Baku Metro is the rapid transit system of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. It opened on 6 November 1967 and is the only metro system in the country. The network is known for deep central stations, distinctive Soviet-era design, and Azerbaijani decorative motifs. Today it has 3 lines, 27 stations, and 40.7 km (25.3 miles) of bidirectional track. In practice, the system works as a multi-branch network with key interchanges at 28 May, Jafar Jabbarly, and Memar Ajami.
| Key | Information |
|---|---|
| System | Baku Metro |
| City | Baku, Azerbaijan |
| Opening date | 6 November 1967 |
| Lines | 3 |
| Stations | 27 |
| Network length | 40.7 km (25.3 miles) |
| Operating hours | Daily, 6:00 am to midnight |
| Fare | 0.50 AZN (about $0.29) per trip |
| Main card | BakiKart |
| Ridership | 229.6 million passengers in 2024 |
Baku Metro Map
Map of Baku Metro showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Baku Metro map in PDF format.
Lines and Stations
Baku Metro has 3 lines, 27 stations, and 40.7 km (25.3 miles) of bidirectional track. It is the only metro system in Azerbaijan, and many travelers know it for its deep stations and memorable architecture.
The current route plan includes these lines:
- Red Line — 13 stations, from Icheri Sheher to Hazi Aslanov.
- Green Line — 10 stations in total, from Darnagul to Hazi Aslanov, plus the separate Shah Ismail Khatai to Jafar Jabbarly branch.
- Purple Line — 4 stations, from Khojasan to 8 Noyabr.
Current line overview
| Station | Details |
|---|---|
| Red Line | Icheri Sheher ↔ Hazi Aslanov; opened 1967; last extension 10 December 2002; 20.1 km (12.5 miles); 13 stations |
| Green Line | Darnagul ↔ Hazi Aslanov; opened 1976; last extension 29 June 2011; 12.2 km (7.6 miles); 8 stations |
| Green Line branch | Shah Ismail Khatai ↔ Jafar Jabbarly; opened 1968; last extension 27 October 1993; 2.3 km (1.4 miles); 2 stations |
| Purple Line | Khojasan ↔ 8 Noyabr; opened 2016; last extension 23 December 2022; 6.1 km (3.8 miles); 4 stations |
Some descriptions treat Baku Metro as a two-line system, but in daily operation it works more like a four-branch network. Trains from Hazi Aslanov continue either toward Icheri Sheher or toward Darnagul, with branching at 28 May. There is also a separate one-stop path train shuttle between Jafar Jabbarly and Shah Ismail Khatai.
The main interchange stations are 28 May and Jafar Jabbarly for the Red and Green lines, and Memar Ajami for the Green and Purple lines.
Station structure
The network includes deep, medium-deep, and surface stations. Most are underground. Bakmil and Khojasan are surface one-way stations. Purple Line stations were designed for longer trains than the older parts of the system.
Station names and renamings
Several stations have changed names over time. Bakı Soveti became İçərişəhər, 26 Bakı komissarı became Sahil, and Məşədi Əzizbəyov became Koroğlu. These renamings reflect post-Soviet history as well as station modernization.
Stations under construction
There are 5 stations under construction or in planned development stages on the Green and Purple lines. Projects mentioned in current expansion plans include the Dərnəgül Depot area, the Sports Complex station, and several on-hold extensions.
| Station | Details |
|---|---|
| Sports Complex | Cəlil Məmmədquluzadə; Purple Line; single-vault, deep; under construction; opening date 2026 |
| Darnagul Depot | Dərnəgül Deposu; Green Line; surface, one-way; under construction; opening date 2027 |
| White City | Ağ Şəhər; Green Line; on hold; opening date listed as until 2030 |
| Baku Oil Refinery | Azər Neft Yağ; Green Line; on hold; opening date listed as until 2030 |
| Hazi Aslanov-2 | Həzi Aslanov-2; Green Line; on hold; opening date listed as until 2030 |
| Kohne Guneshli | Kohne Gunesli; Green Line; on hold; opening date listed as until 2030 |
Operating Hours and Frequency
Baku Metro operating hours are daily from 6:00 am to midnight. If you are checking opening hours, opening times, or working hours today, that is the standard schedule for the system. The timetable stays fixed, but frequency changes by route, season, and time of day.
During the academic season, trains on the 28 May-Hazi Aslanov route timetable run every 2 minutes until peak demand eases. Services toward Icherisheher and Darnagul also run every 2 minutes. In summer, trains run every 2.5 minutes from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm.
