Vänersborg sits on the main rail line between Gothenburg and Oslo. Direct trains run from Gothenburg's Central Station in about 75 minutes; from Oslo the journey takes around 3–4 hours with changes. The station is central, a short walk from the old town and the waterfront.
By car, Vänersborg is on the E45 motorway about 75 km north of Gothenburg. The drive from Gothenburg takes roughly an hour in normal traffic. From Oslo it is approximately 3 hours.
The shared Trollhättan–Vänersborg Airport (IATA: THN) handles mainly charter and domestic flights; it lies about 10 km south of the city centre. Gothenburg Landvetter Airport (GOT) is the more practical international gateway, with car rental available and good motorway access.