Paderborn has a main station (Paderborn Hauptbahnhof) with regular direct connections to Dortmund (about one hour), Kassel (one and a half hours), and Bielefeld (45 minutes). From these hubs you can connect to the main intercity network. The nearest major airport is Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport (PAD), a small regional airport with connections mainly to seasonal destinations, though Dortmund Airport (about an hour by car) has a broader schedule.
By car, Paderborn sits on the A33 autobahn connecting to Bielefeld in the west, and is reached from the A44 from Kassel. The city is about two and a half hours from Düsseldorf and Cologne, and three hours from Frankfurt.