Shigatse lies about 280 kilometres southwest of Lhasa, connected by a well-maintained highway that crosses the Brahmaputra valley. The journey takes around four to five hours by private vehicle. Public buses run the route but foreigners in Tibet are officially required to travel with a licensed guide and driver, making the hired-vehicle route essentially mandatory for most visitors.
The Lhasa–Shigatse Expressway opened in 2014, cutting the overland journey significantly. The old road via Gyantse is longer but more scenic — it crosses the Karo La pass (5,020 m) with glaciers close to the road.
Shigatse has a small airport at Shigatse Peace Airport with limited flights, mainly connecting to Lhasa and Chengdu. The Tibet train from Beijing and Chengdu passes through Shigatse station, though schedules and availability are subject to Chinese rail policies that restrict foreign access. All visitors to Tibet need a Tibet Travel Permit in addition to a Chinese visa; these must be arranged through a licensed Tibetan tour agency before entering the region.