Expatriates Forums in Azerbaijan

Travelling to Azerbaijan: some questions

Writer-Ukraine — Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:27 pm

Author: Writer-Ukraine

Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:27 pm

Hi,

I’m a 24 year-old British translator and editor, currently working in Kyiv, Ukraine. I’ve been planning a journey through the Caucasus and Central Asia for a couple of years – I’m writing a collection of travel stories - and it looks as if next spring I’ll finally have the time and money to make it happen.

I have a degree in Russian, and studied in Russia before moving to Ukraine, but I have always been captivated by the culture in the satellite states. I have read a fair amount about Azerbaijan, but haven’t found much information that is helpful for planning a journey.

So, my questions are:

- How easy/safe is it to move across the country, and across borders? How expensive/reliable are trains and marshrutki?

- What are the visa requirements for short-term, tourist stays?

- How widely is Russian spoken in towns and cities? Do people react to foreigners positively or negatively?

- How many expats are there, generally?

- What are Azerbaijan’s landmarks? – (not necessarily the biggest tourist attractions, but the places that best represent the country and its people).

- What is a realistic daily budget (two meals, transport and accommodation)?

Apologies if I’ve asked any questions that appear a hundred times on the forum. I’d be very grateful for any advice, ideas and information.

Thanks,

Jon

HOTELS DIRECTORY IN AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAIJAN HOTEL GUIDE

Azerbaijan Info — Mon May 07, 2007 10:26 am

Author: Azerbaijan Info

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 10:26 am

HOTELS DIRECTORY IN AZERBAIJAN

Ambassador Hotel
S. Vurghun Street 934,
Baku
Phone: (99412) 449-4930 - 37
Fax: (+994 12) 449-4957
E-mail: office@hotelambassador.az
Website: www.hotelambassador.az

Diplomat Hotel
Suleyman Rahimov Street 185,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 499-1127/ 2409
Fax: (+994 12) 499-7470
E-mail: sales@diplomathotelbaku.com
Website: www.diplomathotelbaku.com

East Legend Panorama Hotel
Bailovo Settlement,
Khanlar Street 38,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 499-7717
Fax: (+994 12) 499-7774
E-mail: eastlegend@azdata.net
Website: www.eastlegendhotel.com

Excelsior Hotel
H. Aliyev Avenue 2,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 496-8000/ 1
Fax: (+994 12) 496-8008
E-mail: info@excelsiorhotelbaku.az
Website: www.excelsiorhotelbaku.az

Grand Hotel Europe
Tbilisi Avenue 1025/ 30,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 490-7086 - 90
Fax: (+994 12) 490-7096
E-mail: sma@europe-hotel.com
Website: www.europehotel-baku.com

Hyatt Regency
Bakikhanov Street 1,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 496-1234
Fax: (+994 12) 496-1235
E-mail: baku@hyattintl.com
Website: www.baku.hyatt.com

Khazar Golden Beach Hotel & Resort
Mardakan Settlement,
Sahil Beach,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 454-8823/ 24
Fax: (+994 12) 454-8827
E-mail: info@khazarbeachhotel.com
Website: www.khazarbeachhotel.com

Park Hyatt Baku
Izmir Street 1033,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 490-1234
Fax: (+994 12) 490-1235
E-mail: baku@hyattintl.com
Website: www.baku.hyatt.com

Premier Hotel
Shamsi Rahimov Street 28,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 447-5700/ 6500/ 9500/ 8300
Fax: (+994 12) 447-5500
E-mail: info@premierhotel.az
Website: www.premierhotel.az

Radisson SAS Plaza
Nizami Street 340,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 498-2402 - 09
Fax: (+994 12) 498-2410
E-mail: sales.radissonsas@isrplaza.com
Website: www.radissonsas.com

Respublika
Istiglaliyyet Street 15,
Baku
Telephone: (+994 12) 498-7191/ 7380/ 8297/ 3247/ 7795/ 6857
Fax: (+994 12) 493-0348
E-mail: info@hotelrespublika.com
Website: www.hotelrespublika.com

