If you’re looking to fly from New Zealand to Baku, Azerbaijan, you can find several routes from origin airports such as Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, as well as some others. Flying from Auckland Airport (AKL), there tends to be routes available with two layovers and a flight duration ranging from 25h 45min to 29h 40min to Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport (GYD). From Wellington Airport (WLG), there tends to be three layovers with an average flight time of 35h including waiting times, while if you fly from Christchurch Airport (CHC), this route includes three layovers and journey time of about 34h.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any direct flights from New Zealand to Baku currently available; however, you can still find several Baku flight deals through Cheapflights. Flights on this route consist of two or three layovers, whether you’re flying from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or any other airport, the transit time is quite substantial. From Auckland, you can layover in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) for around 1h 35min and Dubai International Airport (DXB) for 3h 15min when flying with Emirates Airlines; this flight usually takes 25h 45min in total. If your origin is Wellington, you’ll have three layovers via Auckland (4h 15min), Kuala Lumpur (1h 35min) and Dubai (3h 15min) taking 31h 05min in total, while from Christchurch, you can reach Baku Heydar Aliyev Airport in approximately 34h via Auckland, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai once again.
If you’re flying to Heydar Aliyev Airport, Baku, and need to get to the city centre, then there’s plenty of options available to you. The city centre is only around 26 km from the airport, and so a taxi takes only around 30min. You can book an airport taxi at the Baku Taxi information desk in the airport terminal, and they typically cost ₼ 25 (NZ$ 21.35). Alternatively, an Express Airport bus service called Aero Express operates a regular service from the airport to the centre of Baku, taking around 40min in total. You can purchase tickets from the dedicated machines at the bus stop, with one-way tickets only costing around ₼ 1.50 (NZ$ 1.30).
When travelling to Baku, you’ll be pleased to know that there are many cultural attractions to visit, so you won’t be disappointed. A good place to start getting accustomed with your surroundings is Baku Old City, the historical centre that shows the authentic culture of the city; take advantage of the many walking tours on offer to really get to know the place. For a fantastic view over the city, the modern architectural structure known as Flame Towers (for its resemblance to flames) has an observation deck that is a great place to gaze over the city’s landscape. For a taste of the local religion and beautiful traditional architecture, a popular place to visit is Heydar Mosque; though a little far from the centre, it’s a must see, particularly at night when it’s lit up with a stunning glow.
If you want to visit Baku in Azerbaijan, you must provide a valid passport with a minimum of six months validity to travel. You will also need to apply for an Azerbaijan e-Visa, which is obtained online and is a simple process with an application form to be completed. The charge for this service is roughly $ 20 (NZ$ 29).
For a flight to Baku, you will be flying into All airports. Baku All airports (BAK) is just 13.5 km from the centre of the city.