We may receive a commission if you make purchases through affiliate links (at no extra cost to you). Read why our approach to travel is different.
My first attempt to visit Azerbaijan was back in 2013. After multiple days at the embassy in Beijing trying to convince the consular staff to grant me a visa, I ultimately gave up. On my journey to Visiting Every Country, I have spent many, many hours at embassies – and very few countries tried me like Azerbaijan!
Luckily for you, today, Azerbaijan is very easy to visit. However, before you begin planning your Azerbaijan travel itinerary, there are still a few important things you must know!

As a new, up-and-coming destination, it can often be difficult to find clear information on visiting Azerbaijan. In this complete guide, I will cover everything you need to know before visiting Azerbaijan in 2024!
Skip to...
- Is it worth visiting Azerbaijan?
- Can Americans visit Azerbaijan?
- Do I need a visa for Azerbaijan? Can I get a tourist visa upon arrival in Azerbaijan?
- How do I get to Azerbaijan?
- What is the most beautiful place to visit in Azerbaijan?
- Is Azerbaijan safe?
- What is the best time of year to visit Azerbaijan?
- Do I need to carry my passport around?
- Can women travel solo?
- Do women need to wear headscarves in Azerbaijan?
- Can unmarried couples, same-sex couples or friends share a room?
- Can Jews visit Azerbaijan?
- Can I visit Azerbaijan if I have an Israeli stamp or visa in my passport?
- Can I buy alcohol in Azerbaijan?
- Can I visit Azerbaijan after visiting Armenia?
- I visited Nagorno-Karabakh prior to 2023, do I need to declare this?
- Can I ask people about Nagorno-Karabakh, Artsakh or Armenia?
- Can I visit Karabakh?
Is it worth visiting Azerbaijan?
Absolutely!
At the historic crossroads of empires, Azerbaijan is squeezed between the cultural powerhouses of Türkiye, Iran and Russia. This former-Soviet, majority-Muslim and extremely wealthy country truly has one foot in Europe and another in Central Asia.

Recent years have seen Azerbaijan invest heavily in its tourism industry: new easy e-visa procedures, cheaper flights, and fancier hotels.

Don’t get me wrong, Azerbaijan is still a little way off its more tourist-friendly Caucasian neighbor Georgia. Yet Azerbaijan easily competes for a star-studded travel itinerary! From the Zaha Hadid-designed Heyder Aliyev Centre to Europe’s highest village in Xinaliq, there are no shortage of beautiful places to visit in Azerbaijan.
Can Americans visit Azerbaijan?
Yes, Americans can easily visit Azerbaijan.
Americans are eligible for visa an Azerbaijan e-visa for $25. The e-visa must be obtained online before arrival and will be checked as you board your plane!

There are currently no direct flights from the United States to Azerbaijan. Prior to COVID-19, AZAL operated a heavily subsidized direct flight between New York and Baku – and we are all keeping watch if it will restart. However, there are countless one-stop options via Europe or the Middle East.
For the cheapest flights to Azerbaijan, I recommend using Trip.com.
Do I need a visa for Azerbaijan? Can I get a tourist visa upon arrival in Azerbaijan?
Most travelers, including British, European and Australian passport holders, can obtain an e-visa for $25.
For Americans, I’ve set out above how Americans can visit Azerbaijan.
Make sure you apply for your e-visa at least 3 weeks prior to visiting Azerbaijan. Processing time normally takes at least 3 days and you will need to show the e-visa before getting your boarding pass!

Urgent visa applicants are available for $55 and are processed within 3 hours.
How do I get to Azerbaijan?
By plane
Baku Airport (Airport Code: GYD) is well connected to major European and Gulf transport hubs, including Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, London, Warsaw and Frankfurt. For American travelers to Azerbaijan, you will need to pass through one of these hubs.
European travelers, I have a hot tip for you. At the time of writing, Wizz Air are offering very cheap flights from Baku to Budapest and Rome. These can often be as low as €20!
By land
Regular buses and minivans run daily between major cities in Azerbaijan and Georgia, Russia, Türkiye and Iran. There is currently no overland travel to Armenia.

Rail enthusiasts will be excited by the daily overnight train from Baku to Tbilisi. I’ll be honest, I personally wouldn’t recommend this option unless you are in a rush.

Many of the top highlights of the Caucasus, such as Sheki or Davit Gareja, lie on the overland path between Baku and Tbilisi. And if you are in a rush, the direct flights are generally quite affordable (often less than $100).
What is the most beautiful place to visit in Azerbaijan?
Each city in Azerbaijan really has a different atmosphere and a unique character.

Baku is the modern face of Azerbaijan. The UNESCO heritage listed Old Town (or İçərişəhər) is completely walled-off. In my opinion, the Old Town of Baku offers an opportunity to see all sides of Azerbaijan. Traditional teahouses dating back to Silk Road days give way to views over Baku’s modern skyline, while excellent new restaurants and roof terraces offer the best of Azeri cuisine.
With Silk Road caravanserais, a mountainous terrain and the Palace of the Sheki Khans, the northwestern city of Sheki is a favorite on most Azerbaijan travel itineraries.

