The Land of Fire — Baku's flaming towers reflect on the Caspian, a medieval walled old city sits beside hypermodern architecture, and eternal mud volcanoes bubble beside ancient Zoroastrian fire temples.
- Capital
- Baku
- Population
- 10,241,722
- Area
- 86,600 km²
- Languages
- Azerbaijani, Russian
- Currency
- Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
- GDP
- $78,870M
Good to know
Driving side
Right
National dish
Dolma
Annual visitors
796,000 (2020)
Safety
Low (2.16/100k)
Big Mac
$3.91
Avg temp
13.0°C
Religion
Islam
Coast
Landlocked
☎ Police 102 · Ambulance 103 · Fire 101
Travel guide
Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan) is a former Soviet republic in the Caucasus and is variously considered part of Europe or Asia. Often known as the "Land of Fire", Azerbaijan was ceded to the Russian Empire by the Persian Empire in the late 19th century.
© Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)
Explore Azerbaijan
Best time to visit
April–June and September–October are ideal. Baku is pleasant March–November. Gabala mountain resort is best June–September. Winter (December–February) can be cold and rainy on the coast. Sheki is beautiful in autumn.
Visa
Citizens of most Western countries including US, UK, EU, Canada, and Australia require a visa. An e-Visa is available at evisa.gov.az — single entry, 30 days, processed quickly.
Public holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (6)
Book your trip to Azerbaijan
We may earn a commission when you book through these links.