Destination:
Azerbaijan

Overview

Azerbaijan, or Land of Fires, is famed for its atashgehs (eternal fires), healing mineral springs and oil spas, and carpets.

Situated in the South Caucasus region between Europe and Asia, and bordering the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan is important in the area because of its operation of energy projects, and was the first country to explore the region's enormous energy potential. Besides crude oil, which is its number one export, the country is famed for a unique type of oil that is used for medicinal purposes. Naftalan is believed to be an effective treatment for rheumatism, arthritis and psoriasis, and Naftalan town has special treatment centres and spas where patients sit up to their necks in baths of the rare oil. There are also more than 1,000 mineral springs throughout the country.

The capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the Caucasus region, and is the country's political, scientific, cultural and economic centre, situated on the Caspian Sea. Baku has been dated to 5,500 years old and visitors can see some wonderfully preserved relics from its past, as well as visit the fire-worshippers temple complex, Atashgah, and the natural gas-fuelled Yanardag (Fire Mountain), one of many impressive eternal fires on the Absheron Peninsula.

Throughout the country there are thousands of historical monuments, ancient cities, fortresses, palaces, mosques and ancient oases. Most of its territory is mountainous and dotted with beautiful lakes, and there are numerous resorts situated along the sandy beaches of the Caspian Sea.

The Republic of Azerbaijan gained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 at the same time as Armenia, and there is ongoing conflict between the two countries over the small Nagorno-Karabakh enclave, which is officially part of Azerbaijan, but largely populated by Armenians.

Basics

Time
Local time is GMT +4 (GMT +5 in summer).

Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two-pin attachment plugs and ‘Schuko' plugs are in use.

Language
Azerbaijani, or Azeri, is the official language. Turkish and Russian are widely spoken; few people speak English.

Health
No vaccinations are required for entry to Azerbaijan, but travellers should ensure that all routine vaccinations are up to date. There is a malaria risk between June and November in the lowland areas. Bird flu has been reported, but there is little risk to travellers; as a precaution it is advised that close contact with domestic and wild birds be avoided, and all egg and poultry dishes are thoroughly cooked. Most health facilities are state-owned and equipment and staff fall short of Western standards. Outside of the capital, medical care and supplies may be difficult to come by and serious medical problems will require air evacuation to another country; comprehensive medical insurance is advised.

Tipping
Service charges are usually included in bills and tipping is not compulsory, although taxi-drivers, waiters and hotel staff are commonly given some small change.

Safety
The crime rate is relatively low, but muggings do occur in central Baku, particularly at night. Political gatherings and demonstrations should be avoided, as these have become violent in the past. Unlicensed taxis should be avoided. Corruption is widespread. The area around Nagorno-Karabakh has long been the subject of dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia and most foreign governments advise against travel to the region due to ongoing exchanges of gunfire despite the ceasefire.

Customs
Most of the country is Muslim and visitors should respect religious customs, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours should be discreet as it is forbidden by the Muslim culture. Dress modestly, especially when visiting mosques or religious shrines; women should cover arms and legs, and men should not wear shorts even in summer. Although homosexuality is legal in Azerbaijan, public displays of affection will cause offence, especially outside the capital. Foreign nationals are routinely subject to police checks and it is advisable to carry identification at all times.

Business
Personal contact and relationship-building is critical in Azerbaijan, and therefore meetings are more effective than long distance communication. It is common to exchange business cards in meetings, which should be in Russian or English and have an Azeri translation on the reverse. The language of business is Azeri or Russian, and translators will be required for those not speaking either language. Azeris tend to be polite and visitors should be aware that a 'yes' might actually mean 'no' to avoid causing 'loss of face'. Azeris should not be rushed to make a business decision. Gender roles are traditional and businesswomen might be met with sceptism.

Communications
The international dialling code for Azerbaijan is +994. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). Area codes are in use e.g. 12 for Baku. There are few telephone lines outside of the main cities, and international calls usually require the use of the operator, many of whom do not speak English. It is possible to make international calls from public phones, which require a card; local phones use tokens. GSM coverage is basic and includes the area around Baku as well as some other cities. Roaming charges are high and it is best to buy a local SIM card. Internet cafes ('klubs') are available in Baku.

Duty Free
Travellers older than 16 may bring 1,000 cigarettes, 2 litres of wine and 1.5 litres of other alcohol, and perfume for personal use without paying customs duty. An export certificate is required to take carpets or anything else considered antique out of Azerbaijan.

Currency

The official currency is the new Manat (AZN), which is divided into 100 qapik. Credit cards are not widely accepted outside of large hotels and restaurants in Baku, and travellers cheques are not easily accepted; travellers are therefore advised to carry cash, preferably in Euro, Sterling or US dollars. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks and official exchange bureaux, but visitors are advised to keep all receipts until departure from Azerbaijan. ATMs can be found in most major cities and towns.

Note: These currency exchange rates are not updated daily and should be used as a guideline only.

Health

Health Overview
No vaccinations are required for entry to Azerbaijan, but travellers should ensure that all routine vaccinations are up to date. There is a malaria risk between June and November in the lowland areas. Bird flu has been reported, but there is little risk to travellers; as a precaution it is advised that close contact with domestic and wild birds be avoided, and all egg and poultry dishes are thoroughly cooked. Most health facilities are state-owned and equipment and staff fall short of Western standards. Outside of the capital, medical care and supplies may be difficult to come by and serious medical problems will require air evacuation to another country; comprehensive medical insurance is advised.

Visa

Americans


UK nationals


Canadians


Australians


South Africans


Irish nationals


New Zealanders

Passport/Visa Note
Visas are only available on arrival if the passport holder also has an official invitation letter from Azerbaijan. Visas are only valid for the cities listed in the visa.

Note: Passport and visa requirements are liable to change at short notice. Travellers are advised to check their entry requirements with their embassy or consulate.

Contacts

Azerbaijan Tourism
Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Baku: +994 (12) 492 8713 or www.azerbaijan.tourism.az

Foreign Embassies in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Embassies

Regions and Cities