Tomsk is not on the main Trans-Siberian Railway line, which passes through Novosibirsk to the west. The city has its own branch line connection from Taiga station (about 80 km away on the mainline), with trains to Novosibirsk (6–7 hours) and beyond. The journey from Moscow by train takes roughly 2–2.5 days.
By air is the practical choice for most visitors. Bogashevo Airport (TOF) is about 20 km south of the city and receives flights from Moscow (Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo), St. Petersburg, and several other Russian cities. Flight time from Moscow is around 3.5 hours. Taxis from the airport to the centre take about 30–40 minutes.
By bus, services connect Tomsk to Novosibirsk (4–5 hours) and other Siberian cities. The bus station is near the railway station on the south side of the city centre. From Novosibirsk, Tomsk is a manageable day trip or easy overnight.
Most international visitors will transit through Moscow or Novosibirsk. A Siberia railway ticket ending at Novosibirsk allows an easy detour to Tomsk before returning to the mainline.