Mandi is a major junction on the road network of Himachal Pradesh, with frequent buses to almost everywhere in the state. From Delhi, it is about 11 hours by overnight Volvo bus (HRTC and private operators run several daily services); from Chandigarh, six hours; from Manali, four hours via the Pandoh dam.
The nearest railway is Joginder Nagar, 55 km away, on the narrow-gauge line from Pathankot. It is slow and atmospheric but adds half a day to any journey. The standard-gauge railhead is Una, three hours away.
Bhuntar Airport near Kullu is the closest commercial airport, 60 km north, with a small number of flights from Delhi that are unreliable in poor weather. The bigger airports at Dharamshala and Chandigarh are both four hours away. Most travellers reach Mandi by road as part of a longer Himachal trip, and the town is the natural stop for breakfast on the way from Chandigarh to Manali.