How to Get to Baku – 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

How to get to Baku for the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix plus useful information for F1 fans on getting around in the Azerbaijani capital

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• The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is on September 23-26
• This post contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links

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

Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD), Baku’s main airport, is 20 km from the city center. It’s a modern airport served by major airlines including flag carrier Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL), Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa and Qatar Airways. Due to the 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 also flies direct to Baku from Warsaw, while discount airline Wizz Air has direct flights from Budapest and Rome. Baku is only about three hours flight from most major Middle Eastern hubs, where flights are available with both full service carriers (Qatar, Emirates) and also discount airlines (flydubai, Air Arabia).

Flights from Europe

• Flight times averaging 3-6 hours.
• Direct routes include Budapest & Rome (Wizz Air) Warsaw (LOT), Frankfurt (Lufthansa) & Berlin, London, Paris & Prague (Azerbaijan Airlines)

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, cheaper deals with Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul)

More Flights to Baku

• Other notable connections to Baku include Dubai (Emirates, flydubai), Qatar (Qatar Airways) and Tbilisi in Georgia (Azerbaijan Airlines)
• Baku is also directly connected to 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. An express bus service runs from the airport to the city every 15 minutes, more information is here.

• If you do opt to take a taxi, it’s recommended to haggle (politely) for your price before you ride, as the first prices quoted are often inflated several times over. The fare should cost around 25-40 AZN ($15-24 USD).
• 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.

Getting Around in Baku

• Baku’s F1 race track is a street circuit in the city center. If you are lucky to have secured a hotel room or apartment nearby, the easiest way to get to your grandstand may be on foot!
• Metro stations 28th May, Sahil and Icheri Sheher are all within walking distance of the track. Due to road closures in and around Baku City Circuit on race weekend, it mayb 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.
• Metro and bus tickets cost just 0.60 AZN ($0.35 USD) per journey in Baku. For the metro, you need to get a BakuCard (BakıKart) and load it with credit like a normal metro pass or Oyster card. Check the instructions for purchasing and loading the car here, or just ask a local to help like we did. Please note that it’s not allowed to take photos in the Metro.
• 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.