text:
Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan) is a former Soviet republic in the Caucasus and is variously considered part of Europe or Asia.

Often known as the "Land of Fire", Azerbaijan was ceded to the Russian Empire by the Persian Empire in the late 19th century.

Cities
There are 71 urban settlements in Azerbaijan with the official status of a city. However, only 3 of them have population more than 300,000 people — Baku, Sumqayit and Ganja — and Sumgayit is de facto a suburb of Baku today. Here are the most important destinations to explore in the country:
 * (Bakı) — The capital and largest city of the Caucasus.
 * (Gəncə) — Azerbaijan's second largest city has a long history, some important sites and an interesting and manifold architecture.
 * (Lənkəran) — Southern city near the Iranian border.
 * (Naxçıvan) — The administrative capital of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave.
 * — A new resort town deep in Caucasian Mountains, which has taken its name given from the archaeological site about 20 km southwest.
 * — A beautiful city in the forested Caucasus Mountains with lots to see and do. It has one of the largest densities of cultural resources and monuments that span 2,700 years of Azerbaijani history.
 * — The capital city of Shirvanshahs before Baku.
 * — Due to its industrial plants, the Blacksmith Institute, a US environmental pollution agency, ranked the city as the first in the most polluted cities of the planet, both in 2006 and 2007.

Notable national parks and reserves

 * — best known for its rock petroglyphs (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and mud volcanoes. Mud volcano wise, a better option might be the free site a little further south, see Baku Region.
 * — about 25 km further afield from Ganja, near Toğanalı. A hiking and leisure destination, whose lake was formed during a strong earthquake in 1139.
 * — a national park, also offering some fancy hotels.

Notable towns and villages

 * (Xinaliq) — A scenic, remote and ancient mountain village, and the mountain of the same name nearby. Once a centre of Zoroastrianism; today the few inhabitants are an ethnic isolate believed to be descendants of the Caucasus Albanians (unrelated to modern-day Albanians of Albania).
 * (Nebran) — Nabran is rich in many recreational facilities offering a wide range of services: luxury accommodation, sports activities, children's camps and music entertainment venues.
 * — Its urban suburb is home to the largest Azerbaijani Jewish community in the mountains and is considered one of the largest Jewish communities in the former Soviet Union.
 * — A cozy and remote highland village, and potential "base camp" for tracks to Quba through the Caucasus Mountains.
 * — A gateway into the Caucasian Mountains besides Sheki, and "base camp" for treks towards Sarıbaş and into the Alazan Valley.
 * (Nic) — Enormous village of endangering Christian ethnic group, the Udins.
 * — A must visit German town in the suburbs of Ganja, formerly named Khanlar (Xanlar) and Helenendorf, founded by German farmers from Bavarian Swabia. Today, the town remains an old German neighbourhood in excellent conditions and partly renovated, including a Lutheran church. A local museum shows the finds (e.g. bronze weapons, jewels, pottery, etc.) extracted from a large cemetery excavated in 1990.
 * — Another by Germans populated town. There are cognac and wine plantations.

Resorts

 * Shahdag Ski Resort — in Northeastern Azerbaijan.
 * Ski Complex "Tufan" — near Gabala in the Sheki Region.
 * — A well-known petroleum spa resort, the centre of medical tourism in Azerbaijan.
 * Beaches of Absheron Peninsula and Northeastern Azerbaijan. This region is home to the top-rated beaches and luxury resorts of the Caspian coast.

History
Ever at the crossroads between east and west, Azerbaijan has seen the comings and goings of several great empires.

Ancient
Some of the country's best attractions are the Gobustan petroglyphs. These are the markings of people who lived in the area 40,000 - 5,000 years ago. Scythians and Iranian Medes occupied the area in around 900–700 BCE. The Achaemenids made things interesting by introducing Zoroastrianism in around 550 BCE. Later, the area was on the fringes of Alexander the Great's empire and the Roman Empire.

Medieval
Christianity came in the fourth century but disappeared when the area became part of the second Islamic (Umayyad) Caliphate in the 7th century. Various local kingdoms emerged after the Umayyad Caliphate fell in 750 CE, before the Mongols conquered Azerbaijan in the 11th century.

Early Modern
After the various Mongol empires withdrew, the area fell to the Persians. Persian control was not tight and highly independent khanates controlled the region until the Russian Empire expanded southward in the early 19th century. The traditional Azeri lands ended up being split between Persia and the Russian Empire; today's Republic of Azerbaijan comprised the part of the Azeri lands that were ceded to the Russian Empire, while the parts that Persia retained control of remain part of Iran as Iranian Azerbaijan. Oil was first drilled here in the late 19th century.

Soviet
The fall of the Russian Empire saw the brief emergence of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918. However, Lenin realized that the region's oil was vital to the Soviet army and, along with Georgia and Armenia, Azerbaijan was rolled into the USSR by the 1920s. Azerbaijan's oil was vital again to the Soviets in the Second World War, in which 250,000 of the country's 3.4 million people were killed at the front.

Post-Soviet
As Soviet control weakened in 1991, the mostly ethnic Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh region, backed by Armenia, fought for independence from Azerbaijan, and ethnically cleansed its Azeri population. Azerbaijan lost 14% of its territory and gained some 800,000 refugees and internally displaced, and also ethnically cleansed its Armenian population. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, the status of Nagorno-Karabakh was not resolved until 2023, when a new Azerbaijani offensive resulted in the surrender of the rebels. Nagorno-Karabakh's ethnic Armenian population has mostly fled to Armenia, and the area is expected to be repopulated with ethnic Azeris. Since independence, Turkey has been Azerbaijan's closest ally, though unlike U.S.-aligned Georgia, relations between Azerbaijan and Russia remain cordial.

Culture
The majority of the population (over 92%) is composed of Azeris, who share a culture very similar to Turkey. Ethnic Azeris are also Iran's largest ethnic minority, with Iran having a larger Azeri population than independent Azerbaijan, although over time the influence of Russian and Persian culture produced some differences between the Azeris of Azerbaijan and the Azeris of Iran. In particular, almost two centuries of Russian and Soviet rule have brought a very liberal attitude towards Islam among the Azeris of Azerbaijan, who nevertheless remain mostly Shi'ite Muslims.

Following independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has allowed Western European companies to develop its extensive energy resources and its oil production has skyrocketed especially since the mid-2000s. Despite this and related investments, most of the new-found wealth remains in the hands of a few people. While downtown Baku is thriving with new buildings and a growing middle class, much of the country's countryside remains poor and relatively undeveloped. The government remains strongly authoritarian.

Celebrate
These are the nationally recognized holidays for people living in Azerbaijan.

 * New Year (1–2 January)
 * Women's Day (8 March)
 * Victory Day (9 May)
 * Republic Day (28 May)
 * Day of National Salvation of Azerbaijan People (15 June)
 * Day of Military Forces of Azerbaijan Republic (26 June)
 * State Sovereignty Day (18 October)
 * Constitution Day (12 November)
 * National Rebirth Day (17 November)
 * Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis (31 December)
 * Novruz Bayram – 5 days
 * Gurban Bayram (Day of Sacrifice) - 2 days
 * Eid el Fitr (post-Ramadan celebration) 2–3 days

Climate
Azerbaijan is known for having nine of the 11 existing ecological zones. Much of the country is temperate year-round. Nation-wide the average temperature for the year is 14-15°C (57-59°F). The Caucasus Mountains protect the country from the Arctic air masses that affect Russia in winter while the Caspian Sea shields it from the hot, dry air of Central Asia in the summer. Temperatures in the winter are cool (0-10°C/32-59°F) at lower altitudes and along the coast and drops moderately as you head inland and drastically as you head into the mountains (-20°C/-4°F) is possible in the Caucasus Mountains). Summers range from warm to hot (20-40°C/68-104°F) and humid throughout most of the country, although breezes off the Caspian provide some relief along the coast. Nakhchivan is quite different, high and arid, summers here can easily surpass 40°C (104°F) while winter nights often drop below -20°C (-4°F)...in fact the country's extreme minimum and maximum (-33°C/-27°F & 46°C/115°F) were both recorded in southern Nakhchivan!

Snow is rare in Baku and along the coast in general while common inland and copious in the mountains, where many villages may be cut off during the winter. The southern forests are the wettest part of the country, with plenty of rain in late autumn and early spring. The western central coast is fairly dry. Lankaran receives the most annual precipitation (1600–1800 mm/63–71 in) while the region around Baku averages 200 mm (8 in). Baku is very breezy, much like Chicago or Wellington, most of the year.

Terrain
Much of the large, flat Kura-Araks lowlands (Kur-Araz Ovaligi) are below sea level with the Great Caucasus Mountains towering on the northern horizons. The Karabakh uplands (Qarabag Yaylasi) lie to the west, while Baku is situated on the Apsheron peninsula (Abseron Yasaqligi that juts into the Caspian Sea.

The lowest point is the Caspian Sea at with the highest point being Bazarduzu Dagi at 4,466m (14,652 ft)

Absheron Yasaqligi (including Baku and Sumgayit) and the Caspian Sea are ecological concerns because of pollution from oil spills that date back more than a century ago. Heavy car traffic in the capital contributes to heavy pollution as well.

Economy
Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil production declined through 1997 but has registered an increase every year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development.

Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects.

The government has begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. An obstacle to economic progress, including stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector, is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new pipelines in the region and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oil wealth.

Electricity
Electricity is supplied at 220 V 50 Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travelers should pack an adapter for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment in Azerbaijan.

Additionally, some older buildings may be still equipped with Soviet-era outlets. The Soviet GOST-7396 standard was very similar to the current European CEE-7/7 "Schuko plug", but the pins were of a 4.0 mm diameter, while the Schuko features 4.8 mm pins. As such, the pins of a Schuko may be too large to fit into a Soviet-era outlet, although the smaller Europlug will still fit. Although the Soviet-era outlets have largely been phased out, travellers who are particularly concerned with having the ability to plug in at all times may consider packing an adapter for the Soviet-era outlets too, just in case.

Also, make sure to bring your own automated voltage adapter because the electricity in Azerbaijan short circuits and "jumps" a lot and many items may get damaged if you don't bring the adapter.

Visitor information

 * Official tourism website

Visa requirements
In 2016 Azerbaijan introduced a new single-entry eVisa for citizens of the following countries: The eVisa costs US$20, plus $4 for administration fee, is valid for 30 days within the next three months after application, and can be purchased at evisa.gov.az – photocopy of your passport, and address of your stay needs to be provided. Caution: there is a fake official website: evisa.com.az – also providing visas but requiring you to purchase an overpriced tour or expensive hotel.
 * All European Union member states, as well as Andorra, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and Vatican City
 * Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, and Vietnam

A visa is not required for stays of 90 days or less for citizens of Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

A 30-day visa on arrival may be obtained only when arriving by air by citizens of Bahrain, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Turkey (60 days) and United Arab Emirates.

