Business Hotels for Travellers Using Baku Railway Station
Baku Railway Station, beside the 28 May metro interchange, is the city's main rail terminus, with services to Ganja and other Azerbaijani cities, and the three business hotels on this page are the ones I would consider for a work trip that starts or ends there. To be clear from the start, none of them is described as being next to the station: they are a metro ride or a short taxi away. The JW Marriott Absheron Baku is the five-star reference, rated 9.4 from more than 1,800 reviews. The Holiday Inn Baku, also rated 9.4 but from more than 3,600 reviews, is the most reviewed. Parkside Hotel & Apartments, rated 8.4, adds kitchens for longer stays.
Baku mixes a walled Old City listed by UNESCO, a long seaside boulevard on the Caspian and modern landmarks such as the Flame Towers, while the area around the railway station and the 28 May metro interchange is busy, commercial and well connected to the rest of the city.
Where to stay
Three business hotels for a Baku trip
For a business trip through Baku, the station and the 28 May metro interchange make it easy to reach the city centre, Fountain Square and Nizami Street, while the airport express bus also leaves from the 28 May area. The three hotels here offer what a working stay needs, from spas and indoor pools to suites with kitchens, and all three accept pets.
The JW Marriott Absheron Baku is the address I would book for an important business trip. It is a five-star hotel rated 9.4 from more than 1,800 reviews, with luxurious rooms, several restaurants and bars, a full-service spa, an indoor pool and free parking. That range of facilities suits client dinners and long days of meetings, and the hotel is described as suitable for families as well as business travellers. It is not next to the railway station, so I would plan a taxi or a metro ride from 28 May, but the comfort on arrival makes up for the short transfer after a long train journey.
The Holiday Inn Baku, an IHG Hotel, matches the JW Marriott's rating of 9.4 and draws on the largest review base here, more than 3,600 reviews, which makes its score particularly reliable. It is a four-star hotel with two restaurants, a cocktail bar, an indoor pool, a spa and a gym, as well as free parking and pet-friendly rooms. I would choose it when the travel budget is tighter than for a five-star stay but the same practical facilities are needed. Like the JW Marriott, it is reached from the station by taxi or metro rather than on foot, so allow time for the transfer.
Parkside Hotel & Apartments is the option I would pick for longer assignments in Baku. It is an aparthotel with suites that include kitchens and free Wi-Fi, a gym, a bar, a restaurant and a hot tub, and it is rated 8.4 from almost 700 reviews. The listing places it near Mughan Garden and mentions city views. Having a kitchen makes a stay of several weeks more comfortable and more independent, and the property is described as pet-friendly and suited to family trips. For a short stay with many meetings, though, I would still lean toward the Holiday Inn or the JW Marriott.
The station itself is a practical hub for business travellers. Baku Railway Station connects directly with the 28 May metro station, where two metro lines meet, so the Old City, Fountain Square and the business addresses along the Caspian seafront are a few stops away. Domestic services to Ganja serve the west of the country, which makes it possible to combine meetings in the capital and in Azerbaijan's second city without flying. The airport express bus also stops in the 28 May area, which helps when a trip ends with a flight from Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
A traveler's perspectiveIf I had an important business trip to Baku, I would choose the JW Marriott Absheron Baku: it is rated 9.4 from more than 1,800 reviews and has a spa and an indoor pool for the end of long days. Arriving by train at Baku Railway Station, I would take a short taxi ride or the metro from 28 May, since the hotel is not next to the station.
4.7Guest scoreBusinessJW Marriott Absheron Baku
Posh hotel with dining, bars, a spa, and an indoor pool
View hotel →Why guests love itJW Marriott Absheron Baku is a 5-star hotel that includes amenities for families, and the indoor pool is the obvious draw for children whatever the weather. Several restaurants and bars mean meals never require a plan, while parents can book time at the full-service spa. Rooms are luxurious, parking is free and pets are welcome, which is uncommon at this level. A score of 9.4 from more than 1,800 reviews places it among the best-rated hotels in the city.
4.7Guest scoreBusinessHoliday Inn Baku, an IHG Hotel
Modern hotel with an indoor pool, spa, and pet-friendly rooms
View hotel →Why guests love itHoliday Inn Baku, an IHG Hotel, is an upmarket four-star hotel where the indoor pool will keep children happy whatever the weather. Two restaurants and a cocktail bar make meals easy, and the spa and gym give parents some time for themselves. Parking is free and pets are welcome, and the hotel caters to families, business and leisure travellers alike. Guests rate it 9.4 from more than 3,600 reviews, an excellent score, and I would book it for a family stay in Baku.
4.2Guest scoreBusinessParkside Hotel & Apartments
Spacious suites with kitchens, a gym, and pet-friendly amenities
View hotel →Why guests love itParkside Hotel & Apartments is well suited to families on a longer stay in Baku, since its suites come with kitchens and give everyone more space than a standard room. The restaurant and bar cover the evenings when nobody wants to cook, and parents can use the gym and hot tub. Mughan Garden is nearby for a walk, and some rooms have city views. Pets are accepted too. With an 8.4 rating, I would recommend it to families who want flexibility and room.
Local tips
- 1Use the 28 May metro station, connected to Baku Railway Station, to reach the Old City and Fountain Square in a few stops.
- 2Buy a rechargeable BakuCard for the metro and city buses, as single paper tickets are not used on the network.
- 3Take the airport express bus from the 28 May area to Heydar Aliyev International Airport rather than a taxi at peak hours.
- 4Check the Azerbaijan Railways timetable before planning meetings outside the capital, for example in Ganja, and book seats ahead.
- 5Choose Parkside Hotel & Apartments for a stay of several weeks with a kitchen, and the Holiday Inn Baku for a large review base at a 9.4 rating.
- 6Plan meetings away from the evening rush hour, when traffic on the main avenues of central Baku slows taxis considerably.