Cognac has a small train station with connections to Angoulême (30 minutes), which is on the main Paris–Bordeaux TGV line — from Paris, the fastest combination takes about 2.5 hours. Direct trains from Saintes and Royan also serve the town. The station is about 15 minutes' walk from the old town and the main distilleries.
By car, Cognac is 120 km north of Bordeaux and 40 km west of Angoulême on the N141. Parking is easy and mostly free around the château and museum. Several distilleries have their own car parks.
Cognac-Châteaubernard airport, a few kilometres south of town, handles summer charter flights from the UK and other European cities. Renting a car is practical for exploring the vineyard countryside of Grande and Petite Champagne south of town.