(Last updated: 04 Jun 2008)

Visas

Australians require a visa to visit Azerbaijan. The following visa categories are currently on offer:

• Single entry visas issued for a period from three days to three months.
• Multiple entry visas issued for a period of three months, six months or a year.
• Transit multiple or single entry visas should allow foreigner to stay in the country for a period of up to five days provided the visa does not restrict its use to a non-stop passage.

Depending on the kind of visa, the cost will vary from US$40 to US$250.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has changed the validity of visas issued on arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Effective immediately, all visas issued at the airport will be valid for seven days only. If you need to stay longer than seven days, you must go to the Ministry's Consular Department and apply for an extension. 

The Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is located at: 4 Shikhali Gurbanov St

in Baku. The main phone number for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is +994 12 492 6755.

Climate

Generally Azerbaijan is very warm, but low temperatures can occur, particularly in the mountains and valleys. Most of the rainfall is in the west.

For weather details in Baku, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.

Airports

Baku Bina (BAK) is 25km east of Baku and journey time takes about 40 minutes. The national airline is Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) (J2), which operates regular flights to Ankara, London (via Istanbul), Kiev, Dubai, Tehran and Tel Aviv. 

Ground transport

Azerbaijan’s road network totals around 57,770km. Most roads are in better condition (but still pretty poor and badly lit). Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended for journeys into the mountains, eg west of Kuba.

Car hire facilities are available through Avis and Hertz in Baku. An International Driving Permit is required or license issued by an European Union country. Driving is on the right. Visitors should note that many local drivers do not adhere to traffic regulations and that cars are badly maintained. There is zero tolerance on alcohol consumption while driving.

Taxi fares should always be negotiated before starting a journey, and visitors should be aware that rates proposed initially are likely to be unreasonably high. There is an underground system totalling 28km, but most visitors use taxis or private cars. Baku Metro is poorly maintained and the system is often inadequately safe and overcrowded.

Buses run from central Baku to the suburbs but they tend to be overcrowded as well.

Hotels

There are several hotels in Baku, built and operated to Western standards. The Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Tower, Radisson, and Hotel Europe are the most commonly used. The  average room rates range from $90 to $300 per night. In addition, there are numerous private apartments readily available in different parts of town. Those located in the downtown area tend to be expensive. The average monthly rate for an apartment in downtown Baku ranges from 800 to $4,000 and up, depending on the size and quality of the flat. There are, however, some that are more reasonably priced at $700 to $900 as well.

Hyatt Regency Baku (five-star)
Bakuhanov 1
Baku

Park Hyatt Baku (four-star)
1033 Izmir Street
Baku

Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel (three-star)
340 Nizami Street
Baku, 370000

Security and health

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provides advice for business travellers and tourists going to Azerbaijan. This is regularly updated, and should be checked before planning travel.

Health

Private medical clinics with facilities comparable to those in Western countries operate in Baku. However, medical facilities in other areas of Azerbaijan, and in government facilities generally, are often inadequate. Shortages of basic medical supplies are common.

Doctors and hospitals will usually require up-front payment before commencing treatment. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilities may be necessary. Medical evacuation costs could be considerable.

Malaria is a risk in the southern lowland areas of Azerbaijan, especially in summer. We encourage you to take prophylaxis against malaria where necessary and to take measures to avoid insect bites, including using insect repellent at all times.

Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, typhoid, hepatitis, tuberculosis, brucellosis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time.

Boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, and avoid ice cubes. You should also avoid unpasteurised dairy products and raw and undercooked food.

The World Health Organization has confirmed human deaths from avian influenza in Azerbaijan. The Department of Health and Ageing advises Australians who reside in Azerbaijan for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long-term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. 

Australians intending to travel to Azerbaijan for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.

Tipping

Tipping is appreciated but not compulsory. 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. 

Time zones and time differences

Azerbaijan is six hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.

To find out the current time in Baku, view the World Clock.

Dialling codes

Azerbaijan's country code is 994.

For calls to Azerbaijan from Australia dial: 0011 + 994 + area code + telephone number

For calls from Azerbaijan to Australia dial: 00 + 61 + area code + telephone number

For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes. 

Business hours

Business hours are 9.00am to 1.00pm and 2.00pm to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday. Government departments and agencies usually work half days on Saturday.

Public holidays

January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 20 – Day of the Martyrs
March 8 – Women’s Day
March 21 – Novruz Bayramy (Persian New Year) and Good Friday
March 24 – Easter Monday
May 9– Victory Day
May 28 – Republic Day
June 15 – Day of National Salvation
June 26 – Army and Navy Day
October 2 – End of Ramadan
October 18 – Day of Independence
November 12 – Constitution Day
November 17 – Day of National Revival
December 9 – Feast of Sacrifice
December 31 – Day of Azeri Solidarity

Banks

The main banks in Azerbaijan are:

• National Bank of Azerbaijan (NBA)
  
• International Bank of Azerbaijan, Baku
  
• United Credit Bank, Baku
• Bank of Baku, Baku
  
• Bank Respublika, Baku
  

Currency

Oanda currency converter

The official currency is the Azeri New Manat (AZN) = 100 gopik. Notes are in denominations of AZN100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 3 and 1 gopik.

Electricity and water

Azerbaijan's power supply is 220-240 volts, 50Hz.

Dining

Azerbaijani food combines Turkish and central Asian elements. Although the majority of Azeris are nominally Shia Muslims, alcohol is widely available.

National specialties include:

• Plov is a delicious, spicy specialty made with pine nuts, vegetables and dried fruit, in addition to rice and mutton. Certain types of plov use chicken instead of mutton and include chestnuts.
• Grilled kebabs of various kinds are popular, including lyulya kebab made from spiced, minced lamb pressed onto skewers.
• Meals often start with rich, heavy soups: piti is a mutton soup bulked out with chickpeas and slowly cooked in individual earthenware pots in the oven and served in the same pots. Dogva is a sharp, yogurt and spinach-based soup containing rice and meatballs.
• Sturgeon is served both smoked and fresh.
• Caviar has traditionally been fished from the Caspian Sea.
• Kutab pastries are stuffed with spinach or pumpkin and are similar to Turkish birekas.
• Kutum Lavangy is stuffed fish with cherries, walnuts and raisins.
• Dolma is minced mutton flesh with onions.
• Badimjan Dolmasi is mutton served with plenty of aubergine and tomatoes, basil, sour cream and butter.

National drinks:

• Wines and brandies are produced locally.
• Sherbets are popular soft drinks made of sugar, lemon, saffron, seeds of mint and basil and other fruit.
• Tea is often served accompanied by various jams such as quince, fig, apricot, white cherry and plum. Sometimes dried leaves or flowers of savory, clove, cardamom and other spices are added to tea. Tea made of cinnamon (darchin) and ginger is popular. Sometimes rose water is added.

Tourist attractions

Although travellers should avoid the Nagorno-Karabakh area and the border with Armenia, they can pursue various activities in other parts of the country. There are some good beaches in Baku, and visitors can also play chess at several outdoor chess-playing areas (where Gary Kasparov reputedly practiced as a boy). The 70km-long Aspheron peninsula (northeast of Baku) has some of the country’s best beaches and offers good hiking and coastal walks.

Several restaurants, late-night bars and nightclubs have opened in Baku in the last few years, catering largely for the foreign business community and wealthy local business people.

Concerts, theater, opera and ballet are a source of local pride and are very popular.