Sheki

By Bus Or Minibus

By Bus

This is one of the more tedious ways to get to Sheki, taking nearly 7 hours, because the mountain pass used by cars and marshrutkas would be out of the question for such a large bus. Although slower, buses are more comfortable than marshrutkas, although the ones with air conditioning overdo the cold air in a big way. The fare to/from Baku is 6AZN.

By Minibus

Marshrutka

Minibuses Marshrutka run between many of the major cities to the Sheki bus station avtovağzal, and take 6 hours to/from Baku. Use your discretion when riding the minibuses as the condition of both vehicles and drivers vary—this matters, given the exceptionally steep road, full of sharp curves, that awaits. 6AZN.

The Sheki bus terminal ticket counter open from 6:30AM-5PM and 8PM-midnight holidays 10:30AM-11:30PM. Call the cashier at +994 177 446 17. The ticket vendors at the terminal speak Russian, Turkish, and Azeri.

Bus/minibus departure times to the Sheki terminal:

Baku: 9:40AM, 12:20PM, 5:30PM, 10:15PM 6AZN

Ganja: 1:45PM, 4:30PM 4AZN. Some times the minibusses may fill up before the departure time, so try to be there a little earlier.

Bus/minibus departure times from the Sheki terminal:

Balakan: 10:10AM, 2PM

Baku: Hourly from 6:30AM-8PM 6AZN

Barda: 9AM, 11:30AM, 4:30PM

Bulaq: 6:30AM, 10AM

Ganja: 8AM, 8:30AM, 1:30PM 3AZN

Kaldak: 1PM, 5PM

Sheki-A Kungut: 7AM, 1PM, 5PM

Sheki-B Kungut: 9AM, 3PM

Mingechivir: 6:50AM, 9:40AM, 1PM, 4PM 2AZN

Naftalan: 3:10PM

Oguz: 7:20AM, 10:30AM, 11:40AM, 1:20PM, 3PM, 4PM 1.5AZN

Qayabaş: 2PM

Qabala via Oguz: 6:50AM, 2PM 2AZN

Qax: 7:30AM, 10:30AM 1.4AZN

Shorsu: 7AM, 1PM, 4PM

Yevlax: 10:30AM

Zaqatala: 7AM, 9AM, 11AM, 11:40AM, 3PM, 4:30PM

By taxi

Until the airport begins operating again, the fastest form of transport between Baku and Sheki is by taxi — it takes about 6 hours and 60AZN. If you share the ride with other people, it will cost around 10AZN per person.

A taxi is also a fine, if more expensive, way to get to Georgia, and you should have no trouble finding a taxi, bus, or marshrutka onward from the border at Lagodekhi to Tbilisi.

By train

The train station has a somewhat inconvenient location of about 17 km 11 mi from the city center. In order to reach the station you will either have to take a taxi for 3AZN or hop on a Baku-bound bus or minibus and ask the driver to drop you off by the railroad station, and then walk about 200 m to the station. There are night trains that run from Baku-Balakan and make a stop in Sheki. There is also a Balakan-Baku train that passes through Sheki. Passengers must produce their passports in order to buy tickets. It would be wise to purchase a ticket for the luxury carriage in advance. You can contact Mr. Xemlet at +994 50 672 5538 or Mr. Arxan at +994 55 672 5758 to make advanced reservations. The basic carriage plaskard costs 2.60AZN, the middle class coupe costs 3.60AZN, and the luxury carriage SV/Super Vagon costs 5AZN. Make sure that you receive all of your change from the ticket counter, as they often try to shortchange foreigners.

Daily departure times to the Sheki terminal:

Baku: May 28 Station, 10:20PM

Balakan: 8PM

Zaqatala: 9PM

Qax: 9:45PM

Daily departure times from the Sheki terminal:

Baku: 10PM

Balakan: ~6:30AM