A few long-distance tourist services may drop you at your hotel, but other long-distance buses and local services pull into the Air Kuning terminal , 3km southeast of the town centre. A bemo will take you from the terminal to the town. Buses from Padang stop on the southern outskirts of town on Jalan Sudirman before turning off for the terminal; you can get a red #14 bemo into the town centre from this junction, and much of the accommodation is within an easy walk of the route.

When you're ready to move on , you'll need to go to the Air Kuning terminal for all long-distance and local bus services. Tourist buses to Danau Toba are also an option and can be booked through the travel agents in town. Expect to be quoted Rp27,000 and a journey time of around thirteen hours. Travel agents can also arrange Pelni and airline tickets from Padang, which is the closest port and airport.

Bemos scurry around town in a circular route, with a flat fare of Rp300. To get to the bus terminal, stop any bemo heading north on Jalan A Yani, which will circle to the east of town and pass the main post office before turning left to Air Kuning.