I took the Baku to Tbilisi flight because the land border looked like a lot of work, and I never tried the crossing myself. Everything I say about the land route below comes from research I did before the trip, and border rules in this region change. Check official sources before you plan around it.
The flight was the Azerbaijan to Georgia leg of my 18-day route through Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia and Turkey.
Contents
Baku to Tbilisi: flight or land border?
| Flying | Land border | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | About 1 hour in the air | About two days by my reading, with an overnight stay |
| Effort | Airport check-in and immigration | Local taxis or vans, plus a walk across |
| Public transport | Direct flight | None at the crossing. You need to walk across. |
| Certainty | High | Lower, since the rules change |
I do not have a land crossing story. I have a research summary, which I give below, and a flight story.
What my research said about the land border
As I understood it, only few land borders crossing were usable by tourists. One near the north-west near Sheki. There is no public transport over the border itself, and the train between the two countries was not open to foreigners.
- You stay a night in Sheki first, then take local taxis or vans toward the border
- You walk across the border
- On the Georgian side, you may need to walk 4 to 5 km to find a ride, because almost nobody crosses back that way.
- The crossing seemed to be one-way for tourists, so you cannot return by the same route
Sources I read from 2024 and 2025 disagreed on whether this crossing was open, and I could not confirm its status for October 2026. If you want to try it, check the latest official announcements and recent traveller reports first.
Why I went Azerbaijan first, then Georgia
Flights from Georgia back to Azerbaijan are much more expensive, so I did Azerbaijan first and flew onward to Georgia. This ordering also fits the later Georgia to Armenia leg, which I took by night train from Tbilisi to Yerevan.
The flight day
My flight from Baku left at 4 PM and took about an hour. Azerbaijan immigration was smooth. That was around 12,000 INR when I booked around 4 weeks before travel. Do check current prices on an airline or fare site for your dates.
Arriving at Tbilisi airport
- The immigration officer looked at my valid US visa and did not ask for travel insurance. As of now if Indian’s have valid visas for USA and few other countries, you do not need Georgian visa.
- The airport had about 10 forex counters, and IntelliExpress was the one with the queue and the better rate. All other were empty.
- The airport bus took a card tap, 1.5 GEL (Lari). Fare while using Metro card is 1 GEL.
Rules I heard but could not verify
A person in Baku told me the Azerbaijan visa is for 30 days, and that a stay beyond 14 days needs a foreigner registration, or there is a severe fine at exit. I could not verify this, so check the official e-visa site rather than relying on my hearsay.
Which should you choose?
If your time is short, fly. You save about a day and avoid the uncertainty. If you have time and enjoy slow travel, the land route through the north-west could be an adventure, as long as you confirm that it is open for foreigners.
FAQ
How long is the Baku to Tbilisi flight?
Mine took about an hour, leaving Baku at 4 PM.
Can tourists cross the Azerbaijan Georgia border by land?
Reports conflict. I read that one crossing near Sheki was usable one way for tourists, but I did not try it and could not confirm the 2026 status.
Do I need travel insurance for Georgia?
The Tbilisi officer looked at my US visa and did not ask me for insurance. But when I was coming from Armenia to Georgia, all documents like hotel reservations, flight tickets, US visa and insurance was checked by immigration officer.
Where can I change money at Tbilisi airport?
Airport counters will not give good rates. I used IntelliExpress in city center.
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