Karagandy sits in the geographic heart of Kazakhstan, roughly midway between Astana and Almaty. Sary-Arka Airport (KGF) handles domestic flights, with Air Astana and SCAT operating regular services from Almaty and Nur-Sultan (Astana). The flight from Astana takes under an hour; from Almaty around 90 minutes. International connections are limited — most visitors route through one of the two main hubs.
By train, Karagandy sits on the main north–south line connecting Astana with Almaty. Journey time from Astana is around 3–4 hours; from Almaty around 12–14 hours overnight. The train station is in the city centre and is well connected to the rest of the city by bus and taxi. Road connections are reasonable — the highway to Astana is well-maintained — but driving across the steppe in winter requires preparation and a reliable vehicle.