Getting Around In New Orleans

New Orleans has an excellent bus system that covers most of the city and a streetcar service that is the oldest in the country and an attraction as well as a means of transport. Public buses are the most economical way to get around, but are relatively slow. The vintage St Charles streetcar is a National Historic Monument and is a convenient way to get from downtown to uptown, while the Riverfront streetcar connects major sights along a two-mile (3km) stretch of the Mississippi River. Tickets for buses and streetcars must be paid for in exact change. The VisiTour one- and three-day passes allow unlimited rides on all streetcars and buses. Metered taxis are inexpensive and plentiful and can easily be hailed in the busier areas or phoned for; they are the best way of getting around at night. Most taxis can be hired by up to five passengers for a hassle-free and economical tour of the city. The Canal Street Ferry takes passengers across to the suburb of Algiers and is free for pedestrians, offering fine views of the city skyline. Driving a car in New Orleans is not too much of a problem, though parking can be; if renting a car, drivers must be 21 and hold a valid driver's license or International Driving Permit. A major credit card and passport (for foreigners) are also required.