The A5, Telford's old London-to-Holyhead road, runs straight through the village. From Chester or Llandudno it is around an hour's drive; from Manchester or Liverpool, about 90 minutes.
The Conwy Valley Line is one of the most scenic short railway journeys in Britain. Trains link Betws-y-Coed to Llandudno Junction on the North Wales coast (around 40 minutes) and continue south through the Lledr Valley to Blaenau Ffestiniog, where they meet the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway. Services are sparse — check the timetable before relying on the train.