12 reasons why you should travel to Azerbaijan right now

Where is Azerbaijan? How to travel to Azerbaijan? Do you need a visa for Azerbaijan? What should I know about their people and culture before I travel to Azerbaijan? What to do in Azerbaijan? Are there any good places?" Then have to this article. It will help you a lot! Moreover, if you want to travel to Azerbaijan, this article will become your Azerbaijan travel guide!

1. Where is Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan or officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is a state located in the South Caucasus. Azerbaijan is located in the west of the Caspian Sea basin. Russia borders it to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, Turkey to the southwest, and Iran to the south. Azerbaijan has a rich history. When the USSR collapsed on August 30, 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan declared its independence. It carries traces of Manna, Midya, Skif, Atropatena, Albanian periods. You can feel the touch of different cultures in every corner when you travel to Azerbaijan. How to travel to Azerbaijan? There are many options to travel to Azerbaijan. Visa requirements, required documents, and rules may change for each country individually.

2. Is it safe to travel to Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan is one of the safest countries in the world, with the capital Baku being in the first place. Crimes such as theft and harassment, a problem for tourists in many countries, are classified as serious crimes in Azerbaijan. There is hardly any experience in Azerbaijan with the sensitivity of the police forces. You can feel this trust wherever you want for 24 hours in Baku, which hosts most of the tourists coming to the country. If you wondered if it is safe to travel to Azerbaijan or not, you can now be relaxed and enjoy your travel to this beautiful country.

3. Islam in Azerbaijan

They have good and strong relations with most of the Islamic and Christian countries. People are always shocked by the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Israel. Azerbaijan is a democratic and secular country! Although the vast majority of the population is Muslim, you can find churches and synagogues in various cities, especially in Baku. They respect each person's personal choices and beliefs. You will never feel uncomfortable about it. I think this is one of the main reasons to travel to Azerbaijan.

4. Azerbaijani cuisine

If you love delicious food and would love to try it, you should travel to Azerbaijan because of its cuisine! You come across the most natural and delicious food of Azerbaijan, which has a great gastronomy wealth. Azerbaijani dishes usually consist of pastries with meat, vegetables, milk, dishes, rice, and soups. There are not many olive oil dishes. A striking feature of Azerbaijani cuisine is that different food belongs to the same type. For example, there are more than thirty types of dolma and more than a hundred pilaf varieties. The same applies to pastries, soups, meat dishes, vegetable dishes, desserts, and even salads. For such a rich cuisine, "Azerbaijan Travel Guide for Culinary" is a must! You can't get enough of these delicious Azerbaijani dishes prepared by professional chefs and served with traditional methods! You can find the smell of tomatoes, the taste of vegetables, and the wonderful taste of meat in every restaurant serving Azerbaijani food. This will make your Azerbaijan travel unforgettable! If someone ever asks me, "What to do in Azerbaijan?", I would say "Definitely taste our cuisine first"!

5. Azerbaijan oil

Oil is the world's most precious energy source and the cause of dozens of wars so far. The precious energy source is common throughout Azerbaijan and is an important tool in increasing its welfare. It has served a different purpose for hundreds of years in Naftalan. Naftalan is a city in Azerbaijan surrounded by the Goranboy region. It is located on an agricultural plain near the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Patients from many countries of the world are seeking healing from crude oil. The therapeutic oil type, which is produced only in 12 wells in the Naftalan region in the world, is also used for the rehabilitation of the most difficult patients since the Soviet Union period. Your Azerbaijan travel will be more interesting after visiting Naftalan! In addition to oil, the salt caves in Nakhchivan and the healing waters in Gala Altı are among the important centers where many patients find a solution to their problems in Azerbaijan.

6. What to do in Azerbaijan?

The Azerbaijani people, who attach great importance to their traditions and history, strive to ensure museums are equal to the world standard. Museology is carried out in a very professional manner, which protects its history and knows how to present it to tourists who visit the country while transferring it to future generations. Palace of the Shirvanshahs, Azerbaijan State Carpet Museum, Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature, Azerbaijan State Theatre Museum, Azerbaijan State Museum of Art, Institute of Manuscripts of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan State Museum of History, Baku Museum of Modern Art, Baku Museum of Miniature Books, Ganja State History-Ethnography Museum, Historical-ethnographic museum of Khinalig village, Lahij Museum of Local History, Palace of Shaki Khans, and many others are great examples of that.

