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. .
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. Uber and Lyft are widely available throughout the city and are often more affordable and convenient than renting a car. Expect a price increase during major events, such as Mardi Gras.
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. This tour includes transportation to the Honey Island Swamp from New Orleans and a cruise on a tour boat.
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. That said, all of the major car rental agencies have a presence in New Orleans, at the airport and scattered around the city. Streetcars in New Orleans are both a tourist attraction and a way to get people around the city, so be sure to plan at least one afternoon walking down the street.
If you're coming here through Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), they're about 15 miles away by car from hotels in the French Quarter and other neighborhoods in New Orleans. Taxis abound in New Orleans and, except during the busiest hours (Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest), can be easily taken on the streets of the French Quarter and in some parts of the Central Business District. If you don't have a car in New Orleans, invest in a JazzyPass, which allows unlimited travel on all streetcar and bus lines. Since there is also a traffic bridge to the West Bank, you are unlikely to use this service unless you spend some serious time in the areas east of New Orleans.
New Orleans may not have the solid public transportation schedules of cities like New York or Boston, but the variety of routes and options can take you all over the city, all with the added bonus of not having to find a parking spot. No matter where you stay, New Orleans has a popular, safe and efficient public transportation system that will take you wherever you want to go. New Orleans has a good public bus system that many locals rely on, so there's probably a bus going exactly where you want to go. Since there are so many plantations nearby and there are many tours that offer day trips from New Orleans for those who don't have a car, let me make it easy for you to decide which plantation to choose.
This is a tour that includes roundtrip transportation from New Orleans in the price and explores the Barataria Reserve more than I previously recommended. .
