New Orleans streetcar lines have been a staple of the city's public transportation for centuries; more specifically, the St. Charles began carrying passengers in 1835, making it the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. Nowadays, the iconic brown and green or red and yellow cars follow in the footsteps of the city. Take a streetcar on Canal Street to head Downtown, Uptown and halfway down Carrollton Avenue.
Get off at the St. Charles and Jackson and explore the beautiful architecture of the historic houses of the Garden District before stopping for lunch on Magazine Street. Plan your tram exploration more with our streetcar itinerary, which breaks everything down by route. If you like to feel the wind in your hair and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city outdoors, there are plenty of bike rental options in New Orleans.
One of the most universal are Blue Bikes, a shared bicycle system with stations spread throughout the city. Use the Lafitte Greenway to easily and safely bike from Mid-City to the Mississippi River. Whether you're arriving by car, bus or taxi, once you're at the hotel, you probably don't need a car anymore. Even without a car or a tour, you can still visit the capital of Louisiana (Baton Rouge) on a day trip from New Orleans.
There is a Greyhound bus line between the two cities and it only takes about 1.5 hours. For ticket prices and schedules, visit the Greyhound website. While there isn't much public transportation to help you explore these New Orleans spots, there are plenty of private companies that will take you there by bus. This is the plantation that I will visit the next time I am in New Orleans, as I have heard great things about it.
I have a great obsession with large live oak trees, an obsession that began with my first visit to New Orleans, and this row of oak trees is one of the most beautiful I have ever known. No matter where you stay, New Orleans has a popular, safe and efficient public transportation system that will get you wherever you want to go. The first time I visited the city, I wanted to take a day trip from New Orleans, but I didn't have a car. Personally, I preferred New Orleans to Baton Rouge, but if you have time, there are some interesting places to visit in Baton Rouge.
Even if you want to explore more of Louisiana while you're in New Orleans, many travel companies offer transportation to places like plantations and wetlands, so you don't even need a car to visit them while you're in New Orleans. While many New Orleanians rely on their cars for transportation, many more use the city's myriad methods of public transportation. This is a tour that includes roundtrip transportation from New Orleans in the price and explores the Barataria Reserve more than I previously recommended. Still, the New Orleans streetcar system is a charming way to explore the city, and you can rent bicycles, hop on a bus, take a ferry, or call for a bicitaxi, taxi or limousine service whenever you need one.
We love the independence of renting a car and not having to wait for the shuttle service or look for a taxi, however, in New Orleans you must consider a couple of other factors before paying your credit card to rent a car.
