Saintes is on the railway line between Bordeaux (1 hour) and La Rochelle (45 minutes), with regular services throughout the day. Trains from Paris require a change at Angoulême or Bordeaux; the fastest combination from Paris takes around 3.5 hours. There are also direct trains to Cognac (20 minutes).
By road, Saintes is 120 kilometres north of Bordeaux and 75 kilometres south of La Rochelle on the N137. The town centre is compact enough to walk once you arrive; parking is available in several car parks near the old town.