Travel Essentials › Azerbaijan
Travel Essentials
Plugs: Types C and F, 220 V. Emergency: One number for everything 112, Police 102, Ambulance 103, Fire 101. Tipping: About 10% in restaurants is usual; round up taxi fares. Tap water: Drink bottled or treated water.
Types C and F, 220 V
| One number for everything | 112 |
| Police | 102 |
| Ambulance | 103 |
| Fire | 101 |
About 10% in restaurants is usual; round up taxi fares.
Greetings. Men shake hands, often with a slight bow or a hand on the heart; wait for a woman to offer her hand, otherwise a nod and a smile is polite. Close friends and relatives hug or kiss on the cheek, and elders are greeted first.
Hospitality. Tea is offered frequently and is polite to accept; hospitality is a point of pride.
Religious sites. Dress modestly at mosques; headscarves for women may be requested.
Sensitive topics. Be cautious discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with strangers; avoid photographing military or government sites.
Azerbaijan is generally safe for tourists with low rates of violent crime.
Taxi overcharging. Agree a price beforehand or use an app like Bolt rather than hailing unmarked taxis.
Restaurant bill padding. Check the bill carefully in touristy parts of Baku, where extra items are sometimes added.
Drink-spiking or inflated bar tabs. In some Western-style Baku nightclubs, foreign men have been targeted by women encouraging expensive drink orders, or had drinks spiked, leading to huge bills or robbery; stick to reputable venues and watch your drink.
Women travelers. Generally safe, though dressing modestly outside Baku's cosmopolitan center reduces unwanted attention.
Legal · Use Caution
Same-sex relations have been legal since 2000, but there are no anti-discrimination protections and reports of police harassment (particularly of trans women) persist; social stigma is strong and discretion is strongly advised.
| Coffee (café) | 5.90 AZN | $3.50 |
| Local bus or metro ride (Baku) | 0.40 AZN | $0.25 |
| Mid-range restaurant meal | 33 AZN | $19 |
| Hostel bed / budget room (night) | 20 AZN | $12 |
| Mid-range hotel (night) | 130 AZN | $76 |
| Daily budget, mid-range traveler | 105 AZN | $62 |
2026-09
April-June and September-October are best for mild weather in Baku and the countryside. Summer is hot inland but pleasant on the Caspian coast; winter (Nov-Mar) is cold and wetter, though the Caucasus offers skiing.
Basic Azerbaijani phrases · Basic Russian phrases · Basic Lezgin phrases