Azerbaijan is an exotic travel destination and is gaining lots of popularity in tourism. This great country is located in the Caucasus region and is popularly known as the “Land of Fire.” It connects Eastern Europe with western Asia. Therefore you will find a cultural amalgamation of Asian and European cultures in this region. So let’s check some fantastic things to do in Azerbaijan 5 days itinerary.
Baku, Azerbaijan can be accessed easily by Dubai by Fly Dubai and Sharjah or Abu Dhabi by Air Arabia. Even local Azerbaijan airlines too connect Middle East cities with Baku, Azerbaijan.
ALSO READ: Ultimate Uzbekistan Itinerary 5 Days (Best Places To Visit + Things To Do)
Things To Do In Azerbaijan 5 days Itinerary– Useful tips
Where to Stay in Baku? – Hotels in Baku
- Baku Old town and Nizami street are the perfect areas to book a hotel as many of the attractions are situated here and are within walkable distance.
- Click here to book a hotel with a view of the city and 5 minutes walk from Nizami street.
- Click here to book a mid-range ancient-styled hotel at Baku Old town.
- Click here for a 5-star ancient-styled stay in Baku’s old town.
- If you want to stay on the promenade with a view of the Caspian Sea and city, click here to book this super luxurious 5-star stay.
- Search affordable and luxury hotels in Baku.
Currency Information
Azerbaijani manat. There are many currency exchanges in Baku or Baku airport, where you can easily exchange your USD. There are exchange machine counters in many hotels too. It is very safe to do at these places.
Visa Process –
- For UAE residents, it is a visa on Arrival. You need to show your return tickets, hotel booking confirmations, and Travel Insurance documents to get an Azerbaijan visa stamp on your passport. At the airport, there are Electronic machines where you need to pay 30 USD and get a visa stamped on your passport.
- UAE residents can also apply to Evisa before traveling to avoid queueing up at the airport for the Evisa stamping machine.
Click here to apply for Evisa for Azerbaijan.
- For most Middle East countries, if you are a resident, you get an eVisa At the airport or through Azerbaijan’s Evisa official site to avoid queueing up at the airport for the Evisa stamping machine.
- For other nationalities – Apply Evisa in advance for 26 USD. Within 3 to 4 working days, you get Evisa through their official website.
International Airport
Baku – Heydar Aliyev International Airport
- Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Azerbaijan Airlines, and Whizz Air run direct flights to Baku.
- Baku has the same time zone as Dubai. The flight time is approximately 3 to 4 hours.
Things To Do In Azerbaijan 5 Days Itinerary
Azerbaijan travel video
Let’s check some of the best places to visit in Azerbaijan with a list of things to do in Azerbaijan by following below given Azerbaijan itinerary.
DAY 1 – Things To Do In Azerbaijan Itinerary 5 Days
Arrive at Baku – Hotel Check-In, Baku Old city tour
For – History & culture lovers, shopping and foodie lovers.
After checking into the hotel, and getting freshened up, start your evening with a fantastic Baku old city tour.
Click to watch Baku old city walking tour video.
Baku has excellent evening and nightlife, with the old town lighting up with unique lighting.
Take a walking tour around Nizami street and Baku old down with a perfect Azerbaijani dinner.
Highlights of the tour –
Nizami street walking tour – Nizami Street is a large, broad pedestrian shopping street in downtown Baku, Azerbaijan.
- Nizami Street is a traffic-free street that starts at Fountains Square and ends at Rashid Behbudov Street. The architecture of buildings, art cafes, boutique stores, and special lighting in the evening make it a very vibrant location in the whole of Baku.
- Fountain square – The place from where vibrant Nizami street starts is a very famous piazza in Baku. You can find the fountains topped by shiny silvered spheres giving fish-eye reflections of the trees and stone facades.
- Icheri Sheher (Old Town walking tour) means Baku Old town. It is the oldest inhabited region of Baku and is also included in UNESCO world heritage attractions.
- Baku fortress Wall – It is the largest of Absheron fortresses built to defend the old town from foreign invaders. The entire area inside the fort was built during the 11th to 12th centuries.
