By bus. The most common route. Buses from Dar es Salaam run several times a day along the coastal road; the journey is around 6–7 hours when the road is clear, longer in the rains. From the Kenyan border at Horohoro, daladalas and shared taxis run to Tanga in about two hours.
By plane. Tanga Airport (TGT) has small daily flights from Dar es Salaam and Pemba; the airport is about 5 km west of the centre. Most travellers come overland.
By train. The historic Tanga line from Moshi via Korogwe is occasionally revived for tourist services but is not a regular passenger option. Check current status locally.
Overland to Mombasa. Buses cross the border at Horohoro to Mombasa, about 4 hours total with the border formalities. A pleasant alternative to the much busier Namanga–Voi route.