Fuzuli: Gateway to Karabakh
What Every Driver Needs to Know Before Entering the Region
Everyone who drives to Karabakh passes through Fuzuli. In both directions. It is the first city after the checkpoint and the last before the long road back to Baku. Most people stop here only long enough to refuel. But Fuzuli plays three roles in the Karabakh route — and a driver who understands all three covers this section considerably better. Karavan Rent A Car in Baku — Azerbaijan’s flagship car rental company, founder of the ACRA Car Rental Association, ISO 9001 / 14001 / 45001 certified — has put together the complete practical guide to Fuzuli for the independent driver.
Table of Contents
- History: the city that was rebuilt from scratch
- FZL airport: an engineering story
- Haji Alekper Mosque: the third signature of Kerbalayi Safihan
- Three practical roles of Fuzuli on the route
- Mine risk: the rule you cannot ignore
- Fuzuli in the Karabakh circuit
History: the city that was rebuilt from scratch
Before 1993, Fuzuli was a district centre with approximately 17,000 residents — a typical Azerbaijani town in the foothills: a market, schools, a hospital, a mosque. Nothing that anticipated what would follow.
In 1993 the city was occupied. Residents left. Twenty-seven years of what would be documented as systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure followed. The mosque was destroyed. Cemeteries were damaged. Municipal buildings were stripped.
On 17 October 2020, Fuzuli was liberated. And construction began almost immediately — at a pace that engineers and urban planners have since discussed in specialist forums.
The number that explains everything: from the start of construction to the opening of the airport — less than one year. On a minefield. Next to a city that was still being rebuilt. These are not typical timelines for an international airport anywhere in the world.
FZL airport: an engineering story
Fuzuli International Airport opened on 26 October 2021 — on the site of a Soviet-era airfield that had stood abandoned for 27 years, surrounded by minefields. The construction site first had to be cleared of mines, then built upon.
Technical specifications: a runway 3,000 metres long and 60 metres wide, certified for any aircraft type including wide-body jets and heavy transport aircraft. An apron of 60,000 square metres accommodating eight aircraft simultaneously. A terminal handling 200 passengers per hour.
Status: international. IATA code: FZL. ICAO: UBBF.
In a short period, the airport received Gulfstream V, Falcon 7X, Airbus 319, 320, 330, 340, Embraer 190, wide-body Il-96 and Boeing 787 aircraft. During the Organisation of Turkic States summit in Shusha, over 40 flights passed through Fuzuli in a single day.
AZAL operates regular flights Baku–Fuzuli on Wednesdays and Saturdays. One-way fare: 78 AZN. For those who want to begin the Karabakh route by air — bypassing the 4.5-hour drive from Baku — this is a genuine alternative.
Haji Alekper Mosque: the third signature of Kerbalayi Safihan
Built in 1889–1890. The architect: Kerbalayi Safihan Karabagi — the same master who built the Govhar Agha mosques in Shusha (1883–1884) and the Juma Mosque in Aghdam (1868–1870). Three cities, one architect, three different decades — and everywhere his signature in Arabic on the entrance or interior.
The inscription on the Fuzuli mosque door read: “Work of architect Kerbalayi Safihan Karabagi, year 1307” (in the Hijri calendar — 1889–1890 by the Gregorian).
Distinctive feature of the Fuzuli mosque: it has no minarets — unusual for this architect. A square floor plan. A stricter form than his Shusha or Aghdam work. The same hand, a different solution.
The mosque was destroyed in 1993. Restoration is underway. In October 2025, Turkmenistan laid the foundation stone for a new mosque in Fuzuli — a gift announced at the XII OTS summit, as one Turkic state to another.
If you have already visited Shusha and Aghdam, Fuzuli closes an architectural triangle: three mosques, three cities, one Kerbalayi Safihan Karabagi. The full context of this architectural thread is in our guides to Shusha and Aghdam.
Three practical roles of Fuzuli on the route
Fuzuli is not one thing on the Karabakh route — it is three. And each matters.
Role one: fuel stop. Fuzuli is the last guaranteed fuel point before the 81-kilometre toll road to Shusha. There are no petrol stations on the Ahmadbayli–Fuzuli–Shusha section. This is not a problem if you know. It becomes one if you arrive with a half-empty tank.
