Vanadzor sits on the main road and rail axis between Yerevan and Tbilisi, so it is easy to reach from either direction.
By marshrutka (minibus). This is how most travellers arrive. Frequent minibuses run from Yerevan's Kilikia bus station (about three hours) and from Tbilisi (around four to five hours, with a border stop at Bagratashen). They leave when full, with the last departures usually mid-afternoon.
By train. A daily slow electric service connects Vanadzor with Yerevan in the south and Tbilisi in the north via Alaverdi, with an overnight sleeper that stops here in the small hours. The train is slower than the marshrutka but vastly more scenic, particularly the stretch through the Debed Canyon.
By car. The M-6 highway from Yerevan via the Pambak pass is straightforward in summer but can be hazardous in winter snow. The drive takes about two and a half hours.