Azerbaijan

The currency is the Azerbaijani Manat (AZN); 1 AZN is roughly INR 43, so prices convert easily once you get used to the rate. Cards are widely accepted in Baku's hotels, restaurants and shops, but carry some Manat in cash for taxis, markets and the smaller towns like Sheki and Gabala. The Indian Rupee is not accepted, so carry USD or EUR to exchange locally.

Breakfast at your hotel is included on both Azerbaijan itineraries (from the second day onwards); lunch and dinner are not, so you are free to eat your way around Baku and Gabala. Entrance fees to the attractions, personal expenses and travel insurance are also excluded, and a city tax of approximately INR 500 is payable directly at hotel check-in.

Yes. Indian passport holders need a visa, and Azerbaijan offers an e-Visa that is applied for entirely online through the official government portal — there is no embassy visit and no interview. Budget roughly INR 2,500–5,000 per person for the visa fee, and apply a couple of weeks before you travel. Both Fly Goldfinch Azerbaijan itineraries include the Azerbaijan tourist visa fee for Indian nationals, so we handle the application for you.

Yes. Baku has several Indian restaurants serving a full range of Indian dishes for Indian travellers. Local Azerbaijani menus are also vegetarian-friendly once you know what to look for — dolma, vegetarian kutab (stuffed flatbread), fresh salads and breads are on almost every table, and pakhlava is the sweet to finish on.

Within Baku there is a metro, plus buses and plentiful taxis. For intercity travel to Gabala, Sheki, Ganja or Gobustan, most visitors use private cars or organised tours, as the distances are long and public options are limited. On both Fly Goldfinch Azerbaijan itineraries every transfer between destinations — Baku, Gobustan, Absheron, Gabala and Shahdag — is a private transfer that is already included.