Mykolaiv's city centre is compact enough to walk between most of the main sights. The museum district, the old naval quarter, and the riverfront can all be reached on foot from central accommodation. The city is flat, which makes walking easy in good weather.
By public transport, the city operates trolleybuses and marshrutky (minibuses) covering most districts. Trolleybus routes run along the main avenues; marshrutky are faster but less predictable to navigate without local knowledge. Fares are very cheap by European standards. The network has been affected by wartime power outages and disruptions, so expect variability.
By taxi, app-based taxis (Uklon is widely used in Ukraine) offer a simple way to get around if you have a Ukrainian phone number or can use the app. Traditional street taxis exist but negotiate the fare before getting in. Uber has had limited presence in Ukrainian cities outside Kyiv.
By car, the city's grid layout is straightforward to navigate. Parking in the centre is relatively easy outside peak hours. Petrol stations are available throughout the city.
The Mykolaiv Zoo, the Observatory, and the Dykyi Sad site are all within a few kilometres of the centre and reachable by a short taxi ride or, for the observatory, a reasonable walk from the central area via the old residential streets.