Citizens of the United States may also obtain a visa on arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, but only if arriving via a direct flight of Azerbaijan Airlines from New York City.

Citizens of Iran may obtain a 15-day visa on arrival for Nakhchivan only.

For citizens of all other countries visas can be obtained by mail or in person from any Azerbaijani embassy offering consular services. A letter of invitation (LOI) from a contact in Azerbaijan is required.

Foreigners staying in Azerbaijan for longer than 15 days should register with the State Migration Service within 15 working days of arrival. Failure to register within this time frame will incur a fine of 300 manat (2019). The registration is free and can be done online by submitting copy of the passport and filled in application form or in person at specially designed offices of State Migration Service (one of such offices will be opened eventually at the Train Station, however it was closed as of 2015). Hotels may provide this service for their guests, but travellers are strongly advised to ensure the registration has been completed indeed as hotels are more than often skip doing it.

By plane
The primary international gateway is Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, with additional international airports (whose international routes are basically just Moscow and Istanbul) found in Nakhchivan City , Ganja , and Lankaran.

National air company AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines) is the main carrier which flies to Ganja, Nakhchivan, Tbilisi, Aktau, Tehran, Tel-Aviv, Ankara, Istanbul IST, Istanbul Sahiha Gokchen, Antalya (seasonal), Bodrum (seasonal), Dubai, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kyiv, Rostov-on-Don, Ürümqi, Mineralniye Vodi, Milan, London (daily) and Paris, Prague, Rome. Lufthansa also has a couple flights a week to Baku (which continue onwards to Ashgabat). Turkish Airlines is another carrier connecting Baku with and via Istanbul. Also, there are several Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Iranian, and Austrian airlines connecting Baku with several cities of the world.

Qatar Airways flies 2 flights a day, one to Tbilisi and one to Doha connecting to their global network.

By train
Direct trains connect Azerbaijan with Russia (Moscow and Rostov). Timetables are here. Click on the earth for international timetables. The Russian border used to be closed to non-CIS passport holders but it is now open to everyone with respective visas.

There is a domestic train line running from Astara on the Iranian border to Baku and a 300 km connector line is being built from Astara to Qazvin, Iran to connect the Azerbaijani and Iranian rail networks.

For those planning to visit the exclave of Nakhchivan, there is a rail service to Mashad in Iran.

By car
There are roads to all cities of Azerbaijan. They are not really wide and most of them have only two lanes. Local travel agents can arrange private cars to the borders. Some Georgian travel agents such as Exotour can arrange pickup in Baku to delivery in Tbilisi. Although more expensive than bus or train, it will be faster and can be combined with sightseeing along the way. Azerbaijani customs used to request payment of a deposit of several thousand US dollars for foreign cars, however, as of 2020, restrictive customs rules on importing older cars and requiring large deposits are a thing of the past.

By bus
There are buses that run daily from Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Russia to Azerbaijan.

A minibus also runs from the Georgian border at Krazny Most (Red Bridge) and should cost about 10 or 12 manat (or 25 lari). It can be picked up at either side of the border (don't worry if they ask you to pay on the Georgian side - they turn up to pick you up. Insist on bringing your own bags across, however). Journey time to Baku should take about 8 hours. Driving in Azerbaijan is a genuinely scary experience. Virtually all drivers have scant regard for the rules of the road and the standard of roads themselves is shockingly poor. It is emphatically not for the faint-hearted, so whilst the long train might challenge your stamina they won't your nerves. Check AZAL flights from Tbilisi-Baku well in advance for some reasonable deals.

Return to Tbilisi can be caught at the indescribably chaotic bus station, which doubles up as an eerily quiet shopping-centre (take bus 65 from outside Double Gate in the old town for the 20-min trip, which leaves you with a 400 m long dodgy stretch of road/highway with pestering taxi-drivers on which to walk: cost 0.20 manat) or simply taxi it from the centre for approx. 15 manat (worth it!), which saves on hassle. Both buses and minibuses are available from this station directly to Tbilisi, about 12 manat for both. Bus counter 26 at very back of ground floor. The bus is a few hours slower and not guaranteed to pick you up once you cross the Georgian border, so minibus is preferable.

By boat
There is no ferry or cruise service with any other country on the Caspian Sea. Be forewarned that the much talked about "ferries" on the Caspian are simply cargo ships with some extra space to take on passengers. Getting a ride on one of these "ferries" is no easy task. First you must find the notoriously difficult to find ticket office, which basically keeps track of ship which are departing. If you manage to find the ticket office and manage to get a booking, you still have little idea of when the ship will depart. Give them a phone number to reach you and be prepared, they may call you an hour or two prior to departure... two days after the first departure the office gave you and the day before the second departure date they gave you! This is only the first of you troubles. After paying for your place on the boat (about US$50–100), the captain and perhaps other crew members will expect an additional amount to get a bed and a shower. You are expected to bring your own food. The crossing will only take 1 day (Turkmenistan) or 2–3 days (Kazakhstan). Most ships go to Turkmenistan, where ships must wait for an open berth... so you can wait 2–5 days on the boat just waiting for a place to dock! Unless you are on a very small budget or have a bike and especially if you are on a short timeschedule, you should pay twice as much (~US$200–250) for a one way airfare to Kazakhstan, Russia, or Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

By bus or marshrutka
Buses and marshrutkas (aka minibus aka converted delivery van) connect most cities. There is often a hub such as a bus station near the bazaar in these cities.

Marshrutkas are quite crowded on the intra-city routes in Azerbaijan. It is common for 15 people to crowd into a 10-person marshrutka, and do not feel shy in doing this. It is normal, if you are standing, for someone to take your bag and hold onto it until either you or they disembark. Men usually ride in the rear of buses and marshrutkas, while women sit in the front, and it is customary for men to give their seat to a lady entering the bus. Lastly, Azerbaijan is not a queue-forming society, and this especially applies to bus and marshrutkas.

A common rule of thumb for bus rates in Azerbaijan seems to be about 1 manat per hour ride or for every 40-50 km—everything else is touristic overcharge, stand your ground and get the help of other passengers.

By train
With a few exceptions, trains in Azerbaijan are night trains that connect Baku with distant regions of the country. There is also a daily fast train to Ganja, daily slow train to Shirvan and a frequent suburban train to Sumqavit. Timetables here: https://ady.az/az/tables/index/52/44 The international Nakhichivan - Mashad train can used for trip within the Nakhichivan exclave: https://ady.az/az/news/read/312/43

By taxi
Taxies require some negotiating skills. But using a calculator (smartphone!) to agree on a price works.

Most taxi drivers simply double the price for tourists. So, halving it while negotiating and doing the walk-away trick, should reveal the genuine price. (Doubling a price is seemingly much easier than tripling it.) Otherwise, just use Bolt (a taxi app for your mobile and widely used in cities around Azerbaijan) as indicator or/and negotiator, or just book through it.

General prices are ⅓–½ manat/km. It gets cheaper (per km) the longer the ride.

With Bolt (or others), you can even book a taxi for trips far away from the big cities in which it is offered, as long as you start from where it is offered, e.g. Ganja to Tbilisi for 70 manat, or Baku to Shamakhi for 40 manat, i.e. even crossing border. But make sure the taxi driver actually understand what he is willing to do there. However, the trips out of larger cities can be time efficiently, since you do not have to head to several bus stations, etc. first before you finally get the long distance ride. This way, you take a taxi to the road frequented by the long distance options and simply take you continuing ride there.

Ride-hailing is available in Azerbaijan. The most anticipated provider is Bolt, which works in Baku, Ganja and Sumgayit.

By car
Azerbaijan is a country with a high number of road accidents—traffic rules are often not respected. The poor state of the roads and the lack of lighting make it advisable to avoid driving after dark. The drink-drive limit is zero. Highway kilometers overview:
 * total: 36,700 km
 * paved: 31,800 km (includes some all-weather gravel-surfaced roads)
 * unpaved: 1,900 km (These roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather.)

Note that Baku and Azerbaijan in general have many automated speed cameras, and it is not uncommon to get a ticket—which will be sent via SMS directly to the car owner. So, don't be surprised when you have to pay a little extra when giving back the car. Locals say, 60 manat for a weekend trip is not uncommon.

By rental car
Due to remote location of many sights and scarcity of attractions in this otherwise huge country, it can be meaningful to rent a car. The most common rental company is the Azeri AZNUR, which competes well on prices with the big international companies. A budget car for 4 days starts from US$100 with a deposit of US$150. Be cautious when using the common price comparison sites for rental cars. They often try to sell you overpriced full coverage insurances or charge other unnecessary fees right before confirming the booking, especially via mobile and when not being attentive in reading the conditions.

By thumb
As a man hitchhiking is generally possible and easy. However, sometimes to often people expect a little money for taking you along the way, pretty much like in Iran. A woman on its own on the other hand will cause confusion and potentially unexpected behaviour, and should therefore be not undertaken.

On foot and navigation
Azerbaijan is an excellent place for hiking and trekking, providing many interesting trails. The Caucasus, Göygöl National Park, Quba or Khinalug, just to name some destinations. However, due to the often remote nature of these trails, it is important that you are well prepared and have a proper and reliable map with you. In addition, using GPS adds an extra layer of safety, both in cities as well as the countryside. For reliable (offline) maps and comprehensive trails and map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd (complex with many add-ons) and MAPS.ME (easy but limited).

Talk
The official language of Azerbaijan is Azeri or Azerbaijani, spoken by 90-95% of the population. Azeri is a Turkic language that shares a high degree of mutual intelligibility with Turkish; therefore, Turkish speakers should have no problems with getting around in the country.

Russian is spoken by the vast majority of people and it is widely considered the lingua franca of the country.

English is not that widely spoken, but it is gradually becoming a more popular foreign language. You're more likely to find an English speaker in Baku.

See

 * There are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country; The walled city of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower as well as the Rock Art Cultural Landscape of Gokustan.
 * Neft Daşları – City above the sea, the first operating offshore oil platform in the world, located 55 km from the nearest shore in the Caspian Sea.
 * Mud volcanoes which spout up in over 300 locations nationwide, constitute more than half the total throughout the world, each site with its own character
 * Caspian Hyrcanian forests found near the Iranian border
 * Tears of Kyapaz a string of seven idyllic mountain lakes near Mount Kyapaz and Nagorno-Karabakh
 * Seaside resorts located along the Caspian coastline

Do

 * Hang around in a smoky tea house, have a pivo or tea, and play dominoes.
 * Try to attend an Azerbaijani wedding
 * Contrary to reports, Azeri wine is more than drinkable, and whilst not as tasty as their Georgian or Armenian counterparts, is still a pleasant treat! Find a local drinking-hole and while away the hours!
 * Buy local souvenirs and carpets. Don't be put off by the pestering stall-keepers. Persevere, be prepared to haggle, and you can get some really wonderful bargains!

