İsmayıllı (also Ismailli, Ismayilli, or Ismayilly) is a historic town in the Sheki Region of Azerbaijan

Understand

Traditional national dance

İsmayıllı is a convenient travel hub to nearby destinations, especially in the Caucasus Mountains, including Lahich.

Get in

Buses from Baku to Ismailli depart from the large and confusing Baku International Bus Terminal. On the third floor of the bus terminal, tickets to Ismailli are sold at ticket window 15. If tickets are sold out for the regular bus to Ismailli, marshrutkas (minivans) outside the ticket hall periodically depart for the 2½ hr ride when all seats are full. These will drop you off at the Central Bazar (Mərkəzi bazar) in the middle of İsmayıllı, where a cluster of taxis will be waiting for you.

Get around

A taxi to most destinations in town should not cost more than 2 to 3 manat by taxi. A horde of taxi drivers will greet you when you depart your bus at the Central Bazar. However, many destinations are walkable and there are also many local marshrutkas to nearby destinations available, like Lahich.

See

Ismayıllı Palace of Culture

Fountains

• Ismayıllı Palace of Culture (İsmayıllı Mədəniyyət Sarayı). (updated Aug 2019)
• See the fountains in Ismailli

Do

• 1 Ismayilli State Nature Sanctuary (Ismailli State Reserve). (updated Aug 2019)

Buy

The Central Bazar area is packed with phone shops, restaurants, supermarkets and every other assortment of stores that you'll find in a mid-sized Azerbaijani town.

Eat

There are a number of hole-in-the-wall restaurants around the Central Bazar (Mərkəzi bazar) with the typical selection of kebabs, bread and salads that will cost just a few manat for a meal.

Sleep

• Ismayilli Guest House, Mican kəndi, ☏ +994 502865156. A hostel run by a local family. Located 2½ km from the center of town, the hostel is a bit far out from the center of town, so load up on food essentials and drinks before you come. Breakfast and meals are available, and expect to be offered plenty of free tea and fruit in evening. Rooms are limited, so best to book in advance. 40 manat per night. (updated Aug 2019)

Go next

Buses depart from the Ismailli bus station to the following destinations (in order of closeness):

• Lahich (Lahıc, Lahij) – A cozy and remote highland village. Famous for its copper work.
• Qabala (Gabala) – New resort town deep in Caucasian Mountains, which has taken its name from the archaeological site about 20 km southwest.
• Nij (Nic) – An enormous village of an endangered Christian ethnic group, the Udins.
• Sheki (Şəki, formerly Nukha or Nuxa) – The capital of the Sheki region and a beautiful city in the forested Caucasian Mountains with lots to see and do. It has one of the largest densities of cultural resources and monuments that span 2,700 years of Azerbaijani history.
• Mingecevir – 2.80 manat
• Barda – 4 manat
• Sumqayit – 4.20 manat
• Ganja – 4.70 manat
• Goychay – 1.50 manat
• Baku – The capital of Azerbaijan, cosmopolitan and modern—several connections per day.