Ganja.
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Overview

Ganja (Azeri: Gəncə) is a city in the Ganja Region of northwestern Azerbaijan. As a historic city, Ganja was the seat of the Atabegs, and later, its khanate under Persian suzerainty.

Understand

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).

Ganja Regional Tourism Information Center. Provides free city maps and travel agency services. The staff speak limited English.

Get in

The airport is open from 08:00 to 17:00.

Ganja sits on one of the Azerbaijani primary rail lines running east–west through the country. This line now forms part of the Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway, which directly connects Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan. This railway connects Ganja with Baku as well as with Tbilisi in Georgia, from where passenger trains may in the future eventually connect to Akhalkalaki, and Kars in Turkey.

Check the complete timetable online: Astara – 8 manat. Baku – The daytime ‘express’ (6 manat) departs from Ganja at 15:50 on alternate days arriving in Baku around midnight.The overnight train 37 departs daily from Ganja at 02:56 and arrives in Baku at 08:52. The train has 2nd class kupé (KP) 4-berth sleepers (14.81 manat) and 3rd class platskartny (PL) open-plan sleepers (8.12 manat).The overnight train 38 departs daily from Baku at 20:40 and arrives in Ganja at 02:33, before continuing on to Tbilisi. The train has 2nd class kupé (KP) 4-berth sleepers (14.81 manat) and 3rd class platskartny (PL) open-plan sleepers (8.12 manat).

Tbilisi – Train 37 between Tbilisi and Baku departs from Tbilisi at 20.35 and arrives in Ganja at 02:50. Train 38 between Baku and Tbilisi departs from Ganja at 02:55 and arrives in Tbilisi at 08:55. The trains in both directions have 1st class spalny vagon (SV) 2-bed sleepers (40.67 manat), 2nd class kupé (KP) 4-berth sleepers (23.52 manat) and 3rd class platskartny (PL) open-plan sleepers (16.58 manat).

By bus or marshrutka The city has the following bus stations:

Specific destinations (Sep 2019 unless stated otherwise): Baku – Every 30 min 06:00-19:00. 4½ hr, 9 manat. Daşkəsən – 0.40 manat. Goranboy – Hourly 08:00-18:00, 0.90 manat. Göygöl – Frequently, 25 min. Ismailli – 4.70 manat. Naftalan – 06:00, 08:00, and 12:00. 1-2 manat. Qabala – From Ganja at 08:15, and 08:30. 5 manat. Qazakh – Regular marshrutkas, 2 hr 10 min, 5 manat as of July 2026. The last one departs at 19:30. Sheki – From Ganja at 13:30 and 16:30, 3 hr, 4 manat. Though they can leave earlier if they fill up.

The other option is to take a marshrutka from the Yeni Şemkir Bus Station to Qazakh (Qazax) (2 hr 10 min, 5 manat as of July 2026). While the frequency is unknown one marshrutka departs at 08:00. From the same location in Qazakh (where the service from Ganja terminates) frequent marshrutkas signed KR.Most / Krasny Most (1 hr 15 min, 5 manat as of July 2026) go to the border crossing at Red Bridge (Krasny Most, Qırmızı Körpü, Tsiteli Khidi), from where you can catch a marshrutka to Tbilisi (1 hr, 5 lari). If you take this route, then a 08:00 depart from Ganja will see you arriving at Station Square in Tbilisi at 13:30.

By taxi 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.

By car The city is served by the M2, R19, R20, R21, R50 and R51 highways.

Get around

On foot The Old City is best visited on foot.

By bus 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).

By taxi 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.

See

Xatirə parkı. It is claimed to be the world's 5th largest park complex, and the largest in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus. The area spreads across 450 hectares. (Wikipedia lists 144 urban parks that are larger than 450 ha.) The arc de triomphe can be found at the very entrance. The complex contains many attractions for children, recreational and entertainment venues, and a bicycle rental.

World War II memorial and grave of unknown soldier.

Old City The Old City of Ganja was developed starting in the 16th century. Living quarters (məhəllə) from those times make up vast parts of the city to this day.

City Hall Square with Museum of Heydar Aliyev. The side of the square has remained the same as it was since the 16th century. The City Hall was built during the Soviet era. The building is a twin of the Tbilisi Parliament Hall.

Gəncə Filarmoniyası. The Philharmony was built in 2016. There with the site of the castle with khan palace and city walls till the Russian siege in the 19th century. During the Soviet era all historical buildings were destroyed and Cinema Baku was built on the site of the castle. After Azerbaijan attained independence, the cinema was torn down to develop the Philharmony.

