What is the best way to travel in a city?
In most cities the best way to get around is a mix of public transit and walking: metro, trams and buses are cheap and avoid traffic and parking, while walking lets you see the city between stops. Taxis or rideshare apps fill the gaps late at night, with luggage, or where transit is thin.
Choose by city type
- Big transit cities (New York, London, Paris, Tokyo and similar): use the metro or subway for longer distances and walk the rest. A car is usually a burden.
- Compact historic centers: walking covers most sights; add a tram or bus for hills and longer hops.
- Spread-out, car-oriented cities (many US Sun Belt cities): rideshare, a rental car or a mix of bus and rideshare is often more practical than transit alone.
- Flat, bike-friendly cities (Amsterdam, Copenhagen): bike share or a rental bike can be the fastest option. Bike-share and e-scooters also work for short hops elsewhere; check local rules on helmets, sidewalks and parking.
- Day trips out of town: car-share or an hourly rental covers them without renting a car for the whole stay.
Ferries, cable cars and funiculars, where a city has them, are often a sight in themselves.
Practical tips
- Stay central, near a transit station, and group sights by neighborhood so you can walk between them.
- Download the local transit app or use Google Maps, Apple Maps or Citymapper for routes and live times, and save the area offline.
- Learn how to pay before you arrive: many systems accept contactless bank cards or phone wallets; others need a local card or app.
- Look at day or multi-day passes if you plan several rides a day.
- Avoid rush hours on crowded lines when you can, especially with luggage.
- Check night service: many systems run less often or stop late at night.
- Use official taxi ranks or apps rather than accepting rides from people who approach you.
- Keep valuables secure on busy lines; pickpockets work crowded stations.
FAQ
How do I navigate a city I don't know?
Use a map app with transit directions, download the area offline, and note the name of your nearest station.
How do most people get around cities?
In large cities most residents rely on public transit and walking; in smaller or car-oriented cities, driving dominates.
Is it cheaper to take a bus or a train?
Within a city they often share the same fare system. Between cities, buses are usually cheaper but slower.
Do all cities have public transportation?
Most do, but frequency and coverage vary a lot. Some smaller cities have only limited bus service.
Which US cities have good public transportation?
New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco are usually considered the easiest to visit without a car.
Is public transit cheaper than a car?
For a visitor it almost always is, once you count rental, fuel and parking.