Ystad's old town is small enough to walk entirely. The main sights — Stortorget, St Mary's Church, the Greyfriars Abbey, Per Helsa's Court, the Bio Saga cinema — are within 10 minutes of each other on foot. The harbour is a 15-minute walk from Stortorget via Hamngatan.
Bicycle: The town has a flat layout and marked cycling paths along the coast. Bikes can be rented from a couple of shops near the station. The coastal path east to Ystad Saltsjöbad beach is a pleasant 20-minute ride.
By car: Essential for reaching Ales Stenar (20 km east at Kåseberga) and Sandhammaren beach (25 km east). The coast road via Kåseberga is easy driving with good parking at both sites.
Regional bus: Skånetrafiken buses serve the villages east and west along the coast. The line to Kåseberga runs a few times a day in summer, less often in winter — check timetables before relying on it.
Taxi: A few local firms operate in Ystad. Journey times are short given the distances involved. Useful for returning from the harbour ferry terminal late at night.