By air, Astor Piazzolla International Airport (MDQ) is 10 kilometres north of the city centre and has several daily flights from Buenos Aires (Ezeiza and Aeroparque). The flight takes about an hour. In summer there are also flights to Rosario, Córdoba, and other Argentine cities.
By bus, Mar del Plata is around five to six hours from Buenos Aires on excellent paved highways. Regular, comfortable long-distance buses run from Retiro station in Buenos Aires throughout the day and night; the overnight buses are a practical option. The terminal in Mar del Plata is well-organised and central.
By car, the main route is the Autopista 2 from Buenos Aires, which runs directly to the city. The drive takes around five hours in normal traffic; on January and February weekends, add several hours for the outbound traffic from Buenos Aires.
By train, a revival of the historic Buenos Aires–Mar del Plata service has been under discussion for years. Check current status when planning — services have run seasonally on this route.