so traveling is possible only through the territory of Georgia.

Read more about attractions:

The capital of Azerbaijan - Baku
Temple of Fire Ateshgah
Burning Mountain Yanardag
Mausoleum of the imperishable old man Diri Baba
Gobustan Historical and Artistic Reserve
Heydar Aliyev Center
Sheki Old Town with the Shirvanshahs Palace
Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum

Map of Azerbaijan
Practical information

Area: 86,600 sq km

Population: 10 million

Capital: Baku

Main religion: Shiite Islam

Official language: Azerbaijani

Currency: azerbaijani manat (1 manat = 100 qepiks). You can exchange money for AZN at banks and exchange offices. In large cities they accept credit cards, during excursions to the regions you must have cash

Climate: climate in Azerbaijan is spotty. In summer the average temperature ranges from +5 °C in the highlands to +27 °C in the lowlands. Partly in summer temperatures can rise up to +45 °C. In winter in lowland territories it is rarely less than -10 °C, but in mountainous areas the temperature can drop to -30 °C. A strong wind is typical for autumn

Time Zone: GMT / UTC+4. Azerbaijan does not use daylight saving time

Visa: for visiting Azerbaijan citizens of most countries need to obtain an electronic visa on the evisa.gov.az portal. Citizens of Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine can visit the country without a visa for a period of 90 days, Turkish citizens can visit a country without a visa for up to 30 days. Citizens visiting the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh without special permission of the Azerbaijani authorities will be denied entry to Azerbaijan

Medical insurance: all types of medical care for foreigners in Azerbaijan are paid, therefore it is preferable for tourists to pre-arrange medical insurance for those traveling abroad

Import and export of goods: import of currency into Azerbaijan is allowed without restrictions. You can also import up to 3.5 liters of alcoholic beverages and up to 1000 pcs. cigarettes. You can also bring perfumes and other goods for personal use if their total cost does not exceed $ 10,000. It is forbidden to import weapons and ammunition, drugs and narcotic drugs, animals, photographs and printed materials, which can be considered as directed against the constitutional order of Azerbaijan. Also, you can not import fresh vegetables and fruits. It is forbidden to export antiques without a certificate from the Ministry of Culture. By the way, any carpet or handicrafts made before 1960 are automatically considered antiques. In addition, sturgeon caviar of more than 600 grams, live animals, rare plants from the Red Book, maral and roe horns cannot be exported

Features of national cuisine: in Azerbaijani cuisine all types of meat are actively used, except pork. Dishes are prepared by stewing. Also among favorite dishes of Azerbaijanis there is pilaf - this is a rice dish that can be sweet and not sweet. The most famous in Azerbaijani cuisine is kutaba with various fillings, kebab, and baklava (among sweets). The tradition of drinking tea is widespread in Azerbaijan - this is a way to show hospitality. A variety of local fruits and berries jam is served with tea

Tips: in cafes and restaurants the tip is usually included in the bill and is 5-10%. In the service and tourism sectors tips are welcome in any size.

Electric voltage: 220 volts

Security: Azerbaijan has a low crime rate and the police works well. You can take pictures and video on the metro only with special permission. It is recommended to boil tap water or use bottled water

Culture and customs: european clothing and lifestyle are common in the country. Due to the particular religion national cuisine restaurants do not serve pork dishes. While visiting the mosque clothes should cover shoulders and knees, women need to cover their hair with a scarf. Shoes must be taken off before entering. It is not preferable to attend a mosque during prayer hours
Photos of Azerbaijan
Videos about Azerbaijan

Reviews

Everything was organized at the highest level. Thank you for organizing it for us. Definitely will recommend your company

To say thanks to the travel company "My Georgia" is to say nothing. Excellent organization of a tour in Georgia (07/13 - 07/22/2019), taking into account any, even insignificant details for the tourists you receive. Such care and attention are captivating, not every company works so thoughtfully and responsibly, we dare to tell you! The journey through the South Caucasus is behind, but there are many impressions that have yet to be comprehended and "digested". But one thing is clear: we, experienced tourists from Norway, have something to tell our friends and interest them in visiting the wonderful country of Georgia.

Hello! We are home, tired, but so happy !!! We brought such huge baggage of impressions and memories! We were in Tanzania on a safari in March and to be honest I did not think that after Africa I could be surprised. How wrong I was. This May trip to the South Caucasus is in my heart! In addition to the natural beauty and landscapes of Georgia and Armenia, I was primarily struck by the inhabitants of these countries! So welcoming and hospitable. Your team, it is great! Thank you very much for the baggage of impressions. We wish to travel company My Georgia to prosper. It was nice to meet you, we will be back ...

Greetings MYGEORGIA! A few days ago I returned with my mother from a combined tour in the Caucasus. We learned so much interesting about Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia! Thank you very much for such a wonderful program! Everything was very competently and impeccably planned. Many thanks to the guides for their knowledge and professionalism. Many impressions and pleasant memories of time spent in beautiful cities with ancient history will remain with us forever. Thanks again to everyone!

We visited Tbilisi in March 2016. A very pleasant and positive experience from the employees of the travel company MyGeorgia. Thanks to them, a very interesting and productive program of stay in Georgia was compiled for 7 days. Visited all planned places. All excursions in Georgia took place according to the agreed schedule, strictly on time. Respect and friendliness towards tourists were obvious. Stories about historical objects were interesting, informative and not overloaded. All the advice of the tour operator about the Caucasus was helpful. It is nice to use the services of people who know and love their job. Thank you very much for a great time. As we say in our country - rakhmet. Wish development and growth to your company!

The study trip to Georgia for Finns learning the Russian language was simply wonderful! We received excellent service and spent time with outstanding guides (Saba and Dmitry). The hotels we stayed in were well-located and very comfortable. Batumi amazed us with its modern architecture and well-maintained promenade. The train journey from Batumi to Tbilisi was an incredible experience with stunning views. Visiting the wineries allowed us to get acquainted with Georgian wine traditions and enjoy tasting the local wine varieties. Uplistsikhe, the ancient cave city, impressed us with its architecture and history. The tours of Tbilisi and Mtskheta with the guide left us with vivid impressions. And what a wonderful gala dinner it was, where we had the opportunity to enjoy Georgian dances and songs and taste the delicious local cuisine! The organized excursions allowed us to immerse ourselves deeply in the cultural richness of Georgia. We left Georgia with wonderful memories and hope to return in the future. Everything was top-notch, and we highly recommend Georgia as a fantastic destination and MyGeorgia as the best Georgian tour operator.