From Baku to Sheki, Gabala, Quba and Lankaran by Train and Bus

Of these four towns, only Gabala can be reached by passenger train from Baku: roughly 3.5–4 hours on board, with fares from ₼12. Sheki, Quba and Lankaran have no passenger train at present, so you ride an intercity bus from the Baku International Bus Terminal — roughly two hours to Quba, three to Lankaran or Gabala and four to Sheki, for between about ₼6 and ₼14.

In other words, all four are perfectly doable on your own, and cheap. Whether each one fits into a single day is another matter, and the answer changes from town to town. Below you will find a comparison, a short note per destination, how tickets are bought, and the point at which a guided day or a car of your own saves real effort.

The four towns side by side

Town	Train	Intercity bus	Bus distance and time	Bus fare
Gabala	Yes — 3 h 29 min direct (Saturday) or about 4 h with a change at Laki; from ₼12	Yes	214 km, about 3 h	₼11.50–11.90
Sheki	No	Yes	291 km, about 4 h	₼13.20–13.60
Quba	No	Yes	174 km, about 2 h	₼5.90–6.30
Lankaran	No	Yes	248 km, about 3 h	₼8.80–9.20

Bus distances, scheduled times and fares come from the route list of the Baku International Bus Terminal; fares differ slightly between departures, hence the ranges. Train figures are Azerbaijan Railways' (ADY) own.

Gabala: the only one with a railway

Gabala trains depart from Baku Railway Station, the large station next to 28 May metro, and stop at Darnagul, Bilajari, Kurdamir, Ujar and Aghdash on the way. ADY describes two versions of the trip: on weekdays about four hours including a change of train at Laki, and on Saturdays an additional direct run of 3 hours 29 minutes. The railway also says that speed and timings can change with the weather, so check that day's departures on ticket.ady.az instead of relying on a timetable someone posted last year.

Mind the last stretch. Gabala railway station is not in the town: it stands in the village of Hajialili, which ADY puts 24.5 km from the Heydar Aliyev Center in Gabala. Allow for a taxi from the station. There is a waiting hall there, open around the clock.

The bus is the alternative — about three hours from the terminal, ₼11.50–11.90 on the listed departures — and it does not leave you outside town.

Sheki: bus only

Sheki does not appear on ADY's current list of passenger routes. Buses cover the 291 km in about four hours for ₼13.20–13.60, and the list even includes a departure five minutes before midnight that pulls in before four in the morning. Eight hours of road for a return trip leaves little of the day for the town, so by bus Sheki really works as an overnight stay rather than a day out.

Quba: the shortest bus ride

Quba is the closest of the four: 174 km, about two hours, ₼5.90–6.30. A same-day return by bus is realistic. What the bus does not do is carry you on into the mountains — Khinalig and the other high villages are a separate drive up a mountain road, and we found no official public service there. If those villages are the reason you are going, plan a car from Quba or join a group.

Lankaran: bus, about three hours

No passenger train serves Lankaran on ADY's current list either. Buses take about three hours for 248 km and cost ₼8.80–9.20. The centre is easy on foot, but Lerik and the hills inland are a further drive, and no bus from Baku goes up there.

Reaching the bus terminal

Intercity buses leave from the Baku International Bus Terminal. The easiest way in is the metro: Avtovağzal station on the Purple line has underground passages straight into the terminal building. Fares, cards and this year's line works are explained in our guide to the Baku metro and BakıKart.

Buying tickets

Train. ADY sells tickets on ticket.ady.az and in its ADY Mobile app. Domestic tickets are issued against an identity document, and a passport of any kind is accepted, so keep yours at hand when you buy and when you board.

Bus. Intercity tickets go on sale ten days before departure. You can buy them at the terminal's ticket offices — the advance desks sell up to ten days ahead, the same-day desks only for that day — or online: the "Buy ticket" button on avtovagzal.az leads to Biletim.az, which e-mails the ticket so you can simply show it on your phone. The name on the ticket must match your ID. At the starting terminal, sales stop five minutes before the bus leaves. Children aged 5 to 10 pay half; a child under 5 travels free if they do not need a seat of their own. The terminal's hotline is 1414.

When a day tour or private car is simpler

Public transport gets you to the town. It is weaker at what comes next: the sights around Sheki, Gabala, Quba and Lankaran are scattered beyond the centres, and the last few kilometres have no regular service. If you have only one day for a region, a guided trip takes care of the whole loop and brings you back to Baku the same evening.

• Sheki tour from Baku — about 13 hours, from ₼79.
• Gabala and Shamakhi tour — about 12 hours, from ₼69.
• Khinalig and Quba tour — about 12 hours, from ₼80; this is the easy way up to Khinalig.
• Lankaran and Lerik tour — about 14 hours, from ₼80.

Group departures take up to 18 people, our guides speak English and Russian, and a day trip can be cancelled without charge until 24 hours before departure. If you would rather keep your own pace — stay overnight in Sheki, say, or travel with luggage — a car with a driver may suit better; our transfers page lists the routes we drive. On private trips, hotel pickup is often possible when it is agreed in advance.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a train from Baku to Sheki?

Not at the moment: Sheki is not on ADY's current list of passenger routes. The intercity bus takes about four hours.

How long is the train from Baku to Gabala?

About four hours with a change at Laki on weekdays; on Saturdays there is also a direct train of 3 hours 29 minutes. Gabala station is in Hajialili, 24.5 km from the town, so add a taxi.

Can I see Quba in a day by bus?

Yes. The ride is about two hours each way. Getting on to Khinalig needs a car or a tour, because we found no official public service up the mountain road.

Do I need my passport for the ticket?

For the train, yes — domestic tickets are sold against an identity document. For the bus, the name on the ticket has to match your ID.

Routes, journey times, distances and fares are taken from ticket.ady.az (Azerbaijan Railways), avtovagzal.az (Baku International Bus Terminal) and metro.gov.az, read on 4 October 2026. Timetables and fares change; check the operator's site or ticket office before you travel.