Tbilisi to Baku: How to Travel to Azerbaijan & Explore Baku

Traveling from Tbilisi to Baku turned out to be one of the most emotionally difficult steps of my entire journey from Europe toward Asia. Not because of the distance, but because it forced me to break a rule I had set for myself from the very beginning: stay overland whenever possible.

If you’re researching how to travel from Georgia to Azerbaijan in 2025 or 2026, there’s an important reality check right away. Azerbaijan’s land borders are currently closed for entry, which means crossing by train, bus, or car is not an option for regular travelers.

Even though I had kind of known this from the start, it upset me more than I expected. Flying such a short distance felt like cheating, like breaking the spirit of the journey I had committed to. There were theoretical alternatives, going around Azerbaijan via Russia or Iran. But Russia was not an option for me. And Iran — a country I would absolutely love to visit one day — was experiencing a very tense and unstable situation at exactly that time. It simply didn’t feel responsible or safe.

So, the decision was made: I would fly once and continue the journey. Azerbaijan mattered to me. Not just as a destination, but because one of the most unique transport experiences of this entire trip was waiting there.

3 Quick Facts About Visiting Azerbaijan

As of 2025/2026, Azerbaijan’s land borders remain closed for foreign travelers. Entry by train, bus, or car is not possible — flying is currently the only regular way to enter the country. Always double-check official sources before planning overland routes.
Cash Is Still Important Outside Tourist Areas. While cards are widely accepted in Baku, cash is essential in smaller shops, taxis, and outside the capital
Baku Is Surprisingly Modern and Easy to Navigate. Baku feels very different from many people’s expectations. The city has modern infrastructure, clean streets, and an efficient metro system, making it easy to explore even if you don’t speak Azerbaijani.

Getting from Tbilisi to Baku (The Only Current Way)

For the first and so far only time on this journey, I booked a flight. And I was caught by surprise: the flight was sold out for the next 3 days. I was used to book my train and bus tickets spontaneously, sometimes even on the same day. But as it is the only way to get into Azerbaijan and there seems only one airline operating on this route it can happen to be fully booked.

From Baku Airport to Baku City Centre by Bus

Getting from Baku Heydar Aliyev International Airport to the city centre is surprisingly easy and very affordable.

Right outside the terminal, I took the Aero Express H1 bus, which connects the airport with central Baku. The ride costs only 1.50 AZN (around 0.75 EUR) and is by far the cheapest way to reach the city.

To use public transport in Baku, you need a BakıKart. It’s a reloadable plastic card used for buses and the metro. You can buy one directly from a machine next to the airport bus stop. The card itself costs 2 AZN, and any additional amount you load becomes your travel credit for buses and metro rides.

Baku Old Town, Azerbaijan

View from Maiden Tower

Azerbaijani national dish Plov vegan style in Baku

Baku Boulevard with Flame towers in the background

Baku Boulevard, Azerbaijan

Baku Boulevard at night with Flame towers in the background

Baku Boulevard with Flame Towers in the background

Nizami Street, Baku Azerbaijan

Heydar Aliyev Center Baku, Azerbaijan

Phot of the Heydar Aliyev Center Building in Baku Azerbaijan

Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan

Baku Azerbaijan Postcard

Candy Cane Mountains Azerbaijan

Shahdag alpine coaster, Azerbaijan

Quba Azerbaijan

Getting Around Baku

Getting around Baku is easy and affordable:

On foot: If you’re comfortable walking, many attractions in the city centre are within walking distance
Metro: Clean, efficient, and very cheap with just 0.60 AZN (0.30 EUR) for a single ride. The network consist of 3 lines only, means the places reachable via metro are limited.
Ride-hailing apps: I mainly used Bolt, which worked well overall and was inexpensive.

Exploring Baku

Day 1: Old Town, History & Evening Atmosphere

After a typical Azerbaijani breakfast (I’ll share my 2 favourite cafés in Baku later in this post) I headed to Baku’s Old City (Icherisheher), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the historical heart of the city. Walking through its narrow stone streets feels like stepping back in time, surrounded by ancient walls, mosques, caravanserais, and traditional houses. Streets are SPOTLESS clean and most buildings are beautifully renovated.

