For years, Istanbul and Antalya were among the most popular choices for Israelis looking for a nearby, convenient, and relatively affordable vacation. The prolonged deterioration in relations with Turkey has changed that picture, and another destination in the region is quickly filling the gap: Azerbaijan.
Baku, once a relatively niche destination for Israeli travelers, has seen a sharp rise in popularity in recent years, particularly in recent months.
By the end of the summer, around 30 direct flights a week were operating between Israel and Azerbaijan across several airlines. Azerbaijani officials would like to add more capacity in response to growing demand from Israel, although further expansion also depends on available slots and airport capacity on the Israeli side.
Official figures reflect the scale of the trend. According to Azerbaijan’s State Statistical Committee, roughly 42,000 Israelis entered the country between the beginning of 2026 and the end of July. Israeli visitors accounted for about 3.1% of all foreign arrivals, placing Israel among Azerbaijan’s ten largest inbound tourism markets.
Hotel data point to an even stronger Israeli presence. In the first half of the year, Israelis accounted for roughly 6.9% of all overnight stays by foreign tourists in Azerbaijani hotels, a significantly higher share than their proportion of total arrivals.
Spending has also increased sharply. During the first seven months of the year, Israeli visitors spent around 80 million manat, approximately $47 million, in Azerbaijan, more than 50% higher than during the same period last year.
Tourism industry officials expect that growth to continue into the Jewish holiday season, with another wave of Israeli visitors expected in Baku and other parts of the country.
Israeli tourists will discover a safe Muslim country in Azerbaijan, local rabbi says
Rabbi Zamir Isayev, rabbi of Baku’s Sephardic Jewish community and a prominent voice in Azerbaijan’s Jewish community, says the change is clearly visible on the ground.
“Israelis who come to Baku today discover a Muslim country where they can walk around safely, speak Hebrew openly and feel welcome,” Isayev said. “We see the increase in visitors within the community as well, in the synagogues, in kosher restaurants and in the number of inquiries we receive ahead of the holidays.”
According to Isayev, the sense of security enjoyed by Jews in Azerbaijan extends well beyond the tourism sector.
“The attitude toward Jews in Azerbaijan is exceptional. The communities here are thriving, the number of children at the Jewish school increases every year, and we are already considering expanding the building,” he said.
Isayev added that Azerbaijan’s close ties with Israel can also make certain developments in Jerusalem difficult to understand from Baku.
“Precisely because the relationship with Israel is so close, some things cause real surprise here,” he said. “Not long ago, there was an attempt in the Knesset to advance recognition of the Armenian genocide, and that raised eyebrows in Baku. Later, Israel’s National Security Council issued a travel warning ahead of the holidays concerning countries bordering Iran, and Azerbaijan was included.
“Of course that prompts questions. Azerbaijan sees Israel as a close strategic partner. The Jewish community lives openly here, and more and more Israelis are visiting. So there are people who find it difficult to reconcile the reality of the relationship with the way the country is sometimes portrayed in Israel.”
Azerbaijan’s growing importance to Israel, however, goes well beyond tourism.
Relations between Israel and Turkey remain strained, particularly over developments in Syria and the increasingly sharp rhetoric between Jerusalem and Ankara. That has placed Baku in an unusual position.
Isayev, who recently visited Israel to take part in the Foreign Ministry’s J50 Forum, stressed that he does not speak on behalf of the Azerbaijani government. Still, he said Baku’s interest in preventing further deterioration between Israel and Turkey is clear.
“Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel and Turkey do not contradict one another,” he said. “From Baku’s perspective, these are two important friendly countries, and Azerbaijan has a genuine interest in seeing relations between them remain stable and in preventing unnecessary escalation or confrontation.”
According to reports published in recent months, Azerbaijan has been involved in contacts aimed at reducing the risk of friction between Israel and Turkey, particularly over their respective activities and interests in Syria.
“Azerbaijan can demonstrate that it is possible to maintain close relations with Israel while remaining a natural part of the Muslim world,” Isayev said. “For us, that is not a theoretical idea. It is the reality in which the Jewish community here lives every day.”
Baku preparing for influx of Israeli visitors during High Holy Days
Azerbaijan’s Jewish community is also preparing for the High Holy Days and the expected influx of visitors from Israel. According to Isayev, preparations include prayer services, holiday meals and expanded access to kosher food for tourists.
“Ahead of the High Holy Days, we are preparing for a very large number of guests from Israel,” he said. “There will be prayer services, holiday meals and kosher food available for visitors. Our goal is for every Jew or Israeli who comes here to be able to celebrate the holidays as if they were at home.”
The Jerusalem Post has learned that ahead of Sukkot, hundreds of sets of the Four Species are expected to be sent from Israel to Azerbaijan. The shipment, intended for members of the local Jewish community, is being funded again this year by an anonymous Jewish donor from the United States.
Three trends are now converging in Baku: rapidly growing Israeli tourism, a Jewish community that lives openly in a Muslim-majority country, and a government capable of maintaining close ties with both Jerusalem and Ankara.
As Turkey recedes from the Israeli travel map, Azerbaijan is moving steadily into the spotlight.