What is the best time to visit Azerbaijan?

Best Time to Visit Azerbaijan

The best time to travel to Azerbaijan is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Spring in Azerbaijan

Spring in Azerbaijan is a beautiful time of the year, when the country is in full bloom. The temperatures are mild and pleasant, ranging from 10°C to 20°C, making it a great time for outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy the blooming of wildflowers, watch the migratory birds, and explore the vibrant green landscapes. The country also hosts several festivals and events during this season, such as the Novruz Festival, the Baku International Jazz Festival, and the International Mugham Festival.

Autumn in Azerbaijan

Autumn is another great time to visit Azerbaijan. The temperatures are mild and pleasant, ranging from 10°C to 20°C. The country is adorned with vibrant colors of red, yellow, and orange as the leaves begin to change. Visitors can enjoy the stunning autumn foliage and explore the outdoors. The country also hosts several festivals and events during this season, such as the Baku International Jazz Festival and the International Mugham Festival.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan in January

Weather

January in Azerbaijan is a cold month, with temperatures ranging from lows of -2°C (28°F) to highs of 8°C (46°F). Snow is common in the mountainous regions, and rainfall is low.

Events

• New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1st with fireworks, music, and dancing.
• The International Mugham Festival is held in Baku in mid-January. It is a celebration of traditional Azerbaijani music and culture.
• The Baku Marathon is held in late January. It is a 42 km race that attracts runners from all over the world.
• The International Jazz Festival is held in Baku in late January. It features jazz musicians from Azerbaijan and around the world.
• The Baku International Film Festival is held in late January. It showcases films from Azerbaijan and around the world.

Azerbaijan in January

Weather

In January, temperatures in Azerbaijan range from lows of around 0°C (32°F) to highs of around 10°C (50°F). Rainfall is low, with an average of just 2.5 inches (6.3 cm). Snowfall is also possible, with an average of around 1.3 inches (3.3 cm).

Events

• January 1st marks the start of the New Year in Azerbaijan. Celebrations take place across the country, with fireworks, music, and dancing.
• The city of Baku hosts the Baku International Jazz Festival every year in January. The event brings together jazz musicians from around the world for a week-long celebration of music.
• January 20th is a public holiday in Azerbaijan, marking the anniversary of the death of the country’s national leader, Heydar Aliyev.
• January 27th is a public holiday in Azerbaijan, marking the anniversary of the liberation of Baku from the Soviet Union in 1918.
• The city of Sheki hosts the Sheki International Winter Festival every year in January. The event features traditional music, dance, and cuisine from around the region.

Azerbaijan in March

Weather

March is the beginning of spring in Azerbaijan, and the weather is usually mild with temperatures ranging from 8-15°C (46-59°F). The days become longer and the sun is out for most of the day. Rain is common during this time of year, but snow is rare.

Events

• Novruz Bayrami (New Year) is celebrated in Azerbaijan on March 20-24. This is a major holiday in the country, and it is celebrated with traditional music, dancing, and feasts.
• The International Jazz Festival is held in Baku in March. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some of the best jazz musicians from around the world.
• The Baku International Book Fair is held in March. This is a great opportunity to discover new books and authors from Azerbaijan and other countries.
• The Baku International Film Festival is held in March. This is a great opportunity to watch some of the best films from around the world.
• The Baku Marathon is held in March. This is a great opportunity to participate in a fun and challenging race.

Azerbaijan in April

Weather

April is the start of spring in Azerbaijan and the weather is usually mild. Average temperatures range from 10-20°C (50-68°F) during the day and 5-15°C (41-59°F) at night. Rain is common, with an average of 7-10 days of rain during the month.

Events

• Novruz Festival (March 21-April 1): Novruz is a traditional celebration of the arrival of spring. It is celebrated with music, dancing, and feasting.
• International Mugham Festival (April 18-20): This festival celebrates the traditional Azerbaijani musical style of mugham. It includes performances by local and international musicians.
• Baku International Jazz Festival (April 20-22): This festival brings together jazz musicians from all over the world to perform in Baku.
• Baku Marathon (April 28): This annual marathon brings together runners from all over the world to compete in a 42.2 km race.
• Baku International Book Fair (April 28-30): This event brings together publishers, authors, and readers from all over the world to celebrate literature and promote reading.

Azerbaijan in May

Weather

May in Azerbaijan is warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit. The days are long, with an average of 12-13 hours of daylight.

Events

• May 9th is Victory Day in Azerbaijan, commemorating the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in 1945.
• On May 28th, Azerbaijan celebrates Republic Day, which marks the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918.
• May is a popular time for outdoor activities in Azerbaijan, with festivals and events such as the Baku International Jazz Festival, the Baku International Film Festival, and the Baku International Music Festival.
• May is also a popular time for hiking and camping in Azerbaijan’s national parks, such as the Shirvan National Park and the Goygol National Park.
• The city of Baku hosts the annual Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix in May, which brings thousands of tourists to the city.

Azerbaijan in June

Weather

June in Azerbaijan is typically warm and dry, with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to mid-80s Fahrenheit (15-30°C). Rainfall is scarce, with an average of only 0.2 inches (5 mm) of precipitation for the month.

