Azerbaijan's capital is the architectural love child of Paris and Dubai. From extravagant modern and luxury buildings to a historical old city and an amazing social life that covers all sorts of bars, pubs, and restaurants:
Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan will, definitely, surprise you and, perhaps, make you want to stay for longer.

Why you need to visit Azerbaijan?

It is a very special place, not really comparable to any other destinations. The country lies at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, it is a very unique mix of cultures and religions.

Architecture, fashion, people and food are a blend of East and West. Turkish and Arabic influences together with European and Russian traits are most visible in the markets, restaurants and bazaars. Some people compare the cultural diversity to Bosnia but in my opinion Azerbaijan is far more exotic and the Persian/Arabic/Turkish mix with Soviet heritage is something you will find nowhere else in the world.

If you like architecture, the county is a wonderland of Soviet style, ancient mosques and modern monumental buildings. The oil industry of the Caspian Sea has made the country rich and its effects can be seen all over Baku.

The Azerbaijani language is similar to Turkish, but because of the Soviet past, many people still speak Russian, too. 9 out of 11 climate zones can be found in the country, from high mountains to sorchingly hot deserts, from green lush meadows to a moon-like landscapes with mud volcanoes in the Gobustan province.

Your visit to Azerbaijan is not complete without visiting Gabala or also known as ‘Qabala’, it’s a city in northern Azerbaijan. To the southwest, Chukhur Gabala village has ancient ruins, including imposing gate towers, from the city’s time as capital of Caucasian Albania. On the city’s northeastern outskirts, the Tufandag Winter–Summer Mountain Resort offers ski runs. An ancient Albanian church is in Boyuk Amili, nearby. To the west, Nij is home to the native Udi people.

The best times to visit Gabala for ideal weather are April 23rd to July 1st and August to October.

The town is becoming interestingly famous the GCC nationals because of its more tranquil nature, abundance of attractions, well developed infrastructure and a rich, ancient history. The town is located about 3 hours from the capital Baku, and has a great variety of historical and cultural monuments of different eras. Enough Educational investment for parents travelling with children. Gabala is also known as the Cultural Capital of Azerbaijan. And some other local beauty attractions include the forests, river valleys, waterfall, lakes the famous chestnut forest, numerous picturesque villages like Vyandam, Gyamarvan, Engidzha, and the mountainous village of Laza. The Flora and fauna in Gabala are extraordinarily rich and the abundance of game in the season makes for perfect hunting activities.

Gabala is the best attraction for travelers with families. It has the largest amusement park under the open sky known as Gabaland. Extreme kinds of attractions like the ice arena, carting, sports fields, theatres, convenient parking, great halal food and local cafes are found here.

Getting to Azerbaijan

It takes approximately 3 hours to reach Baku with direct flights from Dubai by Azerbaijan Airlines AZAL, Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, and Jazeera Airways.

The Visa procurement is a hassle-free activity, as nationals from UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore can get their visas on arrival in the Azerbaijan. Other nationalities can apply for Visas online in advance of travel, and get the visa within three working days.

Visa Information - Nationalities who can apply for e-visa. Those Nationalities who are not on the list, you can apply directly to Azerbaijan embassy in Dubai – processing is only 3-5 working days.

I can only imagine how much more advanced the country will be the next time I visit with more skyscrapers and futuristic attractions. If you have any questions about traveling to Azerbaijan, don’t hesitate to contact South Travels.