Shusha sits at 1,400 metres and has a cool highland climate. Summers are mild and pleasant, with daytime temperatures in the low to mid 20s Celsius — a welcome relief from the heat of Baku and the lowlands. Winters are cold and snowy, and the road up from Aghdam is occasionally closed by drifts between December and February.
The best months are May through October. Late August coincides with the Vagif Poetry Days at the mausoleum; the Khari Bulbul music festival, held on the Jidir Plain, takes place in early May and is the city's most visible annual event since the 2020 war.
Access remains tightly controlled by the Azerbaijani authorities. Independent travel is difficult — most foreign visitors come on organised trips with prior permission. Check current rules carefully before planning a visit.