The main entry point to El Bierzo is Ponferrada, with a train station on the Madrid–Galicia line. Several trains a day run to and from Madrid (about 4 hours by Alvia), León (1 hour), and onward to Lugo and A Coruña. Long-distance buses operated by Alsa serve Ponferrada from Madrid, León, Oviedo and Santiago de Compostela.
By car, the A-6 motorway from Madrid passes through the southern edge of the valley. The nearest international airports are León (small, limited routes) and Asturias (around 2 hours), with Madrid and Santiago de Compostela as larger alternatives within 4 hours' drive.