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Tourism

Travel Tips

  • Ensure the validity of passports.
  • Be compliant with local laws and regulations of Azerbaijan Republic and adherent to international travel terms and international aviation safety standards, as well as avoid bringing banned items.
  • Keep the official documents, such as passports, airline tickets, collectibles and personal valuables in a safe place. 
  • Do not mortgage a passport or ID card in any case.
  • In case to be escorted and accompanied by servants or other non-Qataris the guarantor has to inquire about the visa, and carry out the following procedures in this regard.
  • Preferably not to carry valuables during travel.
  • Be careful about children in crowded places and big malls.
  • In case of any problem do not hesitate to inform the Embassy of the State of Qatar and notify officials of the problem.
  • Do not allow the security services of the Republic of Azerbaijan to inspect the place of residence without a search warrant issued by the competent authorities.
  • In case if a visitor becomes a subject of investigation he must report to the Embassy immediately.
  • Be confident about the official capacity of those who ask to show your ID.
  • Keep telephone numbers of the Embassy for reference in case of necessity.


List of prohibited items are not allowed to enter the Azerbaijan Republic.

  • Over 10.000 USD (ten thousand) foreign currency cash and cash equivalents without oral declaration with customs authorities. Over 50.000 (fifty thousand) USD foreign currency cash and cash equivalents without customs clearance documents confirming its previous import into the Republic of Azerbaijan

    • The procedure is adjusting by regulations approved by the Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan by Order N 16/1 dated 03 March, 2016 on bringing foreign currency into and taking out of the Republic of Azerbaijan by residents and non-residents. By new amendments resident and non-resident individuals and legal entities may bring foreign currency into the Republic of Azerbaijan in cash with no limits complying with customs procedures. Resident and non-resident individuals and legal entities may take out of the Republic of Azerbaijan up to 10.000 USD (ten thousand) foreign currency cash and cash equivalents upon oral declaration with customs authorities. From 10.000 USD (ten thousand) up to 50.000 (fifty thousand) USD foreign currency cash and cash equivalents should be taken upon submission of customs clearance documents confirming its previous import into the Republic of Azerbaijan in cash and signed customs declaration to customs authorities.

  • Medications, the worth is over for the private use.
  • Caviar, the net weight is more than 125 grams. 
  • Mental focus drinks, the amount does not exceed 3 litres, and over 3 cigarettes boxes for private use.
  • Art productions (portraits and carpets, as well as applied arts) without the official permission from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
  • Collectibles of plants, their parts and divisions without the official permission by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources for transferring, transportation, transmission and purchasing
  • Rare crop and animal species, hunting animals such as elk horns, deer, birds, and valuable trees included in the red book.
  • Private means of communication, passwords and instruction booklets for use (without the private permission of using).


Official Currency: Manat is the currency of Azerbaijan. The average exchange rate is at around 1.7 AZN per USD dollar (not-fixed).

Time: Azerbaijan Standard Time is 4 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+4).

Work hours: Government departments and offices, as well as banks and other entities usually work 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) from 09:00 am to 18:00 pm with a one-hour siesta.  Saturday and Sunday are not working days.



Border crossing procedures

  • Visa regime: For the 
     
    The holders of ordinary passports can only obtain a tourist visa upon arrival at Hyder Aliyev Airport , Those wishing to enter through other official outlets must obtain an electronic visa in advance on the following link:  https://evisa.gov.az/en/
  •  

    ·      Holders of diplomatic or private passports do not need a visa to enter the Republic of Azerbaijan, for a period of 30 days from the date of entry

    ·      Also be obtained on the electronic visa during the three-day period by ASAN Visa system on the website evisa.gov.az for a fee 26 $ for a period of thirty days, electronic visa is granted by ASAN VISA system during the 3 days.

    NOTES

    ·      Please make sure that the hotel in which you reside or the host you may have to register your name with the Immigration Service and Passport Azerbaijan during the first fifteen days (15) of the logged in Azerbaijani territory, otherwise you will have to pay a fine of 400 manat Azeri When you leave the Azerbaijani lands.

    ·      Prevents exceeded thirty-days (30) period specified in the electronic visa in any way, otherwise you will pay a fine of 400 Azeri manat When you leave the Azerbaijani lands.

  • Customs: Accompanied personal effects, whether new or old, incur to pay no customs duty. Allowed to carry a reasonable amount of tobacco and perfumes for personal use, but for prohibited items including firearms, ammunition, drugs, and hazardous materials the public order must be observed. Transportation of precious holdings and metals, as well as antiques and books needs necessary permission.

Seaports

  • Baku International Sea Trade Port.
  • Alat Port.


