Mandaue City sits within Metro Cebu and is easily reached from Cebu City by jeepney, taxi, or Grab along the main northern road (the old highway or the South Road Properties route). The journey from central Cebu City takes 20–40 minutes depending on traffic.
From Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Mandaue is the first mainland city you reach crossing the Marcelo Fernan Bridge — about 10–15 minutes by taxi or ride-share in normal traffic. Most travellers pass through Mandaue without stopping: the city is a transit point rather than a destination.
There is no separate bus terminal for Mandaue; inter-island buses serving northern Cebu province generally depart from the North Bus Terminal in adjacent Cebu City. Jeepneys and vans connecting Mandaue to Consolacion, Liloan, and other northern municipalities operate from informal stops along the main highway.