- Maiden tower – It is the oldest architecture in Baku’s old town. It is a 12th-century built-up, and “Maiden Tower” symbolizes Baku’s ancient skyline. Until now, nobody concluded why it was made and for what purpose.
- Palace of the Shirvanshahs – Enjoy the splendid ancient architectural heritage of Azerbaijan. This Palace was the former residence of the rulers of Shirvan, located in the heart of Baku Old town. This Palace and the ancient buildings adjoining this Palace are also worth visiting. This beautiful complex includes the Divan-Khan courtyard, tomb, mosque from 1441, ‘Hamams’ bathhouse, and the mausoleum of court scholar Seyid Yahya Bakuvi
Location: Gasr, lane 1, 76, Sabail
Opening hours: every day from 10 AM – 6 PM
Price: 15 AZN Adults
- Old baths
- Azerbaijan cultural handicrafts market tour
Carpet market in Old town - Dine at a local Azerbaijani restaurant with local live music. You get lots of vegetarian varieties in Azerbaijani cuisine.
DAY 2 – Things To Do In Azerbaijan Itinerary 5 Days
Day trip to Land of Fire – Absheron Peninsula
For – Natural reserve wonder lovers, Historic
Watch day wise Video tour of Land of Fire tour.
Highlights of trip
- Visit Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape with 6,000 petroglyphs – approximately 40,000 years old. Some are believed to be from the Iron age by archaeological experts. It is also a UNESCO-listed site. Mesolithic monuments (medieval stone) are primarily exhibited in reserve with carvings by primitive men. You can study how early life existed in this region through old carvings and learn about the flora and fauna of this region in ancient times. Now it is a desert landscape, but the carvings proved a vast agricultural landscape with lots of greenery. You can also visit the Gobustan Museum, located below the foothills of these caves, to get better insights into this region’s history.
- Oil Rigs – While driving across the Caspian sea coastline on the Absheron peninsula, you will spot many oil wells and oil drilling machines.
- Gobustan Mud Volcanoes is located a 1.5-hour drive from Baku along the Caspian coast, at Dashgil near the Gobustan Reserve. Mud volcanoes occur due to Earth’s tectonic movement’s leakage of underground gases. It is unique to witness Azerbaijan with mud erupting/oozing underneath from small craters. The entrance is free.
- Ateshgah Hindu & Zoroastrian Fire Temple – Ateshgah is a fire temple built in the 17th-18th centuries in the place of the eternal flames of natural gas. This temple held great faith among Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Sikhs from time to time, as all these religions worship fire in some form or another. The temple is located in the south-eastern part of the Surakhani settlement of the Absheron peninsula and is only 30 km away from Baku.
This region is famous for the unique natural phenomenon of fire erupting from the ground due to natural gas leakage from underground outlets. When they come out of Earth, they mix with oxygen and lighten up. It was built by the Baku-based Hindu-Sikh community. You can see an ancient carving of the Hindu God ‘Ganesha’ and ‘Ganesha stuti’ (Ganesha prayers) carved on the temple walls.
- Fire Mountain – Yanardag – Location – Binagadi-Balakhany Highway Absheron Peninsula – in Village Mammadli.
A very unique and rare sight to see fire coming out from the mountain naturally for years and years, which never stops. This natural burning flame is believed to come out due to natural gas leakage at the foot of the hill. This non-stop hill fire has been burning for approximately four millenniums, and even heavy rain and or snow cannot stop it.
- Back to your hotel at Baku via Heydar Aliyev Cultural center – Admire the post-modern architecture and its unique shape with lots of curves and no straight line. The building’s shape depicts an eternal cycle, connecting the past with the present. Here you can take pictures of lovely curved surfaces with green gardens and the “I love Baku” sculpture with this building.
DAY 3 – Things To Do In Azerbaijan Itinerary 5 Days
Overnight trip to Shamakhi, Lahıc, Ismailli, Gabala – Night stay at Gabala mountain resort
For – Nature & Adventure lovers
Early check out from your hotel in Baku, as this day trip needs many stopovers.
Click here to watch the Gabala road trip video with things to do.
To enjoy all places with lots of time, starting your trip at 8 AM is recommended.