7. City of winds

You will understand why Baku, which is defined as the "city of winds of the land of fires," was given this name, especially when climbing to one of the city's highest points, the Daghustu Park. The mighty winds of the Caspian Sea are not missing over Baku. In the City of Winds, sometimes you may find it difficult to even stand on high points. In such cases, it is best to visit the Iceri Sheher or get lost in Baku's streets.

8.  Azerbaijani music

Azerbaijani music has a deep richness. The variety of instruments impresses the audience with the music genres and musicians who love their arts. While Mugam artists perform their art with their powerful voices without using microphones, the strong timbre of tar and the impressive voice may take away the listeners. In addition to these, jazz has an important place in Azerbaijani music. You come across a jazz background in many songs. There are many places in Azerbaijan where you can enjoy pleasant music, especially in the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. Shusha is considered the cultural capital of not only Azerbaijan but the entire Caucasus.

9. Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan

The majestic structures surrounding the wide avenues will draw your attention, especially while you are visiting Baku. Architecture from many countries welcomes you in these buildings, each of which is more aesthetic than the other. In Baku, you can suddenly feel like traveling in Moscow, Paris, or Vienna. The aesthetic buildings, inspired by the most beautiful examples of their kind, have been in life for many years and manage to attract tourists' attention. In addition to the new buildings that showcase Baku's modern face, the aesthetics of the buildings in the newly built public living areas and the importance given to green spaces will not go unnoticed.

10. What about shopping?

Baku, in particular, is a true shopping paradise! The most famous brands of the world add a different liveliness to Baku streets. You often come across the most famous textile, cosmetic and automotive brands in Baku. Port Baku Mall is the most important center where shopping enthusiasts from the surrounding countries frequently visit. Besides, Park Bulvar Mall, Genclik Mall, 28 Mall, Metropark Shopping Mall, and many other shopping malls attract attention with their size and modernity, offering wealth and comfort worthy of the examples in the world.

11. Nagorno-Karabakh conflict

If you travel to Azerbaijan, it means you will be in a victorious country! You can be one of the first tourists who will visit Karabakh! Azerbaijan won a big victory in liberating its lands after 30 years of occupation during a terrible pandemic! Shusha, Lachin, Kalbajar, Zangilan, Fizuli, and many other cities will be waiting for tourists, with many different and interesting events and festivals. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Khudafarin Bridge, which has witnessed many historical events since 1027. Last but not least, let's not forget about the Azokh cave, known as a habitation site of prehistoric humans. Visiting this cave is like time-traveling!

12. Useful tips

In conclusion, I would like to present famous things from different parts of Azerbaijan. Your Azerbaijan travel will be more exciting after knowing all these details! This information will be your "Azerbaijan Travel Guide" for many regions during your trip! Sheki is famous for its very rich cuisine, primarily Sheki piti, Sheki halva, Sheki baklava, and sweets. Lankaran is known for its lemon and tea, so you should taste this tea as someone traveling to Azerbaijan. Goychay is so famous for its pomegranate that a special "Goychay Pomegranate Festival" is held every year. Guba apple is so tasty and fresh that songs have been written about it. Ordubad apricot, which is distinguished by its appearance, taste, and aroma, is among the most popular fruits. Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is famous for its special pastries, white and black grapes, and saffron. Applying for an Azerbaijan visa is easy. You can even apply to get an electronic visa. This is not only affordable but instant.  I hope that with the help of this article, people from all over the world will know not only the answer to basic questions such as "Where is Azerbaijan?", "How to travel to Azerbaijan?", "Is it safe to travel to Azerbaijan at all?", but also get acquainted with Azerbaijani cuisine, art, and culture, history, architecture, must-visit places, etc.