How and how to get to Derbent

How and how can I get to Derbent on my own?

Derbent is located in the south of the Russian Federation on the shore of the Caspian Sea, 2000 kilometers from Moscow (Derbent on the map of Dagestan). You can get here from other regions and cities of the Russian Federation in the following ways:

• By plane to Makhachkala airport, and from there to the city center by taxi or with transfers by public transport.
• By train from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tyumen and other cities along the route to the railway station in the city center, and from there to the hotel on foot, by taxi or public transport.
• By train from Makhachkala to the railway station in the city center.
• By bus from the regions of the European part of the Russian Federation to the Northern bus station of Derbent, and from there to the place of rest by taxi or public transport.
• By car one at a time from automobile routes through Volgograd, Elista, Rostov-on-Don, etc.

We will tell you in detail about each of the methods with prices and schedule:

By plane to Derbent

People get to Derbent through Makhachkala International Passenger Airport (Uytash), it is located a couple of hours drive from the city (airport website - http://www.mcx.aero/, IATA code - MCX). Flights from the regions of the Russian Federation and several destinations of the near abroad are operated to it. This is a small airport with a minimum of free space and a modest waiting room filled with rows of metal benches. Everything is very simple, but without long queues and long waits.

Despite the small size of the airport, which somehow copes with passenger traffic, the route network of flights has expanded in recent years, and new flights will be added in 2023. In general, we can say that you can fly here directly from almost all regions of the European part of the Russian Federation, and from other regions you can get there with a transfer in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Flights from some cities are not made daily, but only a few times a week, so look for them in the schedule with this in mind.

The Russian search engine allows you to find and buy tickets to Makhachkala airport at the best prices Aviasales:

The best prices for tickets from Moscow to Makhachkala:

The best prices for tickets from Russian cities to Makhachkala:

How to get from the airport to Derbent

Uytash Airport is located 110 kilometers from Derbent (airport on the map), it's about an hour and a half to two hours away. As of the beginning of 2023, no public transport runs from the airport. And although some websites on the Internet, and even the official website of the airport publishes the schedule and cost of the bus, in fact there is no bus. The local administration has repeatedly announced plans to launch buses to the airport, and the next launch is scheduled for 2023.

Since April 2023, a direct city bus flight to the center of Makhachkala has finally been launched from the airport. Buses of route No. 187 run from 06:00 to 21:00, departing every half hour. The final stop in Makhachkala is at 78 I. Shamil Ave., opposite the Floors shopping center, see the route on the map. The fare is 100 rubles. But as reported by travelers from our chat in Dagestan, the last flights may be canceled. But, unfortunately, this bus is of little use for a trip to Derbent. Although theoretically, of course, you can come to Makhachkala on it and change to an intercity bus or train there.

Given this situation, you can get from the airport to Derbent directly only by taxi. If you order a car through the Yandex or Uber apps, the trip will cost from 2500 rubles, and this is in good weather and there are no traffic jams on the roads. In other cases, the price rises above 3,000 rubles. It is possible to arrange a trip at a fixed price cheaper – from 2000 rubles.

You can order a taxi from Makhachkala airport with a driver meeting at the airport on the websites:

• 🚕 Taxi from the airport to Derbent on Intui.travel
• 🚕 Taxi from the airport to Derbent on Kiwitaxi.ru

In addition to taxis, there is a theoretical possibility to get from the airport a little cheaper with transfers by public transport. We didn't go that way ourselves, but we dealt with this issue closely, so we'll tell you. To do this, first take a taxi to the nearest railway station "2307 km Uytash", it is located 7 kilometers away, the trip will cost from 200 rubles. At the station, take the Makhachkala-Derben train, but you will have to adjust to her schedule, because she walks only 2-4 times a day. Travel by train costs from 120 rubles. Another option is to take a taxi to the bus stop on the highway next to this station, and catch a passing bus from Makhachkala to Derbent, it will cost about 200 rubles.

