Azerbaijan
Ganja travel guide
Ganja is a city in Azerbaijan, home to about 329,000 people.
- Best months
- April to June, September and October
- Nearest airport
- GNJ7 km · Ganja International Airport
- Currency
- AZNAzerbaijani manat
- Time zone
- Asia/Baku
- Language
- Azerbaijani, Azerbaijani Sign Language
About
About Ganja
Ganja is Azerbaijan's third largest city, with a population of around 335,600. The city has been a historic and cultural center throughout most of its existence.
Ganja is one of the oldest cities in the Caucasus, and has long been one of the most important in Azerbaijan. Having been subjected to a seemingly endless stream of invading armies, its name has changed repeatedly over the years and is very interesting architecturally. The historical name, Ganja, was restored once again upon Azerbaijan's independence in 1991. With a population of 330,744 (2016), it is the country's second-largest city. Most proudly the city was home to Azerbaijan’s national bard Nizami Gəncəvi (1141–1209).
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Ganja
See
- Xatirə parkı
- World War II memorial and grave of unknown soldier
- City Hall Square with Museum of Heydar Aliyev
- Gəncə Filarmoniyası
- Aleksandr Nevski Rus Pravoslav Kilsəsi
- Bottle House
- Complex of Shah Abbas mosque, with medieval baths and tomb of Javadkhan
- Chokek Hamam
- Xan bağı
- Cavadxan küçəsi
- Nizami Gəncəvinin heykəli
- Ozan məscidi
Do
- Gəncə Dövlət Dram Teatrı
- CinemaPlus "Khamsa Park"
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Ganja
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Ganja are April to June, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; May is the wettest, with about 63 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Ganja: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ganja International Airport (GNJ), about 7.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Lachin International Airport (LHL, 89 km) and Gabala International Airport (GBB, 116 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
A taxi from/to Naftalan can be had for 25 manat. From/to Sheki is 50 manat or less, depending on your bargaining skills. Or just use a ride sharing app. The city is served by the M2, R19, R20, R21, R50 and R51 highways.
Getting around
The Old City is best visited on foot. There is also public bus service for 0.30 manat available. Routes change pretty often due to ongoing road construction, but #1 and #4 head to the Heydar Aliyev Park, and in the opposite direction #4 and #5 go to the Southern Bus Station (for Göygöl). A taxi can be convenient for the Heydar Aliyev Park, bus stations or Göygöl. Expect to pay 3 manat to/from any of the bus stations from/to the centre.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
GNJ · Ganja International Airport
LHL · Lachin International Airport
GBB · Gabala International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Ganja
Drink
It is recommended to drink bottled water. However, there are a lot of tea houses offering tasty tea.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Ganja: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Ganja?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Ganja are April to June, September and October. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; May is the wettest, with about 63 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Ganja?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ganja International Airport (GNJ), about 7.1 km from the city centre in a straight line; Lachin International Airport (LHL, 89 km) and Gabala International Airport (GBB, 116 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Ganja?
Azerbaijani manat (AZN).
Nearby
Destinations near Ganja
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.