Train schedule and timings
| Service detail | Timings |
|---|---|
| System opening hours | Daily from 6:00 am to midnight |
| 28 May-Hazi Aslanov frequency in academic season | Every 2 minutes |
| Icherisheher and Darnagul services in academic season | Every 2 minutes |
| Summer frequency | Every 2.5 minutes from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm |
| Red Line peak frequency | Every 3 to 6 minutes |
| Red Line off-peak frequency | Up to 10 minutes |
| Green Line first train from Darnagul on weekdays | 6:32 am |
| Green Line last train from Darnagul on weekdays | 11:53 pm |
| Green Line first train from Darnagul on weekends and public holidays | 7:06 am |
| Green Line last train from Darnagul on weekends and public holidays | 11:00 pm |
| Bakmil services | Twice per hour |
On the Red Line, train frequency is usually every 3 to 6 minutes in peak periods and up to 10 minutes off-peak. Around 10:00 am, waiting times can be noticeably longer, then service picks up again later in the afternoon.
For the Green Line, the first train leaves Darnagul at 6:32 am on weekdays, with the last train at 11:53 pm. On weekends and public holidays, the starting time is 7:06 am and the closing time for the last departure is 11:00 pm.
Some trains from Darnagul and Icherisheher also go to Bakmil, though only twice per hour. The one-stop shuttle between Cəfər Cabbarlı and Şah İsmail Xətai runs separately on a single track.
Fares, Tickets, and Cards
Baku Metro uses a flat fare system, so the fare and ticket price do not depend on distance. Since 1 July 2024, one trip has cost 0.50 AZN (about $0.29).
The system has used different payment methods over time, from tokens and vouchers to RFID cards. BakiKart was introduced in 2015 as part of the wider public transport payment system used across the city.
Today, passengers can buy or top up a BakiKart at sales and top-up machines. The card requires a 2 AZN deposit (about $1.18), plus travel credit. BakiKart works on both Baku Metro and BakuBus.
A QR ticket option has been available since 6 September 2023. It was first tested at 8 Noyabr and Khojasan, then rolled out to all metro stations and turnstiles on 30 December 2023.
The metro now uses cashless payment only. If you are looking for fare details, cost, pass options, or a fare calculator, the main practical point is simple: one ride has a flat price, and payment is made by card or QR ticket.
Interconnections with Other Systems
Baku Metro is closely linked with other city transport services through interchange stations and integrated payment. The main transfer points are 28 May, where routes branch toward İçərişəhər and Dərnəgül, and Memar Əcəmi, where the Green and Purple lines meet. A separate shuttle connects Cəfər Cabbarlı with Şah İsmail Xətai.
For local transport on the surface, the metro connects with BakuBus through the BakiKart card system. That makes transfers between metro and bus much easier for everyday city transport use.
The metro is also part of broader transportation in Baku development plans. Expansion projects are intended to improve links to the new bus complex and eventually support better access toward Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
Beyond the city, Azerbaijan’s rail network links the country with Russia, Georgia, Turkey, and Iran. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway strengthens regional passenger and freight transport connections.
Baku Metro is also a member of the International Metro Association and the International Union of Public Transport, which supports professional exchange with other metro systems.
Airport Connections
Heydar Aliyev International Airport does not have a direct metro connection. To reach the metro from the airport, you need the Aeroexpress bus. For flight schedule information, the airport Helpdesk is available 24/7 at (+994 12) 497 27 27.
Aeroexpress buses run from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 to Baku Railway Station, next to 28 May metro station. The bus schedule is every 20 minutes from 06:00 am to 11:15 pm, and every 45 minutes from 11:15 pm to 06:00 am.
On the way into the city, the route stops at Surakhani bridge and Koroglu metro station. The running time from the airport to the station is about 30 minutes, though traffic and weather can affect the journey.
To use public transport in Baku, including Aeroexpress, city buses, and the metro, passengers need a multipass BAKU CARD. It can be bought from BAKU CARD terminals near the bus stops outside the terminal exits. The card has unlimited validity, can be shared by a group, and must be topped up at ticket machines.
- BAKU CARD price: 2 AZN (about $1.18)
- Aeroexpress fare: 1.30 AZN (about $0.76) per trip
- Public bus and metro fare: from 0.40 AZN to 1.00 AZN (about $0.24 to $0.59) per trip
If you continue by metro, 28 May is the easiest transfer point. Koroglu station is also on the airport bus route and can be useful for onward travel.
