Best time to visit Azerbaijan
Given its diverse climatic conditions and varied landscapes, the best time to visit depends entirely upon what you want to do in the ‘land of eternal fire’. Typically, the best time to visit Azerbaijan is during the spring months of late March to May and the autumn months of September to October for the most pleasant weather. During spring, Azerbaijan’s valleys are awash in blooming wildflowers, from the endemic ‘khari bulbul’ to poppies, making it an ideal season for hikers as well as those keen on checking out the nation’s national parks—like Shirvan National Park and Hirkan National Park. The third week of March is also when the traditional spring equinox holiday of Novruz is celebrated, a time of fantastic feasts and ceremonies—but also when many locals take time off from work, so don’t expect every shop or museum to be open. Autumn is an equally pleasant season for outdoor exploration—also the harvest season for Azerbaijan’s famous pomegranates, persimmons, and grapes—but expect light rain showers around October. However, for F1 enthusiasts, nothing is likely to rain on their parade if they’re attending the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on 15 September. The fall weather is especially lovely around the foothills of Sheki or Shaki: a noteworthy Silk Road city featuring stunning 19th-century, Safavid-style merchant manors and a striking summer palace, Khan Palace. In the lowlands along the Absheron peninsula, summer temperatures can reach as high as 40°C in addition to sporadic rain showers that spur humid conditions—but if you just want to take dips into the Caspian Sea and take plenty of siestas, life should be breezy. So breezy, in fact, windsurfing is a popular pastime on the southern beaches of Lankaran, famed for its iconic black volcanic sand. Summertime is also when many travellers opt to climb Mount Bazarduzu, the nation’s highest peak at 4,466m, where climes hover around a cool and comfortable 20°C.
Increasingly, the winter season has become rather popular in Azerbaijan for its lovely skiing conditions at resorts such as Shahdag and Tufandag from December to mid-March. Moreover, wildlife enthusiasts will enjoy visits to Agh-Gol National Park for its migrating bird populations, featuring plenty of wintering and nesting of waterfowl.
