Located in the heart of the Caucasus, on the border of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan is a fascinating country with at least three thousand years of history.
The country was a popular tourist destination during the Soviet era and has been rebuilding its tourism industry in recent years. Although this effort has begun to bear fruit, with the number of tourists increasing year by year, even so, it is still far from a tourist hotspot.
I had a wonderful time in Baku, which has been a major trading port since ancient times and an important stop on the ancient Silk Road. The contrast between the medieval buildings within the old city walls and the modern towers outside the walls is incredible!
As I explored the city and its surrounding areas, I didn’t find a lot of free Wi-Fi, but it’s easy to stay connected using a local prepaid SIM card or a travel eSIM. Prices are reasonable and speeds and coverage are good if you choose the right provider.
Here’s what you need to know.
company
There are three telephone networks of interest to tourists traveling to Azerbaijan: Bakcell, Azercell and nar mobile.
Azercell is the largest company, with about half of the country’s phone subscribers, and has the widest coverage. Bakcell and nar separate the remaining customers, with generally slightly smaller coverage areas.
There are some places that offer nar services and others that don’t, but these places are unlikely to be where you go as a tourist.
Azercell offers some 5G services in Baku, Shusha and elsewhere, while Bakcell has a (very) limited 5G deployment in some places in central Baku. Regardless, all companies have fast, reliable LTE coverage in and around Baku and other large towns.
Since prices and packages are similar between providers, and Azercell has more stores in central Baku, I’d recommend choosing them, but which one you choose is unlikely to make much of a difference.
If you plan to stay in Azerbaijan for more than 30 days, you need to register the IMEI number of your phone online or at a post office in Azerbaijan and pay a fee (depending on the age of the phone model) to avoid it being cut off.
IMEI restrictions do not apply when staying for short stays, roaming with a local operator or when using a travel eSIM.
Azerbaijan Travel eSIM
On my most recent trip to Azerbaijan, I only spent a few days in the country and visited Baku and surrounding areas. Not wanting to queue up with everyone else to buy an (overpriced) physical SIM card after arriving in the capital late at night, I decided to buy a travel eSIM card.
Hopping on the airport Wi-Fi, I quickly checked the prices from the travel eSIM companies I frequently use and decided to go with Airalo. It works pretty well for the most part, but video calls don’t work that well due to slow upload speeds, so I switched from aloSIM card to compare it.
aloSIM has much faster download and upload speeds, so I recommend using aloSIM when you are in Azerbaijan. Below is a weekly updated pricing table with details on all plans from the companies I recommend.
Like most travel eSIMs, it’s data-only: you don’t get a local number. I use apps for everything from communications to transportation these days, so the lack of a local number is rarely a problem for me, but you may have different needs. With aloSIM, you can also choose a free US or Canadian number if you need it.
If you’re new to eSIMs, they can be a huge benefit for travelers, making it quick, easy and (often) cheap to get connected when you arrive in a new country. latest mobile phone Support them and you can read all about them here.
One thing to note: If you’re on a longer trip and/or plan to visit multiple countries, Airalo might also be worth a look Discover Global options.
With a data pack capacity of up to 20GB, lasts for a year, and is available in over 120 countries, you can save a lot of money compared to a personal eSIM. A friend has been using this option on the road for the past few months and swears by it!
How to buy a prepaid SIM card in Azerbaijan
Unfortunately, there is no official airline store at Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport. If you want a physical SIM card and need service right away, you can use unofficial kiosks, which are more expensive, or if your phone supports it, you can buy an eSIM card as above to tide you over.
Once in the city, look out for the Azercell logo as you walk around. I saw a few shops in the center of Baku, but if you have a hard time finding them, this Being close to the popular Nizami Street is a good place to start.
The SIM card needs to be registered when purchased, so you will need to bring your passport with you when purchasing. I spoke to someone on a day trip who purchased an Azercell SIM card and he said the process was very simple and took about ten minutes after calling his number.
The price is reasonable, and although there is an initial fee for the SIM card, the overall cost is slightly lower than any travel eSIM I’ve purchased for the same amount of data. However, for shorter stays and/or lower data needs, you’ll likely spend around the same amount.
Prepaid SIM and eSIM fees
Azessel
For a short stay like mine, the best option is the Azercell “Supersən” package. For just 10 AZN (about $6), you get 3GB of data and 300 minutes of domestic calls, valid for one month.
For 15 AZN (about $9), you get 6GB of data and 400 minutes of talk time. Larger bundles are also available, up to 30GB/700 minutes, for 39 AZN ($23 USD). With all bundles, you get an additional 1GB data for FB Messenger and WhatsApp messaging.
Keep in mind that no matter which bundle you buy, you’ll need to add an extra 5 AZN (about $3) to the price to cover the cost of the initial SIM starter pack.
Travel SIM cards are sometimes available, which usually provide more data than standard plans. Just keep an eye out for ads in the store, or ask a staff member if there are any current specials.
aloSIM card
I used aloSIM and Airalo travel eSIM cards during my stay in Azerbaijan and I chose aloSIM considering the prices were similar but aloSIM had faster service everywhere I tested.
In both cases, I paid $7 for a 1GB/7-day data package. There are several other options available, lasting up to a month, so just choose the duration and data allowance you think you’ll need.
Prices can and do change over time, so it’s worth checking the table below for the latest details before you make a decision. They are updated weekly, most recently October 21, 2024.
top up
Azessel
Azercell prepaid plans are valid for one month: don’t forget that if you stay in the country for more than a month, you will need to register your phone’s IMEI number with the government and pay the associated fees if you want to continue using it.
To top up, simply return to the Azercell store and purchase a recharge card that matches your desired credit limit. Follow the instructions on the card (or online here) Add points to your balance and send the shortcode for the package you want to purchase via SMS here.
You can also purchase scratch cards from supermarkets or convenience stores, or using the payment portal listed on the Azercell website. In theory, international debit and credit cards should work with these portals, but if you have trouble, go the old fashioned way and buy a scratch card.
aloSIM card
Top up with aloSIM (or any other travel eSIM company) by logging into the website or app. You just need to select your Azerbaijani eSIM, click on the recharge button and buy the same plan again.
The pricing and duration of the top-up packs are exactly the same as for the original eSIM: there is little difference between top-up your current eSIM and buying a new one, except that there is no need to activate it.
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In addition to exploring some of the sights in Baku’s city center and suburbs, I also took a day trip to a mud volcano about an hour west of Baku. No matter where I go, I have reliable LTE service.
However, as I mentioned before, Airalo is significantly slower than aloSIM, whether by the water in Baku, at the Atashgah Zoroastrian Fire Temple on the outskirts, or next to a remote mud volcano.
Airalo can use both Bakcell and Azercell networks, while aloSIM only uses the Bakcell network.
I had issues using apps like Google Maps when Airalo was using the Bakcell network, but they worked fine on Azercell. However, there are no issues with aloSIM on the Bakcell network, so it looks more like an Airalo issue than a Bakcell issue.
Check out our guide to SIM cards and eSIM 65+ other countries here.