Расписание 2307 км Уйташ->Дербент

Рейс/направление	Отпр.	Время	Приб.
🚅 6696 Махачкала — Дербент	10:23	2 ч 11 мин	12:34
🚅 6690 Махачкала — Дербент	18:28	2 ч 11 мин	20:39
🚅 6695 Дербент — Хасав-Юрт	05:45	2 ч 18 мин	08:03
🚅 6691 Дербент — Хасав-Юрт	12:58	2 ч 16 мин	15:14

см. полное расписание >>>

By train to Derbent

You can get to Derbent by train at least from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tyumen (via Ekb, Chelyabinsk, Ufa, Samara, Saratov), as well as by train from Derbent and Izberbash. Long-distance trains do not run every day, so check the schedule.

You can buy train tickets to Derbent at:

• 🚆 Official website of Russian Railways
• 🚆 Tutu.ru

The railway station in Derbent is located in the city center at 1 Vokzalnaya Street (train station on the map). From here you can get to the hotel by taxi from 50 rubles or by city buses or trolleybuses from 27 rubles. It is better to order a taxi through the YandkexGo, Uber, or local Anzhi apps. The public transport stop is located right at the exit from the station. There are routes No. 1, 2 and 3, learn more about Derbent transport and what to use here.

By bus to Derbent

Derbent is well connected by bus with the nearest regions, Makhachkala and other cities of Dagestan. There are flights, at least from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Kislovodsk, Essentuki, Krasnodar, Nalchik, Novorossiysk, Sevastopol, Stavropol, Tambov. You can view the schedule and book tickets for:

• 🚌 Bus tickets to Derbent for Bus.tutu.ru
• 🚌 Bus tickets to Derbent for Unitiki.com

There are two bus stations in Derbent: North and South. In theory, they are designed to send and arrive buses of different directions. In fact, everything is mixed up, and buses of all directions arrive at both, it depends on the specific carrier:

• Northern Bus Station. This is the main bus station for long-distance destinations, and buses from Makhachkala also come here. It is located almost in the city center on Bus Station street, 5 (Severnaya bus station on the map).
• Southern bus station. This is a small bus station without a waiting room, in fact just a departure platform and a cash register. Commuter buses arrive/depart here, as well as some from the neighboring southern regions of the Russian Federation. The bus station is located on the far southern outskirts of the city (southern bus station on the map). City minibuses 4, 8, 9, 11 and 14 go here.

By car to Derbent

From Moscow and other regions in the European part of the Russian Federation, Derbent can be reached by the M4 toll road or by the free M6. Travel on the M4, of course, is more comfortable, but in terms of time and length it is even longer, so there is not much point in driving on the toll road. If you still decide to choose the M4, then the fare will cost from 2000 rubles, and an increase in tariffs is expected in 2023. You can get detailed information to Avtodor's website.

When traveling on free roads, the route can be laid through Volgograd, Elista or Astrakhan, where you can make stops for a day or two to explore their sights. On the M4, you can go through Voronezh, Rostov-on-Don, Pyatigorsk and other KMV resorts, where you can also make stops to diversify your road trip. In any case, your way from the eastern regions will pass through Volgograd, after which you can drive through Elista or Astrakhan, depending on what you find more interesting.

The main intercity roads in the southern regions of the Russian Federation are mostly good, and Dagestan is no exception. When entering the Republic and when passing through Ingushetia or Chechnya, you will have to pass through roadblocks. Driving through them is nothing complicated, there are no queues there with rare exceptions. It is mandatory to check the documents of the driver and all passengers, additionally transport and luggage can be checked. Be sure to take all the necessary documents in the originals on the trip and do not forget the birth certificates for children.

And now, actually, about Derbent itself and the movement around the city by car. In our possibly subjective opinion, after Makhachkala, the movement along Derbent seemed to us much calmer and more comfortable. Drivers take their time, drive calmly and evenly, almost do not break the rules. You will experience difficulties with traffic, except in the area of the old town and near the fortress. The streets there are narrow, there are many descents and ascents, so it will not be easy to get used to. There is also little parking space there, and if you decide to park your car somewhere and go for a walk, first look carefully to see if you have blocked someone's passage or blocked the exit from the gate.