Baku

 * Visit Maiden Tower for wonderful views of the city
 * Take in the breathtaking views of Flag Square, Baku Crystal Hall and the Caspian Sea from Martyr's Alley
 * Wander around the Old Town aimlessly - really try to get lost and soak up the atmosphere in this wonderful old town
 * Visit the beautiful Palace of the Shirvanshahs
 * Walk along the promenade, just as the locals do

Itineraries

 * Baku and Absheron
 * Southern Route: Baku – Salyan – Bilasuvar – Jalilabad – Masalli – Lenkaran – Lerik – Astara
 * Nakhchivan Route
 * Western Route: Baku – Hajiqabul – Kurdemir – Yevlah – Tar-Tar – Naftalan – Ganja – City of Goy-Gol – Dashkesen – Shamkir – Gadabey – Tovuz – Agstafa – Gazakh

Buy
Azerbaijan is well-known for carpets.

Money
The currency of the country is the New Azerbaijani manat (yeni manat), denoted by the symbol "", or sometimes by m. or man. (ISO currency code: AZN). It is divided into 100 gapiz. Wikivoyage will use manat in its articles to denote the currency.

The "old" manat was replaced by the "New Azerbaijani manat" on 1 January 2007, so do not accept old manat. New banknotes of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 manat and metal coins of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 manat and 50 gapik (0.5 manat) circulate. The banknotes are of a uniform design somewhat reminiscent of euro banknotes since the same designer worked on both sets.

Manat and Georgian lari can be changed in towns near the border, and in Georgia.

Eat
Azeri cuisine (azərbaycan mətbəxi) might not seem diverse to Western Europeans, but it is worth trying. Most of the dishes contain a lot of meat (including fat) and vegetables. Bread is a staple, and is quite revered by the people of Azerbaijan.

Piti is a national dish. It is made with mutton and vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, chickpeas), infused with saffron water to add flavour and colour, all covered by a lump of fat, and cooked in a sealed crock. Worth trying Şəki version of this dish (boiled chestnuts are used instead of potato), if you are there.

Cabbage, grape leaves, and eggplant wrapped meat (kelem, yarpaq, badimjan - dolmasi), kabab (kebab), rice with different variety of toppings (plov - It is said that plov is the king of Azerbaijani cuisine), gutabs and meatballs (kufta) are some of the several specialties of Azerbaijan. Yarpaq dolmasi is often considered to be the national dish.

Georgian food, in particular khachapuri (a cheese-filled bread), along with some Russian staples (borsh, crepes/bliny) have become common throughout Azerbaijan. Other cuisines such as Turkish, Italian, Asian, and American fast food, can be found in the biggest cities.

There are several soups that you might want to try: bozbash, buglama, ashgara (lamb with chestnut). Try Çoban qovurma (lamb stew with vegetables).

Drink
Some local drinks include ayran (a yoghurt drink based on sour milk) and sherbet (made from rose petals or saffron). There are also different sorts of quite decent wines produced from local grapes and a wide array of mineral waters from natural springs.

In some areas of Azerbaijan the markets offer lemonades (limonat/dushes) made from pears or tarragon.

Note: In general, it is forbidden for females to enter tea houses and drinking establishments. Drinking in general is also taboo for women in rural Azerbaijan. It's not a problem in Baku.

Sleep
There is a good selection of hotels in Baku, including many Western European chains, but options elsewhere in the country are limited but nevertheless growing. Prices for the hotels start from US$60. Rental apartments might be a good choice as they are cheaper than hotels and sometimes are even more comfortable.

Since many hostel-like places and guest-houses are popping up rapidly and randomly everywhere in the country (like in Sheki and Ganja), they are often poorly signposted, and from the outside a great hostel might look like an ordinary apartment. Hence, make sure beforehand to get a detailed description (including GPS) of where to find the place and which apartment to ring at. Otherwise, you might be lost forever and even locals won't know where this newly popped up place is.

Learn
You can get the information you need about Azerbaijan from the hotels where you will stay. They have different guides for Azerbaijan. Also at some new bus stations in Baku there are maps of the capital.

Work
The developing economy of Azerbaijan is in dire need of highly qualified personnel. But nevertheless, the immigration laws here are extremely strict, and it will not work just like that if you are not a highly qualified specialist or businessman invited by a local company or organization. There are practically no ordinary labor migrants and immigrants from other countries in Azerbaijan, with the exception of rare people from southern Russia (for example, from Dagestan), Eastern Turkey and ethnic Azerbaijanis from neighboring Iran. There are qualified experts and businessmen from developed countries in Azerbaijan, but they are not enough for such an economy.

There is unemployment and low wages in Azerbaijan itself, and many citizens of this country go to work in Russia (over 1.5 million people) and Turkey (over 500 thousand people), as well as to other countries. The average salary in the regions of the country is $300.

Stay safe
Robbing and pickpocketing in the capital Baku, especially in poor and sparsely populated areas is possible but rare and is higher across the capital at night. Common sense is useful as in all other countries. Also watch your stuff in public transport.

Criminals posing as police officers have sometimes stopped foreigners and stolen documents and money. If you are stopped on the street by a person in a police uniform, be cooperative but ask to see a badge or ID card.

Corruption
Azerbaijan is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.

Corruption is widespread. But as a foreigner you have a fairly strong position in refusing to pay "hörmet" (bribe). Never give any bribe. Often Azeris are so ashamed of their corrupt economy, that they might hide it from you anyway.

Photography
Although the country has a myriad of fantastic photo opportunities, it is illegal to take photographs of anything of strategic importance, i.e., military sites and equipment. If you are in doubt, simply ask.

Dangerous areas
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has fought wars with Armenia. Fighting took place again in September 2022. Many governments advise against travelling to Nagorno-Karabakh, its surrounding areas, and areas near the border with Armenia. Some areas may contain high amounts of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines. Generally speaking, you have little reason to go to areas near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border as those areas have nothing that interests tourists.

LGBT travellers
Although homosexuality was decrminalised in 2000, homophobia is widespread in Azerbaijan. The cultural and societal abhorrence against the LGBT community is far-reaching.

There are no laws in place to protect the rights of LGBT people and same-sex marriages are formally banned in the country.

If you are LGBT, it is strongly recommended that you do not exhibit your sexuality in public; openly displaying your orientation may invite harsh words or at worst, violence.

Safety tips

 * When outside of the city, try to travel during the day time, unless you take a night train. The roads can be treacherous at night due to unseen potholes and dimly lit cars.

Emergency contact numbers

 * Ambulance: 103
 * Fire: 101
 * Gas Emergency: 104
 * Speaking Clock: 106
 * Police: 102

You must speak in Azeri, Turkish or Russian to communicate your needs. It would be a good idea to memorize key phrases before coming to Azerbaijan - see the Talk section for phrasebooks.

Stay healthy
Make sure your diphtheria, tetanus, and Hepatitis A & B immunizations are up to date. Malaria is a risk in lowland Azerbaijan, particularly around the border with Iran. Anti-malarials are not a must for Baku, but the risk is present in rural areas not far from the city.

Water should not be consumed unless from a sealed bottle. Bottled soft drinks or boiled drinks, such as tea or coffee, also reduce risks.

Cope
Toilets at bus stations charge 0.20-0.40 manat.

Respect
Azerbaijanis are a very reserved but very polite and well-mannered people.

 * When you are invited into an Azerbaijani home, make sure to bring them a gift. Anything is fine from flowers (be sure to get an odd number of flowers, as an even number is associated with funerals), to chocolate (but not wine and other alcoholic beverages), and indeed something representative from your country. In Azerbaijani culture it is the thought behind the gift, rather than the price, that matters.
 * When you arrive at the house take off your shoes just outside or immediately inside the door, unless the owner explicitly allows you to keep them on. Even then, it might be more polite to remove your shoes. You may be offered slippers to wear.
 * Azerbaijanis respect elderly people, so in a bus, tram, subway and in other forms of public transportation, young(er) people will always offer you a place to sit if you are an old(er) person as well as a handicapped person or a pregnant woman or have children with you. It is considered polite to let women be the first to board and leave the bus, tram, subway and in other forms of public transportation or to enter and leave a room.
 * It is respectful to bend slightly (not a complete bow) when greeting someone older or in a position of authority. Younger people always initiate greetings with older people or those in a position of authority.
 * If you do not know the person well, use their first name followed by an appropriate honorific. For women, use Xanım – pronounced "hanm" ("Mrs."). For men, use Cənab – pronounced "jenab" ("Mr"). If they do speak English use their last name preceded by the appropriate English honorific "Mr." or "Mrs.". The English honorific "Ms." does not exist in the Azerbaijani language.
 * Women are traditionally treated with respect and chivalry. Female travellers should not be surprised or alarmed if their male Azeri friends take the initiative to pay the bills at a restaurant, open every door in front of them, or help them carry items or objects. Male travellers should understand that these nuances will be expected by Azeri women, even if you're not in a romantic relationship with one.

Politics

 * Do not insult or speak badly of the Aliyev family. This is punishable by imprisonment.
 * Do not mention or have a discussion about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Almost every Azerbaijani family has at least one member among the thousands that have been killed in or internally displaced by the conflict. Discussing it can very easily arouse strong emotions so approach the subject with respect and caution.
 * Do not mention or have a discussion about Armenia. Feelings of hatred against Armenians are widespread in Azerbaijan.
 * Avoid photographing railways, subway stations, and other objects which the authorities may think to be of "strategic" importance. Foreign railway buffs have been reportedly detained by the authorities on suspicion of espionage.
 * Be careful when having a discussion about Iran. Many Azerbaijanis regard Iranian Azerbaijan to be Azerbaijani territory under Iranian occupation.

Religion
Even though 95% of the population is nominally Shiite Muslim, Azerbaijan is a strictly secular state and by and large an agnostic and non-religious nation. This is true both in large cities as well as in villages and rural areas. Despite seeing themselves as Muslims, Azeri men often drink alcoholic beverages, and this is widely accepted, probably due to the Russian and Soviet legacy. Still, drinking is rare among women and almost never occurs between men and women in rural areas or socially conservative families. Unrest in Iran, Iraq and Syria in the 21st century has made the government very strict about religious clothing and symbols and prompted greater secularization and stricter control of the southern borders. Any religious signs, flags, slogans in public and proselytizing (missionary activity) for any religion are prohibited by law. Any violation will result in fines, imprisonment, and in case of foreigners, deportation from the country. Don't assume that anyone you do not know believes in God or has a passion for Islam or other faiths. Investigations into people's faith is largely unwelcome, and outside places of worship, displays of your faith should be kept private. Saying grace for example, is likely to be met with bewilderment and silence. Religious attire such as Muslim headscarves, Kippahs or even T-shirts with religious slogans, will – while tolerated – also make many Azerbaijanis feel uncomfortable. However, it is acceptable to wear small necklaces with religious symbols. Those with long beards may arouse the suspicion of the authorities.

