The centre of Abbottabad is walkable in an hour, but most sights — Shimla Hill, the cantonment outskirts, the Ilyasi Mosque — sit a couple of kilometres apart and a vehicle helps.
Auto-rickshaws are the cheapest local transport, useful for short hops in the city. Negotiate the fare before starting; short rides are 100–200 rupees.
Taxis ply the main routes. For half-day or full-day hires (the standard way to visit Thandiani or the Galyat) expect to pay 3,000–5,000 rupees depending on season and your bargaining. Most hotels and the tourist information office on Jinnah Road will arrange a driver.
For onward travel along the Karakoram Highway — to Naran, Gilgit, or the Galyat — shared minibuses (Suzuki vans) depart from Cantt Plaza and the Mansehra Road junction. Tickets are cheap but the vans only leave when full.
Within the cantonment, walking is pleasant in good weather. Beyond the centre, the streets become steeper and less consistent in surface.