Pyay sits halfway between Yangon and Bagan and is one of the easier stops to reach by road. Express buses run from Yangon (around six hours) and from Bagan (about eight hours), with daytime and overnight options. Shared minivans are faster but cramped; the larger air-conditioned coaches are more comfortable for the distance.
The Yangon–Pyay train runs daily and takes nine to ten hours. It is slow even by Burmese standards but cheap and scenic for anyone with the time, passing through the Bago Yoma forest. From Pyay, a separate branch line continues to Bagan, though service is irregular. There is no functioning airport; the nearest commercial airfield is at Yangon.