Updated 2016
Azerbaijan is a great deal for travelers with Australian Dollars in their pockets this year. And, it’s not a country that all of your friends will have visited! Hence, we’ve added it to our Top 10 Value Destinations for Australian Dollar Travelers for 2016. Don’t wait!
Azerbaijan may not have any lost love for Armenia, but that hostility does not transfer to tourists or travelers. Azerbaijan is one of the oldest communities in eastern Europe and has been taking in travelers for thousands of years as a chief stopping point on the silk road.
The open hostilities and dangers are over for now, but the tension between Azerbaijan and Armenia are noticeable. Stay clear of any borders unless you’re making a crossing with a group.
Start with: Azerbaijan Travel Facts.
What to do
Road weary travelers to Azerbaijan used to stop here out of sheer necessity, resting up and regaining the strength to continue on the road to China or back to Europe. Today, travelers come to Azerbaijan not to rest, but to see the remnants of that civilization. Petroglyphs and mosques from thousands of years ago supplement the attraction of this country.
Read: The South Caucasus: Europe’s Forgotten Frontier.
Getting there
Visas are necessary for entry to Azerbaijan and it is much easier to get one in your home country than to try to talk your way into one upon arrival. If you get the necessary papers, finding a flight shouldn’t be too difficult. The Azerbaijani capital of Baku receives most of the international flights, including flights from London, Milan, Paris, Tel-Aviv and Austria.
Where to stay
Baku is the largest metropolitan area in all of the Caucuses and has hotels of all prices and levels of luxury. There is no shortage of budget accommodation, however, and most backpackers find touring Azerbaijan is a relatively cheap endeavor.