Short answer. Renting a car for the Baku Grand Prix needs early booking and honest expectations. The race weekend falls in late September. Streets around the circuit close for days. A car is useful for the airport and for trips out, not for the centre.
Updated 9 August 2026.
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Is renting a car for the Baku Grand Prix worth it?
It depends entirely on where you are staying.
| Your plan | Car useful? |
|---|---|
| Hotel inside the closure zone | No, walk |
| Hotel outside the centre | Yes, for getting in and out |
| Airport transfers | Yes, or take a transfer |
| Day trips before or after the race | Yes, clearly |
The circuit runs through the middle of the city. That is the whole point of it.
When is the race?
Late September. In 2026 the weekend ran from 24 to 26 September.
The race that year fell on the Saturday, which was a first.
The contract with Formula 1 runs to 2030, so the event is not going away.
Check the official calendar for the year you are coming. The date moves.
What closes, and for how long?
Streets on the circuit close before the weekend and reopen after it.
- The seafront boulevard section closes first.
- The Old City walls section is closed to traffic entirely.
- Approaches to Azadliq Square are restricted.
- Reopening takes a day or two after the race.
Parking in the centre becomes very hard during that week.
Our parking guide explains the app and the zones.
How early should you book?
Two months. This is the one week where that is not an exaggeration.
Every rental company in the city runs out.
Larger and premium cars go first, because that is who comes for the race.
Hotels behave the same way, so book both at once.
What should you rent?
Something small, if the car is for city use that week.
A compact car parks in places an SUV cannot during closures.
If you are driving out to Gabala or Quba afterwards, size matters more.
Our advance booking guide lists what fills up when.
Is a driver a better idea?
For race days, often yes.
A driver drops you at a barrier and deals with the parking problem.
Ours are priced on a ten hour day. See the driver page.
An airport transfer starts at 25 USD, or 40 USD in a minivan.
What do people do with the rest of the week?
They drive out, because the weather in late September is the best of the year.
| Trip | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gobustan rock art | 65 km | 1 hour |
| Quba and the apple country | 170 km | 2 h 30 |
| Gabala | 220 km | 3 hours |
The sea is at its warmest in September. Our beach guide has the details.
One practical warning about the days either side of the race.
Traffic outside the closures gets worse, not better, because everyone diverts.
Allow double the usual time for any city journey that week.
What do we suggest for race week?
- Deposit 200 to 300 USD, depending on the car. Cash or a card block.
- No mileage limit anywhere inside Azerbaijan.
- Minimum rental 2 days.
- Fuel comes back at the level you got it.
- ICBARI insurance is in the price. Full cover with a 300 to 500 EUR excess is optional.
- Delivery to your hotel for 10 USD, to the airport for 15 USD.
- Book two months ahead. Every company in the city runs out.
Route ideas and opening times sit on the state tourism portal, azerbaijan.travel.
We have rented cars in Baku since 2020 and run 105 cars today. The office is open 24/7 and the phone answers at night.
Our staff speak Azerbaijani, Russian, English and Turkish.
Common questions
When is the Baku Grand Prix?
Late September. In 2026 the weekend ran from 24 to 26 September.
How early should I book a car?
Two months. Every company in the city runs out for that weekend.
Can I drive in the centre during the race?
No. The circuit streets close for several days around the weekend.
Is a car worth it that week?
Yes if you stay outside the centre or plan trips out of the city.
What size car should I take?
Something small for the city that week. Larger only for trips out.
Is a driver better?
On race days, usually. They handle the barriers and the parking.
Coming for the race? Message us early and we will hold a car.
