Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, a Caspian Sea port where a walled medieval Old City, Belle Epoque oil-boom mansions and the glass-and-steel Flame Towers share one crescent-shaped bay. Visitors come for the UNESCO-listed Icheri Sheher, the Heydar Aliyev Center, a seafront boulevard, mud volcanoes and rock art at Gobustan, and a tea-and-plov food culture at very low prices.
- Public
- Baku's three-line metro (Red, Green and Purple) and BakuBus city buses use one rechargeable BakiKart (card AZN 2 / approx $1.18) with a flat fare of about AZN 0.60 / approx $0.35 per ride from October 2025; confirm at the ticket window
- Taxi
- Bolt and Yango work across the city with fares fixed in the app; most central rides cost AZN 4-10 / approx $2.40-5.90, and the airport run is AZN 20-35 / approx $12-21
- Rental
- A car is only useful for out-of-town trips such as Gobustan, Absheron or the western mountains; Baku traffic is heavy, parking is scarce and drivers often do not yield at crossings
- Walking
- The Old City, Seaside Boulevard, Fountains Square and Nizami Street are compact and walkable, though the Old City has cobbled slopes and steps
Transport at a glance
- Public
- 4/5
- Taxi
- 5/5
- Rental
- 2/5
- Walking
- 4/5
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Baku combines a compact walkable centre with a growing metro, a modern bus network and cheap ride-hailing. Most visitors walk between the Old City, Fountains Square and the Seaside Boulevard and use the metro or Bolt/Yango for longer hops. Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) is about 20 km north-east of the centre. Intercity buses to the regions leave from the Baku International Bus Terminal, and trains leave from Baku Railway Station beside the 28 May metro. Prices in AZN with USD at roughly 1 USD = 1.70 AZN.
Airports
Heydar Aliyev International Airport
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Buy a BakiKart at a metro station ticket office or airport machine and load AZN 5-10; it works on the metro, buses and the airport H1 line
Install Bolt and Yango before arrival; they avoid haggling and the overcharging common with street taxis
Metro runs roughly 6AM to midnight; the Icheri Sheher, Sahil, 28 May, Nizami and Ganjlik stations cover most tourist sites
Look both ways at zebra crossings; drivers often do not stop
Download an offline map and Moovit or Google Maps for bus routes
Intercity buses leave from the Baku International Bus Terminal; confirm the departure time the day before
Keep small AZN notes for local buses, village taxis and bazaars
Emergency number in Azerbaijan: 112 (police 102, ambulance 103)