This study analyses the effectiveness of different recovery strategies for transport systems after disruptions, with special attention to the influence of network topology and recovery objectives. By means of simulations on four networks with different structural characteristics (central, radial, decentralized and ring-radial) it is shown that no single strategy is universally applicable. The performance of recovery strategies such as proximity, hierarchy, recovery time and dynamic recovery appears to be strongly dependent on both the degree of fragmentation and the specific structure of the network. Furthermore, the optimal approach differs per functional recovery objective, such as accessibility, efficiency, resilience or robustness. The study therefore not only provides scientific insights into network recovery, but also practical tools for policymakers and planners who have to make decisions under time pressure about recovery after infrastructure disruptions.