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Tours From Baku.
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How to Get from Baku to Shamakhi

Distance
125 km
Driving time
1h 45m
from
₼ 150

Shamakhi is 125 km west of Baku, an hour and three quarters on a road that climbs steadily out of the dry plain into vineyards. It was the capital of the Shirvan state for centuries, and the Juma mosque at its centre — founded in the eighth century, rebuilt after earthquakes more than once — is the oldest in the country.

It is the shortest of the mountain directions, which makes it the easiest to do in an afternoon. A car with a driver is priced per vehicle for the round trip and can hold at the sights rather than at a station. Buses run from Baku's main terminal on this route often enough to be practical, though they will not take you to the observatory or the mausoleum, which are both outside the town.

Fifteen minutes before the town the road passes Diri Baba, a mausoleum built into a cliff at Maraza — it is visible from the road and takes twenty minutes to walk up and back. Beyond Shamakhi the same road carries on to Gabala and Sheki, which is why this leg is often the first hour of a longer day: the Gabala and Shamakhi tour treats it exactly that way.

What each car costs on this road

Vehicle Vehicle class seats bags Per vehicle Details & booking
Hyundai Accent — the Two-Bag Sedan for Baku Transfers Hyundai Accent — the Two-Bag Sedan for Baku Transfers Economy 3 2 ₼ 180 ₼ 150 Details & booking
Hyundai Sonata — Comfort Sedan Transfer in Baku Hyundai Sonata — Comfort Sedan Transfer in Baku Comfort 3 3 ₼ 180 ₼ 150 Details & booking
BYD Destroyer 5 — the Plug-In Hybrid in the Baku Fleet BYD Destroyer 5 — the Plug-In Hybrid in the Baku Fleet Comfort 3 3 ₼ 180 ₼ 150 Details & booking
Mercedes-Benz Vito — Seven Seats, Six of Them in the Cabin Mercedes-Benz Vito — Seven Seats, Six of Them in the Cabin Comfort 7 6 ₼ 200 ₼ 170 Details & booking
Mercedes-Benz Viano VIP — Six-Seat Transfer in Baku Mercedes-Benz Viano VIP — Six-Seat Transfer in Baku VIP 6 5 ₼ 210 ₼ 180 Details & booking
Kia Sorento — Four-Seat SUV Transfer in Baku Kia Sorento — Four-Seat SUV Transfer in Baku Comfort 4 4 On request
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — Twenty Seats or Ten Bags Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — Twenty Seats or Ten Bags Comfort 20 10 On request
Isuzu Turkuaz — 29-Seat Bus Transfer in Baku Isuzu Turkuaz — 29-Seat Bus Transfer in Baku Comfort 29 15 On request

Prices are per car, not per seat — which is why four people usually pay less each than four bus tickets plus the taxi at the far end. There is no separate one-way rate: a day trip comes back the same day, and if the car stays with you longer, the nights are added on the booking form.

Somewhere not on this list, several stops, or a driver for the whole day? Tell us the route

What the price covers

  • The whole car, whether there are two of you or six
  • Collection at your address, not at a station
  • Fuel, road tolls and parking — nothing added at the end
  • A price agreed before you set off, with no meter running

Frequently asked questions

How far is Shamakhi from Baku?
125 km, about an hour and three quarters of driving. It is the closest of the mountain towns and the usual first stop on the road west.
Is there a bus to Shamakhi?
Yes, from Baku's main terminal, and reasonably often. It reaches the town but not the observatory or Diri Baba, both of which are outside it.
What is worth seeing in Shamakhi?
The Juma mosque, founded in the eighth century and the oldest in Azerbaijan; the Yeddi Gumbaz mausoleum complex on the edge of town; and Diri Baba at Maraza, fifteen minutes back down the road.
Can we combine Shamakhi with Gabala?
They are on the same road — Shamakhi is the first hour of the drive to Gabala, so combining them costs little more than the Gabala leg alone.

What people go to Shamakhi for

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