The rule is simple: arrive in Fuzuli, go to the petrol station. Regardless of what your gauge shows.
Role two: toll payment point. The toll road begins just outside Fuzuli, at Ahmadbayli. The payment gate charges 6.99 AZN for passenger cars. Cash manats and bank cards accepted. Keep the receipt.
Role three: rest stop. Baku to Fuzuli is 330 km — roughly four hours of motorway driving. Most drivers need a break by this point: get out of the car, stretch, drink tea, eat something. Fuzuli is the right place for all of this before the mountain section on the toll road.
| Fuzuli’s role | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel stop | Fill the tank before the toll road | No stations for 81 km ahead |
| Toll payment | 6.99 AZN cash or card at the gate | Required to enter the toll road |
| Rest stop | Stretch, eat, drink something | 330 km from Baku — a pause before the mountains |
| Architectural site | Haji Alekper Mosque (restoration in progress) | Kerbalayi Safihan Karabagi’s third work in the region |
| Airport | FZL — the alternative for those flying in | Baku–Fuzuli: 78 AZN, Wed and Sat |
Mine risk: the rule you cannot ignore
Demining operations continue in the areas surrounding Fuzuli and the adjacent territories. This is an official fact, not a tourism disclaimer for formality’s sake.
One rule, absolute: stay strictly on paved roads and official tourist routes at all times. Warning signs indicating mine risk are not decorative. Do not enter open fields, do not drive on unmarked tracks, do not cut across any unfamiliar terrain.
The operational context: Azerbaijan’s National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA), working with international partner organisations, has documented and neutralised over 100,000 explosive items on the liberated territories. Work is ongoing. The risk is real and requires only one behaviour: stay on official routes.
Fuzuli in the Karabakh circuit
Fuzuli is a structural element of the route, not a sightseeing destination. Here is how to integrate it correctly:
Day one (entry): Baku → Fuzuli (~330 km, ~4 h) — stop: fuel, food, brief visit to Haji Alekper Mosque site (15–20 min) → toll road → Shusha (~81 km, ~1 h). Overnight in Shusha.
Day two: Shusha — Khankendi — Aghdam — return to Shusha or Fuzuli.
Day three (exit): Shusha (or Khankendi) → Fuzuli → Baku (~330 km, ~4 h). If time allows — a look at Fuzuli’s new city centre, which is actively under construction.
Distance Fuzuli–Baku: approximately 330 km, four hours each way. Do not start this leg tired and with a low fuel gauge. If you are leaving Shusha after a full day — assess your condition before the long motorway section.
The complete Karabakh route logic, permit instructions for yolumuzqarabaga.az and vehicle comparison for each section are in our foundational article How to Get to Karabakh by Rental Car.
FAQ
Can I reach Karabakh through Fuzuli airport rather than driving from Baku?
Yes. AZAL operates Baku–Fuzuli flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 78 AZN one-way. A rental car can be arranged for collection at the airport — confirm this option when booking with Karavan Rent A Car in Baku. This removes approximately four hours of driving from each end of the route.
Does Fuzuli require a separate permit?
No. Fuzuli is within the liberated territories, and the permit from yolumuzqarabaga.az covers the full Karabakh route. No separate registration for Fuzuli is required.
Are there cafés and restaurants in Fuzuli?
The city’s food infrastructure is developing. Several cafés are operating in the new centre. For reliability — bring food from Baku or count on cafés along the M6 motorway before Fuzuli. In Shusha, after the toll road, the choice is noticeably better.
Conclusion
Fuzuli does not compete with Shusha for your attention. It is something else: a city rebuilt faster than anyone expected, an airport on a former minefield, a mosque by the same architect who shaped the sacred architecture of the entire Karabakh region. And three practical functions that make any Karabakh road trip smoother for every driver who understands them.
The best Karabakh route starts with correct preparation: permit in advance, tank full, maps downloaded offline. And a vehicle that handles mountain switchbacks without drama.
Everything you need is at karavan.az. We have been sending clients to Karabakh since the region first opened. ISO 9001, 14001, 45001. Unlimited mileage. 24/7 support.
The rest of the Karabakh series — in our Travelers Club. Each article covers one city, one character, one chapter of the same story.
