The photochemical and photophysical properties of ruthenium polypyridyl complexes containing 1,24-triazole-based ligands, such as pyridine- and pyrazine triazoles are reviewed. The excited-state behaviour of such complexes is discussed in relation to the asymmetry inherently present in these ligands. For the pyridine triazole-containing complexes a series of photochemically induced isomerisations is reported. Pyrazine triazole compounds show a very unusual dual emission, which has been investigated using temperature dependent emission lifetime studies and partial deuteriation.