Weather in Gobustan

About Gobustan

Gobustan preserves 6,000 years of rock art—ancient petroglyphs show hunting scenes, religious rituals, and daily life. The rocky landscape contains mud volcanoes, geological phenomena where gas bubbles create perpetual fountains of mud. The site bridges prehistoric cultures and natural wonders.

Country

Azerbaijan

Best months to visit

May, June, July, August, September, October

Currency

AZN

Language

Azerbaijani, Russian, English

Things to do in Gobustan

Viewing 6,000-year-old petroglyphs and understanding prehistoric art Hiking among mud volcanoes where methane ignites nightly with blue flames Visiting the Gobustan Museum explaining archaeological discoveries Photography of ancient rock carvings and geological formations Day tripping from Baku (50 km) to this unique archaeological-geological site Eating traditional Azerbaijani food at nearby village restaurants

Weather by month

Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.

January

Cold, with occasional showers.

February

Cold, with occasional showers.

March

12C

Cool, with occasional showers.

April

18C

Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.

Recommended

May

24C

Mild and comfortable, with occasional showers.

Recommended

June

30C

Hot and humid, and mostly sunny skies.

Recommended

July

32C

Hot and humid, and mostly sunny skies.

Recommended

August

32C

Hot and humid, and mostly sunny skies.

Recommended

September

26C

Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.

Recommended

October

20C

Mild and comfortable, with occasional showers.

November

14C

Cool, with occasional showers.

December

10C

Cool, with occasional showers.

Gobustan is one of the strangest landscapes you'll encounter near any capital city — a windswept plateau of ancient rock carvings depicting hunters, boats and dancers dating back 40,000 years, alongside fields of bubbling mud volcanoes that gurgle and pop like something from another planet. It's an easy half-day trip from Baku and unlike anywhere else nearby.

Best areas to stay in Gobustan

Gobustan Petroglyph Reserve

The main open-air museum and rock art trail across the plateau, with thousands of ancient carvings.

Gobustan Museum

A modern visitor centre with exhibits explaining the site's history and significance before heading out to the rocks.

Mud Volcano Field

A separate site reached by 4x4 across rough tracks, where dozens of small cones bubble with cool grey mud.

Gobustan Village

The small settlement near the reserve, with basic cafés for those stopping en route to or from Baku.

Getting to Gobustan

✈

Flights

Fly into Baku's Heydar Aliyev Airport (GYD) and continue by road.

⏱

From London

~6 hours direct London to Baku, plus about 1 hour by road to Gobustan.

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Getting around

Best visited by hired taxi or tour from Baku, especially if combining the petroglyphs with the mud volcanoes, which require a 4x4.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Gobustan from Baku?

Gobustan is about 60-65km south of Baku, roughly an hour's drive, making it a popular half-day trip from the capital.

What are the Gobustan petroglyphs?

Thousands of ancient rock carvings — some over 40,000 years old — depicting humans, animals, boats and hunting scenes, spread across a UNESCO-listed open-air museum site.

What are the mud volcanoes?

A field of small volcanic cones a short drive from the main petroglyph site that continuously bubble and spurt cool mud — one of the highest concentrations of mud volcanoes in the world.

Do I need a guide to visit Gobustan?

A guide or driver is helpful for reaching the mud volcanoes (rough, unpaved tracks) and for context on the petroglyphs, though the museum and main rock art trail can be visited independently.

How much time should I allow for Gobustan?

Around 3-4 hours total, including the museum, the petroglyph trail, and a detour to the mud volcanoes, makes for a comfortable half-day from Baku.

Traveler reviews

★★★★★

The mud volcanoes were so much weirder and more fun than I expected — bubbling away in this barren landscape. The petroglyphs nearby were a great combination.

Sabina E. · April 2024

★★★★☆

Easy half-day trip from Baku. The museum gives good context before you head out onto the plateau to see the carvings up close.

James W. · October 2023

★★★★☆

Hired a driver who took us to the mud volcanoes first — bumpy ride but worth it. Some of the carvings are surprisingly detailed once you know what to look for.

Aygun M. · May 2024