If you’re fond of travelling and have a Pakistani passport, your travel options and possibilities might seem bleak. After all, you’d need to go through a pretty extensive visa application process for many of the major tourist destinations in the world. But guess what? Travelling to Azerbaijan from Pakistan is not only possible, but it’s also hassle-free, thanks to an incredibly easy e-visa process!
Stick with us as we jot down the essentials to plan your trip to Azerbaijan. This tourist’s guide to Azerbaijan covers the visa process, the costs associated with the trip, and also lists down five of the top cities to visit in the country and where to go and what to do once you reach each town. In short, all you need to do is get your visa, book your flight and you’re off to explore the Land of Fire (a name given to the country due to its fire temples, burning mountains and the famous Flame Towers)!
Getting a Visit Visa for Azerbaijan
Pakistan is among the 90+ countries that are eligible for applying for an online visit visa to Azerbaijan. Thus, you can visit the website, fill the form, make the payment via a debit/credit card, and you’ll have your visa in hand in a matter of days.
Visa Cost: 25 USD (normal) or 50 USD (urgent)
Visa Processing Time: 3 days (normal) or 3 hours (urgent)
Travel Duration and Cost
Azerbaijan a fairly small nation, so you can easily plan to visit all of the major highlights of the country in a matter of 10 days. Please note that if you plan your trip to Azerbaijan for more than 10 days, you might need to register your entry at a local Migration service.
An estimated PKR 1.5 to 2 lakh will be required for a 10-day visit to Azerbaijan, while airline tickets can cost you PKR 65,000 to 1.2 lakh, depending on which airport/city you’re flying from.
Local Currency of Azerbaijan
The local Azeri currency is Manat, which is equivalent to PKR 94 approx. (currency rates are subject to change every day). However, it is best to travel with US Dollars and to get the currency exchanged at the local banks in Baku, which will be your first stop. You can get local currency at the airport as well, but you’ll get better rates within the city.
Modes of Communication
You can buy a local sim card with a data package to access the internet, hail a taxi, or check for routes on Google Maps. Bakcell is one company you can consider for this purpose.
Weather in Azerbaijan and When to Visit
Azerbaijan generally experiences hot summers and mild winters, but the best time to visit the country is in May or September after the peak summer and winter months have passed.
Local Foods in Azerbaijan
Local food in Azerbaijan is quite tasty, especially grilled meat, including kebabs. Try the Azeri Pulao as well if you get a chance. Tea is good and tasty here, and more suited to the Pakistani style of making tea. For dessert, try baklava at local shops or stock up on dry fruits to eat during your long car journeys between cities.
Inter-City Travel
While buses and taxis are commonly available, marshrutkas (minibuses) are recommended for intercity travels. Groups of people share transport in these minivans, and the ride is comfortable and economical, even over longer distances. You can find marshrutkas leaving from Baku for all the major cities in Azerbaijan.
Your Travel Itinerary for Azerbaijan
If you want to plan your trip to Azerbaijan while making the most of your days, you should consider visiting the following cities:
- Baku (4 Days)
- Gabala (1 Day)
- Sheki (1 Day)
- Ganja (2 Days)
- Quba (2 Days)
Baku
Baku’s Heydar Aliyev International Airport will be your flight destination when you book your tickets, and since your longest stay will be in Baku, it is advised to choose your hotel wisely. Selecting a place near Nizami Street is recommended and you should book your accommodation in advance before travelling to Baku. If your itinerary permits, spend 3 days in Baku and then set out to explore other cities. You will be returning to the capital after a trip to Ganja to head towards Quba and then again, on your last day for your return flight from the airport.
Travelling within Baku and to and from the airport is easy as there is a central public transport system in place. It is also one of the only cities in Azerbaijan to have a metro system. BakiKart is the name of the prepaid card that you can purchase from the metro station to recharge and use during your travels in the city. Two people can use the card simultaneously by tapping it twice for the same journey. Ride-hailing apps and taxis are available as well, but as is almost always the case, public transport is a lot cheaper, although a bit more crowded.
Places to See in Baku
After travelling to Azerbaijan from Pakistan, you’ll be eager to head out and explore the town. So, here are some of the major sights to see in Baku:
Architectural Marvels (Both New and Old)
- Flame Towers – Trio of skyscrapers in the form of flames, rising to a height of 182 metres (597 feet), housing an apartment complex, a hotel, and a commercial office block
- Old City – The oldest part of Baku, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs
- Maiden Tower – A 12th-century bastion built alongside the palace walls and a major landmark of Azerbaijan
- Palace of the Shirvanshahs – A 15th-century palace complex that now houses a museum within its walls
Places of Religious Significance
- Ateshgah (Fire Temple) – Used as a temple by multiple religions until the 19th century, the castle-like structure was originally built in the 17th or 18th century
- Bibi Heybat Mosque – A restored historical mosque in Baku that holds spiritual value for the local Muslim population
Museums and Monuments
- Heydar Aliyev Centre – A modern art museum named after a former Azeri president, which has won awards for its unique architecture
- Carpet Museum – Home to the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets on display along with showcasing a history of weaving techniques with different materials
- Martyr’s Avenue – Containing the Eternal Flame monument as well as several others, this cemetery is the final resting place of those who gave their lives for Azerbaijan’s independence.