One of the highlights here is the Maiden Tower, one of Azerbaijan’s most mysterious landmarks. Its exact origin and purpose are still debated, but it’s believed to date back to at least the 12th century — possibly even earlier. From the top, you get fantastic views over the Old Town and the Caspian Sea.

In the evening, I headed to the Baku Boulevard, a long seaside promenade that’s perfect for a relaxed walk. Locals come here to stroll, eat ice cream, play music, and simply enjoy the atmosphere. As night falls, you can see the famous Flame Towers lighting up the skyline — a great moment to slow down and take it all in.

Entry fee Maiden Tower: 10 AZN (5 EUR)

Postcards in Baku

I will dedicate an own paragraph only about finding a post card in Baku. Why? Because I spent a lot of time trying to find one. I went to several souvenir shops in touristy areas like the old town. None of them had post cards and nobody could tell me where to get one. I even researched online without finding any useful information. But in the end I managed to find the most special and beautiful post card (photo in the gallery above) of my journey so far at Ninka Cards & Gifts.

Day 2: Architecture, Culture & Vegan Azerbaijani Cuisine

The next day was incredibly hot, so I looked for a place to escape the heat and found the perfect one: the Heydar Aliyev Center.

This spectacular building, designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid, is one of Baku’s most iconic landmarks. Its flowing, futuristic design has no sharp angles and almost feels like it’s moving. Inside, I spent around three hours exploring exhibitions about Azerbaijani history, culture, and art — and honestly, just admiring the architecture itself.

Later, I explored Nizami Street, one of Baku’s main pedestrian streets, lined with shops, cafés, and historic buildings.

Dinner was a real highlight: I ate at Manipura Ethic Local Food, a vegan restaurant that offers traditional Azerbaijani dishes in vegan versions — something quite rare, as local cuisine is usually very meat-heavy. The owner was incredibly friendly, the food was delicious, the wine was great, and it turned into a wonderful, relaxed evening.

Entry fee Heydar Aliyev Center: 15 AZN (7.50 EUR)

Cafés in Baku

Baku has plenty of great cafés to for your daily caffeine intake and to enjoy a good breakfast. Here are my two favourite Cafés in Baku, Azerbaijan:

Cup of coffee and a warp in a cafe in Baku, Azerbaijan

Plate with local breakfast delights and a cup of latte

KORHAN Café Baku | A beautifully designed café near the Heydar Aliyev Center. Warm and bright interior, indoor and outdoor seating. Breakfast delights, cakes and good coffee is served on a wooden tray – a nice extra touch (Left photo)
United Coffee Beans | A local coffee house chain and roastery that serves local breakfast. I can specifically recommend the branch at Yusif Mammadaliyev Street.

Day 3: Day Trip Exploring Azerbaijan

To see more of the country beyond the capital, I booked a small-group, one-day tour.

We met early in the morning at a central meeting point in Baku. It was a quite small group of only 6 people in total. We traveled by minivan to several destinations:

Candy Cane Mountains – famous for their red-and-white striped rock formations, truly unique and unlike anything I’d seen before
Quba – a charming town surrounded by nature, offering a glimpse into a more rural side of Azerbaijan
Shahdag Mountain Resort – a modern mountain resort with various attractions. I tried the Shahdag Coaster, a fast alpine coaster with spectacular mountain views — pure fun and adrenaline

After a 3 hours drive we arrived back in Baku sometime between 9 and 10 pm.

Group day tour price: 28 EUR

Day 4: Leaving Baku & Looking Ahead

I had a great time in Baku, but it was time to move on. I was incredibly excited about the next chapter of my journey: crossing the Caspian Sea toward Kazakhstan. There are no regular passenger ferries, so this special crossing required careful planning.

How I managed to find a way across the Caspian Sea — and what that journey was really like — I’ll tell you in my next blog post.