Turkestan is connected to Almaty and Shymkent by train. The journey from Almaty takes about 12–14 hours; from Shymkent, about 3.5 hours. There are also direct services from Astana. A high-speed rail line from Shymkent was under construction as of 2024 and will substantially cut journey times when complete.
By road, Turkestan is about 165 km from Shymkent on the M39 highway. Shared taxis from Shymkent's long-distance taxi stand are faster and more comfortable than the bus, taking about two hours. Driving from Almaty takes around seven hours.
Turkestan International Airport opened in 2021 and handles flights from Almaty and Astana; the schedule is limited, so check current availability. The city centre is about 5 km from the airport.