Located along the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan’s capital Baku is a rising star in the East gaining notoriety for its oil, gas, and caviar. Baku is a city that attracts the attention people migrating from Asia and other countries in the region, and businessmen from all around the world. The city’s only airport is the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, named after the National Leader and third President of Azerbaijan. The airport serves 5 million passengers annually.

You can get to the airport, which is located 25 km away, from the city center by car or a combination of the metro and airport buses.

Airport Buses

The easiest and cheapest way to get to the airport from the city center is by airport bus. Bus line 116 departs from Vurgun Park, located in central Baku, and takes about 50 minutes to get to the airport.

Metro

The metro system in Baku provides transportation to many central locations in the city like the Old City, 28 May Street, and the Caspian Sea. However, to get to the airport from the city center you have to first take the metro and then get on a bus. From central locations in the city like the Old City, Cafer Cabbari, and Khatai you can take the metro to the 28 May and Koroglu stations. From here you can get on bus line 116, which runs to the airport or take a taxi to the airport.   

Personal Car

Since the city is rich in oil, fuel is cheap, making traveling by car a very attractive option. Getting to the city center from the airport is very easy. One of the city’s most important avenues, Heydar Aliyev Avenue will connect you to the Boyuk Shor Highway, which goes to the airport. From the highway take the Airport exit. The airport contains indoor and outdoor parking lots where you can park your personal car for a certain fee.

Airport Information

Although it is not very large Heydar Aliyev International Airport is an important junction, especially for passengers traveling between Europe and Asia. The airport offers passengers a variety of eating, drinking, and shopping venues.

The airport has 2 terminals, Terminal 1, which was completely renovated, and Terminal 2, which serves domestic flights. The airport contains world famous fast food chains like Burger King, McDonald’s, and KFC, as well as restaurants that offer delicious flavors unique to Azerbaijani cuisine.

The international terminal has a large Duty Free shop as well as souvenir shops where you can buy items unique to Russian and Azeri culture. The airport features free wireless internet connection. 

If you want to travel to Pleven, located near the northern border of Bulgaria, you can travel through Sofia International Airport which is 170 kilometers away from the city. For transportation to Pleven city center from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, you can prefer Sofia taxis waiting for the passengers in front of the terminal building, or rent a car from the car rental companies having offices at the airport. Other means of transport you can prefer to travel from Sofia International Airport to Pleven include minibuses, private transfer services and buses. Hotel shuttle service on this route is not a frequently-used option. However, you can contact your hotel in Pleven and take advantage of this option, if available, to reach Pleven from the airport.

Taxi

Taxi option is among the most frequently preferred alternatives to arrive in Pleven from Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. It is quite easy to find a taxi at Sofia International Airport. Once you get off the plane, you can take a taxi at the exit gates of the terminal building and start your journey towards Pleven. You will travel more than 163 kilometers to reach Pleven from the international airport in the capital. This often costs a high fare for the passengers who prefer traveling by taxi; however, taxis are often preferred for the comfortable and fast service they provide. The average fare to get to the city center from the airport is 90-100 Euros. Before leaving the airport, you can tell the driver about where you want to go; then, you can get information about the estimated fare you are going to pay and head towards Pleven.

Bus

You can take the bus number 84 departing from Sofia Airport and transfer to the tram in the city center, where you can head towards the train station. Once you reach the train station, you can take the train to reach Pleven. Traveling by bus, tram and train transfer is a slower and more time-consuming option compared to taxi or private transfer services, but they provide a much more affordable transfer. You can find the bus stop at the airport without having any difficulty and take the bus running between 5am and midnight.

Train

In order to reach Pleven by train from the airport in Sofia, you should firstly get to the train station in the city center by taking a taxi or bus in front of the airport terminal and then take the train to Pleven. Traveling to Pleven by train is usually a more time-consuming option than other alternatives but if you have enough time for traveling at an affordable price, you can prefer the train option conveniently.

Private Transfer Services

One of the best alternatives for those who prefer a direct and fast option from the airport to Pleven is the private transfer services that you can take anytime. If you want to take advantage of the private services providing transfer service for the passengers at fixed rates for certain distances, all you need to do is make a reservation at one of the private transfer companies of your choice before your flight to Sofia Airport. If you are traveling as a group, you can enjoy this service paying an average of 100 Euros up to 3 or 4 persons, 120 Euros for up to 8 persons, and 170 Euros up to 14 persons.

Luxury Transfer Services

During your journey from Sofia Airport to Pleven, you can book one of the luxury transfer vehicles with different passenger capacities. Luxury transfer vehicles pick up passengers in front of the terminal building and take them to their destination in Pleven. The price of this luxury service varies depending on the season and the number of passengers, but it usually ranges from 140 Euros to 180 Euros. Although the cost of luxury transfer service is high, it is possible to enjoy affordable prices by making a reservation for your departure and return journeys at the same time.

Rent a car

Once you arrive at Sofia Airport, you will find a large number of car rental offices. You can enjoy traveling without being dependent on any public transport anytime by renting a car from these offices just in a few minutes. Choice Rent A Car, AVIS, Europcar, Hertz, Enterprise, Sixt, Avtojet, Moto Pfohe, Tany 97, and Thrifty are among the global and local car rental companies providing this service at Sofia Airport. Making your reservation contacting one of these companies over the phone or the internet in advance to rent a car will save you time and help you find your rental car ready to travel without wasting time when you arrive at the airport. You may need your travel documents such as your passport as well as your driver's licence with international validity to rent a car in the city. You should get information about the documents required before renting a car. Once you rent a car, get behind the wheel and head North to get to Pleven for a journey about 200 kilometers.