When to visit Azerbaijan: seasons by type of trip

You know you want to visit Azerbaijan; the harder question is when. The answer depends on the kind of trip: the lowlands are hot in summer, the mountains are much cooler in the same month, and the snow that skiers come for is rare in Baku. The short answer: for Baku and its sights, the Azerbaijan Tourism Board recommends May and describes autumn as a perfect time for wandering around the city¹; to escape the summer heat, head for the mountains, because temperatures fall as you climb, while in parts of the lowlands and on the coast the temperature can exceed 42 °C on some summer days²; the ski season runs from December to the end of March¹; and Novruz falls in March, with its public-holiday dates set each year^3,4.

Temperatures from the plains to the mountains

The National Hydrometeorological Service (Milli Hidrometeorologiya Xidməti) divides the country’s climate into 8 types. The hottest is the semi-desert and dry-steppe climate of the central Aran districts and of the Caspian coastal zone from the mouth of the Samur River to Gizilagaj (Qızılağac) Bay: winters are mostly warm, summers are scorching, and on some days the air temperature rises above 42 °C².

The higher you go, the cooler it gets. The Service states that in January, the coldest month, the monthly mean does not fall below 0 °C on the plains and in the foothills, and reaches 3-4 °C on the Absheron (Abşeron) Peninsula and the coastal areas to its south, while at 2,000 metres it drops to between -5 and -6 °C².

These are general averages from an undated page that does not state the years of observation, so they are not a forecast for your travel dates. Check the forecast a few days before you leave, especially if you are heading into the mountains.

Baku and the sights: spring and autumn, with summer for the sea

The Tourism Board describes May, between spring and summer, as an ideal time to explore historical monuments and natural sights, and suggests the Goygol (Göygöl) and Maralgol (Maralgöl) lakes near Ganja and the towns of Sheki and Gabala (Qəbələ)¹. It describes autumn as cooler but still sunny, perfect for wandering around Baku, and good for long mountain walks and national parks¹. For that reason we suggest these two seasons for anyone planning to spend long hours walking in the city, including families with young children or older relatives.

Autumn is also grape-harvest season, and the Tourism Board suggests visiting vineyards in Gabala, Ismayilli (İsmayıllı), Shamakhi (Şamaxı) and Goygol, and describes November as a good month to take in the colours of the Caucasus¹.

In summer, the Absheron Peninsula is lined with long beaches, according to the Tourism Board¹. But plan for the heat: early June to late August is the hottest time¹, and relative humidity is highest on the coast, with an annual mean of 75-80%².

In winter, snow is rare in Baku, but festive decorations fill Fountains Square from the beginning of December¹. The Service notes that the strongest winds blow in Baku and on the Absheron Peninsula, that the Khazri (Xəzri) wind blows mainly in the cold months, and that the Gilavar blows mostly in the warm months². Pack a windproof jacket whatever the season.

Novruz and the two Eid holidays

The Tourism Board describes Novruz as a festival of spring and the coming of the new year, and says that visitors are welcome not just to watch the celebrations but to take part¹.

The Labour Code (Əmək Məcəlləsi) sets the Novruz holiday at 5 days, Eid al-Adha (Qurban bayramı) at 2 days and Eid al-Fitr (Ramazan bayramı) at 2 days, and these days are not working days³. The Code does not fix their dates: the relevant executive authority sets them for the following year and announces them by the end of December³. For 2026, for example, the Cabinet of Ministers set Novruz for 20 to 24 March, Eid al-Fitr for 20 and 21 March and Eid al-Adha for 27 and 28 May⁴. We found no decision on the 2027 dates when we reviewed this article on 1 October 2026.

What this means for your plans:

• If you want to see Novruz: plan for March, and fix your dates once the decision for your year is published.
• If you travel over Eid al-Fitr or Eid al-Adha: both are public holidays in Azerbaijan too³.
• If you have business with a government office: these holidays are not working days³, so do not schedule appointments on them.

Escaping the summer heat in the mountains

If you are coming from the Gulf to escape the summer, the mountains are the logical choice: temperatures fall as you climb, as the table above shows². Pack warmer clothes than you would need in Baku.

• Shahdag, in Gusar (Qusar): the resort is 29 kilometres from the town of Gusar, and its slopes run from 1,435 to 2,552 metres above sea level, according to its official website⁵. The Tourism Board notes that both the Shahdag and Tufandag resorts are also open in summer for activities such as hiking, cycling and paragliding, and lists winter and summer as Shahdag’s peak seasons⁶.
• Tufandag, in Gabala: the resort is 4 kilometres from Gabala town centre, and the Tourism Board suggests hiking, cycling, paragliding and jeep tours there in summer⁷.
• The mountain villages of Guba (Quba): the Tourism Board describes guided hiking tours through villages such as Griz, Galakhudat, Laza and Khinalig (Xınalıq) near Shahdag National Park, and lists spring, summer and autumn as their peak seasons⁸.

If your mountain trip is in spring, note that most hail falls between April and June, with the first peak mostly in May, according to the Service². Most precipitation also falls in the warm period from April to October, although the summer months themselves are dry².

Snow and skiing: December to March

Snow cover on the plains does not last, and in some years there is none, according to the Service; from 1,200-1,400 metres upwards the depth of snow cover increases sharply, and the mid-mountains have 80-120 days with snow cover². That is why snow lovers head for the mountains, not Baku.

The Tourism Board says the Shahdag and Tufandag resorts welcome snow-sports enthusiasts from December to the end of March¹. Shahdag, according to its website, has 37 slopes for every level, from beginners to experts⁵. But we found no announced opening date for the 2026-2027 season on the resort’s website when we checked on 1 October 2026, so confirm the season dates before you book.

Which season suits your trip?

When this calendar may not suit you

• You do not cope well with heat and want to spend the whole trip in Baku: avoid the peak of summer from early June to late August¹, or combine Baku with a few days in the mountains.
• Your dates are tied to a particular holiday: the dates of Novruz and the two Eid holidays are set each year³, so do not base your booking on a previous year’s dates.
• You need precise weather for a specific resort or village: the figures here are regional averages, so rely on the forecast before you travel.

Frequently asked questions