#1. Baku Airport Taxis
Taking a cab as soon as you leave GYD Airport is a reasonable option if you don't want to deal with pre-booking.
To make it easy for you, I'd like to classify Baku Airport taxis into 3 categories.
So when you land in GYD, the taxi options will be like this:
Let's now examine each taxi service you can opt for at GYD Airport individually, along with the fares from Baku Airport to city center.
a) Baku Taxi: Only Official State Taxi Service in Azerbaijan
The fleet of the official Baku taxi service at Heydar Aliyev International Airport consists of TX4 and LEVC TX London cabs.
These taxis provide much better service compared to the other taxi services, which I’ll get to later on.
They’re mostly clean from the inside and relatively spacious and comfy.
Also, the behavior and general level of service of the drivers are constantly checked by the head office.
You can see them in a row in front of GYD Terminal 1 and book one via the Call Center (1000).
Or it's enough to simply order a ride at the booth near the terminal exit door.
As for the fares per ride:
For both, I mean the standard TX4 and the much comfier electric LEVC TX, fares are calculated per kilometer.
So, if you want to ride from GYD to the city center (28 May metro station), the official Baku airport taxi prices will be around 35-55 AZN (20-32 USD).
Not so high fares for a 25 km ride and also headache-free.
Great deal, I'd recommend it.
b) Booking a Cab from Ride-Hailing Apps at GYD
2nd option for those wishing to take a taxi from GYD Airport Baku to their final destination is to order a taxi through ride-hailing apps.
There are a bunch of applications on both Google and Apple stores, like Yango, Uber, Bolt, and so on.
If you'd like, you may install one of these applications on your phone and order a taxi.
I wrote a detailed article on this subject, "Taxi Apps in Baku."
You can also find the taxi cost from Baku airport to city center via these apps in that post.
It's worth taking a look there.
If you want a brief overview, in my opinion Yango is currently the best amongst these apps.
On the other hand, it would be fair to say that this is the cheapest option if you want to ride in a taxi.
However, I would not recommend this option for newcomers to Baku airport on the first day.
Believe me, it is not worth the trouble.
c) Taking Regular Traditional Taxis at GYD Airport Baku
As the last option, you can simply use the traditional method of taking a taxi, like a regular street taxi at GYD.
All you need to do is find a regular taxi at the taxi stand of Terminal 1.
I promise, you won't even need to look for them; they'll come to you and approach you themselves.
For some of you, this may not be a problem, but for me, this is my least favorite group among taxi drivers.
There’re certainly some pleasant and friendly people among them, but a few can be quite cunning.
Like everywhere else on Earth.
With classic taxis, the fares per ride from Baku Airport to city center mostly depend on your bargaining skills.
If you're good at it, then you might beat down the prices.
So let's move on to the next Baku Airport transport option: the cheapest one.
#2. Airport Express Baku
Airport Express is a dedicated and scheduled double-decker Baku airport bus that's ideal for travelers looking for an inexpensive transfer.
This transport option is indeed the cheapest method for getting to downtown Baku from Heydar Aliyev Airport Terminal 1.
Without getting off track, the Baku Airport Express bus timetable is as follows:
Between 6:00 a.m. and 23:15 p.m. Aeroport Express buses run.
You can also get on it from 23:15 in the evening until 06:00 in the morning.
The only difference between both shifts is the departure intervals.
For the first, the departure interval is every 25 minutes, and for the second, it's every 45.
Having said that, the Baku Airport bus service makes stops at 3 different places too:
Great for those who want to get on at the nearest metro station along the downtown-airport road.
Just buy a Baku Card from "BakiKart" vending machines, which are located near the bus stops outside Terminal 1.
BakiKart is a multipass card for just 2 AZN (1.2 USD).
After buying the Baku Card, just top it up with cash.
The cost per person for one ride is 1.30 AZN (75 cents).
You can also use this card on the subways and public transport in Baku, apart from the airport shuttle bus.
Useful Tip: Make sure you have Azerbaijani manat on you before buying and topping up the Baku Card.
Long story short, Airport Express Baku is, so far, the best transport option for those who want to ride much cheaper to downtown with a scheduled bus timetable.
Consider it.
#3. Baku Airport Transfer Services
Reserving a pre-booked private transfer from Baku Airport is also a convenient option.
All you need to do is find reliable and professional transfer services while preparing for your journey in the City of Winds.
It may seem like the most suitable option in the article, but the tricky part is finding a reliable private transfer service.
No worries.
Baku Holiday Travel offers the best and most versatile options for your needs.
Just go to the bht.az website and click on the Transfers section right next to Activities.
Choose your pick-up (GYD) and drop-off location (let's say Fairmont Baku Hotel).
Then, simply add the flight date, arrival time, and passenger quantity (like 2 adults and 2 kids) one after the other.
3 seconds later, you'll see all the options you can choose from, along with their prices.
Like this:
As you see, there’re currently (at the time I'm writing this post) 9 private transfer options with car types such as:
Standard Sedan
Premium Minivan
SUV, etc.
You can also choose different locations around the world, such as Brandenburg Airport in Berlin, for easy transfer to your desired destination.
One more thing, booking a private airport transfer through bht.az is the cheapest option I’ve seen so far.
In short, if you want to transfer from Baku International Airport to your next destination, the private transfer method must be considered.
Especially for families with children, or those who need to make it to a wedding.
Or just for those who don’t worry much about money and want a headache-free trip.
#4. Hotel Shuttles
Hotel shuttles are the 4th option to get from Baku Airport to city center.
Or maybe your hotel isn't in downtown.
Then, you can ride directly to your hotel without any trouble.
To be honest, not too many hotels provide shuttles for their guests.
But if you’ve booked a fancy 5 star Baku hotel, like JW Marriott Absheron, then you can have one free.
Otherwise, they might charge you an extra cost for a hotel shuttle transfer, around 30-70 AZN (17-40 USD).
#5. Baku Airport Car Rental
The final method on the list is renting a car at Baku Airport.
If you want to ride to your final destination on your own directly from the airport, it’d be the best choice.
There’re mainly three popular car rental companies that serve guests within the GYD airport:
All information regarding car rentals, including payment methods, email, and phone numbers, can be found in the official link above for Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
In the end, expect to pay a minimum of 50-85 AZN (30-50 USD) per day for car rental at Baku Airport.
It's also the priciest option to ride from Baku Airport to the city center.
Have a Nice Ride from GYD to Your Final Destination
I’m very happy that I could share all the possible options with you about Baku Airport transportation methods.
Except one:
Using Baku metro from the airport.
Why did I do that?
Because, unfortunately, there’s no subway system for Heydar Aliyev International Airport yet.
But it will be soon.
Then, I’ll update this post again.
As a last word, I want to know which mode of transportation you like the most?
Or did you encounter any problems going from Baku Airport to city center?
Let other beginners learn from real-life experiences in the comments.
Have a nice and safe ride!
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