Padang is a visa-free entry point to Indonesia . All domestic and international flights - including those to and from Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru - use Tabing Airport , 9km north of the city centre, which has exchange counters in international arrivals. For a taxi into town (Rp12,000-15,000), collect the fixed-price ticket from the taxi office and pay the driver at your destination. The alternative is to walk 200m from the terminal and catch bus #14a or #14b (Rp250) from outside the airport gates: those heading to the left go into the city. Small white bemos also stop here and will take you to the bemo terminal in town (Rp500). If you're heading straight up to Bukittinggi from the airport, cross the road and hail a long-distance bus going in the opposite direction (every 20min, 6am-7pm; 2hr 30min).

Pelni boats dock at the port of Teluk Bayur, 7km south of town, served by white bemos #432, #433 and #434 to the city centre. The port is on the fortnightly circuit of KM Lambelu and KM Kambuna . The Pelni office is also here, at Jl Tanjung Priok 32 (tel 0751/33624).

The local and long-distance bus terminals (Rp300 entrance) are side by side on Jalan Pemuda, 200m north of the junction with Jalan Moh Yamin. When it comes to moving on, you'll find most of the ticket offices are here, and as all bus companies operate their own schedule with their own fares, it's worth shopping around. There are daily departures (6am-7pm) to destinations throughout Sumatra, Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara .

The bemo terminal is on Jalan Moh Yamin, in the market area. Local buses (flat fare Rp250) and bemos (Rp500) run from 6am to 10pm. Buses only stop at the designated stops, but you can flag down bemos anywhere.