The best parts of Azerbaijan start where Baku ends: mountain lakes above Gabala, waterfalls near Guba, the old khan's palace in Sheki, prehistoric carvings at Gobustan. Public transport reaches some of them slowly; a rental car reaches all of them on your schedule. Here is how to plan the drive.

Distances and drive times from Baku

  • Gobustan — about 65 km, under an hour: an easy half-day trip.
  • Guba — about 170 km, around 2.5 hours on a good highway.
  • Gabala — about 225 km, 3–3.5 hours; the final stretch is mountain road.
  • Sheki — about 300 km, 4–4.5 hours; best planned with an overnight stay.

Mileage maths: the 250 km/day allowance

The rental includes 250 km per day, counted over the whole booking. A 3-day rental gives you 750 km — enough for Baku–Gabala–Baku (about 450 km) plus city driving, or Baku–Guba–Baku with a Gobustan day. For Sheki, book 4+ days or ask us to tailor the allowance in advance.

Which car for mountain routes

Highways to all four destinations are paved, so an economy sedan from 55 AZN/day handles them in summer. For mountain side-roads around Gabala, winter trips or a fully loaded family, take a crossover or SUV from 100 AZN/day — higher clearance and calmer on serpentines. Insurance covers the whole territory of Azerbaijan; crossing the border is not permitted.

Send your route on WhatsApp (+994 50 999 77 99) — we will suggest the right class and confirm the exact car from the live fleet. Prefer not to drive the mountain leg? Compare our fixed-price transfers.