Derbent

 is a city in the Republic of Dagestan in the South of Russia not far from the border with and along the main road to Azerbaijan. Derbent is one of the oldest cities in Russia and features a 5000-year-old fortress.

North towards Makhachkala
Take a marshrutka to Сабнова (Sabnova) and get out after the police post. You are now on the main road and can hitch from there or ask the police deputies to stop a car for you. You can also hitch north from close to the police post in the south of the city, see below.

South towards Baku
Close to the fortress is a police post (you'll probably pass it on the way to the fortress). From there just continue for a couple of meters and the street intersects with the main road from where you can hitch south.

Accommodation and Sleep
Next to the market Вержний Базар is the very run-down and cheap hotel Гостиница Волна. As of April 2014 a room for one night costs 250 rubel.