Social custom and etiquette breaches

 * Don't blow your nose during meals, even discreetly.
 * Don't pick your teeth during meals, even discreetly.
 * Don't put your feet up while sitting and try not to show the bottom of your feet to someone.
 * Don't point with your finger at someone.
 * Don't chew gum while having a conversation and during public occasions.
 * It is better not to touch someone without permission.
 * Don't bear hug or back slap someone, especially in formal situations and occasions and with someone you just met and/or you do not know well enough.
 * Don't raise your voice or shout in public, especially on public transportation.
 * Don't use swear words during conversation or while talking to oneself in public and also among friends.

Other things to watch for

 * Don't smile at a stranger in the street: they will not only think you are odd, but may feel insulted. Smiling is traditionally reserved for family and friends; smiling at a stranger without addressing them, will be interpreted as your making fun of them or that there is something wrong with their clothes or hair. However, a sincere polite smile when addressing a person is appropriate and will be appreciated (an automatic "Western smile", grinning, is widely regarded as insincere). Smiling is still very rare in customer service, as sales assistants, public servants and the like are expected to look serious and businesslike. Even show hosts very rarely smile. Hence the very common misconception about Azerbaijanis is that they are a cold people and never smile – they do, once they get to know you, and become very welcoming and kind.
 * Public displays of affection in larger cities and tourist resorts are tolerated but might invite unnecessary stares from the public. In more rural areas they are frowned upon and are to be avoided. Gay and lesbian travellers should avoid any outward signs of affection.
 * You will notice how Azerbaijanis tend to keep their voices down in public places. Do not raise your voice in a conversation. A decent silent conversation is the Azerbaijani way of doing business and will be much appreciated. Talking on a mobile phone on public transportation and in restaurants is considered normal, unless the conversation is loud and too "private".
 * Littering is considered to be very bad manners and you may be fined. There are many waste containers and trash cans on the sidewalks and near most stores.

Gay and lesbian travellers
Homosexuality is no longer criminalized in Azerbaijan, but the negative stigma is still strong throughout the country. Same-sex relationships are not recognized by the government or accepted by society, and showing your sexual orientation openly is very likely to draw stares and whispers. The few establishments geared towards homosexuals are almost exclusively in Baku and are mostly underground. Azerbaijan is not the happiest place in the world for LGBT travellers; be quite cautious if travelling as an LGBT traveller.

Connect
For numbers given in the form (0cc)xxx xx xx, the "0" is the trunk prefix and cc the area code. To call from abroad, dial +994ccxxxxxxx. For calling in the country, dial 0ccxxxxxxx, or from local landlines xxxxxxx.

There are three mobile operators: Azercell, Bakcell, Nar Mobile, Azerfon-Vodafone.

 * Azercell is the largest one. To dial an Azercell number you need to dial (050) or (051) and then the number. Only with Azercell can you talk in the metro (subway) in Baku.
 * Nar Mobile is pretty cheap but doesn't work in some regions. For dialing Nar Mobile numbers you need to dial (070) and then the number.
 * Azerfon-Vodafone is new operator have 3G. For dialing Azerfon-Vodafone numbers you need to dial (077) and then the number.
 * Bakcell is ok. It works almost everywhere and is cheaper that Azercell. To dial a Bakcell number you need to dial (055) and then the number.

The numbers have a "0" + 2 digit code (different for each operator) + 7 digits number. For example (050)xxx xx xx, (051)xxx xx xx, or (055)xxx xx xx, or (070)xxx xx xx, or (077)xxx xx xx. Remove the zero when using the +994 prefix.

You can buy cards for use with different operators almost in every store.

Area codes
The area codes were changed to two figures in 2011. Baku, Sumqayit and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic kept their area codes (12, 18 and 36, respectively), other areas have area codes in the range 20–26.

title: Azerbaijan


text:
Azerbaijan (disambiguation)

There's more than one place called Azarbaijan or Azerbaijan:

Azerbaijan

 * Azerbaijan (Republic of Azerbaijan) - the country, in the Caucasus region of Europe

Iran

 * Iranian Azerbaijan (Azarbaijan) - a region in the north of the country

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Azerbaijan (disambiguation)


text:
Azerbaijani phrasebook

Azerbaijani or Azeri (Azərbaycan dili, آذربایجان دیلی) is the primary and official language of Azerbaijan. It is also the primary language in northwestern Iran, and is also spoken to a small extent in southern Dagestan (Russia), the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia, eastern Turkey, in Shia cities of Iraq, like Karbala and Kirkuk. It is a Turkic language and is to an extent mutually intelligible with modern Turkish although a fair amount of vocabulary has been added from Russian, Arab or Persian influence in Azerbaijan and Iran respectively.

Pronunciation guide
Azerbaijani is written in an extended Latin script with specific letters by its 8.8 million native speakers in Azerbaijan, and the rest of southern Caucasus. Standard Turkish orthography, also Latin script-based, is in use in eastern Turkey and in Iraq (where the language is more commonly called Iraqi Turkmen), as the dialects in these areas form a continuum between the standard varieties of Turkish and Azerbaijani. Azerbaijani is written in the Perso-Arabic script by its estimated 20 million speakers in Iran. Be careful as many Latin letters are pronounced differently from the way they are in English and a few letters share the same sound in the Perso-Arabic script!

The Perso-Arabic script is an abjad, not an alphabet, meaning that only the consonants are written out, and the vowels are usually omitted.

The following letters are in Latin (Azerbaijan since 1991) & Arabic (Iran; Azerbaijan until 1922).
 * Aa ﺍ : - short as in 'along' or long as in 'army'.
 * Bb ﺏ : - pronounced like 'b' in 'bell'.
 * Cc ﺝ : - pronounced like 'J' in Japan.
 * Çç چ : - pronounced like 'ch' in chat..
 * Dd ﺩ : - pronounced like 'd' in death; otherwise, like 'th' in 'the'.
 * Ee ﻩ : - pronounced like soft 'e' in Embassy. This can be long as in 'bate'.
 * Əə ع : - pronounced like 'a' in fat or apple. (This letter was represented by Ää from 1991-1992). This is long as in 'bate' or 'cape'.
 * Ff ﻑ : - pronounced like 'f' in 'fold'.
 * Gg گ : - pronounced like 'g' in goal. More like g' , while Xx is English g.
 * Ğğ ﻍ : - pronounced at the back of throat like the French 'r'
 * Hh ﺡ / ﻩ : - pronounced like 'h'.
 * Xx ﺥ : - pronounced like 'c' (or 'kh') in cartoon. More like a soft kh, while Kk is a hard k.
 * Iı ی : - pronounced like 'u' in 'butter' or 'Sutton'.
 * İi ی : - pronounced like 'i' in 'pit'. This can be 'ee' as in 'meet'.
 * Jj ژ : - pronounced like 'j' (or 'zh') in déjà vu.
 * Kk ک : - pronounced like 'k' in 'kill'.
 * Qq ﻕ : - pronounced like 'q' in 'Qatar'; usually a slide between 'g' in 'goal' and 'k' in 'kill'.
 * Ll ﻝ : - pronounced like 'l' in 'Lauren'
 * Mm ﻡ : - pronounced like 'm' in 'Maeve'.
 * Nn ﻥ : - pronounced like 'n' in 'noon'. Before 'b', 'm', and/or 'p', like 'm' in 'man'. Before 'g', 'k', and/or 'q', this is the 'ng' sound of 'pink'.
 * Oo ﻭ : - pronounced like 'o' in 'not'; otherwise, 'oh' as in 'note'.
 * Öö ﻭ : - same as in German, like 'er' in 'her'.
 * Pp پ : - pronounced like 'p'.
 * Rr ﺭ : - Roll you r's!
 * Ss ﺙ / ﺱ / ﺹ : - pronounced like 's' in sizzle.
 * Şş ﺵ : - pronounced like 'sh' in shape.
 * Tt ﺕ / ﻁ : - pronounced like 't'.
 * Uu ﻭ : - pronounced like 'u' in put.
 * Üü ﻭ : - pronounced like 'u' (or 'yu') in mute.
 * Vv ﻭ : - pronounced like 'v' in 'van'; otherwise, like 'w' in 'world'.
 * Yy ی : - pronounced like 'y' in year.
 * Zz ﺫ / ﺯ / ﺽ / ﻅ : - pronounced like 'z' in zebra, same as 's' in 'nose' or 'his'.

Vowels
There are 9 vowels: a, ı, o, u, e, ə, i, ö, ü

Phrase list
I love Baku/Azerbaijan Mən Bakını/Azərbaycanı sevirəm

Visiting Baku/Azerbaijan is my dream Bakını/Azərbaycanı görmək mənim arzumdur

Basics

 * Hello. : Salam; Salam əleyküm.
 * How are you? : Necəsən?
 * How are you? (formal): Necəsiniz?
 * Fine, thank you. : Mən yaxşıyam, təşəkkürlər.
 * Good. : Yaxşı
 * Bad. : Pis
 * So-so. : Elə-belə
 * What is your name? (informal): Sənin adın nədir?
 * What is your name? (formal): Sizin adınız nədir?
 * My name is ______ . : Mənim adım _____.
 * Nice to meet you. : Çox şadam.
 * Şad oldum.
 * Tanışlığımıza şadam.

 * Please. : Zəhmət olmasa.
 * Mümkünsə.

 * Thank you. : Təşəkkür edirəm/Təşəkkürlər/Çox sağ olun.
 * You're welcome. : Buyurun.
 * Dəyməz.

 * You're welcome. (informal): Buyur.
 * Yes. (formal) : Bəli.
 * No. (formal) : Xeyr.
 * Yes. (informal): Hə.
 * No. (informal): Yox.
 * Excuse me. (getting attention or begging pardon) : Üzr istəyirəm.
 * Bağışlayın.

 * I'm sorry. : Məni bağışlayın.
 * Goodbye : Sağolun.
 * Görüşənədək.
 * Hələlik.

I love you

 * Mən səni sevirəm.

 * I can't speak Azerbaijani [well].: Mən Azərbaycanca [yaxşı] danışa bilmirəm.
 * I do not understand.: Başa düşmədim.
 * Do you speak [English/French/Russian]?: [İngiliscə/fransızca/rusca] danışa bilirsiz\bilirsən?
 * Is there someone here who speaks English?: Burada İngiliscə danışan var?
 * Help!: Kömək edin!
 * Look out!: Ehtiyyatlı olun\ol!
 * Good morning.: Sabahın xeyir.
 * Good afternoon.: Günortan xeyir.
 * Good evening.:  Axşamın xeyir.
 * Good night.: Gecən xeyrə.
 * Congratulations: Təbriklər.

