Azerbaijan is growing in popularity among tourists and business travelers alike. More and more visitors are intrigued by the contrast between its mountainous landscapes and unique mud volcanoes with its hyper-modern capital of Baku.
Italians in Azerbaijan usually get a warm welcome. Azeris are famous for their hospitality towards all strangers, but Italians in particular are valued thanks to the warm relationship between the two countries. Italy and Azerbaijan are strong business partners.
This means you’ll have a great time while you’re in Azerbaijan, but visiting a new place always requires some preparation. Here are a few things you need to know about visiting Azerbaijan as an Italian citizen.
Although diplomats are working on loosening travel regulations between the two countries, Italians still need a visa to visit Azerbaijan.
The good news is that for Italian citizens, obtaining a visa for Azerbaijan is not a hassle at all. You can apply for a Baku visa for tourism or business online. To apply for a visa, you just need your passport, an email address, information about where you will be staying in Azerbaijan, and payment for the processing fee.
Processing the visa usually takes just a few days. After that, you can visit, meet with business partners, and attend conferences freely in Azerbaijan.
Most Azerbaijan e-visas are valid for 90 days. However, that doesn’t mean that you are allowed to stay for 3 straight months in the country. Most visas allow visitors to stay in Azerbaijan for at most 30 days in a row.
When you get your visa for any country, including Azerbaijan, make sure that you read the regulations for tourists carefully. You don’t want to accidentally overstay your visa.
Many foreigners assume that Azerbaijan must be conservative because it is a Muslim country. The country is actually highly liberal and secular. In Baku and other major cities, you’ll see people dressed the same way you’d see them dressed in Italy.
There are some more conservative parts of the country, especially in rural areas. There, it’s a good idea to avoid wearing shorts and have knees and shoulders covered for both genders. Bring modest clothing, including a headscarf for women, if you decide to visit a mosque.
Since Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union for decades, many people (especially older ones) speak Russian as a second language. Young people in touristy areas usually speak some English. Few people speak Italian, so learn basic phrases in these languages to get by.
If you learn even a few words of Azeri, people will be so excited, you may even get an invite to someone’s home!
Visiting Azerbaijan as an Italian is a rewarding experience, especially thanks to the close relationship between the two countries.
As with any other international travel, it helps to do some preparation before you go. The most important thing is to get your documents in order, especially your visa.