Land border crossings

Possible to enter Azerbaijan through land crossings with such neighboring countries as follows:

  • Via Nakhchivan’s border with Iran
    • Julfa.
    • Shahtakhti.

  • Via Nakhchivan’s border with Turkey
    • Sadarak.

  • Via the border with Georgia
    • Sinigh Korpu.
    • Boyukh Kasik.
    • Sadikhli.
    • Jandargol.
    • Mazimchay.
    • Mughanli.
    • Tovuz.

  • Via the border with Iran
    • Bilasuvar.
    • Astarah.

  • Via the border with Russia
    • Samur.
    • Yalama..
    • Khudat (Khanoba).
    • Shirvanovka.
    • Zukhul.


Recreation and leisure
Azerbaijan has recently become a favorite tourist destination for Arab tourists and other nationalities not only because of the beautiful diverse landscape the country is immensely endowed with, but also thanks to the richness of cultural and historical heritage.
Azerbaijan occupies a prime location in the South Caucasus - the geographically strategic area, whereby it has historically influenced by that of Turkish, Russian and Persian civilizations and cultures.



Tourist places
Azerbaijan is endowed with fascinating areas and tourist attractions. Here are the most notable ones: 



Historic and archaeological sites

 The most notable archaeological sites in the following areas:

  • Giz galasi (Maiden Tower) and the Palace of the Shirvanshahlar in the Old city of Baku.
  • Prehistoric rock engravings in Gobustan.
  • The Temple of Fire “Ateshgah” .
  • Palace of Khans and the fortress of Gelersen-Gorersen (Come and See) on the coast of the Kish river in Shaki.
  • The Albanian-Udi Church (Chotari) in the village of Nij in Qabala.
  • Juma Mosque (the oldest mosque) in Shamakhi.
  • The Palace of Khans in Lankaran.
  • Caves (Ashabi-Kahf and Duzdag) in Nakhchivan.

For notice that Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape and Old City of Baku (Icheri Sheher) were added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.



Tourist beaches
Many tourist resorts are located on the shores of the Caspian Sea.



Rural and mountain tourism
Nature in Azerbaijan is still pristine and untouched, therefore rural and mountain tourism is well accepted.



Museums
Azerbaijan cities are rich with museums. They are distributed as follows:


Located in Baku

  • Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre.
  • Museums centers.
  • Qala Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum Complex.
  • Azerbaijan State Museum of History (Home of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev).
  • State Museum of Azerbaijan Carpet and Applied Art.
  • Ateshgah Museum Complex.
  • Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature.
  • Shirvanshah Museum- Complex.
  • Azerbaijan State Museum of Modern Art.
  • National Art Museum.
  • Independence Museum of Azerbaijan.
  • Baku Museum of Modern Art.
  • Baku Museum of Miniature Books.
  • Uzeyir Hajibeyov’s's House Museum.
  • Husein Javid’s Home-Museum.
  • Workshop Ali Shamsi.
  • Baku Nobel Heritage Fund.
  • Stone Chronicle Museum.
  • Tahir Salahov’s House Museum.
  • "Yay" and "Natavan" galleries.
  • "Yarat" Art Centre.

Located in the regions:

  • Historical-ethnographic museum of Khinalig village – Guba.
  • Nakhchivan Memorial Museum – Nakhchivan.
  • Gobustan Rock Art –Garadakh.
  • Ashab-Kahf  Museum.
  • Alinja Fortress.


Hotels
Hotels spread out across the capital and some major cities, as well as on the beaches are registered and approved by the Ministry of Tourism. Most of them are five star hotels; however, there is sharp deficit in three-star hotels, especially in peak season when the hotels are unable to meet the growing numbers of tourists in the last period of highest demand.


The most famous hotels in Baku

  • Four Seasons Hotel.
  • Fairmont Hotel.
  • JW Marriott Absheron Baku Hotel.
  • Hilton Hotel.
  • Boulevard Hotel.

 

The most famous hotels in Qabala

  • Qafqaz Tufandag Mountain Resort.
  • Qafqaz Riverside Hotel.

The most famous hotels in Guba

  • Guba Rixos Hotel.

The most famous hotels in Shamakhi

  • Shamakhi Rixos Hotel.

The most famous hotels in Ganja

  • Ramada Hotel.

The most famous hotels in Gusar

  • Shah Dag Hotel.


Physical therapy centers

  • Qalaalti Medical and Recreational Resort Complex offers mineral water for the treatment of internal diseases, including the removal of kidney stones.
  • Naftalan Resort is a unique place to treat joint pains and skin diseases.