Purwokerto sits squarely on the main southern railway line that runs west from Yogyakarta and Solo to Jakarta via Cirebon, and almost every long-distance train on that route stops here. The station is in the centre of the city and is well served by argo (executive) and ekonomi services in both directions; the journey from Jakarta Gambir takes around five hours by Argo Dwipangga or Argo Lawu, and from Yogyakarta around four hours.
By road, the cross-Java toll road has now reached Purwokerto from the east, cutting the drive from Yogyakarta to around four hours. Long-distance buses arrive at Terminal Bulupitu on the south side of the city. The nearest airport is Tunggul Wulung at Cilacap, around 60 km south, which has a handful of daily flights to Jakarta on Susi Air; most travellers prefer the train.