Aleksandr Nevski Rus Pravoslav Kilsəsi. A Russian Orthodox church built in 1887 on the grounds of an ancient cemetery, dedicated to local Christians and Muslims likewise. In 1916 the church became a cathedral. Its style is Byzantine with bricks of the name "plinfa". Between 1935-38 it served as the museum of local history. Reopened in 1946, many former icons had survived the revolutionary phases, like the ones of St. Alexander Nevsky and Mary Magdalene.They are very strict about dress code, so just forget about heading there if you wear shorts or a skirt

Bottle House. House of Jafarovs family of Ganja. Created in 1967 by Ibrahim Jafarov in honour of his brother and all World War II soldiers who did not return home or died war fronts. Instead of using bricks and such, he used bottles for many parts of the house, like the walls. In total he used 48,000 bottles. He also used coloured stones from Sochi. He dedicated the house to his brother and the many other soldiers who died in World War II. A supposed picture of the brother is part of the beautiful walls of the house. You can contact his grandson Elshan who still lives in the house to tell their story. This is private house, but Jafarovs do not mind people taking façade pictures of house. Donations are welcome.

Complex of Shah Abbas mosque, with medieval baths and tomb of Javadkhan. Centrally located, the mosque was built in 1606 based on the idea of Sheykh Baheddin. The second name stems from the ruler of this time, Shah Abbas Great, who ordered the construction of many mosques during his reign, like this one.

Chokek Hamam. A medieval 17th-century bath, restored and open to public. The Vego hotel even has an underground tunnel going from the hotel to this bath.

Xan bağı. The central city park is one of the oldest parks in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus, with 7 hectares of local and foreign trees, plants and flowers. Founded in 1700, it was named "Khan Bagi" in 1804 to honour the last ruler of Ganja, Javad Khan. The park was restored in 2010.

Cavadxan küçəsi. Good walking street in the heart of Old City of Ganja with fountains and street art monuments. There are many cozy cafes and souvenir stores.

Nizami Gəncəvinin heykəli. By making this monument, the author was granted the Stalin Prize.

Promenade of Elizavetpol Governorate.

Museum and International Literature Center of Meskheti Ganjavi.

Sloboda Sloboda or commonly Vtoroy Chast ( rus: "Вторая часть"), is the part of the city, which started to develop during Russian rule (19th-20th centuries).

German Lutheran Church. Built in 1885 by the Germans, who moved to the city then. In 1897, about 100 Germans inhabited the city. The church was active until 1941 and later converted into the "State Puppet Theatre" by the Soviets, still serving that purpose.

Ancient Ganja Ancient Ganja is the archeological site of the city. This part was destroyed during Mongol invasion in 13th century. After the war, the city of Ganja remained uninhabited till the 16th century.

Tomb of Nizami Ganjavi. Built in 1947 to honour the 12th-century poet Nizami Ganjavi. It was built on the grounds of a former mausoleum. It obtained its present form in 2013.

Ancient city site with remains of walls.

Do

Casual Go to the "Kolkhoz bazaar" and have a breakfast of fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products. Enjoy a hot day in the shade of plane trees in the Khan Garden, and in the evening, get some cup of tea with old-timers in one of the cosy tea houses (Chaykhana). Invite yourself to Ganjali wedding.

CinemaPlus "Khamsa Park". 4th floor of shopping mall.

Buy

Ganja is well-known as a center of the carpet trade.

Bazarstore. Good choice of wines, cheese, high quality food.

Eat

The list of top dishes of Ganjali cuisine (special recipes): Dovğа Xan aşı Yarpaq dolması Göy kətəsi Şorqoğalı Nazik Gəncə paxlavası Gəncə halvası Şəkərbura

Furor Restaurant and Pub. Not cheap, but recommended.

Drink

It is recommended to drink bottled water. However, there are a lot of tea houses offering tasty tea.

London CoffeeShop. Highly recommended and if you want to get into contact with the locals.

Sleep

Ganja hostel. Not as recommended as Old Ganja Hostel, but an alternative, if the former is full.

Respect

Basic advice will help you to feel comfortable in most common situations.

Be familiar with the terms Qeyret, Adat and Namus (code of honour). Unlike Baku, Ganjalis understand causes of globalization and resist it in areas related to family and human behaviour. Never joke about the name of the city also being a word for marijuana.

Ganjalis are very hospitable people, and sometimes you may mistakenly think that it's false hospitality. In fact, some people can overdo it in their desire to help you. It is your responsibility to stop them (and do so with plausible arguments), but be careful because even a hint of rejection will hurt them.