National Geographic Traveller UK 10.2019

Getting there & around

Azerbaijan Airlines has the only direct lights

from Heathrow to Heydar Aliyev International

Airport, operating three times a week. Airlines

offering lights with a stopover include Turkish

Airlines and Emirates. azal.az emirates.com

turkishairlines.com

Average light time: 5h30m.

The Aero Express shuttle runs regularly from

the airport to the city centre (28 May Metro

Station/Central Railway Station). A single ticket

costs 1.50AZN (70p) and the journey takes

approximately 30 minutes; taxis cost around

20AZN (£9).

Baku has a suficient bus, metro and taxi

system, but the city is best explored on foot. A

BakuCard available in a 24-hour, 72-hour or

one-week format offers free/discounted entry

to a selection of museums and attractions, as

well as free public transport across the city.

Prices start from 24AZN (£11). bakucard.az

When to go

Temperatures in the summer can reach over 40C

(although the breeze from the Caspian Sea

helps). The best months to visit are April-June

and September-October, when there’s little

chance of rain and temperatures are cooler. In

March, celebrations take place across the city to

mark Novruz — the coming of spring.

More info 

azerbaijan.travel

How to do it

INTREPID TRAVEL offers a 20-day tour of

Azerbaijan & Georgia, including three days in

Baku. Prices start from £2,475 per person

including accommodation, transportation,

activities and meals. Excludes lights.

intrepidtravel.com

ESSENTIALS

ZZZ

SLEEP
SAHIL HOSTEL & HOTEL: Small on
budget but big on location, this friendly,
colourful hostel is situated just metres away
from the Boulevard. Dorm rooms are available
for up to 10 people, and there are also private
rooms with en suite bathrooms and balconies.
sahilhostel.com
SEVEN ROOMS BOUTIQUE HOTEL: Set
within the Old City walls, this hotel is near
the Maiden Tower, Shirvanshah Palace and
some of Baku’s best restaurants. Rooms are
light, modern and comfortable, and there’s a
complimentary bufet breakfast thrown in.
sevenrooms.az
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL BAKU: The
creme de la creme of Baku hotels, the
beaux-arts-inspired Four Seasons sits on
the aluent Netçilr Avenue. The lobby is
the show-stealer, with marble loors, a
grand staircase and opulent chandeliers.
fourseasons.com/baku

BAKU

ICHERI

SHEHER

Heydar AliyevCenter

Azerbaijan CarpetMuseum

Nizami Street

Fountains Square

Boulevard

Flame CASPIAN SEA

Towers

ShirvanshahPalace Maiden Tower

Kichik Qala Street

Gobustan

15 mileS

Ateshgah of Baku8 miles

BAKU

AZERBAIJAN

CASPIANSEA

1/2 Mile

IMAGES: AWL IMAGES. ILLUSTRATION: JOHN PLUMER

Ancient city walls with

the Flame Towers in

the background

156 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel

BAKU