Azerbaijan was once part of the former Soviet Union. The country lies on the Caspian Sea, is rich in oil reserves and has always been an important hub on the Silk Road. Azerbaijan borders Russia, Georgia, Iran, Armenia and Turkey. See andyeducation for education in Azerbaijan.
| Capital City | Baku |
| Size | 86,600 km² |
| Resident | 9,593,000 |
| Official Language | Azerbaijani |
| Currency | Azerbaijani Manat |
| Time Zone | UTC+4 (SZ +5) |
| Telephone Area Code | +994 |
Fast facts to know
- Possesses many historical and architectural sights.
- Very scenic.
- 90% of the population are Muslims.
- Very polite and hospitable people.
- You should avoid the conflict region Nagorno-Karabakh and the Armenian-occupied districts in the south-west (fighting, danger of mines).
- Oil was one of the country’s most important exports as early as the Middle Ages.
- Since 2016, Azerbaijan has had a Formula 1 track, the Baku City Circuit.
- As an inseparable part of the Turkish world, horse breeding has a long tradition and great importance in Azerbaijan.
- There is an increased risk of rabies in large parts of Azerbaijan.
Exciting cities in Azerbaijan
- Baku
- sheki
- Kobustan
- Shamakhi
- ganja
- Khachmaz
History of Azerbaijan
- 3rd Century: Establishment of the Sassanid Empire by the Persians.
- 7th Century: Conquest by the Arabs, who also brought Islam to the country as a religion.
- 11th century: Seljuk rule by the Turks.
- 16th to 18th century: object of dispute between Persia and Turkey.
- 1918 Proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
- 1922 Azerbaijan was forcibly incorporated into the Transcaucasian SFSR as the Azerbaijani SSR.
- The rapid Sovietization of the Islamic country followed.
- Declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 with the help of liberation movements such as the Popular Front of Azerbaijan.
Climate & travel weather in Azerbaijan
- Very different climate depending on the zone.
- Kura Plain: Semi-desert climate with mild winters and hot, dry summers.
- Lenkoran lowlands: humid, subtropical climate.
- Coastal areas: subtropical, warm and humid (humid, hot summers).
- Mountain locations: alpine climate.
- Best travel time in the lowlands: April, May, June, September, October.
- Best travel time in mountain regions: June, July, August.
Ideas for trips in Azerbaijan
- Baku
- Walled part of Baku with Shirwan Shah Palace and Maiden’s Tower (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
- Old buildings, fortresses, historical buildings.
- Rock carvings and cultural landscape of Gobustan (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
- Giz Galasi.
- Temple of Fire “Ateshgah”.
- Castle of the Khan of Sheki.
- Absheron peninsula with its fortresses.
Eating & Drinking in Azerbaijan
- Cuisine characterized by Turkish, Georgian and Central Asian elements.
- Azerbaijani food is often very fatty.
- Typical drink: sugared black tea.
- The tart tea is often served with baklava or sweet jam instead of sugar.
- Different climatic zones bring real blessings of fruit.
- Typical dishes:
- Plov / Pilaf (rice, mutton, pine nuts, vegetables, dried fruit).
- Lyulya kebab (seasoned minced lamb on a skewer).
- Tika Kebap (chicken marinated in a mix of onions, vinegar and pomegranate juice).
- Piti (mutton stew with chickpeas).
- Dogva (spicy yoghurt and spinach soup with rice and meatballs).
- Kutab pies with spinach or pumpkin filling.
- Balik (sturgeon grilled on a skewer, served with fruit sauce).
- Dolma (minced meat stuffed vegetables such as eggplant, tomato, pepper).
- Douchbara (dumplings with meat and side dishes).
- Pastirma (seasoned beef jerky).
- Lavangi (chicken, walnut and herb casserole).
Particularly scenic
- Stunning Caucasus mountains to the north.
- Green, wide valleys in the south.
- Extensive semi-deserts in the center of the country.
- Quobustan National Park.
- Natural gas fire on Absheron.
- Nature reserve on the Absheron Peninsula.
