Azerbaijan - Independent travel in Central Asia

Rent a Car in Azerbaijan or Hire a Driver?

TimA — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 09:16:59 +0000

We're spending ten days in Azerbaijan this September and can't decide whether to rent a car or hire a driver.

The plan is Baku → Gobustan → Lahij → Sheki → Quba → Khinalig.

We normally enjoy driving ourselves when travelling, but several people have warned us about local traffic and mountain roads.

Those who've done it—which option would you recommend?

Should I Buy a SIM Card at Baku Airport?

Ramon Blake — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:33:54 +0000

We're flying into Baku next month and landing around midnight. My main concern is mobile internet. Is it worth buying a SIM card at the airport as soon as we arrive, or is it better to wait until we're in the city? We'll need internet mainly for Google Maps, Bolt and keeping in touch with family back home.

Ticket prices for foreigners in Old City

Karina — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:35:04 +0000

Guys, I’m confused — how much is just the entrance fee? No excursion, no car, no tour. For 1 person.

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Buying Kelaghayi in Baku: Prices, Quality

marrader — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:58:19 +0000

Hello, how much do scarves like these cost in Baku?

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Baku airport Taxi transfer prices

piligrim — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 07:05:15 +0000

Just in case if somebody would be interested in taxi transfer rates from Baku airport by official taxi service. Using taxi apps would be cheaper obviously but some prefer not to complicate the matter.

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Taxis in Baku

ToLiK — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 04:19:33 +0000

Hello everyone, and happy belated holidays to all! I want to clearly warn everyone who is flying or planning to fly to Baku! We are Muscovites, we were in Baku from January 4 to 8, 2026, and here is what I want to write: do not listen to anyone, taxis do take cash, and in the apps Yango, Bolt, Uber our Russian cards do not get linked. Not a single one ☝️. Exchange manats into small bills, because most (not all) taxi drivers do not give change, for some reason they just don’t have it)). And here is what we noticed: the tastiest food is cooked in the cafés and restaurants of the Old City, yes, yes, even though the Old City is kind of for tourists, but judging by our “research” of the food scene, the food there is really the most delicious! And also, buy a local SIM card. Roaming with Russian mobile companies barely work at all ))) Wishing everyone kindness. Peace and health!

Mobile Phone registration for use in Azerbaijan

Ika Rismayanti — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 09:46:34 +0000

Please confirm if I understand this correctly: if you only use roaming and Wi-Fi, then it is not necessary to register your phone in Azerbaijan.
But if you want to insert a local SIM card, then the SIM slot in your phone will only work for one month, and after that it will be blocked if the registration has not been completed.

Finding excursions in Baku on the spot

leu00so — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:17:42 +0000

Hi. Could you advise me if tours outside the city are sold right on the streets of Baku? For example, to Gobustan, Ateshgah, or the Pink Lake, etc. Where should I look for them? Don't want to book them in advance, I'd rather join them on the spot when there.

Using BakıKart transport card

Eilidh M — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 08:03:06 +0000

Online it says that the BakıKart has no expiration date and allows you to pay for multiple people.
So does that mean we can buy just one card for two people? And how does it actually work in practice when paying for two?

Tax free in Baku airport

piotr66 — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 07:46:11 +0000

Good afternoon. Can someone please clarify: When applying for tax free, is the store receipt enough? Or do you need to have something else filled out at the shop?