Azerbaijan: Baku, the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea

• Baku brings together the Old City, modern districts and the shores of the Caspian Sea.
• Ganja and Sheki offer urban and historic stops beyond the capital.
• Near Gabala are the ruins of the ancient city of Gabala at Chukhur Gabala.
• German citizens need a visa; entry is currently possible only by air.
• Access to and stays in Karabakh and the border area with Armenia are strictly regulated.
• The national currency is the Azerbaijani manat; ATMs are not widely available outside larger cities.

Baku is the urban focus of many trips. The Old City, museums, modern architecture and the Caspian Sea promenade can be explored across several parts of the city. If you combine the capital with day trips, allow time to return to your accommodation and get to the airport. For a stay of several days, choose your accommodation based on its location and your daily itinerary so that journeys to the Old City, museums and waterfront fit together.

The Azerbaijani manat (AZN) is the national currency. ATMs are available in Baku and other cities. Cash is less readily available in rural and remote areas, so be sure to factor adequate reserves into your itinerary.

Ganja complements Baku with a historic city featuring mosques, hammams, architecture from different periods and the Nizami Mausoleum. The city’s puppet theatre is housed in a former Lutheran church. If you are visiting other destinations as well, you can plan Ganja as a separate stop between Baku and the interior.

Sheki and Gabala are other stops away from the capital. Chukhur Gabala is about 15 kilometres southwest of the present-day city of Gabala. The archaeological site covers around 25 hectares; surviving features include two round brick towers and sections of a defensive wall. The nearby museum adds to the visit. When planning a day there, allow time to walk between the excavation areas and the museum.

The autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan is another regional stop. Destinations outside Baku differ considerably in travel time, services and accommodation; trying to fit several regions into just a few days leaves little time to experience the places themselves.

German citizens need a visa. A visa for a stay of up to 30 days can be applied for through Azerbaijan’s official visa portal. Foreign nationals may leave by land only with permission and via certain neighbouring countries. Itineraries involving Georgia or Armenia must therefore take the relevant border and entry requirements into account; the direct land border between Armenia and Azerbaijan is closed. The Caucasus comprises several countries, each with its own entry rules.

Access to Karabakh is strictly regulated, and large areas are at risk from mines and unexploded ordnance. Entering or driving through affected districts without permission from the Azerbaijani authorities is prohibited and punishable by law.

Roads in Baku are generally in good condition. Outside larger cities, road damage, missing signs, animals on the road and irregular access to fuel can affect journeys. Weather in mountainous areas can cause landslides, flooding, snow and road closures. Avoid driving off the main roads after dark; there is a strict zero-alcohol limit for drivers.

Can German citizens enter Azerbaijan by train from Tbilisi to Baku?

No. The train service resumed in May 2026, but according to the German Federal Foreign Office, it is available only to citizens of visa-exempt countries. German citizens can currently enter Azerbaijan only by air.