Respublika Lux
Khagani Street 24,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 598-1048/ 58
Fax: (+994 12) 493-0926
E-mail: respublikaluks@yahoo.com
Website: www.respublika.az

Serin Hotel
Babek Avenue, 76,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 422-1300/ 3939/ 4949
Fax: (+994 12) 470-5100
E-mail: hotel@serin.az
Website: www.serin.az , www.serinhotel.com.az

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN AZERBAIJAN / EMBASSIES IN AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan Info — Mon May 07, 2007 8:27 am

Author: Azerbaijan Info

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 8:27 am

DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS IN AZERBAIJAN

BULGARIA
Embassy of Bulgaria
E.Godjayev Street 13,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 441-4381/ 4138
Fax: (+994 12) 440-8182/ 448-2646
E-mail: balkan@bg.embassy.in-baku.com
Website: www.bulgaria.bg/Asia/Baku/

CHINA
Embassy of China
Khagani Street 67,
Phone: (+994 12) 498-6257/ 493-6587
Fax: (+994 12) 498-0010
E-mail: chinaemb@az.azeurotel.com

DENMARK
Royal Consulate of Denmark
Mammadyarov Street 1,
Building 8,
Old City,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 497-6113
Fax: (+994 12) 497-6113
E-mail: bent@azeurotel.com

EGYPT
Embassy of Egypt
H. Aliyev Street 7,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 498-7906
Fax: (+994 12) 498-7954
E-mail: emb.egypt@azeuro.net

FINLAND
Consulate of Finland
565 Square,
Agayev Street 1,
Apt. 11,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 438-8387
E-mail: fjabiyev@technip.com

FRANCE
Embassy of France
Rassoul Rza Street 7,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 493-1286/ 7180/ 498-2305/ 7051
Fax: (+994 12) 498-9253
E-mail: ambafranbakou@azerin.com , ambafrance@az.org
Website: www.ambafrance-az.org

GEORGIA
Embassy of Georgia
A. Zeynally Street 24,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 497-4558/ 59/ 60
Fax: +994 (12) 497 45 61
E-mail: embgeo@azeurotel.com

GERMANY
Embassy of Germany
Y. Mammadaliyev Street 15,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 465-4100
Fax: (+994 12) 498-5419
E-mail: post@bakudiplom.org

GREECE
Embassy of Greece
Kichik Gala Street 86/88,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 492-0119/ 0175/ 4680
Fax: +994 (12) 492-4835
E-mail: greekemb@azeurotel.com

INDIA
Embassy of India
O. Karimov Street 31/39,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 447-4186/ 2562/ 441-6053/ 6044
Fax: (+994 12) 447-2572
E-mail: eibaku@adanet.az , eibaku.attache@azdata.net , eibaku.cpv@azdata.net

ISRAEL
Embassy of Israel
Izmir Street 1033,
Hyatt Tower 3,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 490-7881/ 82
Fax: (+994 12) 490-7892
E-mail: sao-sec@baku.gmfa.gov.il

ITALY
Embassy of Italy
Kichik Gala Street 44,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 497-5133/ 35
Fax: (+994 12) 497-5202
E-mail: ambbaku@azeuro.net
Website: www.ambitalbaku.com

JAPAN
Embassy of Japan
Izmir Street 1033,
Hyatt Tower 3,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 490-7818/ 19
Fax: (+994 12) 490-7820
E-mail: japan@embassy.baku.az

KAZAKHSTAN
Embassy of Kazakhstan
H. Aliyeva Street 82,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 465-6248/ 6521
Fax: (+994 12) 465-6249
E-mail: embassyk@azdata.net

NETHERLANDS
Royal Consulate of the Netherlands
1st Floor, Oscar Business Centre,
3001 Tbilisi Avenue,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 430-2424/ 448-2424
Fax: (+994 12) 431-0588
E-mail: aa@aaservices.baku.az

NORWAY
Royal Embassy of Norway
V. Mustafazadeh Street 6/10,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 497-4325/ 26
Fax: (+994 12) 497-3798
E-mail: emb.baku@mfa.no
Website: www.norway.az

