Using the public transportation system can be a great way for a traveler who want to travel in a foreign city without guide and save some money. It is also good way to learn about the local people and the place closely.
Public transport system in Baku includes the metro, buses and taxis. Metro & bus services are extremely cheap in Baku when you compare to other countries.
Metro
The capital city Baku is the only city in Azerbaijan with a metro service. Stations, trains and facilities are clean and safe, with trains running every two to three minutes. Metro service operates between 06:00 and 00:00 Hrs. Fares are cheap and independent from the length of the journey. The stations were built by Soviet designers and are most noted for their design and architecture. It costs 30 qapik to enter the metro. To use the metro you should buy a BakiKart (The price of BakiKart is just 2 manats) card and charge it with as many trips as you wish. BakiKart is required even if you want to do a single trip.
Buses
BakuBus is a company in the capital of Azerbaijan providing Baku city with an upgraded bus network. BakuBus LLC was founded on April 3, 2014 to provide passenger transport services in Baku city. These buses use Baki Kart (Baku card) only and do not take cash. Inside these buses are clean, large and air conditioned. There are information monitor and video surveillance system too.
Baku eco-friendly buses. This electric bus is beneficial, both in terms of minimizing the negative impact on the environment and in terms of energy consumption savings. The new electric buses, designed to carry 83 passengers, are equipped with 26 seats, air conditioning, information monitor and video surveillance system.
Other buses are suitable for boarding without card. The fee is 30 qapik. (0.30 AZN) The bus fare must be paid in cash. You should say in advance where you want him to stop. The fee is paid while getting off the bus.
BakiKart
BakiKart is a single Smart Card for payment on Baku Metro and BakuBus. From August 2015, Baku has started phasing in a prepaid card system called the BakiKart, which can be purchased at metro stations and at certain bus stops. There are two types of cards; a plastic one costing 2 manats plus credit that can be reused, and a disposable paper one allowing up to four credits. (4 rides will cost 1.2 AZN + 0.3 ANZ card fee). One way trip within the city costs 0.30 manat or 30 qəpik, and it can increase on a long distance. It is available to purchase at metro stations and at certain bus stops. “BakiKart” is useful for payment at underground metro and BakuBus. BakiKart can be purchase from the vending machines convinently located at metro stations and many bus stops. When purchasing BakıKart from vending machine there are two options; BakıKart and BakıKart for limited use. BakiKart costs 2 AZN while BakiKart for limited use costs 0.3 AZN. For BakiKart the transaction is straight forward, just insert the exact amount and get the card. In case of BakiKart for limited use you have to select the number of rides you want up to maximum 4 rides and insert the exact amount. Limited use card is valid for 45 days from the first use. In both the cases you have to insert the exact amount in the vending machine. The machine doesn’t give change. Card itself is nonrefundable but excess fund in the card can be refunded at metro station.
Taxi services
Nothing can be quite as convenient as paying for a taxi to pick you up and drop you off exactly where you want and when you want.
There are many ways to order a taxi.
If you can speak Azerbaijani or Russian You can order a taxi via phone to some local taxi companies as 189, *9933 and etc.
Here another group of taxis are also operating which are not metered. They are available everywhere along the street side. You have to negotiate the price before boarding the taxi. Due to language barrier this is not a good option and chances are you will be overcharged.
İf you cannot speak Azerbaijani or Russian then there are many applications based taxi services available. You can check Uber, Bolt, Omega Taxi and so on mobile riding apps. They are working like a charm, you know the price before boarding the taxi and you don’t have to explain the location to the driver. Compared to other places taxi fare in Baku is reasonable.