Problems

 * Can you help me? : Mənə kömək edə bilərsiniz?
 * I feel bad. : Mən özümü pis hiss edirəm.
 * I am lost. : Mən azmışam.
 * Where is _____? : ______ haradadır?
 * How can I find hotel _____? : Mən _____ otelini necə tapa bilərəm?
 * Are there any vacancies tonight? : Bu gün üçün boş otaq varmı?
 * Where is the toilet (bathroom)? : Tualet (ayaq yolu) haradadır?
 * Male : kişi
 * Female : qadın

Numbers

 * zero : sıfır
 * one : bir
 * two : iki
 * three : üç
 * four : dörd
 * five : beş
 * six : altı
 * seven : yeddi
 * eight : səkkiz
 * nine : doqquz
 * ten : on
 * eleven : on bir
 * twelve : on iki
 * thirteen : on üç
 * fourteen : on dörd
 * fifteen : on beş
 * sixteen : on altı
 * seventeen : on yeddi
 * eighteen : on səkkiz
 * nineteen : on doqquz
 * twenty : iyirmi
 * thirty : otuz
 * forty : qırx
 * fifty : əlli
 * sixty : altmiş
 * seventy : yetmiş
 * eighty : səksən
 * ninety : doxsan
 * hundred : yüz
 * thousand : min

Time

 * What time is it? :  (Saat neçədir?)
 * It's two o'clock :  (Saat ikidir)

Clock time

 * It is 2 :30 . : Saat üçün yarısıdır.
 * It is 2 :00 . : Saat ikidir.
 * It is 2 :50 . : Saat üçə on dəqiqə qalır.

Days

 * Monday : bazar ertəsi
 * Tuesday : çərşənbə axşamı
 * Wednesday : çərşənbə
 * Thursday : cümə axşamı
 * Friday : cümə
 * Saturday : şənbə
 * Sunday : bazar

Months

 * January : yanvar
 * February : fevral
 * March : mart
 * April : aprel
 * May : may
 * June : iyun
 * July : iyul
 * August : avqust
 * September : sentyabr
 * October : oktyabr
 * November : noyabr
 * December : dekabr

Colors

 * white : ağ/bəyaz
 * black : qara
 * red : qırmızı
 * green : yaşıl
 * blue : göy/mavi
 * orange : narıncı
 * grey : boz
 * brown : şabalıdı/qəhvəyi
 * yellow : sarı
 * pink : çəhrayı

Transportation
Nəqliyyat

Bus and train
Avtobus və qatar

Direction
İstiqamət

Taxi
Taksi

Lodging
Rent

İcarə

Lease

Kirayə

Money
Pul

Eating

 * Bring us a menu. :  (Bizə menu gətirin.)
 * What's our bill? :  (Hesab nə qədərdir?)

Driving
Suruculuk

title: Azerbaijani phrasebook


text:
Azores

The archipelago of the Azores (Portuguese: Açores) is an autonomous region of Portugal. This group of islands of the Atlantic Ocean is an ultra-peripheral area of the European Union.

Latest census data reports just over a quarter of a million residents live on these islands but with a diaspora of more than two million living overseas, primarily in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and mainland Europe. In the Channel Islands they have for long formed a substantial minority so that public phoneboxes feature dialling instructions in the Azores dialect.

Islands
The Azores consist primarily of 9 main islands:

Understand

Açores (uh-SOH-r(ih)sh, /ɐ.ˈso.ɾɨʃ/)

These nine volcanic islands are situated in the northern Atlantic, about from the western edge of the Iberian Peninsula and about  from North America. Seismic activity, though rare, still occurs on occasion.

The Azores have three cities recognized as "capitals":
 * Ponta Delgada — Presidency of the regional government, economic capital
 * Angra do Heroísmo — Representative of the Portuguese Republic, historic capital
 * Horta — Legislative Assembly

History
While ancient and medieval legends tell about Atlantic islands which could have been the Azores, the first known inhabitants were Portuguese, who discovered and settled them in the 15th century. The Azores became an important waypoint during the Age of Discovery.

Climate
The archipelago is spread out in the area between 37° N and the parallels of latitude that pass through the Lisbon area (38° 43' / 38° 55' N), giving it generally a tepid, and oceanic climate, with mild annual oscillations. Daily maximum temperatures usually range. The average annual rainfall increases from east to west, and it ranges annually on average, reaching  on Mount Pico, the highest Portuguese mountain at. The Azores high, an area of high atmospheric pressure, is named after the islands.

You should be warned, if what you are searching is a beach holiday with plenty of sun, the Azores are not right for you. However, if going to the beach is just one of the activities you will do, it should be just perfect. Climate in the Azores can vary during the day from bright sunny, to rainy and back to sunny.

Talk
The official language in Azores is Portuguese, which is spoken by the native population with a very particular accent, which varies a bit from island to island. English is widely spoken though, one reason for it being the growing importance of the tourism sector, but also because of high numbers of Azorians having migrated to the USA and Canada, which is why you can nowadays find many people with family ties in North America or older people who have even lived there and therefore speak English surprisingly well.

Get in
The Azores are part of Portugal and therefore of the European Union and Schengen Area.

By plane
The main entry point is Ponta Delgada Airport —also called João Paulo II Airport—on the island of São Miguel. However, international airports are also on Faial, Flores , Santa Maria , Terceira islands. Also Pico airport.

Free connecting flight from SATA
Residents of the Azores and students flying from mainland Portugal, or Funchal, are eligible for a free connecting flight to any of the islands. The free flight must be arranged at least 7 days in advance and can be booked through the SATA Air Açores website.

By boat
The Azores are a common stopover for small craft crossing the Atlantic, especially when crossing from west to east. There are facilities for small craft at least in Lajes das Flores on Flores, in Horta on Faial, in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel, in Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória on Terceira, and on Santa Maria (all of these ports of entry). It may be possible to join a crew for the voyage.

The Azores are also a waypoint for many cruise ships on transatlantic routes.

By plane
SATA Air Açores offers flights between each of the islands. The cost for each flight is capped at around by the authorities. Flights are faster but more expensive than the ferry, and are the only way to travel between the eastern, western and central island groups during low season. Flights are more tolerant of storms (causing choppy seas) than ferries and will be stopped later as the weather gets worse.

By ferry
Ferries connect each of the islands and are operated by Atlanticoline. There are several lines that operate:

 * Azul (blue): Faial - Pico
 * Verde (green): Faial - Pico - São Jorge
 * Rosa (pink): Corvo - Flores
 * Lilás (purple): Faial - Pico - São Jorge - Terceira
 * Branca (white): Faial - Pico - São Jorge - Graciosa - Terceira

Youth discount on ferries with the Interjovem Card
The Interjovem Card limits the cost of any ferry trip to making the ferry by far the cheapest way to travel between islands. The card is available to anyone between the ages of 13 and 30 and costs. Buy it from:

 * The official app - available from the Play Store on Android
 * Azores Youth Hostels
 * Atlanticoline
 * RIAC (Integrated Network for Support to the Citizen) service points
 * Travel agencies
 * Clube Naval da Horta
 * Academic Association – University of the Azores

By hitchhiking
Azoreans readily pick up hitchhikers. Given the poor bus service on the islands hitch-hiking is often the easiest way to get around for those without a car.

By car
Renting a car is the easiest way to get around the islands, with companies providing cars and scooters on every island.

By bus
On most islands there are bus services, crossing the main villages. On the smaller islands, however, the buses may have only a few runs per day or none at all on certain days (Sundays, holidays).

By taxi
Taxis are centrally regulated throughout the islands so visitors pay the same rate as locals. In São Miguel (2015), it costs about between the two ends of Ponta Delgada; out of town trips are  or  to the farthest parts of the island.

By bicycle
Cycling around the islands is possible if you are in great shape, and don't mind a lot of hill climbing.

See
See the Regions section above for points of interest in each island.

São Miguel and other islands

 * 1) Start in São Miguel Island
 * 2) From Ponta Delgada (in São Miguel), fly to Faial. Do a whale watching tour.
 * 3) Take the boat to Pico Island. Do a whale watching tour. Climb Pico mountain if you are in good shape.
 * 4) Take the channel boat to São Jorge Island. Fly to Terceira Island.

Do
Many activities and sights are accessible only through private tour companies. Half-day and all-day tours start at and can cost upward of. The tours are generally very high quality and worth it.

You can hike on every island but it's best in Flores, Sao Jorge and Sao Miguel.

 * Whale and dolphin watching. Every town with a marina offers whale watching. They take you out on small boats and often get you within ten yards of the whale. Futurismo is a recommended provider for whale watching tours.
 * Off-road mountain bike circuits
 *  Moto 4 Rides
 *  Bird Watching
 *  Donkey Rides
 *  Fishing
 *  Sport Fishing
 *  Ferry
 *  Yachting
 *  Rental Bike, riding bike is a great way to get to know the islands.
 *  Guided Tours, the best way to get to know the islands is to take a guided tour.
 * Volcano Climbing at Pico island
 * Hiking

Money
The euro (€) is the currency of the Azores. Restaurants and shops usually can't take MasterCard or Visa cards, however ATMs are widely available.

Shopping
Handcraft from all the islands is very good.

The Azores is the only place in Europe that produces tea.

Eat
There is a "meat and potatoes" mentality when it comes to the cuisine and vegetables can sometimes be hard to come by.

Fresh fish and local grass-fed beef are very good. One of the main dishes is Bife à Regional, a steak with a delicious local sauce.

Sao Jorge island is famous for its cheese and must be tried. Fresh pineapple from Sao Miguel island is unbelievably good.

Drink
Sagres and Super Bock are the best Portuguese beers you can find on the island. Especial is the local beer and it is very good.

Korisca is a new local beer brand you may find in several locations. They have several styles of good quality.

You can also ask for local sodas "Kima" and "Laranjada".

Camping
Camp-sites are available on every island. They are typically well equipped and cheap or free. The VisitAzores website provides an up-to-date list of the available camp-sites.

Hostels
There are few hostels outside of Ponta Delgada, and these become fully booked during high season so book ahead of time.

Hotels
Hotels are available on every island.

Stay safe
There is very little crime in the Azores. What little crime exists is mostly drug-related. There are no reports of crimes against tourists.

Go next
Flights within other islands, plus Funchal, Madeira, Lisbon , Porto.

title: Azores


text:
Azumino

Azumino (安曇野市 Azumino-shi) is a city in Nagano Prefecture.

Understand
Situated among the picturesque valleys of central Honshu's famous Alps region, Azumino boasts a unique blend of culture, history and natural beauty.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

By train

 * From Tokyo: Take the JR Chuo East line from Shinjuku to Matsumoto, then the JR Oito line to Hotaka or the JR Shinonoi line to Akashina (3 hr, ¥6,620 unreserved seat). Alternately, take the Nagano Shinkansen to Nagano, JR Shinonoi line to Akashina (2 hr 30 min, ¥9,390 unreserved seat).
 * From Nagoya: Take the JR Chuo West line to Matusmoto, then the JR Oito line to Hotaka (2 hr 15 min, ¥5,670 unreserved seat).
 * From Nagano: Take the Shinonoi line from Nagano station to Akashina.

By car

 * From Tokyo: Take the Chuo Expressway west to Oyaka Junction then the Nagano Expressway and exit at Toyoshina.
 * From Nagoya: Take the Chuo Expressway east to Oyaka Junction then the Nagano Expressway and exit at Toyoshina.
 * From Nagano: Take the Nagano Expressway and exit at Toyoshina.