Natural Wonders
- Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain) – A never-ending natural fire that burns on a hillside in the Absheron Peninsula, fuelled by the natural gas reserves found underground
Shopping
- Nizami Street – Named after a Persian poet, this is the central shopping district of Baku, where tourists can shop to their heart’s content.
Gabala
At a 4-hour distance from Baku lies Gabala, a town amidst the mountains that is not only famous for its natural beauty but also for its ski resorts. The city’s pleasant climate makes it a major tourist destination in all seasons. Tufandag Mountain Resort is the place to stay here, even if you are not fond of skiing. Take a cable car journey to the top and reach the resort with its panoramic views and snow-covered slopes.
Places to See in Gabala
- Gabaland – An amusement park that is fun for the whole family and is often called the ‘Azerbaijani Disneyland’
- Yeddi Gozel Waterfall – Literally meaning ‘seven beauties’, where you can visit one of the many tea houses and sit alongside the falls for a cup of your favourite brew
- Gabala Archaeological Center (Chukhur Gabala) – Excavated sites of the old city of Gabala on the outskirts of the new town, with remains as early as the 1st century
Sheki
Nearly 1.5 hours away from Gabala is the town of Sheki, a historic settlement that dates back originally to the Bronze Age. With snowy peaks and mountainous forests, the rural town is a tourism hub due to its rich history,and it’s been added to our tourist’s guide to Azerbaijan because of its beautiful and serene surroundings. Sheki is a day’s worth of exploration, after which, you can drive to Ganja to continue your tour of Azerbaijan.
Places to See in Sheki
- Palace of Shaki Khans – A summer residence for the ancient rulers of the area, which has been restored to its former glory and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Church of Kish – An inactive church in the nearby village of Kish that is visited by tourists for its beautifully designed interior
- Galarsan-Gorarsan – The ruins of a 9th-century fortress located on the summit of the Garatepe Mountain, near the banks of the Kish River
Ganja
Ganja happens to be Azerbaijan’s second-largest city, and this is why you need to spend at least two days here when you plan your trip to Azerbaijan. Choose a hotel near the city centre to get easy access to all the attractions and the hustle and bustle of Ganja.
Places to See in Ganja
- Nizami Mausoleum – The final resting place of the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi that stands tall over the city at the height of 20 meters (65 feet)
- Bottle House of Ganja – An unusual residence built using 48,000 glass bottles, constructed by a local of Ganja in memory of his brother, who went missing during World War 2
- The Friday Mosque of Ganja – Built in the early 1600s and rebuilt in 2008, the mosque holds historical and religious significance in the city with people gathering here for Friday prayers
- Göygöl Lake – A natural lake located inside the Göygöl National Park near Ganja where you can observe the local flora and fauna while enjoying a picnic by the shores
Quba
Once you’ve explored Ganja, you’ll be travelling to Baku again, and move on from there towards Quba, which is at a 2-hour drive from the capital. Quba is generally known for its natural beauty, scenic resorts and plenty of hiking opportunities. Our tourist’s guide to Azerbaijan sets Quba as the last city you should explore so that you can relax before your flight home, but you can choose to head towards Quba in the initial days and continue with the rest of the journey upon your return to Baku.
Places to See in Quba
- Chuhur Hamam – A bathhouse made from red bricks that was a communal meeting place for locals of Quba until 1985
- Nizami Park – Built in 1946, the park is home to a statue of the poet it is named after and also contains sculptures depicting scenes from the poet’s work
- Quba Genocide Memorial Complex – A monument built after the discovery of a mass grave in Quba at a construction site, with the cause of the mass burial being still unknown
Some Additional Tips While Travelling to Azerbaijan from Pakistan
When you plan your trip to Azerbaijan, don’t forget to keep these tips in mind to make the most of your experience:
- Haggling with sellers is common as is the case in Pakistan as well, so don’t accept the first asking price for any item
- Azeris are generally friendly and helpful but might not be fluent in English, so language barriers can be an issue
- Try to learn a few words in the local language or take a translator app with you on the go to help you out
- Azerbaijan has very little to offer in terms of souvenirs, except baklava and dry fruits
- Accommodation is generally cheap, even at 5-star ratings with fabulous views
This wraps up our tourist’s guide to Azerbaijan. If you’re travelling to Azerbaijan from Pakistan, use the information given above to plan your trip or follow our given itinerary to enjoy your days in the Land of Fire and make some amazing memories to bring back home!
Many people consider travelling to both Azerbaijan and Turkey together and if that’s your plan, you can check out how to travel to Turkey from Pakistan in order to create a longer itinerary.
For more tourism posts, keep following Zameen Blog, and email us at blog@zameen.com if you have any queries regarding your trip. You can check out our travel guide to Egypt if you want to an alternative travel destination to consider. Safe Travels!