Highlights of Trip
- Juma Mosque, Shamakhi city. Location – Juma Mosque, Nariman Narimanov St., Shamakhi, Azerbaijan.
- Lahic Asma bridge – old-styled suspension bridge. A famous suspension bridge for pedestrians (asma körpü) over the Girdiman stream. The hike to Lahic village starts after crossing this pedestrian suspension bridge. Lahic is an ancient village with old styled lifestyle to date.
- Lahic forest
- Checking out Qutab – Azerbaijani bread making at local people’s house
- Proceed to Gabala mountain city – Gabala is a mountainous city which is approximately 225 km from Baku. It is one of the famous hillside cities of Azerbaijan, attracting many tourists. Due to its picturesque location on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountains, Gabala is a perfect scenic getaway from Baku.
- Gabala Nohur Lake – Paddle boating – You can pay 15 AZN for 10 minutes of paddling across the lake. The price can vary as per the peak and off-peak tourist season.
- Yeddi Gozel / Gabala Seven Beauties Waterfall – Here, water from various slopes forms a seven-step waterfall. Hike up to catch the view of 7 falls. It would be best if you climbed steep stairs and lots of hikes. I need a lot of physical strength and comfortable shoes to climb.
- Gabala Teleferic or Ropeway tour from Tufandag Mountain resorts – Gabala Cable Car is a highlight of the city. Tufandag Winter-Summer Tourist Complex is located 4 kilometers from Gabala city with lots of activities like mountain ATV quad bikes, four scenic rope-way tours, and other entertainment.
- Night stay in a scenic mountain resort surrounded by mountains and rivers. Click here to book a hotel stay in Gabala.
DAY 4 – Things To Do In Azerbaijan Itinerary 5 Days
Gabala to Sheki, Back to Baku
For – History & nature lovers.
Explore the ancient city of Sheki, surrounded by the Caucasus Mountains.
Highlights of Trip
- Sheki old city tour
- Sheki Khans Palace – The Sheki Khan Palace was built in 1762 as a summer residence for the ruler of Sheki. During the construction of the building, nails and glues were not used. The walls of the Palace are painted with beautiful motifs in organic vegetable dyes. Each painting has its philosophical meaning. The garden of the Palace boasts of having ‘Chinar trees’ which are 500 years old. The life of Chinar trees is approximately 1000 years and so believed they will survive more than 500 years.
- Sheki’s unique wood & Glass window-making workshop – Sheki Khan’s Palace has unique colorful windows made from tiny glass pieces joined together in unique patterns and divided by small wooden parts. She is famous for this special glass window-making technique. Visit the traditional craftsperson’s house to witness the work, and you can also order or purchase the same kind of artifacts.
- Sheki Karavan Saray Museum hotel – Ancient hotel used by merchants of Silk route trading. Merchants or traders who visit Europe to Asia or Europe mostly stop at Sheki and stay there. The giant arches are made for camels or horses to be tied with a person’s stay. The way you park your car in modern-day hotels in front of your room is the same way merchants used to connect camels or horses in front of their rooms.
- A fascinating architecture to see how ancient times, hotels existed. Now converted into a museum. Free to enter. “Caravanserai” is a magnificent historical complex in Sheki and has witnessed the glorious trade route stories from 18th to 19th-century merchants/traders.
- Sheki Albanian Church at kish village – Visit the first Albanian church in the Caucasus, dating back to the 1st century AD, with picturesque mountains. The river-stoned road to the church is very narrow, with lots of traditional homes on sloppy paths.
- Lunch at Abqora Winery at Meyseri with vineyards view – Pamper your tastebuds with fine Azerbaijani dining & Azerbaijani organic wines with the splendid view of wineries all around.
- Back to Baku – Reach Baku by 6 to 7 PM and after that, if you have some energy left, take a small night tour to admire the unique lighting of Flame towers.
DAY 5 – Things To Do In Azerbaijan Itinerary 5 Days
Baku modern and old city tour, Check-out and fly back
Highlights of trip
- Flame towers – a trio of skyscrapers in Baku, Azerbaijan, making the Baku skyline distinct and splendid. The view of Flame towers depicts the modernization in Baku with its ancient glorious past. In the evening, the flame tower gets illuminated like a flame. It looks like fire erupting out from the Caspian Sea, and the whole skyline with the old town and Flame towers is a splendid view from all parts of the city.
