From Heydar Aliyev airport into Baku
A striking terminal 20 km from the city, and an airport express bus that takes a card you buy in the arrivals hall.
The airport
- Heydar Aliyev International (GYD) is about 20 km northeast of Baku - 25 to 35 minutes. Terminal 1 is genuinely one of the better-looking airports anywhere.
- Immigration is quick with an eVisa; have the printout or the PDF ready.
Into the city
- The H1 airport express bus runs to the 28 May metro station for 1.30 manat, via the Koroglu interchange, in about 30 minutes. It runs 24 hours a day - every 20 minutes by day, every 45 at night - which is the part that matters when your flight lands at four in the morning.
- It does not take cash. Buy a BakiKart in the arrivals hall and load it, or pay through the M10 or Birbank apps. This trips up almost every first-time arrival.
- Bolt operates in Baku and is cheap; it is what most visitors use.
- Official airport taxis are fixed-price from the desk. Agree it first.
- Do not take an unofficial car offered in the hall.
Onward
- Baku is where everything starts. Gobustan, the mud volcanoes, Absheron and the fire temple are all half-day trips.
- Sheki, Lahic and Quba in the north are the standard multi-day additions, reached by bus, train or driver.
- The overnight train to Tbilisi runs and is a decent way to cross to Georgia.
- The Armenian border is closed - a trip between Baku and Yerevan goes through Georgia.
If you are staying more than two weeks
- Register with the State Migration Service. Your hotel will normally do it; an apartment host may not. The fine is collected on departure.
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