Visa: It is generally required by all (except CIS member countries). No visa upon arrival in the airport (except for Turks, UAE and Israelis) or land borders. Online e-visa available to apply and receive it before you arrive.
Currency: Manat USD1 = 1.70 AZN = 0.80 Euro. Stable. It’s best to bring US$ cash or a MasterCard/Visa credit card for cash advances. ATMs widely available in Baku city centre. Outside Baku better to have cash ready. Re-exchange is not problem. Rates for USD & Euro are OK, for pound sterling are slightly poorer. Travelers’ cheques are hard to cash.
Food & Drink Prices: Cheap local meals widely available (doner kebab 3-5 AZN), standard lunch and dinner prices start from $10 and goes up to $80.
Bottled water from 50-70 cents per half-litre. Draft beer from 2 Manat, bottled lager from 2-3 AZN (Xirdalan), up to 7 AZN in ex-pat bars.
Transport prices: Taxi 5-10 AZN anywhere within central Baku City. Metro is cheap and the best to get around Baku (flat fee of 0,25 cents per ride), buses cost as Metro (0.20-0,25 AZN per ride ).
Driving: International license advised. Major international car hire chains (Avis, Hertz, etc) available. Car hire/4WD can be arranged based on your home license.
Time zone: 4hrs ahead of GMT, 2hrs ahead of Turkey, 30 minutes ahead of Iran.
Religion: Islam. Secular country.
Language: Azerbaijani (Azeri), Russian is also spoken widely in Baku and among older folks across the country, Turkish is useful, English is understood by very few outside Baku.
Telephone codes: The international code for Azerbaijan is 994, then 12 for local phones Baku, 50 (Azercell), 55 (Bakcell) or 70 and 77 (Nar) for mobiles.
Health factors: No worry about.
Safety: Generally very safe and hospitable. Violence and crime is minimal.
Shopping: Most international goods are available in Baku. Outside the capital choice is very limited.
PRACTICAL TIPS FOR VISITORS
Language Azerbaijani is the official language in Azerbaijan. Other languages widely spoken are Russian, English, Turkish.
Money Azeri currency – Manat Notes in Denomination of Manat are: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100
Foreign currency should be exchanged only in banks or official Exchange Bureaus.
Currency restrictions: The export of local currency is prohibited. All remaining local currency must be converted at the point of departure. Export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival.
Banking hours 09.00 – 18.00 Monday to Friday
Electricity Voltage Azerbaijani Power Stations supply at 220 volts/A.C.
Tipping Appreciated but not compulsory. You can tip taxi drivers, waiters, hairdressers, etc. VAT and service charges are included in all bills.
