eSIM for Baku

Baku: what to know before you go

The Old City

The Old City is a walled maze of lanes, with the Flame Towers and the Heydar Aliyev Center as the landmarks outside it. Save an offline map and your hotel's pin before you wander in.

Metro and BakiKart

The metro is cashless and runs on a BakiKart card, which visitors usually buy from machines in stations and at the airport, and a QR ticket option has also been introduced. Fares change, so check the machine.

Ride apps and taxis

Ride apps are the usual way to book a taxi in Baku and show the fare in advance. Street taxis may not use a meter, so agree the fare first.

Gobustan and Absheron

The Gobustan rock art and mud volcanoes are about an hour south of the city, and a full-day tour often adds the Ateshgah fire temple and the Yanar Dag fire site on the Absheron peninsula. Save the pick-up point and the tickets before you leave.

The electronic visa

Many visitors apply for an electronic visa online before the trip. Use only the government's official portal, since look-alike sites exist, and check the current rules for your nationality.

How much data you need

A week of maps, rides and photos takes about 3 to 4 GB. Day trips add little beyond the maps and the tickets.

Written 24 October 2026. Opening rules, fees, prices at attractions and event dates change, so check the official site before you rely on them.

Baku: when people go

24 to 26 September 2027: the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Formula 1 returns to the streets of Baku on 24 to 26 September 2027, according to the confirmed calendar. Roads around the circuit close, hotels fill and the network can be crowded near the Old City, so book rooms early and save tickets offline.

March 2027: Novruz

The spring holiday is a block of several public days, usually around 20 to 24 March, and the government sets the exact days each year. Offices and some services close, so book tours and transfers ahead.

Late December 2026 to early April 2027: ski season at Shahdag

The Shahdag ski season usually runs from the second half of December to early April, depending on snow. The road to the resort is a mountain road in winter, so leave extra time and download the route.

Azerbaijan eSIM 2026: prices, network and coverage

9 plans, from $3.49 (1 GB, 7 days) to $38.99 (20 GB, 30 days). Networks: Bakcell 5G and Azercell 4G.

Network

Bakcell 5G, Azercell 4G

Top-up

Yes, from the app, on the same eSIM

Validity starts

At the first connection at your destination

Install by

Shown on your order. An eSIM that is never installed expires

Your number

Stays active, plans are data only

Hotspot

Uses the same plan data, no separate charge

After the daily allowance

Day passes slow down to 512 Kbps

Updated October 29, 2026

Questions about Baku

Do I need an electronic visa for Azerbaijan?

Many visitors apply online before the trip. Use only the official government portal, since look-alike sites exist, and check the current rules, which differ by nationality and change.

Can I pay for the metro with my phone?

The metro is cashless and a QR ticket option has been introduced, though visitors usually buy a BakiKart card from a machine. Check the machine or the metro's own site for the current options.

How much does an eSIM for Baku cost?

Baku uses the Azerbaijan plans, because an eSIM belongs to a country and not to a city. Plans start at $3.49 for 1 GB, valid for 7 days. There are 9 plans, from 1 GB to 20 GB, plus unlimited day passes.

Do I need a local SIM card in Baku?

No. The eSIM is a SIM card in digital form: you install it from a QR code before you leave, and there is nothing to buy at the airport or swap in your phone.

How is it different from roaming in Baku?

With roaming, your own carrier bills the data you use abroad, usually by the day or by the megabyte, at the prices of your plan. The eSIM is prepaid: you know the cost before you leave and nothing is added later. Keep data roaming off on your usual line, so it cannot charge you.

Which networks does the Baku eSIM use?

Wigoo connects to Bakcell and Azercell, with 5G where it is available. Each plan lists the operators it uses.

Can I add more data?

Yes. You top up the same eSIM from the app, without installing a new one.

Do I keep my phone number?

Yes. Plans are data only, so your usual line stays active for calls and texts, and WhatsApp keeps working as always.

When do the validity days start?

Not when you buy and not when you install: the days start counting when the eSIM connects to a network at your destination for the first time. A 30 day plan gives you 30 days from that first connection.

How long do I have to install the eSIM?

An eSIM that is never installed expires. The "Install by" date is shown on your order, on the site and in the app, so you can buy ahead of your trip. Install it before that date, on Wi-Fi.

Can I use the eSIM as a hotspot?

Data used through a personal hotspot comes out of the same plan, and Wigoo does not charge it separately. A laptop uses far more data than a phone, so for work a day pass or a bigger plan is safer.

What happens when the data runs out?

Plans are prepaid, so there are no extra charges: when the data is used up, the connection stops until you add more from the app. Day passes give a daily allowance at full speed, then continue at reduced speed (512 Kbps) until the next day.

When should I install the eSIM?

Before you leave, on Wi-Fi. When you land, set the Wigoo line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it.