Flame towers, old caravan towns and Caucasus villages.
Azerbaijan sits on the Caspian Sea between the Caucasus mountains and Iran. It suits travellers curious about a mix of Persian, Turkic, Russian and modern oil-wealth influences. It is known for Baku's walled old city and futuristic skyline, the silk road town of Sheki and mountain villages. Note that the US government currently advises visitors to reconsider travel.
Tap a card or a pin. Add a place to a day of your trip, or look for tours.
Icherisheher is Baku's walled old town with lanes, caravanserais and mosques. The Maiden Tower and Shirvanshahs' Palace are its landmarks.
This 15th-century palace complex was the seat of the Shirvan rulers. It includes a mosque, mausoleum and bathhouse.
The flowing white building by Zaha Hadid is a cultural centre and exhibition space. It is the most photographed modern building in Baku.
Gobustan holds thousands of ancient rock carvings of people, animals and boats. A museum explains the site.
Small bubbling mud volcanoes dot the hills near Gobustan. Local drivers take visitors up the rough track.
Sheki is a silk road town in the foothills with a decorated Khan's Palace. Its old caravanserai still works as a hotel.
The 18th-century palace is famous for painted walls and stained glass windows. It is small but beautifully detailed.
Yanar Dag is a hillside where natural gas burns continuously from the ground. It is best seen after dark.
Ateshgah is a historic fire temple used by Hindu and Zoroastrian worshippers. A small museum explains its past.
Khinalig is a remote high mountain village with its own language and culture. Stone houses climb a ridge among peaks.
Quba is a green town known for carpets and apples, with the Jewish village of Qirmizi Qasaba across the river. It is the gateway to Khinalig.
Gabala is a mountain resort area with cable cars, lakes and forest walks. It is popular with domestic tourists in summer.
Lahij is a mountain village famous for copper crafts. Cobbled lanes are lined with small workshops.
The seafront boulevard runs along the Caspian with parks and cafés. The Flame Towers light up at night above it.
Kish has a small restored church linked to Caucasian Albania. It sits in a pretty village above Sheki.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it: pick cities, add places to days, see the weather for your dates.
Each city with a guide opens its own page: map, where to stay, what to eat.
Old city, skyline and day trips.
culture, architecture, gateway · Open the city guideSilk road heritage town.
history · Guide comingBase for Khinalig.
nature · Guide comingMountain resort stop.
nature · Guide comingSecond city with gardens and mosques.
culture · Guide comingGateway to Khinalig and mountain villages.
mountains, villages · Guide comingOld capital on the way north.
history, wine · Guide comingSubtropical south and tea region.
nature, food · Guide comingA smaller village stay centered on crafts and historic streets.
crafts · Guide comingA base for Shahdag activities.
mountains · Guide comingBaku and its fire and gas landscapes.
Old City, Yanar Dag, Gobustan
Green valleys and mountain villages.
Quba, Khinalig, Gabala
Silk road towns and forests.
Sheki, Kish, Lahij
The capital and the peninsula with ancient fire sites and rock art nearby.
Old City, Ateshgah, Gobustan
Mountain villages, orchards and hiking routes.
Guba, Khinalig, Shahdag
Historic cities and mountain lakes.
Ganja, Goygol, Shamkir
Choose how long you have, then add the whole route to a trip as places and nights.
Best: April to June and September to October. Mild weather suits Baku and the mountains.
Summers are hot in Baku and lowlands, while the Greater Caucasus villages are cool and some roads close in winter.
January. Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.
46°F daily high, 43°F average, 0.6 in
Average of past years from NASA POWER, worked out at each city's position. A place far from these cities can be quite different.
US State Department Level 3 (reconsider travel) due to terrorism, armed conflict linked to the 2026 US and Iran hostilities and landmines; check the latest advice and avoid former conflict and border areas.
Trains and buses link main towns, but a car or driver is easier for mountains.
Hotels and food outside Baku are good value.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Members see the rules for their own passport here.
Passport and visa rules change often and without notice. Always check the official pages before you book and again before you travel.
| Entry | Check current visa and entry rules on the State Migration Service of Azerbaijan (migration.gov.az), and your own government's travel advice, before you book, as rules change. |
| Plugs | Type C, F; 220 V, 50 Hz |
| Tap water | not safe |
| Tipping | About 10 percent in restaurants is common, if not included. |
| Payments | Cards work in Baku; carry manat cash elsewhere. |
| Emergency | 102 police, 103 ambulance, 101 fire |
| Etiquette | Hospitality is strong and tea is offered often. Avoid discussing the conflict with Armenia casually, and do not try to visit Armenia-linked regions without checking rules. |
| What to wear | Dress modestly at mosques; women may cover hair. |
| Driving | On the right |
| Between cities | Trains run from Baku to Ganja and Sheki areas and buses cover most towns. Many visitors hire a driver for mountain areas. |
| Main airports | GYD |
| Ride apps | Bolt |
The region was shaped by Persian dynasties, Turkic migrations and later Russian rule from the 19th century. Baku boomed with oil around 1900, then the country was part of the Soviet Union until independence in 1991. Conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh shaped recent decades, and Azerbaijan took control of the region in 2023. The country is a secular state with a mostly Shia Muslim population.
Researched 2026-10-13. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.