Azerbaijan in cash.
Baku, a marriage of medieval stone and flame towers; gurgling mud volcanoes; the Caucasus mountains at Sheki. The land of fire, still off the beaten track.
Helvetica Exchange prepares your AZN travel envelope at Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, 1204 Geneva (Rive district) — the posted rate, no separate commission, Monday–Friday 08:30–18:30 and Saturday 09:00–17:00. Reserve and your rate is held for 3 hours during opening hours; ID from the LBA thresholds.
The cities, chosen.
Baku
The walled old city beneath the Flame Towers — Dubai meets Samarkand.
Icherisheher & the Maiden Tower — The UNESCO medieval city, caravanserais and the Shirvanshahs' palace.
The Heydar Aliyev Centre — Zaha Hadid's white wave — an absolute icon.
Sheki
The Caucasian stage of the Silk Road — a palace of a thousand stained-glass panes.
The Khans' Palace — Shebeke joinery without a single nail, frescoes of paradise — the jewel of the Caucasus.
A caravanserai & Sheki halva — Sleep in yesterday's silk, taste the honey halva.
Getting around.
Baku: a Soviet-chic metro and very gentle ride-hailing. Sheki is 5 h by road or night train. Country bazaars and taxis live on the counted manat.
Cash & banknotes.
E-visa in three days for most passports. The manat changes easily in Baku — but arriving with your AZN spares you the airport's temperamental machines. Three days for the city and Gobustan; two more for Sheki.
| Rate reservation | held 3 hours, during opening hours |
| Counter hours | Mon–Fri 08:30–18:30 · Sat 09:00–17:00 |
| Commission | none — the margin lives in the posted rate |
Before you go.
Visa and money?
E-visa in ~3 days for most passports. The manat changes easily in Baku — arriving with AZN in pocket skips the airport's moody ATMs.
How many days for Baku?
Three for the city, the mud volcanoes and Gobustan; two more for Sheki and the Caucasus. Spring and autumn reign.
Indicative amounts — rate reservable for 3 hours · Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, Geneva · Guide complet en français