Rajshahi is a compact city and much of it is walkable. For longer distances, cycle rickshaws are the standard local transport — cheap, slow, and good for watching life go by. Auto-rickshaws (CNGs) are faster and handle the roads to the outskirts. Hiring a private auto-rickshaw or a CNG for a half day is the easiest way to visit the river embankment, the shrine of Shah Makhdum, and the university campus in a single outing.
For the trip to Paharpur, a hired car is the most convenient option; a driver can be arranged through most guesthouses. Alternatively, local buses and microbuses leave from the main bus terminal to Naogaon, from where you can take another connection to Paharpur. The total journey takes 2–3 hours each way on public transport.