- View from Highland Park – Highland Park is the highest spot in Baku, and from here, you can get a view of the whole city with the Caspian Sea. A perfect place to spot the unique Flame Towers, Parliament Building, State Tv Channel Building and Broadcast Tower, Martyrs’ Lane, Chrystal Hall, National Flag Square, and many more Old city buildings.
- Baku Boulevard – A beautiful boulevard across the Caspian Sea with a view of the whole city. It is a very long stretch, so it is the 2nd longest boulevard in the world.
view of Baku boulevard - Azerbaijan Carpet Museum – The unique building, which itself is designed into rolled carpets, depicts the historical and modern carpet industry weaving techniques, different types of threads, rugs, and various specimens. You can also buy small and giant-sized carpets from here. Azerbaijan has been famous for its Persian carpet weaving since ancient times.
- Little Venice – Located near the Caspian seashore, you can feel like a mini Venice with canals and Gondola rides across various restaurants.
- Walk to Old city via Baku Promenade.
- Old city walking tour with lunch at Qebele. It is a traditional Azerbaijani restaurant near the Palace in Old town.
- Fly back from Baku, Azerbaijan – evening
HIGHLIGHTS OF AZERBAIJAN ITINERARY
- Explore the historical past of this region.
- Know about natural wonders – volcanic fire, volcanic eruptions, natural gas formations.
- Discover Azerbaijani cuisine.
- Explore the culture of the ancient silk route and how traders have their lifestyle at many stopovers.
- Southern Caucasus mountain region with exotic fruit orchards, green slopes, Chinar trees, rivers, streams, and waterfalls.
Vegetarian Food Tour
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) – Azerbaijan Itinerary
Q Is Azerbaijan safe?
Ans – Azerbaijan is pretty safe with standard precautions.
Q – How are the people of Azerbaijan?
Ans – People of Azerbaijan are very friendly and harmless. They welcome people with big hearts.
Q – Is there any language problem?
Ans – People of Azerbaijan don’t understand much English. Most people on front desk hotel staff and tour guides understand English for communication purposes. So better to carry Google translate.
Q – Is Azerbaijan expensive?
Ans – Azerbaijan is not very expensive. It costs 50 to 75 AZN for 3 to 4 people for food. If you book a taxi through Uber or Bolt from the airport to the old town, they take around 12 AZN to 15 AZN.
Q – Do we get vegetarian food in Azerbaijan?
Ans – Normally, Azerbaijani cuisine doesn’t have many options. But still, I found some possibilities – Lentil hot soup, Tomato soup, Qutab/Kutab (stuffed bread with spices or herbs), Lavash (white bread), Sadj (various vegetables on a hot plate), Pulav, Eggplant Seydir (roasted eggplant with herbs and tomatoes)
Q – Is tipping in restaurants mandatory?
Ans – No, it is not, but it is up to your goodwill.
Q – Are there any dress or culture restrictions on girls or boys?
Ans – Azerbaijan is a modern country with no restrictions on dressing style. But girls need to cover their heads if you are visiting the mosque from the inside.
Q – Drinking water from taps is safe?
Ans – Mostly, Azerbaijani people use bottled water, and it is recommended that tourists to use the same. Water from waterfalls in forests or remote areas is suitable for drinking too.
Q. Local transport options in Baku? Or How to commute in Baku city.
Ans. – walking in Old town. You can book a taxi through Bolt or Uber Taxi Apps. The taxi ride is very cheap and affordable. Even if you stop a red-colored Baku city taxi, they charge no more than 10 AZN for a 3 to 4-km ride.
I hope you will find things to do in Azerbaijan 5 Days Itinerary article handy and helpful. So please save this Azerbaijan travel guide as you know now worth visiting Azerbaijan tourist places.
BAKU HOTELS ROOM VIDEO TOURS
Winter Park Baku Hotel
Fairmont Baku Flame Towers Sea-facing room – Azerbaijan Itinerary
VISITING GEORGIA WITH AZERBAIJAN then read these guides
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