Azerbaijan (AZ)

Taxis in Baku are primarily booked via apps — Bolt and Uber both operate. App taxis are the safest and cheapest option (typical city fare ₼3–8). Traditional yellow taxis and private "unmarked" taxis are common but prices must be negotiated upfront — always agree the fare before entering. Airport taxis are largely predatory towards tourists; always use app taxis or arrange pickup from your accommodation. In regional cities (Ganja, Sheki), only local taxis exist — agree price before travel. Licensed taxis have meters but many drivers prefer not to use them with foreigners.

Bolt is the dominant ride-hailing app in Baku and operates in Ganja and Sumgayit. Download before arrival. Uber operates in Baku with comparable pricing. Both show price before booking and use card or cash payment. For airport transfers, Bolt and Uber are significantly cheaper than airport taxi queues (₼8–15 vs ₼30–50 asked by street taxis). BlaBlaCar is used for some intercity carpooling. No formal carpool regulations exist beyond standard taxi licensing.

Cycling infrastructure in Baku is developing. The Baku Boulevard (Bulvar) offers a car-free cycling path along the Caspian seafront. The government launched a public bike-sharing scheme (Baku Bike) with docking stations in central areas. Mountain cycling is popular in Sheki, Quba, Ismayilli and Gabala regions. Helmets are not legally required but are recommended on roads. Cycling in traffic outside dedicated lanes is challenging — drivers are aggressive and road conditions vary. No cycling registration is required.

Azerbaijan Railways (ADY, ady.az) operates intercity services from Baku's main station (Dəmiryolu Vağzalı) to Sumgayit (₼0.30, 40 min), Ganja (₼4, 5 hrs), and Lenkaran (₼3, 4 hrs). International trains operate to Tbilisi (Georgia, ~12 hours, limited service). The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) line connects to Turkey but primarily handles freight. Train tickets can be purchased at the station or online at ady.az. Trains are clean and affordable but frequencies are low compared to buses — buses are faster on most routes.

Driving is the most practical option for travel outside Baku. Azerbaijan drives on the right. Baku city traffic is heavy, particularly morning rush (08:00–10:00) and evening (17:00–19:30). Road conditions are good on major highways but deteriorate in rural areas. Speed limits: 30–60 km/h urban, 90 km/h rural, 110 km/h on the Baku–Sumgayit expressway and motorways. BAC limit: 0.00% (zero tolerance — strict enforcement). Seatbelts are mandatory. Baku–Ganja–Gazakh highway (M2) is the main east-west route. Police checkpoints exist on intercity roads — carry all documents (passport, TRP, licence, insurance). OSAGO third-party insurance is mandatory for all vehicles.

Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) is 30 km from Baku centre. No metro connection to the airport yet — Purple Line expansion is ongoing but no confirmed airport station opening date as of 2026. Current access: Bolt/Uber app taxi (₼8–15); airport bus line 118 to Koroglu metro station (₼1, ~50 min); metered airport taxi (₼25–35). Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL, azal.az) is the national carrier, operating international routes to Europe, Middle East, Russia, and Central Asia. Other carriers at GYD include Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, flydubai, Air Arabia, LOT and others. Terminal 2 handles international; domestic and some CIS flights use the adjacent building.