Go next

 * Chikuma - Explore the onsens, mountains and temples of this small city straddling the picturesque Chikuma River
 * Matsumoto - Check out the famous black castle
 * Hakuba - fun in the snow
 * Joshinetsu Kogen National Park — home to Shiga Kogen, Japan's largest ski resort
 * Ueda - castle ruins and mountain hikes
 * Matsukawa
 * Ikeda
 * Ikusaka
 * Omachi

title: Azumino


text:
Baalbek

Baalbek بَعلبَك is one of the most spectacular archaeological sites in Lebanon and one of the country's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Baalbeck or 'Heliopolis' as it was known is the site of great ancient temples built by the Phoenicians, the Romans, and other civilisations that have conquered the region and enjoyed the fertile soil of the Bekaa Valley. Some of the most celebrated temples are the ones of Bacchus, the Greek god of wine, and Jupiter, the Roman god of light, of the sky and weather.

By bus
Buses to Baalbek from Beirut leave the Cola intersection frequently and cost 7,000 LL. During the summer season daily tours are available from Beirut to Baalbeck from most major hotels; tour operator Nakhal has a guided coach tour several days a week for US$70. The trip takes about two hours each way.

It is possible to travel from Homs in Syria to Baalbek by bus. Buses leave from the Karnak or Luxury coach stations in Homs and cross into Lebanon at al-Qa'a, arriving soon thereafter at Baalbek. Cost is about US$10.

See
Visiting the ruins of Baalbeck costs 15 000 LL. The ruins consist of several temples and buildings:

Events

 * Every summer the Baalbeck International Festival offers performances from local and international artists. In the past performers ranged from Sting, Vanessa Mae and Phil Collins to plays by the celebrated Lebanese Rahbani brothers.

Buy
Do not buy antiquities as they are most likely fake. This is the center of the fake coin industry. Insist on a certificate of authenticity, and pay by credit card and keep your receipt. At least then you can charge back the dealer when you learn you have been deceived. Real antiquities could also be from illegal digs, don't buy them either.

You will probably also be touted some yellow Hezbullah T-shirts while you are at Baalbeck, as it is the birthplace of that party. If you choose to buy one beware: these T-shirts will self-destruct in the laundry, losing all of their green ink in the wash. That aside, they are an interesting souvenir. They should only cost 1,000 LL, not the 15,000 LL they'll ask.

Pastries
Oriental pastries are offered by Patisserie Jawhari, there you can find traditional sweets from Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. The most famous sweet there is called "namoura bel ashta" (namoura with cream). The cream is extracted from fresh boiling milk. More pastries are found including knefe and neqlawa.

Drink
Every summer there are outdoor sheesha bars, they also serve food, drinks, desserts.

title: Baalbek


text:
Baan Ao Leuk

Ao Leuk (อ่าวลึก) is in Krabi Province.

Understand
Baan Ao Leuk is around 50 km north of Krabi on the way to Phang Nga and Phuket along the main road.

Get in
Buses to and from Krabi and Phuket travel at regular intervals through the town.

Get around
Hire a car in Krabi to visit the attractions. Other than this, motorcycle-taxi hire is the only way to get around the place to see the worthwhile sights.

Do
There are some interesting caves.

title: Baan Ao Leuk


text:
Babahoyo

Babahoyo is the capital of Los Ríos Province, Ecuador.

Get in
Most bus companies running between Quito and Guayaquil stop or passes through Babahoyo. It is one hour from Guayaquil and 7 hours from Quito. Quevedo connects with Guayaquil by two highways, one through Balzar and Daule (not very popular); and the other one that passes through Babahoyo.

Get around
There is a small mall in the south part of the town, where people can buy supplies and run some errand.

See
Noteworthy attractions include the verdant gardens of Parque 24 de Mayo and the city's main cathedral, which is decorated with an enormous mosaic mural depicting the Virgin Mary. The beautiful river that have old traditional houses around it.

Do
Take a walk in the 10 Agosto street and look for the small edification is very interesting. Have an ice cream and enjoy the view in the new malecon can be pretty and very relaxing. At night there are a couple of bars and clubs in the downtown very common for the wealthy citizen.

Eat

 * Chifa Pacífico Babahoyo: Chinese food. Address: Gral. Barona and Abdon Calderon.
 * Monich: Ecuadorian & international food. Address: Eloy Alfaro and 10 de Agosto

Drink
Sodas bar are very common in the town, also street vendor sell natural fresh juices

Sleep
There are different kinds of places where to stay, from hotels to motels.

title: Babahoyo


text:
Babakale

Babakale is a village in the Northern Aegean Region of Turkey, with a population of 497 in 2020. It's existed since antiquity but the present village grew up to serve its castle, built from 1725. It's on Cape Baba, the westernmost point of mainland Asia, at 26° 03' 50" East on about the same longitude as Helsinki and Bucharest.

Get in
Ezine is on the main highway and bus route between Çanakkale, Edremit and Izmir. Change here for the local bus or dolmuş, which winds through the back lanes and olive groves to Babakale. It runs every couple of hours.

With your own vehicle, the usual route is to turn off at Gülpinar (home of Apollon Smintheion temple) for the tarmacked but twisty, potholed last 8 km to Babakale.

Seek local advice before attempting the unsealed lane from Kocaköy.

Get around
Babakale itself is tiny and takes less than ten minutes to walk across. You need wheels for the temple at Gülpinar.

See

 * The village has some traditional Ottoman architecture (including its 18th century mosque), amidst lots of modern breezeblock.
 * Emek Yemez Baba (also Sultan Baba, Peksimet Yemez Latif Baba) was the holy man who gave his name to the village. He is variously said to be either an ascetic dervish relying on whatever alms offered by the passing ships or a navy man who didn't particularly enjoy hardtacks. At any rate, some Turkish seamen continue the Ottoman naval tradition of throwing chunks of bread into the sea during the passage off the cape, either to honour the humble dervish or to tease the picky sailor. He may lie buried in the unpretentious tomb north side of the castle, adjoined by an Ottoman graveyard. A lighthouse "lekton" has been recorded since antiquity, but the present structure is just a modern metal tower.
 * is the westernmost point of mainland Asia, reached by a scramble down the ridge from the tombs and lighthouse. (If you don't fancy scrambling those last few metres, a stroll on the modern harbour wall brings you almost as far west.) It's not the most westerly point of Turkey – that's Enez on the Greek border, and within Asia the Turkish island of Bozcaada is furthest west. Villagers will try to sell you a "certificate" for reaching the west point, maybe worth it if you fear folk back home will accuse you of actually sneaking off to Asia's easternmost point Cape Dezhnyov in Russia.
 * is a small beach resort a few km north of Babakale. Don't confuse it with the much larger Altınkum south of Izmir.
 * Lesvos is the large Greek island seen 12 km south. The way to reach it legally is by ferry from Ayvalık south side of the Gulf, but its proximity draws refugees, smugglers and others to attempt ilegal crossings. The coastguard will suspect anyone wild-camping or otherwise lurking near the coast after nightfall of preparing an attempt.
 * is a small beach resort a few km north of Babakale. Don't confuse it with the much larger Altınkum south of Izmir.
 * Lesvos is the large Greek island seen 12 km south. The way to reach it legally is by ferry from Ayvalık south side of the Gulf, but its proximity draws refugees, smugglers and others to attempt ilegal crossings. The coastguard will suspect anyone wild-camping or otherwise lurking near the coast after nightfall of preparing an attempt.

Do
The sea is clean and safe to swim.

Fishing trips sail from the harbour.

Buy

 * Knife cutlery is a village specialty; in legend the cutlers supplying blades to the castle developed a domestic sideline. Think about how many hotel security systems you're going to ping, before the souvenir finally gets confiscated when you attempt to fly home.
 * The village store by the castle is open 24 hours.

Eat

 * Babakale Kaleder (run by the Women's Association) and Karayel (daily 10:00-00:00) are fish restaurants near the castle.

Drink

 * Cafes and tea houses sit by the castle and harbour. There's no bar.

Sleep

 * Camping may be available through Çağdaş Camping (+90 530 693 7905).
 * Camping may be available through Çağdaş Camping (+90 530 693 7905).

Stay safe
The village is safe, but illegal business with Lesvos may be plotted by characters lurking in the scrubs.

The wild boars run away if you just stand tall and say "boo!".

Connect
As of June 2022, Babakale has 4G from all Turkish carriers, but the signal is very patchy, with lots of dead spots on the approach roads. 5G has not rolled out in Turkey.

Go next

 * Heading north brings you to Alexandria Troas and other antiquities around Geyikli.
 * Troy is the big sight further north.
 * East the next village of interest is Assos or Behramkale, with another Hellenistic temple.
 * Along the Troad Coast describes an itinerary through these parts.

title: Babakale


text:
Babb

Babb is a very small town located near the eastern entrance to Glacier National Park in Northwestern Montana.

Understand
This is a small community on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation consisting of a post office, an elementary school and two small churches in addition to the listings below. The 2010 census puts the population at 174.

Get in
Babb is on US highway 89 at the junction to route 3, the north east entrance road to Glacier National Park, 9 miles north of St. Mary and 12 miles south of the US/Canadian border cross from Cardston. Just north of the community is route 17 which takes you over the hills to the border crossing above Waterton.

Get around
As the local dogs do, walk along the side of the highway between the store, motel and restaurant.

See
The main sight and reason for visiting the area is obviously Glacier National Park. Northeast of the town is Chief Mountain, a very prominent peak with almost vertical edges.

The statue of a rodeo cowboy outside the school is an interesting cast sculpture. The old wooden church above the cafe and gas station is also worth a brief look.

Buy
Gas station that is manned during the day and can use credit cards 24 hours.

Go next

 * Glacier National Park
 * St. Mary Located a few miles south of Babb at the park border, this town also caters to park visitors.

title: Babb


text:
Babol

Babol (Mazanderani: باوول, Persian: بابل) is a city in the Caspian region of Iran, north-east of Tehran and about 30 km from Sari. It is the chief commercial centre of Mazandaran Province and was once the major trading center of northern Iran. The population was estimated to be about 220,000 in 2011.

History
Founded in the 16th century, it was built on the site of the ancient city of Mamatir. Babol used to be called Barforushdeh and Barforush afterwards.

Get in
By plane:

Fights from all over the world to Tehran, then from Tehran airport to Sari airport (50 min flight and then 50 km by car to Babol).

By train:

From Tehran's main train station to Quaemshahr train station (5 hours) then half an hour from Quaemshahr to Babol by car.

By road:

You can travel from Tehran to Babol in 4-5 hours directly by car or bus.

title: Babol


text:
Babolsar

Babolsar is a city in Mazandaran province Iran.

