Azerbaijan Railways operates the main rail network connecting Baku with Ganja, Shaki, Lankaran, and Mingachevir. Overnight trains between Baku and Ganja cover the 375 kilometers in approximately seven hours, with departures typically around 21:00. The Baku Metro opened in 1967 and currently runs three lines serving 25 stations across the capital, operating from 06:00 to midnight with fares at 0.30 AZN per ride as of 2024. Purple buses and standard yellow-and-green buses operate throughout Baku using the BakiKart contactless payment card, which requires a 2 AZN deposit plus minimum 2 AZN credit.
Long-distance buses depart from Baku's International Bus Terminal on the western edge of the city, with routes reaching all major cities including Ganja (approximately 5.5 hours, 6-8 AZN), Shaki (approximately 6 hours, 8-10 AZN), and Lankaran (approximately 4 hours, 7-9 AZN). Marshrutkas, privately operated minibuses seating 12 to 20 passengers, depart when full rather than on fixed schedules and cost slightly more than standard buses but reduce travel time by 15 to 30 percent on most routes. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway connecting Azerbaijan with Georgia and Turkey opened in 2017, though passenger service operates irregularly with freight prioritized on the 826-kilometer route.
Taxis in Baku operate through smartphone applications including Bolt and Yandex Taxi, with typical fares of 3 to 5 AZN for short city trips and 8 to 12 AZN from the city center to Heydar Aliyev International Airport. Street taxis without meters require negotiation before departure, with prices typically 50 to 100 percent higher than app-based services. Car rental agencies including Hertz, Sixt, and local operators function in Baku with daily rates starting around 40 to 60 AZN for economy vehicles, requiring an International Driving Permit alongside a valid national license for most foreign nationals. The M2 highway connects Baku with Ganja via Shamakhi and Goychay, while the M1 runs south to Lankaran and continues to the Iranian border at Astara.
Domestic flights operated by Azerbaijan Airlines connect Baku with Ganja (approximately 50 minutes) and Nakhchivan (approximately 75 minutes), with the latter being the primary practical route to the exclave given that land transit requires passage through Armenian territory. Ferries cross the Caspian Sea from Baku's International Sea Trade Port to Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan and Aktau in Kazakhstan, though schedules remain irregular with departures often announced 24 to 48 hours in advance and journey times to Aktau ranging from 14 to 20 hours depending on weather and cargo loading.
Absheron Peninsula destinations including Gobustan National Park, Ateshgah Fire Temple, and Yanar Dag sit 60 to 70 kilometers from central Baku, accessible via buses departing from various terminals or through organized day tours costing 40 to 80 AZN per person. The 337 bus from Baku reaches Gobustan village in approximately 90 minutes for 1.50 AZN, followed by a 15-kilometer taxi ride to the rock art site. Public transport to Shaki, Gabala, Quba, and other northern destinations requires transfers in regional hubs, adding two to four hours compared to direct marshrutka or taxi options.
Azerbaijan experiences a continental climate with hot dry summers and cold winters, though regional variation spans from subtropical conditions in Lankaran to alpine zones above 3,000 meters in the Greater Caucasus. Baku recorded average July temperatures of 26.4 degrees Celsius and January temperatures of 4.4 degrees Celsius based on 1991-2020 data from Azerbaijan's National Hydrometeorology Service. Precipitation in the capital averages 221 millimeters annually, concentrated primarily between October and March with November receiving approximately 31 millimeters.
April through June and September through October offer moderate temperatures across most lowland and mid-elevation areas, with Baku seeing daytime highs of 15 to 25 degrees Celsius in April-May and 18 to 27 degrees Celsius in September-October. The Caspian Sea temperature reaches 23 to 26 degrees Celsius between July and September based on measurements at Baku's coastal stations. Summer temperatures in Baku regularly exceed 35 degrees Celsius during July and August, with the Absheron Peninsula experiencing strong northerly winds called Khazri that can reach 40 kilometers per hour.