Money in Azerbaijan: Manat, Cards and When You Need Cash
The currency is the Azerbaijani manat, written AZN or ₼. Baku is a card city; the regions are not. The practical rule is that you can live on cards in the capital and should not try to outside it.
Cards versus cash
In Baku, cards work in hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, museums and most shops. ATMs are common in the centre and dispense manat. Contactless is widespread.
Outside the capital the picture changes quickly. Village guesthouses, roadside fruit stalls, small workshops in Lahij or Basqal, park entrance kiosks and local drivers frequently take cash only. Draw enough in Baku before a regional trip rather than assuming there will be an ATM in Khinalug — there will not be.
Exchange, tipping and small notes
Exchange desks are easy to find in central Baku and generally give better rates than the airport, though the airport is fine for the first small amount. US dollars and euros are the straightforward currencies to bring; others are more troublesome.
Tipping is appreciated but not rigid: rounding up a restaurant bill or leaving around ten per cent is normal, and many places add a service charge, so check the bill before adding on top. Carry small notes — paying for a two-manat item with a fifty is a recurring problem at stalls and small cafés.
Tours covering this route
Baku City Tour | 30 Highlights
In just four hours, walk through Baku's 30 most memorable sights on a single route where panoramic viewpoints, UNESCO heritage, modern architecture and the quiet corners of the old town all come together. The journey opens at Highland Park, where the bay and the famous Flame Towers lie right at your feet. From there you'll stroll the seaside Boulevard, slip inside the medieval walls of Icherisheher, pause before the enigmatic Maiden Tower and finish the day on lively Fountain Square and Nizami Street. A professional local guide, hotel pick-up and drop-off, and a ticket for the Baku funicular are all included. It's the ideal route for travellers who want to feel the heart of the city in a short time, yet truly deeply.
- Panoramic views of the bay and the Flame Towers from Highland Park
- A ride on the Baku funicular, plus Martyrs' Lane and the Eternal Flame
- Seafront landmarks: the Carpet Museum, Little Venice and Baku Boulevard