Get in
The driving distance from Tehran is about 235 km

See

 * Seaside
 * Bridges with nice views.
 * Zoo
 * Environmental and Natural science Museum
 * Mazandaran university building
 * River boulevard

Do

 * Buses rides (traveling on the sea).
 * Buses rides (traveling on the sea).

It is safe to swim in the sea.

Buy

 * Palm Shopping Center line
 * Persia Shopping Center
 * Old Bazaar
 * Ojaksar shopping stores
 * Khanevadeh Clothes store
 * Bozorgmehr Shopping center
 * Book City (Shahre Ketab)
 * Iran Katan Store
 * Saleh Shopping Center
 * Katan Tafteh Store
 * Negin Shopping Center

Eat
If you are interested in seafood you can try the most delicious taste of Caspian sea fish like Caviar with high-quality of vegetable-mixed rice. Also various types of sea birds are cooked skillfully in special Mazandarany cooking instruction in winters. Famous restaurants are Mizban, Shilat bar, Shoopeh, Varesh and etc. There is a lot of fast food restaurants for eating such as pizza, sandwich, Hot dog and so on.

Sleep

 * Mizban Hotel Complex, a lot of motels, Darya Kenar suburban, Khezer Shahr suburban.

title: Babolsar


text:
Babylon

Babylon is a in Iraq, today only ruins; it was once one of the most prominent cities of Ancient Mesopotamia. Alexander the Great chose Babylon to be the capital of the great empire he had created, and died there while planning further conquests; for several centuries after that it was a major center of the Seleucid Empire founded by one of his generals.

Understand
It is likely that Babylon (from Bab Ilim, Gate of the Gods) was founded in the third millennium BC and rose to prominence over the next thousand years. By the 18th century BC the city was the centre of the empire of Hammurabi. Various empires controlled Babylon over the following centuries. Babylon briefly regained independence during the Neo-Babylonian empire towards the end of the 7th century BC, most notably under the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar II, but came under Persian rule in the 6th century BC. In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great captured Babylon. Babylon remained a notable Persian province until the 7th century AD, and then fell into decline.

The ruins of Babylon have suffered greatly due to looting and destructive policies. Parts of Nebuchadnezzar's palace and some of the old city walls remain. Saddam Hussein commissioned a non-scientific, very controversial "restoration" of ancient Babylon on part of the site, in the process destroying much of the ancient site all the way to the foundations. A modern palace was constructed for him on what was purported to have been Nebuchadnezzar's ancient palace.

A reconstruction of Babylon's Ishtar Gate is displayed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

Get in
The ruins are located about north from the city of Hillah, the capital of Babylon Province. Hillah is well-connected with overnight trains from Baghdad and Basra as well as highways. Taxi is recommended for travelling from the city to Babylon.

See

Modern sights

Sleep
Nearby Hillah has several hotels too.

Stay safe
See the warning on the Iraq article.

title: Babylon


text:
Babylon (disambiguation)

There is more than one place called Babylon:

Czech Republic

 * Babylon (Czech Republic) — A town in the Czech Republic.

Iraq

 * Babylon — Ruins of an ancient city in Iraq.

United States of America

 * Babylon (Illinois) — A community in Illinois.
 * Babylon (town, New York) — A town on Long Island in New York.
 * Babylon (village, New York) — A village in the town of Babylon in New York.

title: Babylon (disambiguation)


text:
Babylon (town, New York)

Babylon is a town on Long Island, New York. Prominent communities in Babylon include Amityville, Babylon village, Lindenhurst, Copiague, Deer Park, Gilgo, and Wheatley Heights, and Wyandanch.

Eat

 * Mama's in Copiague has some of the best Italian food.

Go next

 * South Oyster Bay
 * Huntington
 * Islip

title: Babylon (town, New York)


text:
Baños

Baños (de Agua Santa) is a small city in the Andean Highlands of Ecuador under the smoke of volcano Tungurahua. Popular with both foreign and domestic visitors coming for outdoor activities, Baños is known as the adventure capital of Ecuador.

Understand
The name of Baños, which is Spanish for "Baths (of sacred water)," comes from the famous hydrothermal springs in the area. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops and tour agents. Although the city seems a bit touristy and artificial — even to the extent that it's nicknamed "Gringobamba" by some — lots of people love it and it's definitely worth a visit. It's an important hub for outdoor sports and jungle tours, tours to the volcano Tungurahua, and a pilgrimage destination.

Tungurahua throws more than just its shadow on the city — it's also a threat to Baños. During a major eruption in 1999, Baños and surroundings were evacuated as a precaution. The volcano has been continuously erupting since 2000 and intensity temporarily increases several times a year.

Climate
Only around 150 km from the Equator, expect the same temperatures around the year — a little more than 20°C during the day and lows of 12-13°C during the night, creating a daily average of about 17°C. The fact that the city is 1,800 m above sea level moderates the temperatures. As with much of the Andes, the combination of high altitude and equatorial location means some of the most intense UV-radiation in the world so do protect you skin from sunburn. Also, the rain season is not as abrupt and noticeable as in many other tropical locations. The driest months, October to February, get about half the amount of monthly rainfall compared to June (the wettest month) and the transition is comparatively slow.

Get in
Road is the only way to get in; the closest airport is in Quito and there is no railway.

By bus
The small bus terminal (terminal terrestre) is on the north edge of town and is within walking distance to the center and most hotels. There are frequent connections to Baños from Quito's southern Quitumbe terminal (3½ hours, $4.45), Riobamba (2 hours, $2) and Guayaquil (5½ hours, $7). The closest bigger town is Ambato (1 hour, $1.10 from Terminal Mayorista, $2.20 from main terminal) and buses go frequently between the two towns. Coming from the east, there are connections from Tena and Coca. There are also connections from Cuenca (once or twice a day).

There are reports of scams on the Amazonas bus company, whereby passengers are ditched in the southern districts of Quito. When ditched passengers then buy another ticket with another company, they are told they have to return to Quito and argue for a refund.

By car
Baños is east of Ambato and already half way into the deep Amazon. Coming from the north (e.g. Quito), turn off the Panamericana in Ambato and drive some 45 km east to get to Baños. It's a scenic drive through the steep Andes.

Get around
Easy, just walk. Nowhere is more than a 15-minute walk from where you start and usually even less. It is relatively flat in the city centre.

Also check out the mountain biking section should you wish to explore further afield.

There are plenty of taxis around should you need one. For most places in town a ride should cost you less than $1.

Motorcycles can be rented for $15/hr for a 250cc off-road style bike. They will not ask for a license but will hold onto your passport. The agency near Hotel Passiflora has good quality Honda bikes maintained just as well. Be sure to take photos of the bike before you drive it away.

See

While the town is mostly about activities, there are still places to see.

Outside the city

 * Tungurahua is described in the Do section below.
 * Tungurahua is described in the Do section below.
 * Tungurahua is described in the Do section below.

Do
The Pastaza river valley, which Baños sits in the middle of, is a canyon with several waterfalls and begins immediately east of Baños. In addition to the waterfalls there is a botanical garden, funiculars, bungee jumping and ziplines (up to one kilometer long). Ruta de las Cascadas is a biking route through the Pastaza river valley, and one of Ecuador's most famous biking routes.

There are dozens of travel agencies offering rafting, climbing to Cotopaxi, mountain bike rental, multiple day trekking, jungle tours, etc. Shop around.

Activities

 * Several tour operators offer bridge jumping. There are two bridges this is done from, one is much higher than the other. Although the operators are not covered by any kind of liability insurance, the rigging equipment is of high quality and done professionally.
 * Many companies organize rafting trips on the Pastaza river. The rapids range from class II to IV, depending on the recent rainfall. A half-day trip costs about $30–35 and you are best off going with a respected, well-known organizer. The water is not too cold but beware of sunburn where the wet suit doesn't cover. In June 2009, a French tourist drowned when the boat capsized. Be careful! As of December 2018, the main rafting operator continues to have poor safety standards, with people regularly falling out of the boats, putting them at risk of being caught in undercurrents and drowning.
 * Several tour operators offer ziplining.
 * Dozens of tour operators offer rappelling down waterfalls (canyoning).
 * ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) and motocross bikes abound in the town and you can easily rent one for a couple of hours or days. The hills surrounding the town provide good views of the town and the volcano and climbing to the antenna or to the cross are both good options. You can also drive down to Puyo if you don't feel like biking.

Take a scenic ride with the colourful local minivans that do tours daily along the route of cascades all the way to Cascada el Pailón del diablo (entrance 2$) at 10:30, 13:30 and 15:30 together with the nocturnal tours with the night view from Bellavista departing at 19:00 and 21:00. Tickets can be purchased at any of the numerous travel agencies around the town but then you pay 5$ when you can get them for 3$ at the dedicated office of Chivas close to the bus terminal in the corner of the streets Eugenio Espejo And Thomas Halflants. The Chivas vans depart and arrive at this location.

Wellness
Baños is not just well-known for its adventures, but also for healing.

The best massage studios are all on the same street, within 50 m of each other. They are all $20/hour. Try Xu Jing Casa de Salud for an excellent massage from a wise old Chinese woman. Corner of Luis A. Martínez and Eloy Alfaro, across from Casa Hood.

Hiking
Around Baños there are several easy trails. The tourist office (calle T. Halflants at the park) can provide simple maps. On some trails you can find many signs on the way, though the indicated distances seem to be quite contradictory.

Biking
Several agencies rent out mountain bikes ($5 a day or $1.25 an hour). But make sure that you or someone with experience checks out the bikes and ensures that they are safe to use. Especially check if the gear is clean and oiled enough - bikes look really good, but are sometimes not maintained like they should be. Also be sure to understand who has to pay for damage to the bike should it occur.

A popular ride is the 61 km, mostly downhill, to Puyo. The first 18 km to Rio Verde is strewn with impressive waterfalls, some reached by mini cable cars across the valley. Rio Verde's Pailón del Diablo is the most dramatic. The frequent tunnels on this road mostly have bike bypasses and the only one you need to go through is the first one. There are good signs indicating where to go all the way to Puyo. From Rio Verde or Puyo there are frequent buses back to Baños, some of which will put you bike on the roof. It is also fairly easy to hitchhike your way back on a pick-up truck.

You can also sometimes include a small bungee-style jump off a bridge some 30 minutes from Baños.

Jungle tours
Many kinds of tours are organized to the Amazon jungle from day trips to the edge to two week adventures deep in the jungle. You will get to meet natives in their villages, swim under a waterfall and see at least some small wild animals like frogs, fish and spiders. You can usually also bundle the tour with rafting if you want. The tours around Puyo have a price range of about $35-50 per day, but no matter how much you pay, you'll probably end up on the same bus, eat the same food and stay at the same place, so shop around a bit before booking.

Buy
There are a lot of different places to buy handicrafts, there are a lot of small business in front of the church in the middle of the town. In the markets of the city you can find a great selection of fruit. There you can also find cuy (roasted guinea pig), a specialty of the native Andean cuisine.