POLAND
Embassy of Poland
Kichik Gala Street 2,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 492-0114
Fax: (+994 12) 492-0214
E-mail: embpol@azeurotel.com
Website: www.embpol.azeurotel.com

ROMANIA
Embassy of Romania
S. Rahimov Street 9A,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 462-0429
Fax: (+994 12) 440-7700
E-mail: rom_amb_baku@azdata.net

RUSSIA
Embassy of Russia
Bakikhanov Street 17,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 498-6016/ 495-5300
Fax: +994 (12) 498-14 46
Web site: www.embrus-az.com
e-mail: embrus@azdata.net

SWEDEN
Royal Consulate of Sweden
Tbilisi Avenue 61A,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 430-0574
Fax: (+994 12) 430-0573
E-mail: swedishconsulate@azeronline.com

TURKEY
Embassy of Turkey
Khagani Street 27,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 498-8133/ 35/ 36/ 43
Fax: (+994 12) 498-8349
E-mail: bakube@azeronline.com
Website: www.trbakube.org.az

UKRAINE
Embassy of Ukraine
Y. Vezirov Street 49,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 493-1028
Fax: (+994 12) 498-2742
E-mail: ukremb@azeurotel.com

UK
British Embassy
Khagani Street 45A,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 497-5188/ 89/ 90
Fax: (+994 12) 497-7434
E-mail: office@ukemb.baku.az
Website: www.britishembassy.az

USA
Embassy of the United States
Azadlig Avenue 83,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 498-0335/ 36/ 37
Fax: (+994 12) 465-6671
E-mail: consularbaku@state.gov
Website: www.baku.usembassy.gov

UZBEKISTAN
Embassy of Uzbekistan
Badamdar, 1st Highway,
9th Side-street,
Building 437,
Baku
Phone: (+994 12) 497-2549
Fax: +994 (12) 497 25 48
E-mail: embuzb@azeronline.com

GETTING AROUND IN AZERBAIJAN / AZERBAIJAN TRANSPORT GUIDE

Azerbaijan Info — Mon May 07, 2007 6:54 am

Author: Azerbaijan Info

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 6:54 am

GETTING AROUND IN AZERBAIJAN

BY ROAD

Azerbaijan’s road network totals around 57,770km (34,346 miles). Nowadays most roads are in better condition (but still pretty poor) and 4-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended for journeys into the mountains, eg west of Kuba. Roads are badly lit. Traffic drives on the right. Visitors should note that many local drivers do not adhere to traffic regulations and that cars are badly maintained. There is zero tolerance on alcohol consumption while driving.

Bus

Buses, minibuses (marshutka), and taxis connect most cities. There is often a hub such as a bus station near the bazaar in these cities. The price for a fare buses and minibuses are posted usually in both old and new manat(qupik).

Car rental

Car rental facilities are available through Avis and Hertz in Baku.

Documentation: An International Driving Permit is required or licence issued by an EU country.

URBAN TRANSPORTATION

Taxi fares should always be negotiated before starting a journey and visitors should be aware that rates proposed initially are likely to be unreasonably high. There is an underground system totaling 28km (17.5 miles) but most visitors use taxis or private cars. Baku Metro is poorly maintained and the system is often inadequately safe and overcrowded. Buses run from central Baku to the suburbs but they tend to be overcrowded.

AZERBAIJAN TOURISM GUIDE / TOURISM IN AZERBAIJAN

Azerbaijan Info — Mon May 07, 2007 5:57 am

Author: Azerbaijan Info

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 5:57 am

AZERBAIJAN TOURISM GUIDE

BAKU & THE COAST

The medieval walled city – Icheri Sheher – within Baku has been restored, and retains a distinctly Middle-Eastern and relaxed atmosphere, with its tea-houses and busy street-life. Its attractive narrow streets and stone buildings spread up from the waterfront, where the 12th-century Maiden’s Tower (Gyz-Galasy) looks out over the bay. Locals claim that the view from the top of the tower rivals the beauty of the Bay of Naples. Nearby are two caravanserais (inns), one dating from the 14th century, the other from the 16th century, originally built to accommodate travelling merchants from northern India and central Asia. The caravanserais, with their courtyards and vaulted roofs, have been restored and now function as restaurants.