Events

• The International Mugham Festival is held in Baku in mid-June. This festival celebrates the traditional music of Azerbaijan, and features performances of mugham music, as well as folk and classical music.
• The International Jazz Festival is held in Baku in late June. This festival features performances from jazz musicians from around the world, as well as local jazz musicians.
• The Qiz Qalasi Festival is held in the city of Quba in early June. This festival celebrates the traditional music and culture of the region, and features performances of traditional music and dance.
• The Baku Summer Festival is held in Baku in late June. This festival features a variety of performances, including classical music, jazz, folk music, and dance.
• The International Fireworks Festival is held in Baku in late June. This festival features a variety of fireworks displays from around the world, as well as local fireworks displays.

Azerbaijan in July

Weather

July is the warmest month of the year in Azerbaijan, with temperatures ranging from an average low of 19°C (66°F) to an average high of 33°C (91°F). Rainfall is low, with an average of only 2-3 days of rain per month.

Events

• The International Mugham Festival takes place in Baku, Azerbaijan in July. The festival celebrates traditional Azerbaijani music and culture with performances from local and international musicians.
• The Baku International Jazz Festival is held in July, featuring jazz musicians from around the world. The festival includes performances, workshops, and master classes.
• The Baku Summer Festival is held in July and includes a variety of events, such as concerts, theatre performances, and art exhibitions.
• The Baku International Sea Festival is held in July and includes competitions, performances, and exhibitions related to the sea and maritime culture.
• The Baku International Book Fair is held in July, featuring books from local and international publishers, as well as book signings and other events.

Azerbaijan in August

Weather

August in Azerbaijan is typically hot and humid, with temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to mid-90s Fahrenheit (21-33 Celsius). Rain is common throughout the month, with an average of 8-10 days of precipitation.

Events

• The International Mugham Festival is held in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, during the first week of August. This annual event celebrates the traditional music of Azerbaijan, with performances from local and international artists.
• The city of Sheki hosts the annual Sheki Festival of Culture and Arts during the second week of August. This event features traditional music, dancing, and crafts from the region.
• The city of Ganja hosts the annual Ganja Beer Festival during the third week of August. This event celebrates local craft beer and includes music, food, and activities.
• The city of Nakhchivan hosts the annual Nakhchivan International Music Festival during the fourth week of August. This event features performances from local and international musicians.
• The city of Sumgait hosts the annual Sumgait International Jazz Festival during the last week of August. This event celebrates jazz music and features performances from local and international jazz musicians.

Azerbaijan in September

Weather

September in Azerbaijan is generally warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from the low to mid-20s Celsius (68-77°F). Rainfall is generally low, with an average of only 5-10mm of precipitation throughout the month.

Events

• The International Music Festival is held in Baku every September. The festival features performances from local and international musicians, as well as a variety of art and cultural events.
• The Baku International Jazz Festival is held in early September. The festival features performances from some of the world’s most renowned jazz musicians, as well as workshops and masterclasses.
• The Baku International Film Festival is held in late September. The festival showcases films from all over the world, as well as a variety of special events and screenings.
• The Baku International Marathon is held in mid-September. The marathon is open to both professional and amateur runners, and features a variety of distances and courses.
• The Baku International Book Fair is held in late September. The fair features a variety of books from local and international authors, as well as a variety of special events and activities.

Azerbaijan in October

Weather

October in Azerbaijan is generally mild with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F). The days are usually sunny with occasional showers.

Events

• October 18th is the Republic Day of Azerbaijan, commemorating the proclamation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918. Celebrations include concerts, parades, and other festivities.
• The Baku International Jazz Festival is held in October. The festival features performances from jazz musicians from around the world.
• The Baku International Humanitarian Forum is an annual event held in October. The forum brings together international experts to discuss global issues.
• The Baku International Book Fair is held in October. The fair is an opportunity for local and international authors to showcase their work.
• October is the start of the hunting season in Azerbaijan. Hunting enthusiasts can take part in a variety of activities, including bird and deer hunting.

Azerbaijan in November

Weather

November in Azerbaijan is usually cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from 3°C to 7°C. The days are short and the nights are long.

Events

• The International Mugham Festival is held in Baku in November. It is a celebration of Azerbaijani traditional music and culture.
• The Baku International Humanitarian Forum is held in November. It is a platform for discussing global issues and finding solutions.
• The Baku International Jazz Festival is held in November. It is a celebration of jazz music and culture.
• The Baku International Film Festival is held in November. It is a celebration of cinema and film-making.
• The Baku International Book Fair is held in November. It is a celebration of literature and books.

Azerbaijan in December

Weather

December in Azerbaijan is cold and dry, with temperatures ranging from -2°C to 8°C. Snowfall is common in the mountains, but it rarely snows in the cities.

Events

• International Mugham Festival: This festival celebrates the traditional music of Azerbaijan and takes place in Baku.
• New Year’s Eve Celebrations: On December 31st, cities across Azerbaijan come alive with fireworks and festivities.
• Winter Solstice Festival: This festival is celebrated on the shortest day of the year and marks the beginning of winter.
• Constitution Day: On December 12th, Azerbaijan celebrates the adoption of its constitution in 1995.
• Christmas Celebrations: Christmas is celebrated in Azerbaijan, with special events and decorations in the cities.