Eat
In addition to the Ecuadorian traditional specialty cuy (roasted guinea pig, available e.g. in the market), the specialties of Baños are sugar cane, candies made of it, and other colorful sweets, all of which are available at stalls around the city.

Melcocha (sugar cane taffy) is Ecuador's hallmark candy and the majority of it is made in Baños. The abundance of sugar cane in the area makes this version of taffy a local specialty. It is a naturally sweet taffy made from boiled raw cane syrup. In store fronts that sell it you are likely to see it being made by pulling it and beating it against sturdy door frames.

Sugar cane is also popular in a less worked form as chewable cane pulp sticks or squeezed juice (Jugo de Caña).

Drink
Baños has a good selection of nightlife with bars and discos concentrated in the south of the city.

There's a whole street in downtown with salsathecas where you can dance all night. Other than that, in most salsathecas around Baños, they mostly play American pop music. One place to dance salsa is the Leprecaun Bar. Go there early (around 9 o'clock) where the place isn't too busy, ask the staff to put on some salsa music and they are even happy to give you dance lessons.

Sleep
Given its small size, there are a lot of hotels in Baños, and thanks to the competition prices are in general low and standards high. Public computers with Internet access are common.

Emergency numbers

 * Police: 101
 * Ambulance: (03) 2741 367 ext. 25
 * Firefighters: (03) 2740 500

Go next

 * Quito — the capital is a couple of hours on the road to the northwest.
 * Puyo — to the northeast, here you can see a spectacular waterfall and it is a gateway to the Amazon. Apparently, there buses leaving every 30 minutes.
 * Riobamba — to the south, this is Ecuador's third largest city and next to it is Chimborazo, whose summit is the point furthest away from the Earth's center.
 * Other bus destinations: Coca (Puerto Francisco de Orellana), Ambato, Cuenca, …

title: Baños


text:
Baška

Baška is situated in the valley of the same name at the very southeast of the island of Krk in Croatia. The bet known feature of the area is its 1800 meters long pebble beach, the longest, and the largest one on part of the Adriatic sea. Of historical and cultural monuments we can mention the church of St. Lucija with the Bašćanska ploča.

Get in
From the Krk Bridge follow the signposts for Krk town and then for Baska, which is around 45 km from the bridge. If you are driving be careful when passing Obzova, the highest part of the Krk island as the road is very narrow and has very sharp bends.

title: Baška


text:
Bacalar

Bacalar is a lakeside community in Quintana Roo, Mexico. This area, anchored by the stunningly azure blue Lake Bacalar, has a Yucatan small-village feel and is absent of busloads of tourists.

By car
Highway 307 has two lanes on each side for traffic. There are no tolls to pay. The exit for the city of Bacalar is on the left. The scenery is through the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve for part of the trip. The driving time from Cancún is 5 hours; from Tulum, 2½ hours. Well worth the drive.

By bus
There are first and second class buses from the ADO bus stations of Cancún, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Valladolid, Mérida and Chetumal. The of Bacalar is 1 km outside the center in the north west on the Highway 307.

From Tulum it's • M$250 (Feb 2022) with second-class Mayab bus, • M$286 (Feb 2022) with Autobuses Unidos (AU) and • M$324 (Feb 2022) with ADO. You find the schedules of ADO and AU in the ADO app or website. The schedules of Mayab you see on the LCD monitor of an employee inside a Terminal ticket booth.

By shared van
From Tulum and Chetumal you can also take a colectivo. It is only possible to carry small luggage with you as there is no trunk. From Tulum it's M$70 (Feb 2022) to Carillo (Felipe Carillo Puerto). And again M$70 (Feb 2022) from Carillo to Bacalar. Colectivo from Tulum to Bacalar 180M$ (Mar 2024).

By train
Tren Maya, Mexico's newest intercity rail system serving five states in the Yucatan Peninsula region, has a station in Bacalar, providing service to Chetumal, Tulum, Cancun, Merida and other destinations in the region.

Get around
On foot or bicycle would be very doable if you are staying in the city of Bacalar, as well as taxis, which are not expensive.

See
The water of Lake Bacalar is among the most pale and gemlike blue that could possibly exist. The main attraction of traveling to this area is the lake, whose beauty could easily induce one to sit and read for a few days without regret. The lake is somewhat shallow at the shores, except where there are sinkholes commonly known as cenotes. It is well seen by kayak or sailboat. The sand when disturbed smells strongly of minerals or sulfur, though sitting by the lake or even being on the water certainly carried no odor whatsoever.

Be aware that the lake is closed for activities on Wednesdays

Bacalar has many cenotes, among which:

Do
On the Lake Bacalar you can do a 2 hour boat tour seeing five sights for M$250 (Feb 2022). Tour operators are available at the lake in the city center. Choose one with an English audio guide like the operator The GAIA Experience. They have a daily departure at 3pm when the sun is less strong. Use suncream anyway. Other available activities are a sailboat tour, kayak rental for M$150/M$250 (single/double, Feb 2022) per hour and standup paddleboarding.

Ramón Aguayo is the certified scuba instructor in town, if you´d like to get certified. Ask for him at the front desk of Villas Bakalar or at the Chinese house on the costera. Sailing boat rentals or instructor, as well as boat excursions are also available.

To learn more about Bacalar and what to do, where to buy stuff, where to eat, where to stay, what is going on around town and what has been happening, as well as articles about the fort and danzon, visit the Bacalar Mosaico Facebook.

On Sunday night, there may be music and dancing in the city square.

Out of town trips
Active Nature Bacalar offers guided kayak/canoe trips, bicycle tours and jungle walks to explore the beautiful lake and its surroundings. They are located 5 km north of Bacalar at Villas Ecotucan which is also a really nice place to stay.

The Mayan ruins nearby that are worthwhile visiting are Chacchoben (45 km), Dzibanché (85 km) and Kohunlich (70 km). They don´t have a lot of people and the jungle surroundings are magnificent. Contact the front desk of Villas Bakalar for birdwatching among jungles and ruins.

Buy
The ATMs in Bacalar have low withdrawal fees. In the center are:

However, the ATMs in the city center may frequently be out of service. There are many other ATMs in the Palacio Municipal, but they have exhorbitant withdrawal fees (e.g., HSBC M$81.2, BBVA M$174) (Dec 2023)

And on the Highway 307 around the ADO bus station are:

For buying groceries there many minimarkets around. A bigger variety have Super Willys, La Bodega Favorita and Dunosusa supermarkets. At least the latter accepts credit cards.

You get meat for cooking in Dunosusa and maxicarne.

Drink
Los Aluxes has a nice little bar with swings instead of stools. Though the closing hours are early (see above)

Sleep
There are many hotels along the Western coast of the lake.

Go next
All these places have hostels and private rooms:

in the east:

 * Mahahual (Costa Maya) – 100 km.

in the south:

 * Chetumal – 40 km.
 * Orange Walk, Belize – 90 km. From there to San Ignacio or San Pedro.

in the north:

 * Tulum – 210 km
 * Playa del Carmen – 270 km

title: Bacalar


text:
Bacău

Bacău is a city in eastern Romania in the region of Moldavia and had a population of 136,087 as of 2021. The municipality of Bacău covers an area of 43 km² and is at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, and on the Bistrița River. Also, the Ghimeș Pass links the city to the region of Transylvania, making for a possible stopover on the way through.

Understand
Bacău is the seat of the county of the same name and is located on the Bistrița river, from where part of the local consumption is covered thanks to the hydroelectric plant located on it. An advantage in visiting this city is the fact that it has an international airport that provides regular flights to various national and European destinations.

Another advantage of Bacău is its positioning in close proximity to the subcarpathian fault line. It is on flat or gently sloping terraces with an east and south-east exposure in stabilized ponds, having good drainage and a rich water table. The nearby meadows and terraces are used for the cultivation of fruit trees, vines and cereals. The position and the natural setting made Bacăul experience a rapid development since the Middle Ages, thus becoming an important crossroads of the main commercial arteries in the central-western part of Moldova.

History
In the opinion of some great Romanian writers, the name of Bacău comes from the Hungarian language, the mention of the city on an official document dating back to the year 1399. In the archives of various documents, the city of Bacău appears as Bacovia or Ad Bacum. Once upon a time, on these lands there were extensive forests where herds of bison lived, at the Museum of Moldova in Bacău a unique bison head was found, and an important collection of historical documents and old manuscripts.

Get in
Bacău is located in the north-eastern part of the country and is bordered to the north by the communes of Hemeiuș and Săucești, to the east by the commune of Letea Veche, and to the south by the communes of Măgura, Mărgineni and Luizi-Călugăra.

By train

The city is well-connected by train with Bucharest, Brasov, Suceava, Iasi, Constanta. A train ticket from Bucharest to Bacău costs around €15 when using the most expensive and luxurious option, the Inter-City train. Romanian National Rail Transportation runs the connections between Bacău and other cities.

By car
The main roads to Bacău have been repaired and are in very good condition (E85, or DN2, is the best-maintained road in Romania, but also the road with the largest number of car accidents).

Reaching Bacău from Bucharest involves travelling 290 km on E85 (expressway), which takes 3–4 hr by car (5–6 hr during the winter). When exiting Bucharest, the best route is via Colentina Boulevard. It is the exit towards Urziceni, Buzău, Focșani, Iasi and Suceava.

Other ways of reaching Bacău by car are Brasov(E574), Iasi (E85 + E583), Vaslui (DN2F), Botoșani (E85 + E583 + E58).

Get around
There are 2 basic ways of getting around the city: by car or by public transport, which comprises mostly of buses.

By bus
The linear structure of the city makes it virtually impossible to get lost, and the local transport fast and reliable. A normal one-way ticket will cost you around 3 lei. The main bus lines are: 3, 17, 18 and 22, of which only the 22 has a different route: from the south entrance in the city (from Bucharest) where all the hypermarkets are towards Arena Mall. The rest have the same starting point, but go towards the train station, following various yet close routes.

By car
The city's main roads are in excellent state, but there is a noticeable lack of parking spaces. Parking is free almost anywhere in the city. The town has a length of about 20 km (north-to-south), but this distance is littered with traffic lights. There is an alternative route—make a left turn just before Narcisa Bridge (about 4 km from the Metro hypermarket, coming in from the south). The road will lead you around the city (with a beautiful view of it) to the road to Transylvania (left turn about half the way, or left where the road ends into a Y intersection), through the outskirts. If you want to go to Roman or further on to Suceava or Iași, you have to go through the city centre, and over Șerbănești Bridge over the Bistrița River.

See

 * Bacovia Theater – One of the few remaining historical buildings in Bacau (1929)
 * The Bacău Prefecture – Opened 1890
 * Precista Church – Opened in 1491

Do
Whether you want to take a walk around Bacău Lake or through Cancicov Park, or visit the Ruins of the Royal Court. You can enjoy all of this without a regret.

Eat
Of course you can't leave here without trying the delicious traditional food and red wine from the area.

Go next

 * Transylvania

title: Bacău