How to get to Baku for the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2024 plus useful information on getting around in the Azerbaijani capital.
- The 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is on September 13-15
- Tickets for the 2024 Azerbaijan Grand Prix are now available
- We also recommend F1 Experiences Packages
- Join our private Facebook group for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Connect with fellow fans & get advice!
- Images © F1Destinations.com. The Editor attended the 2022 & 2023 Azerbaijan Grands Prix.
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It’s not actually that easy for most international fans to get to Baku for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The city is well connected with ex-Soviet states, but not so well serviced by flights from Western Europe or the USA. Once on the ground however, it’s much easier! As the name suggests, the Baku City Circuit is centrally located and easy to reach from most parts of the city. We recommend staying downtown within walking distance if possible.
Flying to Baku
Baku’s main airport – Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) – is 20 km from Baku city center and served by major airlines including flag carrier Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways.
Due to the current war in Ukraine, flying with Russian flag carrier Aeroflot to Baku via Moscow is no longer a viable option. The next best option is to fly with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. LOT Polish Airlines has recently started flying direct to Baku from Warsaw, while discount airline Wizz Air also has direct flights from Budapest, but they are not so frequent.
Flights from Europe
- Flight times averaging 3-6 hours.
- Direct routes include Wizz Air from Budapest, LOT from Warsaw, Lufthansa from Frankfurt & Azerbaijan Airlines from Berlin, London, Paris & Prague
Flights from the USA
- Flight times from 11 hours (direct) up to more than 24 hours (2 stops).
- Direct flights with Azerbaijan Airlines from New York or cheaper deals with Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul)
More Flights to Baku
- Other notable connections to Baku include Dubai (flydubai, 3 hours), Qatar (Qatar Airways, also 3 hours), Tbilisi in Georgia (Azerbaijan Airlines, 1 hour) and many other cities in the region.
Baku Airport to City
Public transport is very good in Baku so you can avoid taxi travel altogether if you so wish. A cheap express minibus shuttles tourists from the airport to the city every half hour, though taxi drivers will insist that the service no longer runs (it does – just ask airport staff if you’re unsure where to catch the bus from.)
Alternatively, head for Koroglu station which is the closest metro stop to the airport. You may need to hop in a taxi to Koroglu station but there is no need to take a taxi all the way to your hotel as the metro system is clean, modern and efficient. If you do opt to take a taxi all the way, haggle (politely) for your price before you ride, as the first price quotes will undoubtedly be inflated several times over…the fare should cost around 30-35 AZN ($17-20 USD). Check the recommended prices for taxis from the airport to major hotels in the centre of Baku.
Getting Around in Baku
Baku’s F1 race track is a street circuit in the city center, so you’ll likely travel to and from your grandstands on foot, by Metro or by bus. Public transport services are normally extended on race weekend, operating up to 20 hours per day, with buses running as frequently as every three minutes to certain points on the circuit. Metro stations 28th May, Sahil and Icheri Sheher are all within walking distance of the track. Please note that it’s not allowed to take photos in the Metro.
Metro and bus tickets cost just 0.30 AZN per journey in Baku. For the metro, you must get yourself a BakuCard and load it with credit like a normal metro pass or Oyster card. Check the instructions for purchasing and loading a BakuCard here, or just ask a local to help like we did.
Due to road closures in and around Baku City Circuit on race weekend, it can be easier to take the metro to get from one part of the circuit to another. For example, the quickest way to get from the old town to the Fanzone/Bulvar area would be to take the metro one stop from Icheri Sheher to Sahil.
