Azerbaijan Travel Blog
A modern online magazine about traveling in Azerbaijan that combines inspiration with practical advice. We write about attractions, cities and regions, national cuisine, history, culture, traditions and holidays, as well as the country's nature: lakes, mountains and national parks. In one place you will find useful tips for tourists, routes and interesting stories that will help you plan your trip and get to know Azerbaijan better.
Jazz in Azerbaijan: From Forbidden Music to Jazz-Mugham
Jazz in Azerbaijan is more than a musical genre: it is a story about freedom, improvisation and the ability to bring East and West together. Baku became one of the few Soviet capitals where jazz did not simply survive the restrictions but grew into a school of its own, with its own heroes and its own sound. How Jazz Reached Baku The first jazz sounds reached Baku in the 1920s, when gramophon...
The First Electric Train in the USSR Ran in Baku: History and Today’s Suburban Trains
When people talk about the infrastructure achievements of the 20th century, they rarely mention that the USSR’s first electric train ran in Baku. The city, surrounded by oil fields and the Caspian Sea, was not only an energy centre but also a pioneer of electrified suburban transport. In short: on July 6, 1926 the first electrified railway section in the USSR started operating on the Baku–Sabunch...
Azerbaijani Mugham: The Soul of the National Music
Have you ever heard music that seems to speak to your heart without words? Welcome to the world of Azerbaijani mugham, a unique musical tradition that lives between sound, silence and emotion. Mugham is more than a genre: it is part of Azerbaijan’s cultural code, its history and philosophy, captured in voices, melodies and improvisation.Mugham can sound like both meditation and confession. It spea...
From the Euro to the Manat: How Azerbaijani Currency Tells the Story of the Country's Culture, History and Character
The first thing every visitor to Azerbaijan experiences is not only the country's warm hospitality, but also its national currency, the Azerbaijani manat. You will probably use it from your very first minutes: taking a taxi from the airport, buying a hot churek from the tandoor, or having your first coffee in the Old City. But have you ever thought that banknotes are not simply a means of paymen...
Baku Oil and Its Importance
We live in a time of fast scientific and technological progress. It is impossible to imagine modern life without huge amounts of energy. Electricity is one of the main foundations of modern civilization, and oil is still an important source of energy. In this context, Baku oil has played an important role not only for Azerbaijan, but also for the whole world. Oil in Baku: The Beginning Lost in ...
May 28 in Azerbaijan: Independence Day and the History of the ADR
May 28 is Independence Day in Azerbaijan, one of the country’s most important national holidays. In 2026 it marks the 108th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR), the first parliamentary republic in the Muslim world. Until 2021 the holiday was called Republic Day. Today May 28 is a day off, while October 18 is marked as Independence Restoration Day (1991).Why does this date matte...
National Cinema Day in Azerbaijan: From Alexander Mishon to "Arshin Mal Alan"
Every year on August 2, Azerbaijan celebrates National Cinema Day. The date was established by a decree of President Heydar Aliyev on 18 December 2000 to highlight the unique history and achievements of Azerbaijani cinema, which is considered one of the oldest in the region. It is a professional holiday for film workers, and in Baku the day is marked with ceremonies and film screenings. The Beg...
Aliaga Vahid — A Symbol of Modern Azerbaijani Poetry and a Great Master of Meykhana
Aliaga Vahid (1895–1965) was a famous Azerbaijani poet. His name is closely connected with two poetic genres: meykhana and ghazal. He was born into a simple family and worked hard from a young age. He went from being a laborer to becoming a famous master of poetry, received the title of Honoured Art Worker of the Azerbaijan SSR (1943), and left an important mark on the history of Azerbaijani liter...
The People and Culture of Azerbaijan: Ethnic Diversity
Azerbaijan is not just a country between Europe and Asia. It is a real cultural encyclopedia where the traditions of many peoples come together. According to the 2019 census, Azerbaijanis make up about 94.8% of the population, while more than 80 other ethnic groups, including Lezgins, Talysh, Russians, Avars, Tats, Udis and Mountain Jews, live in different parts of the country and keep their own l...
The Taste of Azerbaijan: A Journey Through the National Cuisine
Some countries are remembered for their architecture, others for their table. Azerbaijan belongs to the second kind. Your introduction often begins with the smell of smoke from a grill and a bunch of fresh coriander, and ends with a plate of sweet pakhlava, and between those two points lies a whole geography of flavors.The cuisine took shape where the mountains meet the subtropics, and it reflects...
The Origin of the Name Azerbaijan: Four Theories
The name Azerbaijan sounds proud and great. It seems closely connected with this ancient land, its culture, people and history. References to this name go back to ancient times. During the period of the Arab Caliphate, the region was already called the Emirate of Azerbaijan. Historical sources from that time also say that the name has an ancient origin. Today, scientists still do not have o...
Lakes of Azerbaijan: From the Caspian to Goygol
Azerbaijan can rightly be called a country of lakes. Its eastern border is washed by the largest lake on the planet — the Caspian Sea. Despite its name, the Caspian is scientifically a lake, although its size is really like a sea. Millions of years ago, the Caspian was part of the world's ocean. But over time, because of changes in the Earth's crust, it became separated from the ocean. Today, it ...
Gudialchay Gorge: Where Water Carved a Path Through Mountains
On the northeastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, where peaks rise against the sky and a river winds between cliff faces, lies one of Azerbaijan's most impressive natural wonders. This gorge takes its name from the foot of one of the region's principal symbols—the city of Quba, located at an elevation of 600 meters above sea level. But the true protagonist of this place is the Gudialch...
Saint Bartholomew Chapel: A Forgotten Monument of Faith at the Foot of the Maiden Tower
At the foot of the Maiden Tower in central Baku, in the old city, among narrow streets and ancient stones, lies the foundation of a chapel. This is all that remains of the Chapel of Saint Bartholomew—a small church that stood here for less than fifty years, yet its history stretches back centuries, into the first century of our era. According to Christian tradition, the Apostle Bartholomew, one o...
Lankaran Khan Palace — Monument to Love, Architecture & Talysh Heritage
In the center of Lankaran, on Mir Mustafa Khan Street, stands a building that immediately catches your attention. It is white, three-storied, with elegant stained-glass windows and clearly visible traces of European craftsmanship in every detail. This is the Khan Palace — a monument to history, an architectural masterpiece, and, as locals say, a palace of love. The story of its creation is one...
Masally: Azerbaijan's Colorful Corner Where Crafts and Nature Meet
Masally is not just a district in southern Azerbaijan. It is a colorful corner of the country where dense forests meet agricultural plantations, where rivers wind through mountains, and where people still practice crafts that have almost disappeared in other places.The first thing that strikes you about Masally is nature. The subtropical climate has created conditions for growing plants that canno...
Ismailly: When You Need to Escape the Heat
Baku is a city where you can barely breathe in summer. Heat, asphalt, cars everywhere, people everywhere. You get tired. And then someone says: "Let's go to Ismailly." It's in the mountains, cooler, and there are mineral springs there.Ismailly sits at an elevation of 750 meters. This means you need to drive for a few hours from Baku, but when you arrive, you understand it was worth the time. The t...
Ganja: Where Medieval Silk Road Trade Meets Modern Azerbaijan
Ganja is not what most tourists expect when they think of Azerbaijan. It's not dramatic like the Caucasus mountains, not stunning like Baku's modern skyline, and not hidden like the remote villages in the north. Instead, Ganja is something quieter—a city that speaks in whispers, where history is woven into the fabric of daily life so thoroughly that locals often don't realize how remarkable their ...