The city has bus, tram, trolley-bus and underground services
Baku is the only city in Azerbaijan with a metro service
The old town is served by the Baku Soviet station. Sahil station, near 26 Comissars square, is downtown
To use the metro you need to buy a magnetic card and charge it with the amount of trips you wish to take. The card comes in three different types – 24 hours, 72 hours and 7 days
Bus, tram and trolley fares are paid in cash to the driver. Red BakuCity buses cost 0.2 manat per ride
A funicular railway takes you up to Martyr’s alley (former Kirov park), though this is commonly out of service
Most taxis are unmetered and a journey anywhere within the city center will cost 15,000 manats
You can also pay for a private car with driver. The minimum charge is approximately €30 a day
You can also use shared mini vans – known as marshruts / marshrutki – that can sit 12 people, though most have more with standing room. They have no schedule and only leave when full. The vans drives along a fixed route and stops at any point along that route when flagged down or told to stop. However, there is no official route map
Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku is the main point of entry for international tourists. From the airport, bus 116 departs from the airport-parking section every 30 minutes 7am-8pm
Things to see:
Yanar Dag
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
Maiden Tower
Old City
Baku Ferris Wheel
Heydar Aliyev Centre
Martyr’s alley
Flame Towers
Mini Venice
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Ateshgah of Baku
Bibi-Heybat Mosque
Heydar Mosque
Freedom Square
TV Tower
Tips:
Remember to check if you need a visa. In January 2017, the ASAN visa portal was launched in Azerbaijan. For a length of stay in the country of up to 30 days, a one-time electronic visa can be obtained and is available within 3 working days after payment and sent directly to the applicant’s e-mail. The fee is $20
If you’re travelling further afield, the N38 Baku to Tbilisi, Georgia night train is a great way to travel. You will be asked to show your visa before boarding the train. The journey time is 13h 15min. Ticket prices depend on the carriage class. A first-class ticket costs $26,50 (45 manat). For more information, click here.
It’s important to dress appropriately and when visiting mosques to cover your hair if you’re female. Males need to wear trousers
Don’t forget to bargain in local markets and in souvenir shops
