We have been receiving a lot of questions about the best way to commute from Baku airport to central Baku. Until recently the only feasible way to commute was using a taxi. No surprise, that taxi drivers were taking advantage of their monopoly and were charging travellers relatively high rates. $40 USD for airport transfer for those travellers who is on budget is a substantial amount of money. There are however cheaper ways to get to city centre avoiding taxi ride.
'BakuBus' company has launched express bus service (H1 route) to Baku airport from the city centre (28 May tube station). Modern comfortable İveco buses run mainly from 06:00 to 00:00 every 30 minutes (less frequent during the night but it operates 24 hours a day). Express bus will stop only for 1 minute to collect passengers at «Koroglu» tube station. To take a bus a traveller will have to proceed to bus stop that is located just outside the exits from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The cost of the ride is 1,30 manat (less than $1 USD). Unfortunately, but you cannot pay with cash. You need to buy a BakiKart. To get one of these at the airport, there is a machine. You will find it just outside the terminal building. You will need AZN cash. The instructions are not in English but there'll be lots of locals about who will help you. You'll be able to use your BakiKart during your stay in Baku for the metro and some of the buses. No need to purchase BakiKart for every single traveler, one will do for several travelers, as long as you have sufficient credit on BakiKart.
The bus leaves airport from outside the arrivals hall (next to the official airport taxis). There are no signings where the bus stop is and where it leaves from. Don't be confused. When you leave airport building just cross the car park and wait for the bus, it will show up. While waiting for the bus at the airport be prepared for a lot of taxi drivers saying there's no bus, etc.... That's not true, if it's not too late the bus will definitely arrive. You can always ask airport stuff, security or police for exact directions.
As to downtown the bus leaves and arrives at the south side of the S.Vurgun's park on the 28 May street (check our map on the frontpage), opposite "Aerokassa", on the way to/from the city it also stops at the Koroglu metro station. Depending on where you are going in the city, you can get off a Koroglu and join the metro system there. At 28 May, you can get buses to many parts of the city or walk.
If your final destination is Old City (Icheri Sheher) where most of the budget hotels and hostels are, you can make change to another bus after arriving to S.Vurgun's park - should be plenty of choices (just ask for Icheri Sheher); alternatively walk to nearest 28 May tube station (10 minutes walk) and take 2 stops to Icheri Sheher station or just take a taxi (10 USD would be fine for a short ride).
Another way is to go by metro to Koroglu station, which is the nearest metro stop to the airport. From there one can take a taxi for 8-10 AZN. There are plenty of taxis and also buses in all sorts of directions just outside of the metro stop waiting. You might get the trip for a fare between 7 and 10 AZN. Make sure to haggle a bit. If you are lucky others might want to share the taxi with you, then it gets even cheaper.
So if you decide to go by taxi from the airport, then only go as far as Koroglu as from there you can use the very cheap and fast metro. Koroglu is a very modern metro stop with everything you need. The area is the main district of Baku for the 1st European Games that too place there in June 2015.
In case you decide to take an airport taxi be prepared to bargain, as the start rate they will ask for a ride to city centre would be around 40 AZN (25-30 USD). But be firm and offer no more than half of this 20-25 AZN. They will finally agree after realising that you know the real pricing.
Also, If you are the first time in Baku and plan to get a taxi to your destination then you can use the famous UBER service, that have introduced a special rate of 7 AZN ($4.5).
Book a taxi: If you prefer to have a taxi ride from Baku airport you can book meeting and trasfer service with our company. It would be more expensive as we charge $40 USD for the airport transfer to city centre, but this way you can have a guaranteed service and avoid intrusive taxi drivers. A member of our stuff will be waiting for you in the 'arrivals' hall with your name on a paper board and will transfer you to your destination. There are no hidden charges and you can rely on our service. To book a transfer just send us your flight details, date and arrival time, destination and number of people travelling with you. Once we confirm that booking was accepted you can free yourself of troubles planning your way from the airport.
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