Kuala Terengganu has its own airport (Sultan Mahmud Airport), about 15 kilometres north of the city, with regular direct flights to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia. The journey takes just over an hour in the air. A taxi from the airport to the city centre costs around RM25–35 and takes 20–30 minutes.
By road, the East Coast Expressway (Lebuhraya Pantai Timur) connects Kuala Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur in about 4.5 to 5 hours by car, passing through Kota Bharu to the north and Kuantan to the south. Bus services run regularly from Kuala Lumpur (Pudu Sentral terminal) with the journey taking 6–7 hours; coaches are comfortable and affordable. From Kota Bharu or Kuantan, the journey is 2–3 hours by bus.