Azerbaijan sits right where Eastern Europe meets Western Asia, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, and from Turkey it is one of the closer neighbours in the region. The flight is short, the time difference is small, and most people base themselves in the capital, Baku, where a UNESCO-listed old town sits next to striking modern architecture.
This guide runs through how Turkish passport holders get in, how to reach Baku, and the small practical things that make the first day or two easier once you land.
Do Turkish citizens need a visa for Azerbaijan?
No, and that keeps things simple. As a Turkish passport holder you can enter Azerbaijan without a visa for short stays, so there is nothing to apply for online and no eVisa to arrange for an ordinary tourist trip. You just travel on your passport and go through the usual arrival checks at the border.
It is still worth travelling with a passport that has plenty of validity left, plus your travel and accommodation details, in case you are asked to show them on arrival. If your plans go beyond a short visit, say a longer stay or a work or study trip, different rules can apply, and the requirements guide walks through the wider entry conditions.
Getting to Azerbaijan from Turkey
Almost everyone flies into Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) in Baku. There are direct services from major cities of Turkey such as Istanbul and Ankara, and the direct flight from Istanbul takes around 3 hours. Routes and carriers shift with the seasons, so it is worth comparing current schedules when you book.
Once you are there, the clocks are easy. Azerbaijan runs on a single time zone, AZT (UTC+4), with no daylight saving, which puts it one hour ahead of Turkey, where the clocks stay on UTC+3 all year. Between the short flight and that small gap, there is very little to adjust to whichever way you are travelling.
Practical tips for Turkish travellers
The local currency is the Azerbaijani manat (AZN). Cards work fine in most hotels, restaurants and shops around Baku, but it is worth keeping a bit of cash on you for smaller towns and the markets. You can withdraw manat from an ATM once you arrive, or change money at banks and exchange offices.
Because the trip is visa-free, most tourists need nothing more than a valid passport to travel. If something falls outside a short tourist visit, like a longer stay or replacing a lost passport, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Ankara is the place to go.
What to see in Azerbaijan
From the walled Old City and Flame Towers of Baku to the Silk Road towns and mountain villages of the Caucasus, there is plenty to fill a long weekend or a full week. Our Azerbaijan travel guide covers the regions, food, and practical advice for getting around.
Frequently asked questions
Do Turkish citizens need a visa to visit Azerbaijan?
How do I enter Azerbaijan as a Turkish passport holder?
How do I get from Turkey to Azerbaijan?
What is the time difference between Turkey and Azerbaijan?
What currency should I use in Azerbaijan?
Is there an Azerbaijan embassy in Turkey?
See other eligible countries
More than 90 nationalities can get an Azerbaijan eVisa. Browse the guides to find the one for your country:
