Maku is in the far northwest corner of Iran, about 22 kilometres from the Turkish border crossing at Bazargan and 275 kilometres from the regional capital Tabriz. The main road from Turkey (the D100 highway) passes through or close to Maku, making it a common first or last stop in Iran for overland travelers crossing from Turkey.
Buses connect Maku to Tabriz and Tehran; the journey to Tabriz takes around four hours. From the border crossing at Bazargan, shared taxis and buses run to Maku. There is no airport in Maku; the nearest is at Tabriz. If arriving from Turkey, note that Doğubayazıt — the Turkish town closest to the border — is itself an interesting stop, with Mount Ararat visible from the town and the Ishak Pasha Palace a short drive away.