City breakBaku City Break
- 5★ hotel in central Baku
- Flights from London, direct or one stop
- Return airport transfers
From£449per person · 2 sharing
View details
Azerbaijan · Holidays from the UK
Azerbaijan holidays from the UK
Baku’s walled Old City and Flame Towers, then green Caucasus foothills and the old silk town of Sheki. A UK consultant arranges your flights, hotels and transfers as one ATOL protected holiday.
Packages from £449 per person, with return flights, hotel and transfers
Direct flights on selected days
Approx. 5½ hours from London, or one stop in Europe or Turkey.
Muslim-majority country
Most of the population is Muslim, mosques are open to visitors and halal food is easy to find.
City and mountains
Pair Baku with Gabala or Sheki, with a private driver for the road.
ATOL protected
Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416.
Azerbaijan holiday packages
Azerbaijan holiday packages
Flights, hotel and transfers in one price. Every package can be changed: more nights, a different hotel or another UK airport.
3 packages · guide prices per person
City break
Twin-centreBaku & Gabala
- 5★ hotels in both places
- Flights from London, direct or one stop
- Private transfer between Baku and Gabala
From£649per person · 2 sharing
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TourBaku & Sheki
- Hotels in Baku and Sheki
- Flights from London, direct or one stop
- Private driver for the transfers
From£799per person · 2 sharing
View details
Overview
Azerbaijan holiday guide for UK travellers
Azerbaijan holidays from the UK pair a flight of around five and a half hours with a walled medieval city, modern Baku and mountain scenery. Most travellers fly to Baku, the capital, and many add a few nights in the Caucasus foothills at Gabala or Sheki, approx. 3 hours 30 minutes and 4 hours 30 minutes away by road. May, June, September and October are the most comfortable months.
Baku sits on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. Its walled Old City, Icherisheher, holds the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower, and a seafront boulevard runs along the bay. Above the city, the three Flame Towers light up after dark, and the Heydar Aliyev Centre is a short drive away. Gobustan, with its rock carvings and mud volcanoes, is approx. 1 hour from the city.
North-west of Baku the road climbs into the Caucasus foothills. Gabala has forested slopes, a lake, a waterfall and a cable car at Tufandag. Further on, Sheki is an old silk-trade town with a palace of stained glass and tilework and a row of old caravanserais. In winter, Shahdag, in the north of the country, is the main ski resort.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Azerbaijan
Three bases for a first visit, from the capital to the mountain towns. Transfer times are approximate and depend on your hotel.
Baku
City breaks · Old City · Food
The walled Old City, the seafront boulevard and the Flame Towers, with shops, cafés and tea houses close to most hotels.
Nearest airport: Heydar Aliyev Airport (GYD), approx. 25 mins
Packages from £449 pp
Gabala
Mountains · Forests · Families
A green town in the Caucasus foothills, with forested slopes, Nohur Lake, a waterfall and the Tufandag cable car. A base for walks and fresh air.
Nearest airport: Heydar Aliyev Airport (GYD), approx. 3 hrs 30 mins to 4 hrs
Packages from £649 pp
Sheki
Old town · Craft · Culture
An old silk-trade town below the mountains, known for its Khan’s Palace, its caravanserais and Sheki halva. Usually two or three nights.
Nearest airport: Heydar Aliyev Airport (GYD), approx. 4 hrs 30 mins
Packages from £799 pp
Things to see
Places to see in Azerbaijan
A few of the sights to plan your trip around. We can suggest hotels close to the ones you most want to see.
Weather
Azerbaijan weather by month
Average daytime highs and sea temperatures in Baku. The mountains around Gabala and Sheki are usually a little cooler. Hover over or tap a month for the figures.
View as a table
| Month | Baku | Caspian Sea |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7°C | 8°C |
| Feb | 6°C | 7°C |
| Mar | 10°C | 7°C |
| Apr | 17°C | 10°C |
| May | 22°C | 16°C |
| Jun | 27°C | 21°C |
| Jul | 30°C | 24°C |
| Aug | 30°C | 26°C |
| Sep | 26°C | 23°C |
| Oct | 19°C | 19°C |
| Nov | 14°C | 14°C |
| Dec | 9°C | 10°C |
Long-term averages from weather2travel.com. Actual weather varies year to year.
Summer
July and August average around 30°C in Baku, with the Caspian Sea at 24–26°C. The foothills at Gabala and Sheki are usually a little cooler.
Late spring and early autumn
May, June, September and October bring around 19–27°C in Baku, comfortable for walking the Old City and for day trips.
November to March
Baku is cool, at around 6–14°C, and windy at times. The mountains are colder, with snow in winter.
Tea by the Caspian, Baku
Halal holidays
Halal holidays in Azerbaijan
Most people in Azerbaijan are Muslim, though the country is secular, so alcohol is on sale in many hotels and restaurants. Halal food is easy to find and mosques are open to visitors. If a hotel without a bar matters to you, tell your consultant and we’ll check what’s available.
- Halal foodLamb, beef and chicken are widely served, but restaurants rarely certify them; ask if unsure
- Mosques in BakuVisitors can see the Bibi-Heybat Mosque and the Taza Pir Mosque, outside prayer times
- Hotel barsSome hotels have a bar; ask us to check this before you book
- Prayer facilitiesPrayer mats and qibla direction on request; facilities vary by hotel
- Modest dressDress is relaxed in Baku, but cover up at mosques and in mountain villages
- Tea housesBlack tea with sweets and jam is served in tea houses in Baku and Sheki
Azerbaijan holiday FAQs
Questions about Azerbaijan holidays
Quick answers for UK travellers. For anything else, our UK team is happy to help.
020 7871 4545How long is the flight to Azerbaijan from the UK?
Direct flights from London to Baku take approx. 5 hours 30 minutes and run on selected days, depending on the season. At other times you fly with one stop, for example via Istanbul. Azerbaijan is 3 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 4 hours ahead in winter.
Do I need a visa for Azerbaijan?
UK passport holders generally need an e-visa, applied for online through the ASAN visa portal. Apply before you travel, and check the current rules and your passport validity on the official site.
Is Azerbaijan a good destination for Muslim travellers?
Most of the population is Muslim, and halal food and mosques are easy to find in Baku. Azerbaijan is a secular country, so alcohol is sold in many hotels and restaurants. Facilities vary by hotel, so we confirm them before you book.
How far are Gabala and Sheki from Baku?
Gabala is approx. 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours by road and Sheki approx. 4 hours 30 minutes. Our holidays include a private driver for the road, with time to stop on the way.
When is the best time to visit Azerbaijan?
May, June, September and October are comfortable, at around 19–27°C in Baku. July and August are hot, at around 30°C. Winters are cool in Baku and cold with snow in the mountains.
Are Azerbaijan holiday packages ATOL protected?
Yes. Holidays that include a flight are protected under ATOL 10416, and you’ll receive an ATOL Certificate when you pay.
More holiday destinations
You might also like
Other destinations with Muslim heritage, old trading towns and short to mid-length flights.
MediterraneanTurkey
Istanbul · Antalya · Fethiye · Bodrum
Halal-friendly beach resorts on the Turquoise Coast, with Istanbul’s mosques and bazaars for a twin-centre trip.
Central AsiaUzbekistan
Samarkand · Bukhara · Khiva
Tiled madrasas, blue domes and Silk Road bazaars in some of Central Asia’s oldest cities.
Middle EastJordan
Amman · The Dead Sea · Petra (Wadi Musa) · Wadi Rum
Petra’s rock-cut city, a night in the Wadi Rum desert and the Dead Sea, and an easy stop before or after Umrah.
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