Amarapura is about 10 kilometres south of Mandalay city centre and easily reached by taxi, motorcycle taxi, or hired bicycle. The drive takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Most visitors come as part of a circuit of the ancient capitals south of Mandalay — Inwa (Ava), Sagaing, and Amarapura can all be covered in a single day with an early start and a hired car or motorbike.
Bicycle hire in Mandalay is inexpensive and the road to Amarapura is largely flat, making it possible to cycle the distance in about 45 minutes. Trishaws and taxis from Mandalay city charge fixed rates for a half-day or full-day circuit of the southern capitals; negotiate before you get in.
There is no dedicated bus service to Amarapura from the Mandalay bus terminal; local shared pickups run along the main road but are slow and infrequent by tourist standards.