Azerbaijan
Baku's flame-lit skyline and walled old city, mud volcanoes and the green mountains of Gabala, about two and a half hours from Dubai.
In this guide
When to go
April to June is the sweet spot, with highs of 18 to 27°C in Baku and green meadows in Gabala. July and August are hot in the capital, around 32°C, and Baku is famously windy all year, so pack a layer even in summer. September and October are mild and quieter, with pomegranate season in the regions.
Winter is cold but often bright, and the Shahdag and Tufandag ski resorts open from December. Novruz, the spring new year festival in March, fills the old city with bonfires, music and trays of sweets. Eid weekends are very popular with UAE travellers, so book early.
Where to stay and how to plan the route
Two nights in Baku and two in Gabala is our classic four-night plan, shown in the Baku and Gabala escape. The drive to Gabala takes about three and a half hours, with a stop at the Diri Baba mausoleum or the Juma Mosque in Shamakhi. With a week, add Sheki for its Khan's Palace and silk workshops, or combine with Tbilisi.
Stay in or near Icherisheher, Baku's walled old city, or on the boulevard for evening walks by the Caspian. Omar Siddiqui and Layla Haddad arrange most of our Azerbaijan trips, including group and Eid departures.
Things to do
- Icherisheher, with the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs
- Funicular to Highland Park for views of the Flame Towers after dark
- Heydar Aliyev Center and its flowing white curves
- Gobustan rock carvings and the bubbling mud volcanoes nearby
- Yanar Dag, the hillside that has burned for decades
- Tufandag cable car in Gabala and a picnic at Nohur Lake
- Sheki Khan's Palace and a night in the old caravanserai
- Baku Boulevard along the Caspian at sunset
Food, money and practical tips
Azerbaijan is a Muslim-majority country, so halal food is the norm. Order plov, dushbara dumplings, qutab and lamb kebabs with a pot of black tea and jam. Cards work in Baku's restaurants and malls; carry manat for taxis and markets outside the capital. Use a ride-hailing app or agree taxi fares before you set off. A 5 to 10 percent tip is usual. Dress is relaxed in Baku, but cover up for mosques and in rural areas. A local SIM is cheap and quick to buy at the airport with your passport.
Rules change; we confirm the current requirements before you apply.
Azerbaijan holidays from Dubai
Visa services for Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan: questions we are asked
Do UAE residents need a visa for Azerbaijan?
What is the best month to visit Azerbaijan?
How many days do we need in Azerbaijan?
Is Azerbaijan family friendly?
Is halal food easy to find?
What is the weather like in Baku in October?
Travellers back from Azerbaijan
Booked this for six Russian-speaking friends and the guide switched between Russian and English without missing a beat. The Gobustan petroglyphs and the mud volcanoes made for a strange, brilliant morning. Late checkout on the last day was added for free because our flight home was in the evening.
My husband and I hold Pakistani passports and were nervous about the paperwork. The e-visa was handled for us and in our inbox two days later. Plov in a family restaurant in Gabala, Nohur lake at sunrise, and a driver who played old Azeri songs all the way. Four nights, zero stress.
Needed e-visas for my family of five at short notice. Imran filled in everything from our scanned passports, double-checked the names, and sent all five approvals to our WhatsApp within three working days.
Reading before you go
Summer Escapes from Dubai: Cool Places to Go from June to August
Where UAE residents go to escape 43°C: Georgia, Azerbaijan, the Alps, the Dolomites, Kenya, Sri Lanka and Bali, with July temperatures, flying times, real summer prices and when to book.
Eid Holidays from Dubai: How to Plan Short Breaks Around Eid in 2027
Expected 2027 Eid dates, why fares jump 30 to 60 percent, the best four to six day trips from the UAE, booking windows, group allocations, alternate airports and visa timing before embassies close.
