Quick answer: the Old City (Icherisheher) is about
25 km from Baku Airport, roughly a
35-minute drive. The fastest, easiest door-to-door option is a pre-booked
private transfer or a
taxi; the Airport Express bus (H1) reaches the centre, with the Old City a short walk or metro hop on.
Icherisheher, Baku's UNESCO-listed walled Old City with the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, sits in the heart of the city. Here is how to make the trip, whichever way suits your budget and luggage.
At a glance
| Option | Time | Best for |
|---|
| Private transfer | ~35 min | Fixed price, door-to-door, groups & luggage |
| Taxi | ~35 min | On demand at arrivals; agree the fare first |
| Bus / coach | longer | Cheapest; the Airport Express bus (H1) reaches the centre, with the Old City a short walk or metro hop on |
| Rental car | ~35 min | Exploring at your own pace (drive on the right) |
By private transfer
A pre-booked transfer is the calmest way to reach the Old City (Icherisheher): a fixed price agreed in advance, a driver waiting in the arrivals hall, and a direct door-to-door ride with no stops — ideal after a long flight, with a family, or with lots of luggage. See our private transfers guide.
By taxi
Licensed taxis wait outside arrivals. Azerbaijan taxis are metered, but for a longer run like the Old City (Icherisheher) many drivers agree a fixed price — confirm the fare before you set off. A standard taxi seats up to four with luggage. See our airport taxis guide.
By bus and by car
On a budget, the Airport Express bus (H1) reaches the centre, with the Old City a short walk or metro hop on — see our buses & shuttle guide; buses run to a timetable with limited late service and little luggage space. To explore Azerbaijan freely, a rental car from the terminal is ideal — remember Azerbaijan drives on the right. Prices, times and timetables change, so confirm close to your travel date.
KGKG Connect Editorial Team · Editorial team
The editorial team at KG Connect researches, writes and reviews this independent guide to Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD). We check details against official airport, operator and government sources, show when each page was last reviewed, and correct errors as soon as we learn of them. We do not work for the airport.