If you’re a geography nerd like me, you will probably be aware of the Azeri exclave of Nakhchivan. With so many things to do, including the big ticket Alinja-Gala fortress (or the Machu Picchu of Azerbaijan), little Silk Road towns and some excellent food, I am firmly of the opinion that Nakhchivan should be on every Azerbaijan travel itinerary.
Is Azerbaijan safe?
Azerbaijan is an extremely safe country, with very low rates of crime.
What is the best time of year to visit Azerbaijan?
In my opinion, March to November is the best time to visit Azerbaijan, with pleasant and warm daytime temperatures and crisp evenings (particularly around April and May).

Do I need to carry my passport around?
Yes. I would advise you to always carry your passport around in Azerbaijan.
Can women travel solo?
Yes. Azerbaijan is a very safe country and you will meet female solo travelers.
Outside of Baku, you will see that certain spaces appear to be male-only spaces (for example, teahouses or cafes). These spaces are not segregated by law and rather stem from cultural norms. This means you are obviously free to sit down and order a cup of tea, but you may get one or two curious stares (most likely the friendly type).

Do women need to wear headscarves in Azerbaijan?
No. Azerbaijan is a very secular country and you will unlikely see many women with their hair covered. There are no rules governing how a woman dresses in Azerbaijan.

Yes! No questions asked.

Can Jews visit Azerbaijan?
Yes, there are no restrictions on Jewish people visiting Azerbaijan.
Jewish travelers will find the Mountain Jewish community of Krasnaya Sloboda particularly fascinating. It’s an easy stop on the road up to Xinaliq (which should be on every Azerbaijan travel itinerary).
Can I visit Azerbaijan if I have an Israeli stamp or visa in my passport?
No problems at all.
Despite being a Shia Muslim-majority country, Azerbaijan enjoys close relations with Israel. You can even fly directly from Baku to Tel Aviv.

Can I buy alcohol in Azerbaijan?
Yes. Drinking alcohol is legal in Azerbaijan. The availability of alcohol will differ between the major cities and small towns.
But generally speaking, alcohol is readily available!

Can I visit Azerbaijan after visiting Armenia?
During my first trip to the Caucasus in 2016, travelers were strongly advised to avoid visiting Armenia prior to visiting Azerbaijan. Back then, Armenian passport stamps would bring much hassle to travelers.

However, this has changed since the 2023 Karabakh War. With Azerbaijan’s victory, travelers have reported no questions being asked about Armenian passport stamps.
I visited Nagorno-Karabakh prior to 2023, do I need to declare this?
You will need to declare this on your Azerbaijan e-visa application. Since 2023, travelers have been asked to supply an ‘apology letter’ which sincerely apologises for visiting the region when it was under Armenian control.

If you aren’t familiar with the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, now is probably the time to get reading! The Caucasus can get very sensitive…
Can I ask people about Nagorno-Karabakh, Artsakh or Armenia?
Azerbaijan often makes news for all the wrong reasons. At Travel Insighter, we are firm believers that visiting yourself is the only way to truly understand a destination, a people and a culture – no matter the politics.

Like most post-Soviet states, Azeris are an extremely nationalist bunch. Many have heart-breaking stories of immense tragedy from the various Karabakh wars. Rather than asking provocative questions ‘what should happen to the Armenians in Karabakh?‘, take a moment to consider your objectives in having these conversations.
Do you want to learn about the Azeri narrative? Are you keen to understand whether Armenian sensitivities are understood in Azerbaijan?

I recommend:
1. Listening: let the people with whom you speak offer information. Avoid interrupting or judging their narratives. For example, for many Azeris, the conquest of Karabakh was a period of immense nationalistic pride. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to agree with the war aims, but rather, that you should take the opportunity to learn how and why this is so.
2. Showing empathy: acknowledge the hardships and challenges.
3. Avoiding political discussions: war often involves complex political and historical narratives. No matter how much you have read, as the visitor this is not your story to tell. For many Azeris, the presence of Armenians in Karabakh was an affront to their national dignity. Again, think about wording your questions to understand why this was.

4. Respecting privacy: some individuals may not want to discuss their wartime experiences. Don’t push them.
5. Asking open-ended questions: this will encourage them to guide the conversation as they wish. For example, ‘Do you remember the end of the Soviet Union?’ rather than ‘did any of your friends or family die in the First Karabakh War?’ You will very quickly get an idea of whether the person is willing to share their experiences.
Can I visit Karabakh?
At the time of writing, Karabakh remains closed to foreign visitors. I was very fortunate to visit Karabakh recently with an official delegation and can report that there is a huge investment of capital in Karabakh, including the building of a number of new airports.

I expect the ‘newly liberated‘ Karabakh will open for visitors soon – watch this space!
Share This Article

Traveling soon? Subscribe to The Insight below and get exclusive access to our personalized travel advice community via WhatsApp so you can ask all your burning travel questions.
Looking for the best comprehensive travel insurance? SafetyWing has you covered.
And for your eSIM in every country, there is only one option we recommend: Airalo.
Read more of our best insights from around the world