Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Azerbaijan, or should I carry local cash?
I got stuck once trying to pay in Visa with a street taxi - they just shook their head. But all Bolt rides were smooth, thanks to my Mastercard linked to the app. Taxis in Azerbaijan prefer cash, but ride-sharing apps let you pay by card easily. I budgeted ₼60 daily - half in cash for casual street hails, half on the app for flexibility.
Flagging a cab? It’s cash only - no meter, no card. But Bolt was a godsend. With my Revolut Visa wallet, I booked rides that charged my card automatically. Taxi card payment in Azerbaijan only works through apps, so plan to use them in cities. I kept ~₼40 in my pocket in case I couldn’t get an app ride late at night.
Bolt works flawlessly in Baku with contactless payment supported for both Visa and Mastercard. But street taxis? Cash only, with no POS. Card-based taxi payments in Azerbaijan are only available through ride-hailing apps, not conventional taxis. Always carry some manat for spontaneous street hops, or rely on Bolt for app rides with card convenience.
I found that Baku street taxis only take cash in manat. But ride-hailing apps like Bolt and Uber Baku allow payment via Visa or Mastercard in-app. Taxi payment in Azerbaijan is largely cash-only unless you use an app. I kept ₼50 in small bills for unplanned trips, and used app-based rides for longer transfers - no cash needed.