There are also a number of mosques located in the medieval city, one of which, the Dzhuma Mosque, houses the Museum of Carpets and Applied Arts, with a fine display of Azeri carpets, as well as jewellery, embroidery, woodcarving and filigree metalwork. The Synyk Kalah Minaret dates from 1093 and is the oldest building still standing in the city. Beyond the minaret is the 15th-century royal court complex, the Palace of the Shirvan Shahs. The palace, mausoleum and law courts are all open to the public.

Equally distinctive are the opulent houses and public buildings built during the Baku oil boom at the turn of the 20th century. Millionaire oil merchants indulged themselves with neo-gothic, mock oriental and pseudo-renaissance fantasies in stone, developing a local architectural confidence which spilled over into the Soviet period; the Sabuchinsky railway station for example, dating from 1926, is designed to resemble an enormous madrassah (Islamic religious academy).

A number of tourist sights are located near enough to Baku for one-day excursions to be feasible. Some 20km (12 miles) northeast of Baku is the Surakhany Temple, established by Parsee fire-worshippers living in Baku in the 18th century. The temple was predated by a much older Zoroastrian shrine on the same site. Surakhany remained a popular destination for Indian pilgrims until the revolution. Some of the pilgrims’ cells now house a wax museum, intended to introduce the rudiments of fire worship to the uninitiated.

The Apsheron Peninsula, stretching out into the Caspian Sea beyond Baku, has several 14th-century fortresses, built by the Shirvan shahs fearing attack from the sea. Best preserved are those at Ramana, Nardaran and Mardakan. Ramana also features the remains of ancient oil fields where Zoroastrian fire-worshippers still occasionally stage ritual dances, leaping over the flames which rise from the oil-soaked ground over natural gas vents. The tip of the peninsula is a nature reserve.

The village of Gobustan, about 70km (43 miles) south of Baku, has an unique array of rock paintings, some of them 10,000 years old and spread over 100 sq km (39 sq miles) of caves and rocky outcrops. The subject matter includes hunting scenes, ritual dances, religious ceremonies, ships, animals and constellations, and many of the rocks are further adorned with signatures and remarks added by visiting Roman soldiers in the first century AD, suggesting that the area has a long history as a tourist attraction.

THE CAUCASUS

The city of Shamakha, 130km (80 miles) west of Baku in the foothills of the Caucasus, predated Baku as the principal trading center and capital of the Shirvan shahs. Repeated earthquakes, most recently in 1902, and the ravages of invading armies, have destroyed most of the ancient city which was founded in the second century AD. A 10th-century mosque and a ruined fortress dating from the same period, the Seven Domes Royal Mausoleum, and a modern carpet-weaving centre where traditional techniques are demonstrated provide the main focus of tourist interest in the city.

Sheki is located 380km (236 miles) west of Baku close to the Georgian border. Archaeological evidence suggests that the city may be one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus, dating back 2500 years. Tourists can still visit the 18th-century frescoed summer palace and the fortress built by a local warlord who declared Shekhi the capital of an independent khanate. Shekhi was famed for its silk, which is still produced locally, and the bazaars and caravanserais testify to its importance as a trading town. Some of the caravanserais have been restored and now function as hotels and restaurants.

AZERBAIJAN TRAVEL INFORMATION / AZERBAIJAN TRAVEL GUIDE

Azerbaijan Info — Mon May 07, 2007 5:49 am

Author: Azerbaijan Info

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 5:49 am

AZERBAIJAN TRAVEL INFORMATION

Full Name

Republic of Azerbaijan

Capital City

Baku (Bakı)

Population

7,961,600

Time Zone

GMT/UTC +5

Languages

Azeri (official)

Religion

Muslim (93%), Russian Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox

Currency

Azerbaijanian Manat (Manat)

Electricity

220V 50HzHz

Electric Plug Details

European plug with two circular metal pins

Country Dialing Code

994