System Rules
Baku Metro has a detailed set of rules designed to keep the system safe and orderly. Passengers must follow them at all times.
- Do not enter the station or ride under the influence of intoxicants, and do not consume alcohol, drugs, psychotropic, toxic, or other poisonous substances.
- Smoking is prohibited in vestibules, passages, platforms, and carriages.
- Clothing or luggage that may soil other passengers or the carriage is not allowed.
- Passengers with infectious diseases that may endanger others are not allowed to enter or ride.
- Sick animals or birds that may disturb passengers or spread infection are prohibited.
- Using copied or replaced documents to obtain free travel is prohibited.
- Do not enter through exits, fenced areas, or places marked as no entry.
- Oversized hand luggage exceeding 200 cm in total dimensions or longer than 220 cm is not allowed.
- Unsecured or unfolded items that may injure passengers, including certain bulky materials and non-collapsible or unchecked bicycles, are prohibited.
- Wheeled vehicles other than trolleys for carrying hand luggage are not allowed.
- Unauthorized access to station roads, control cabins, service rooms, ventilation shafts, tunnels, and fenced areas is prohibited.
- Damaging station property, escalators, equipment, or carriages is forbidden.
- Do not use non-working escalators without permission.
- Unsafe escalator behavior is prohibited, including running, sitting, throwing objects, or pressing the stop switch without need.
- Volatile, toxic, or poisonous substances and household gas cylinders are not allowed.
- Open fire, fireworks, and explosives are prohibited.
- Firearms and piercing objects are prohibited.
- Littering and polluting station areas or carriages are not allowed.
- Do not throw objects onto the tracks.
- Photography, filming, and video recording without permission from the Baku Metropoliten Administration are prohibited.
- Writing on vestibules, passages, platforms, escalators, or carriages is not allowed.
- Do not run on platforms, ignore direction signs, or block passenger flow.
- Do not cross the platform boundary line before the train fully stops.
- Do not board after the doors-closed announcement or hold the doors while boarding or leaving.
- Opening carriage doors while the train is moving, or blocking door movement at stations, is prohibited.
- Passenger-driver communication should be used only when necessary.
- Roller skates, boards, and similar wheeled devices are not allowed inside the metro area.
- Loud audio devices, loudspeakers, or musical instruments at disruptive volume are prohibited.
- Passengers must leave or avoid boarding trains designated to move without passengers after the proper announcement.
- Commercial, advertising, or propaganda activity without permission is prohibited.
- Burning garbage or making fires within 25 m (0.03 miles) of metro facilities is prohibited.
- Connecting electrical devices to the metro power network without permission is not allowed.
These rules are there for a reason and help keep the metro safe for everyone.
Historical Overview
The idea of a metro in Baku goes back to the 1930s, when the city was growing quickly and surface transport was no longer enough. After World War II, the population passed one million, meeting the Soviet threshold for metro construction. In 1947, the Soviet Cabinet of Ministers approved the project, and construction began in 1951.
Baku Metro opened on 6 November 1967 with its first 6.5 km (4.0 miles) of track and a depot. It became the fifth rapid transit system in the Soviet Union. The first section was inaugurated for the fiftieth anniversary of the October Revolution.
Because of Baku’s landscape, the network did not follow the usual Soviet triangle model. Instead, it developed as two elliptical lines crossing in the city center near the railway station. The first line expanded in stages: Ulduz in 1970, Neftçilər in 1972, Ahmedli in 1989, and Hazi Aslanov in 2002. A branch to Bakmil also opened in 1970.
The second line was planned along the Caspian coast and through industrial districts before turning toward the northwest of the city. To speed things up, a branch from May 28 to Khatai opened in 1968, followed by an extension toward Nizami in 1976. As the network grew, the shared use of May 28 created the need for a proper transfer. The first stage of Jafar Jabbarli transfer station opened in 1993.
Construction slowed sharply after the collapse of the Soviet Union, political unrest, the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the financial crisis that followed. In the mid-1990s, the metro also suffered major incidents, including bombings in 1994 and the 1995 fire that remains the world’s deadliest subway disaster.
Work restarted in the late 1990s with the completion of Hazi Aslanov, partly sponsored by the European Union. In the 2000s, construction resumed on the northern end of the second line, leading to the opening of Nasimi in 2008 and later extensions to Azadliq prospekti and Darnagul.
