The road to Baku, the oil-rich city in the desert about to be flooded by Brits as Arsenal and Chelsea battle for Europa League glory
The football final is set to take place on May 29 in the capital of Azerbaijan
BAKU, the capital of Azerbaijan, isn't a well known destination for Brits - only around 7,000 British nationals visit the country each year, and mostly for business.
But later this month, the city will be flooded with football fans keen to catch the Europa Cup final live, as Arsenal goes head to head with Chelsea on May 29.
But what can UK visitors expect from this tiny city, straddled between Asia and Europe over 2,000 miles away?
Here's what you need to know:
What is Baku like?
Dubbed the "love child of Paris and Dubai" by , Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan.
Its name may have come from "bad kube", a Persian term meaning the City of Winds - and Baku is well known for being windy.
The country itself spans both Europe and Asia, resulting in a rich mix of cultures and cuisines.
It had once been part of the Russian empire, and you will still see a lot of influences from then - many people speak Russian, for example, although Azerbaijani is the official language and English is widely spoken.
Parts of the city is extremely wealthy and most of the wealth in the country comes from oil.
Azerbaijan used to produce more than half of the world's demand between the 1880s and World War I, .
With oil reserves running out, Azerbaijan is , such as natural gas.
How do you get to Baku?
Unfortunately there are no direct flights to Baku during the football final week.
Brits will have to make the 2,468 mile journey to Azerbaijan by flying first to Istanbul or Kiev before changing flights.
Azerbaijan Airlines do fly there directly but only on the Saturday, with the return flight a week later.
Other options include a four-day trip by train, which includes a 51-hour journey from Ukraine to Baku.
Driving would take 56 hours through Europe, although you would need a number of international travel permits.
Is Baku safe?
While crime is generally low, and could .
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also advises against all travel to Nagorno-Karabakh and the military occupied area surrounding it, within 5km of the Line of Contact and within 5km of the border with Armenia.
How to get around Baku
The easiest way to travel through the city is by bus, using a Baku card, with rides often just less than two manat (£1).
Taxis are also available, both app-based and meter-based - but visitors are generally advised to agree to a fare upfront to avoid getting ripped off.
What can you eat and drink in Baku?
The food in Baku is a mixture of Russian and Middle Eastern.
Vegans and vegetarians may struggle in the country, as its food is mainly meat based.
A common dish in Azerbaijan is plov, or pilaf, which is saffron-infused rice with a mixture of meat and vegetables, as well as kebabs.
Other popular dishes include ghuru kingal, a deconstructed meat dumpling; and qutab, a thick savoury pancake with meat or cheese.
Although most of the population of Azerbaijan is Muslim, drinking is tolerated in the city as long as you don't become a nuisance.
The night scene in Baku is bustling, with a number of nightclubs open late into the night.
What to see in Baku
The city is home to some of the greatest architectural feats in the world, including the Flame Towers, a trio of LED screened skyscrapers; and the Heydar Aliyev Centre, designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid.
It's even home to the largest KFC branch in the world, measuring over 1,600 square feet.
The city has been the host to other high profile events - they hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and the annual Azerbaijan Grand Prix took place last month.
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Football fans are battling for flights and hotels to Baku to watch the game, with plane tickets currently costing over £1,000.
Arsenal and Chelsea supporters have also been left furious after the UK clubs only received 6,000 tickets each to sell, despite the stadium holding 64,000 seats.
Others have blamed Thomas Cook for a rip off "economy flights package" which cost £979 excluding match tickets.