Shimla is most reached by the Kalka-Shimla Railway — the toy train that takes 5-6 hours from Kalka, which is itself connected to Delhi by express trains (3–4 hours) on the main Delhi-Chandigarh-Kalka line. This combination makes the train journey from Delhi a full day's travel but one of the more scenic rail experiences in India.
By road, Shimla is 365 km from Delhi and about 90 km from Chandigarh. Volvo buses run from Delhi's ISBT Kashmiri Gate (8–10 hours, overnight options available) and from Chandigarh (2–3 hours). The road climbs steeply in the final stretch and can be slow in peak season.
Shimla Airport at Jubbarhatti handles small aircraft from Delhi with Alliance Air and other regional carriers, but flights are weather-dependent and frequently cancelled. Most travellers use the train or road. Within Shimla, the town's steep terrain means walking is the primary mode of transport in the centre; taxis and local buses serve the outer areas.