Azerbaijan

Once part of the Soviet Union, the moderately Muslim and still authoritarian "Land of Fire" in the Caucasus and on the Caspian Sea is a booming petrostate that's touristically still under the radar but has plenty to offer, including dynamic capital Baku, steppes, mountains, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, spas, and health tourism.

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The flames that never die – the mystical fires of Azerbaijan

Investigation11111 Imagine a land where the earth itself seems alive, where flames rise mysteriously from the ground, and where ancient rituals once worshipped fire as a symbol of life. Welcome to Azerbaijan, a country straddling the eastern edge of Europe and the western edge of Asia that has long been known as the “Land of Fire.” Exploring this fiery landscapes is like stepping into a living legend. From the bustling streets of capital Baku to remote mountains and sacred temples, Azerbaijan…

geography nerds: ever hear of Nakhchivan??

Was fascinated to recently read this BBC travel piece about one of the world's least known "countries" - as well as the world's largest landlocked enclave - an autonomous republic cut off from the rest of Azerbaijan by a slice of Armenia. In addition to having natural beauty and monuments, one of its main claims to fame is as the place where the biblical Noah's ark supposedly came to rest, with locals tracing their ancestry to Noah and his clan. And it's predictably authoritarian, of ourse,…

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Vincent Bontoux September 13, 2026 at 1:50pm

A fairly comprehensive look at the delicious Azeri cuisine https://travelfoodguide.com/country/azerbaijan

Azerbaijan Food Guide: 21+ Dishes Locals Love [With Photos] | Travel Food Guide

Explore 21+ authentic Azerbaijan dishes from Plov (Azerbaijani Pilaf) to hidden gems. vegetarian & vegan options, 5+ dietary guides. Plan your food a…
Jordan Simon March 11, 2026 at 9:32pm

As the saying goes, you learn something new every day... https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/10/27/exploring-the-rich-tradi...

Exploring the rich tradition of winemaking in Azerbaijan | Euronews

The history of Azerbaijan has a rich tradition of winemaking, going back centuries in the territory. Contemporary winemaking started in Göygöl in 186…
Dave Acton March 9, 2026 at 8:57am

I follow this gay couple´s pretty cool travel blog, and came across their take on Azerbaijan - apparently a mixed bag. Here they combine a review of this interesting country´s top sites/experiences with a look at the situation for LGBTQ locals and visitors - conservative society but a fair degree of liberality and gay-friendly spaces in capital Baku. But I also recently read that a gay-friendly Baku club called Labyrinth (not mentioned here) was brutally raided last year by corrupt cops with all sorts of attendant abuses, and it underscores how tenuous the status of LGBT can be here. Anyway, here´s the article: https://nomadicboys.com/gay-travel-guide-to-azerbaijan-for-first-ti...

Gay travel guide to Azerbaijan for first-timers

Everything gay travelers need to plan a fun and safe trip to Azerbaijan including practical safety tips and top things to do.
David Paul Appell December 21, 2025 at 9:48am

You can always count on Lonely Planet to lay it out well! https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-places-to-visit-in-azerb...

12 best places to visit in Azerbaijan

From exploring Baku's historic heart to climbing the high Caucasus, here are the best things to do in Azerbaijan.
Maria de los Angeles December 20, 2025 at 4:19pm

I was recently scrolling through Time magazine´s "World´s Greatest Places 2025" and came across this little nugget, about the new showroom in Baku of an innovative homeware brand called Chelebi. Certainly looks like a place to pick up cool mementos, if you happen to be visiting! https://time.com/collections/worlds-greatest-places-2025/7263122/ch...

Chelebi: World's Greatest Places 2025

Find out why Chelebi is one of the World's Greatest Places 2025
Riccardo R October 10, 2023 at 3:13pm

I´ve been following the 42 new UNESCO World Heritage Sites announced last month, and Azerbaijan made the list with its "Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and ´Köç Yolu´ Transhumance Route" way up north in the Greater Caucasus Mountains - a bit off the beaten path, to say the least: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1696

Cultural Landscape of Khinalig People and “Köç Yolu” Transhumance Route

This cultural landscape is comprised of the high-mountain Khinalig village in northern Azerbaijan, high-altitude summer pastures and agricultural ter…
Joseba Basabe September 28, 2023 at 10:03am

Since the majority Armenia breakaway enclave Nagorno Karabakh is now in the news thanks to Azerbaijan definitively taking it back by force this week, I was curious about what there is for visitors to see/do here, and found this guide (most recently updated just last month) from a Thai backpacking blogger, and to be honest it sounds mildly interesting, but nothing I would go out of my way for. But judge for yourself: https://www.bucketlistly.blog/posts/how-to-visit-artsakh-nagorno-ka...

How to Visit Artsakh, the Country That Doesn't Exist

Visit Artsakh, a de facto state of Azerbaijan, only accessible via Armenia. Find out how to travel there, what to see, and navigate this non-existent…
Max Pesling May 1, 2023 at 12:16pm

The return yesterday of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku inspired CNN to put together a look the country's highlights throughout the year:https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/azerbaijan-year-seasons-guide-sp...

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/azerbaijan-year-seasons-guide-spc-intl/index.html
Wissam Al Khoury February 12, 2023 at 12:56pm

TTNWorldwide.com, a site focused on Middle East travel and tourism, recently took a look at Azaerbaijan, which last year marked a doubling in visitor numbers over 2021: https://ttnworldwide.com/Article/343408/Azerbaijan-allures

http://TTNWorldwide.com/
Jordan Simon January 11, 2023 at 12:39pm

MENAFN.com, a site which focuses on business and financial news in the Middle East, recently took a look at Azaerbaijan's post-pandemic tourism recovery:https://menafn.com/1105372032/Year-In-Review-Azerbaijans-Tourism-Re...