- Important points
- Choosing wings
- Hotel or apartment
- Transport subtleties
- Nightingales are not fed with fables
- Useful details
- Perfect travel to Azerbaijan
The name of this republic is associated with untold wealth. And it's not just about oil. Real treasures are revealed to everyone who sets out on a journey across Azerbaijan: magnificent mountains and gray waves of the Caspian; honeyed to transparency clusters of grapes on a hundred-year-old vine and ancient carpets adorning museums and palaces; old streets with openwork ligature of balconies and a myriad of lights pouring in the evenings from the windows of skyscrapers in the center of Baku. And also Azerbaijan is the secret of fragrant pilaf, the unique resort of Naftalan, mausoleums of the 12th century and thermal mineral springs.
Important points
- A Russian tourist will not need a visa to travel to the Republic of Azerbaijan. If you have a passport, you can stay in the country for up to 90 days.
- Do not take pictures in the Baku metro. Such shooting requires a special permit.
- It is important to have cash with you when traveling to the provinces, as credit cards are hardly accepted in the outback. This rule also applies to small souvenir shops or cafes in the capital.
Choosing wings
Moscow and Baku are directly connected by Aeroflot and Azerbaijan Airlines flights:
- A direct flight between the capitals lasts about 3 hours. Aeroflot's aircraft fly from Sheremetyevo, and Azerbaijan Airlines - from Domodedovo.
- The ticket price for a direct regular flight starts from $ 200.
The second way to travel to Azerbaijan is to buy a train ticket from Moscow to Baku. Several times a month, a direct train departs from the Kursk railway station in the capital of Russia, the passengers of which spend a little more than two days on the way. The price of a one-way ticket in a reserved seat is about $ 100.
Hotel or apartment
Azerbaijanis, in general, and Bakuvians, in particular, are always glad to receive guests. A testament to their hospitality is a diverse hotel fund that allows both a wealthy person and an economical traveler to stay in the country without any problems:
- The cheapest prices are offered by hostels. A bed in a dormitory room will cost $ 6 per night, and for this money, guests will be offered free Wi-Fi, parking, airport shuttle and the closest location of many attractions.
- A modest double room in a hotel without stars in Baku costs $ 20 per night. The price includes internet.
- In the "three-ruble note" it will be possible to stay for $ 30 -50 $ depending on the area. Breakfast is often included in this price, as is wifi with parking.
- Excellent 5 * hotels for $ 50-$ 70 in Baku are not uncommon, while reviews of previous guests mainly contain the epithets "excellent" and "amazing".
Residents of Azerbaijani cities rent out their own housing and it is quite possible to find a separate one-room apartment in the city center for $ 30-$ 40 per night. A room in an apartment with an owner will cost $ 20-30, but considering how favorable the prices for hotels in Baku are, it is easier to stay in a hotel.
Transport subtleties
Intercity transport in Azerbaijan is represented by buses and fixed-route taxis. The fares are very affordable, and the schedule is strictly observed. In cities, you can travel by the same minibuses or buses, and in Baku also by metro. Despite the availability of taximeters, Azerbaijani taxi drivers prefer to dictate their rates, and therefore it is advisable to negotiate the cost of the trip "on the shore".
Nightingales are not fed with fables
In Azerbaijan, every gourmet will find his own paradise. In cafes, restaurants and even street eateries in Baku and other cities, dishes of the Caucasian menu are presented in abundance. Shashlik and lula-kebab, pilaf and lagman, grilled vegetables and fruits ripe like honey are served wholesale and retail on every corner of any Azerbaijani city.
You can have an inexpensive snack in Baku or in the provinces in teahouses in the markets, in kebabs, at street vendors. Only Azerbaijanis put a special meaning into the concept of "having a bite", and a generous table set at any time of the day is a sure sign that you are in a hospitable Transcaucasian republic.
Average prices for a dinner for two at an inexpensive street cafe, barbecue and restaurant range from $ 20 to $ 50, depending on the status of the institution. At the same time, guests will receive snacks and hot, indispensable meat cooked on a fire, wine and fruits or oriental sweets for dessert.
Coming on the heels of ancient customs, modern civilization also takes its toll, and fast food establishments are opening in the shopping centers of large cities, where you can taste Indian, Chinese, Mediterranean cuisine. A slice of pizza at the food court will cost $ 1 -2 $, and a portion of Chinese food will "pull" a maximum of $ 3.
Useful details
- Avoid buying antiques from private gift shops or markets. Antique items are taxed upon export and a certificate issued by the country's Ministry of Culture will help to avoid paying it. Such documents accompany the purchase only in official art salons, and everything produced before 1960 is automatically ranked as antiques.
- You can and should bargain everywhere - in the market, in a taxi, and in a souvenir shop. But do it politely and calmly.
Perfect travel to Azerbaijan
Despite its small size, the republic boasts a variety of climatic zones, and the range of temperatures in different parts of Azerbaijan at the same time can reach 20 degrees or more.
The best time to relax here is spring and early autumn, when precipitation is unlikely, there are no strong winds, and the thermometers on the plains and in the coastal zone do not rise above + 26 ° С. In summer, the heat can reach + 40 ° С, and by the same amount, but below zero, the temperature in the mountainous regions drops in winter.
A trip to Azerbaijan can be timed to coincide with one of the national holidays or festivals held in the country. Local residents' favorite Novruz is celebrated on the Day of the Spring Equinox, and the Flower Festival is celebrated on May 10. Azerbaijanis are sensitive to their customs and national symbols, and tourists will find many interesting events on May 28 on Republic Day, September 18 on National Music Day and November 9 on National Flag Day.
