Route Guide
Baku to Naftalan: How to Get There and What Naftalan Oil Is Used For
Naftalan is a small resort town about 334 km west of Baku and 50 km from Ganja, known for one thing above all: naftalan oil, a heavy natural oil used in the town's sanatoriums since the 1930s. Most guests come for a course of 10–14 days. This guide covers every way to get there — train, bus, flight to Ganja and private transfer, with times and prices — and what you should know about naftalan treatment before you book.
Options at a Glance
| Option | Time (one-way) | Approx. Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train to Goran + taxi | ≈ 3–4 h + 20 min by taxi | from ~14 AZN + taxi ~7–10 AZN | Comfortable, but one change and fixed times |
| Bus from Baku Bus Terminal | Longer than by car, few departures | ~12 AZN | Cheapest; hard with big suitcases |
| Flight to Ganja + taxi | ≈ 1 h by car from Ganja Airport | Flight + taxi | Only a few direct routes, some seasonal |
| Private transfer (AzerbaijanTransfer) | ≈ 4–4.5 h, door to door | from 180 AZN per car (from Baku Airport 200 AZN) | Name sign at the airport, flight tracking, luggage space |
By Train (to Goran Station)
There is no railway station in Naftalan itself. The nearest one is Goran (Göran) in the Goranboy district, about 18 km away. Trains of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) from Baku's main station towards Ganja and the west stop there; depending on the train, the ride takes about 3–4 hours, and there are both daytime and night trains. In 2026 a standard-class seat costs from about 14 AZN, with business and first class on some trains.
Tickets are sold at ticket.ady.az and at the station; you need your passport. From Goran, a taxi to Naftalan takes about 20 minutes and costs roughly 7–10 AZN. Few taxis wait at the station late at night, so if your train arrives after dark, arrange the car in advance. Timetables change, so check the current one on the ADY website before you travel.
By Bus
Intercity buses leave from the Baku International Bus Terminal (Avtovağzal). The fare to Naftalan is about 12 AZN; some buses only go as far as Goranboy (about 9 AZN), and you take a taxi from there. Departures are few and mostly in the morning, the trip takes longer than by car, and large suitcases are a problem — so this suits light travellers on a budget better than guests arriving for a two-week stay.
Flying to Ganja
The closest airport to Naftalan is Ganja International Airport, about 50 km away — roughly an hour by car. It has only a few direct international routes, mainly from Moscow (largely in the winter season) and Istanbul, so most visitors still fly into Baku (GYD). If you do land in Ganja, send us your flight details on WhatsApp and we will confirm a fixed price for the drive to your sanatorium.
By Private Transfer
The simplest option after a flight, especially with luggage: the driver meets you at Baku Airport (GYD) with a name sign, tracks your flight and takes you straight to the door of your sanatorium in about 4–4.5 hours. Our fixed price is 180 AZN per car for a Comfort Sedan (1–3 passengers), 200 AZN for an SUV (up to 4; 190 AZN for 1–3 passengers) and 230 AZN for a minivan (5–8); from Baku Airport add 20 / 30 / 40 AZN. No prepayment — you pay the driver in cash after the trip.
For a sanatorium stay, book two transfers: the trip to Naftalan and the transfer back to the airport on your flight day, at the same price. We confirm on WhatsApp and send the driver's name, phone number and car one day before each trip. Full details are on our Baku to Naftalan transfer page.
What Is Naftalan Oil?
Naftalan oil is a heavy, dark natural oil found around the town. Unlike ordinary crude oil it is not used as fuel — it has been used for baths and ointments for generations. The resort has worked since 1933, a research laboratory followed in 1938, and in Soviet times the sanatoriums received up to 75,000 guests a year. After a long break the resort was rebuilt, and since 2016 visitor numbers have grown several times over. Today guests come mainly from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and other former Soviet countries, and more and more from Europe and the Gulf.
What Naftalan Sanatoriums Treat
Naftalan sanatoriums build their treatment programmes mainly around these groups of conditions:
- Joints and spine — arthritis and polyarthritis, osteochondrosis and spondylosis, ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew's disease), bursitis, myositis.
- Skin — psoriasis, eczema, some forms of dermatitis and chronic itching.
- Peripheral nervous system — neuralgia, neuritis, radiculitis.
- Chronic gynaecological and urological inflammation — for example chronic prostatitis.
A typical course lasts 10–14 days (some clinics recommend up to three weeks). Naftalan baths are taken about five times a week; each bath lasts around 10 minutes at 34–38 °C, and it is usually combined with physiotherapy, massage and other procedures. The sanatorium doctor examines you on arrival and sets your programme.
What does the research say? Most studies come from Azerbaijan and from a naftalan hospital in Croatia, and they are small. One of the newer ones — 119 patients with psoriatic arthritis, published in 2024 in Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica — reported less pain and stiffness and better skin after two to three weeks of naftalan combined with physiotherapy, with three weeks working better. At the same time, naftalan is not an approved medicine in some European countries, and long-term safety questions (it contains aromatic hydrocarbons) have not been fully answered. Treat it as a spa treatment that may help, and decide together with your own doctor.
Who Should Not Take Naftalan Baths
Sanatoriums list these contraindications:
- Acute inflammation or a flare-up of the joints, and acute gynaecological conditions.
- Tumours of any kind, benign or malignant.
- Serious heart and blood-pressure problems — angina, a past heart attack, atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, severe hypertension.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Epilepsy and mental illness.
- Allergy to petroleum products.
Please note: this section is general information gathered from sanatorium and medical sources, not medical advice. AzerbaijanTransfer is a transport company — before booking a course, talk to your doctor, and follow the advice of the sanatorium doctor on site.
Practical Tips
- Book the sanatorium first, then the transfer — check-in times and your programme start date decide the best arrival time.
- Book both transfers at once: there, and back to the airport on your flight day.
- Bring cash in manat — cards are not accepted everywhere in a small town.
- On the way back you can stop in Ganja or at Goygol Lake — see our Baku to Ganja page.
Updated: November 2026
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Baku to Naftalan?
By train to Goran station (about 3–4 hours) and then 20 minutes by taxi, by bus from the Baku International Bus Terminal (about 12 AZN), or by private transfer door to door in 4–4.5 hours from 180 AZN per car.
Is there a train station in Naftalan?
No. The nearest station is Goran in the Goranboy district, about 18 km from Naftalan — around 20 minutes by taxi.
Which airport is closest to Naftalan?
Ganja International Airport, about 50 km away (around an hour by car). Most visitors fly into Baku (GYD), about 4–4.5 hours by car from Naftalan.
What is naftalan used for?
Naftalan sanatoriums mainly treat joint and spine problems, skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, peripheral nerve problems and chronic gynaecological and urological inflammation. Research is limited, so decide together with your doctor.
Who should not take naftalan baths?
People with acute inflammation, tumours, serious heart or blood-pressure problems, epilepsy or mental illness, an allergy to petroleum products, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
How long is a course of naftalan treatment?
Usually 10–14 days; some clinics recommend up to three weeks. Each bath lasts about 10 minutes, around five times a week.
Related pages
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