Photo: Baku's skyline lit up at night, courtesy of Tourister.az.
Baku has a habit of surprising first-time visitors. A skyline that looks intimidatingly modern from the Flame Towers turns out to belong to one of the more walkable, easy-to-navigate capitals in the region. Most trips still end up mixing a few different ways of getting around, though — the metro for longer hops, a ride-hailing app for late nights, your own two feet for the Old City, and sometimes a sightseeing bus for a lazy first orientation lap. Here's how each one actually works.
The Baku Metro
The metro is the fastest way to cross the city, running three lines across 27 stations over roughly 40 km of track, with trains operating daily from around 6am to midnight. Since October 2025 the system has used a single flat fare of 0.60 AZN per ride, regardless of distance or how many lines you switch between. Pay with a rechargeable BakıKart smart card — a small refundable deposit plus travel credit — or tap a QR code directly at the turnstile. The same card also works on the city's BakuBus network, so it's worth picking one up on day one if you're staying more than a couple of nights.
Ride-Hailing and Taxis
Outside the metro's reach, Bolt is by far the most widely used ride-hailing app in Baku, with upfront pricing shown before you confirm a ride and support for card, cash or in-app balance. It's the easiest way to and from Heydar Aliyev International Airport, and rides can be booked up to 90 days in advance for travelers who'd rather not think about logistics on arrival.
Walking the City Centre
Central Baku rewards walking more than most Caucasus capitals. The seaside Baku Boulevard, the pedestrianised lanes of the UNESCO-listed Old City (Icherisheher), and the shopping streets around Fountains Square all sit within easy reach of one another on foot, with barely any need for transport once you're inside the historic core.
The Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus
For a first orientation lap — or for travelers who'd rather not plan a route at all — Baku also runs an open-top hop-on hop-off bus that loops past around 15 landmarks, from the Old City and Flame Towers to Highland Park. It's a popular choice for a first day in the city, and Tourister has put together a full breakdown of the route, stops and current ticket prices if you're weighing it up against the metro or a guided tour.
None of these options are mutually exclusive, and that's really the point — Baku is compact enough that no single mode of transport locks you in. Most visitors end up using two or three of them in the same day without ever thinking about it as a "transport plan."
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