In 2014, Baku Metro Closed Joint-Stock Company became the legal successor to the earlier metro organizations. The system kept growing with Avtovağzal and Memar Ajami in 2016, 8 Noyabr in 2021, and Khojasan in 2022. Today, the network has 27 stations on 3 lines and a total length of 40.7 km (25.3 miles).
Future Expansions
Baku Metro is planning a major expansion and modernization program. Earlier plans suggested up to 53 new stations by 2030, while a more recent expansion plan describes a future system with 5 lines, 77 stations, and about 119 km (74.0 miles) of track.
Several projects are already under construction. These include Green Line work, new stations, and a depot intended to support the bus complex and airport access, as well as Phase 1 upgrades on the Purple Line for signaling, supervision, and telecommunications. The current program also includes the Darnagul Depot and the Khojasan Depot.
Planned extensions cover the Green, Purple, Blue, and Red lines. The Green Line is expected to grow in stages, including links between Khatai and Hazi Aslanov and further sections toward Y-17 and Y-18. The Purple Line is also planned to expand in both directions, while the Blue Line remains part of longer-term planning.
Modernization also includes rolling stock and technical upgrades. Stations are planned to handle trains of up to seven cars, and long-term works include platforms, lobbies, escalators, signaling, and control systems. A separate 2025-2030 development program aims to acquire up to 300 new carriages and introduce CBTC signaling.
Recent design work has started for several important sections, including Y14 to Y17 on the Green Line, B5 to B8 on the Purple Line, the junction of the Green and Red lines at 28 May, and underground facilities at Icherisheher.
Advice
Use a reusable transit card if you plan to ride the metro and bus more than once. It speeds things up, helps avoid queues, and makes public transport in Baku easier to manage.
Buy or top up your card at station counters or machines. If this is your first time using the system, the route is fairly easy to follow, and signage in English is available at many stations. A stations map on your phone can help with transfers, timings today, and route planning.
If you want a more comfortable trip, avoid rush hours. Platforms and trains get crowded, so off-peak travel is usually calmer, especially if you have luggage.
Basic etiquette matters: stand on the right side of escalators, walk on the left, and do not block the doors. It is also courteous to offer seats to older passengers and parents with children. Eating and drinking on trains is not permitted.
Keep an eye on your belongings in busy stations and on board. If you need help, showing a station name or destination to a local often works surprisingly well.
For visitors, the most useful stations are often on the Red Line, especially Icherisheher for the Old City and 28 May for onward transport connections. For getting around quickly and at low cost, the metro is one of the best local transport options in Baku.
Intriguing Facts
Baku Metro opened on 6 November 1967, when Azerbaijan was still part of the Soviet Union. Many early stations show classic Soviet metro design, with deep platforms and decorative details that combine Azerbaijani motifs with Soviet symbolism.
It remains the only metro system in Azerbaijan. The network has 40.7 km (25.3 miles) of bidirectional track, 27 stations, and 3 lines, though operationally it behaves like a four-branch system because routes split at 28 May.
Baku Metro was the fifth metro in the Soviet Union and the thirty-fourth in the world. Ridership is still high, reaching 229.6 million passengers in 2024, with an average daily figure of 627,279.
The system is also notable from an engineering point of view. Because of Baku’s uneven terrain, some stations are very deep and could function as bomb shelters, while Bakmil is a surface station with a single platform.
One of the darkest points in its history was the 1995 fire, which killed 289 people and injured 265. It remains the deadliest subway disaster in the world.
The metro also reflects political change after the Soviet era. A number of station names were changed, and some decorative elements were altered to fit the new national context.
Sights Accessible via the Baku Metro
Baku Metro is a practical way to reach several major sights, especially on the Red Line. For many visitors, it is the fastest and simplest way to move between key parts of the city without getting stuck in traffic.
- Maiden’s Tower: A historic fortress in Baku’s Old City and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is said to date from the 12th century or earlier. The nearest metro station is listed as Sahi on the Red Line.
- Shirvanshah Palace Complex: A UNESCO-listed complex with a mosque, tomb, mausoleum, and minaret. It is accessible from Icherisheher station on the Red Line.
- Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre: Known for its striking white curved design by Zaha Hadid. It can be reached from Ganjlik station on the Red Line.
- Yanar Dag: The famous natural burning hillside near the Caspian coast. It can be reached via Khazi-Aslanov station on the Red Line.
For travelers who want to combine the Old City with modern Baku, the metro is a very handy option.
The system is also becoming more accessible. Efforts have started to improve access for passengers with disabilities, and people with limited mobility can request assistance from metro staff in advance.