The city lies 85 kilometres (53 mi) south-west of Bobo-Dioulasso, on the Abidjan – Ouagadougou Railway.

The city is also an important market town and there are hotels which support a small tourism industry linked to the Cascades de Karfiguéla.

As of June 2014 Sitarail operated a passenger train along the line three times a week in each direction.

The paved road from Bobo-Dioulasso continues to the border and cargo will often stop at Niangoloko before reaching customs.

The city has a regional hospital (CHR), a maternal and infant protection unit and three pharmacies.