How to Get Around New Orleans

New Orleans is one of the most special cities in the world, and I don’t say that because I’m from here. To many, it’s a dream, a haven, a safe space, and home. While New Orleans is located in Louisiana, we often say that New Orleans is not Louisiana, nor is Louisiana New Orleans. It is its own unique place, and we all revere it as that.

Growing up in New Orleans, as it turns out, is a wildly different experience than growing up in other places. Experiencing multitudes of festivals throughout the year, live music on the street, and Mardi Gras are not a thing in other places, particularly in the United States. I’ve taken it for granted of much of my life, but as I get older and travel all over the world and the United States, I see just how special of a place I get to live.

St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square

Because New Orleans is a relatively compact city, it’s easy to get around. Most people that live here opt to have cars for many reasons. Mine is because I own a real estate company and need to be able to get all over the city and beyond on any given day. Other people may drive their cars for a living or have a commute to their job. Other people opt to take public transport or a bicycle everywhere they go. All of it makes sense, and it’s all understandable.

Visiting New Orleans, however, does not require a car in the least. There are so many ways to get from one destination to another, and having a car is more of a burden than a help in most cases. I’ll share with you the ways that both visitors and locals navigate the city of New Orleans, and you can choose what combination is best for you. Let’s have some fun seeing this city.

Iconic Cafe du Monde Beignets

As I mentioned, a car can often be more burdensome than not when you are visiting New Orleans. Parking it at a hotel or somewhere in the city that has no great parking options is frankly the worst. When I am asked if a car should be rented, I quickly say no. There are too many other easy ways to see New Orleans, and I’ll lay them out for you. I do have a car and use it as my main mode of transportation, but I also own a house with a driveway, and I need it for work so it makes sense. A visit, though? Nope. Not necessary at all. Want to know the best ways to get around New Orleans? Ok, then. I am your guide.

The Green Streetcar Line

The most iconic way to get around New Orleans is by taking the streetcar. We have two streetcar lines: the red one and the green one. You can get to many areas of the city by taking one of these lines, which makes is very convenient when you’re on your visit. Especially if this is your first visit to our city, do take the New Orleans streetcar.

The St. Charles line (the green line) is a beautiful way to see some of the oldest houses in New Orleans, and it’s just such a nice ride. My favorite time is Christmas when the lights are strung up and down St. Charles Avenue. The oak trees add to the beauty, and you can sit back and enjoy the ride for a couple of dollars. You might grab a Jazzy Pass for 3 or 7 days to allow yourself the ease of traveling without worrying about cash. The best way to get this is through the app Le Pass. No fuss, and you can do all payments through there. I love an app when traveling!

Another app-easy mode of transportation, and quite frankly one of the most fun ways I’ve gotten around New Orleans is the blue bikes. The app helps you identify where bikes are, and what percent of battery they have left. You can explore the city with these electric assist bikes, making your energy easy to conserve. The first time I rode one I was a little jolted (literally) because of the speed, but I got used to it and enjoyed the ride. It’s a great thing to do by yourself or with others.

My biggest recommendation/warning is to be very careful of our less-than-stellar drivers in the city. While we do have bike lanes, we are not a very friendly city towards anyone who is in a vulnerable position like a bike. This is not something I’m proud to say, but I think it’s good to say it because other places (most other places) are much more accommodating to bikers than we are. Be careful, watch for cars, and enjoy yourself while cruising.

Walking is such a fantastic way to see New Orleans. We have so many walkable areas in the city, and I highlight that in this blog about the best walkable neighborhoods in New Orleans. You’ll find areas like the French Quarter in there, and you can’t beat going by foot there. Many other areas qualify for walking, such as the Garden District or along Magazine Street, where friends from New Orleans and from out of town love a day strolling down one of the best shopping streets you can find.

Because it gets very - very - hot in New Orleans during the summer months, it makes it rather uncomfortable to hoof it, but people do it. Waiting until the evening or going in the earlier morning would be my recommendation, as you can really suffer from heat issues in the middle of the day. The rest of the year, though, you’re golden. Put some comfy shoes on and see our city by foot. It’s one of the best free things to do in New Orleans, and you get your steps in.

Getting around by Uber and Lyft are very common in New Orleans. As a local, I take Uber frequently when I know I will be having a cocktail or two at one of my favorite bars. Many people visiting take one or the other from the airport, although a taxi would suffice as well. Also, if you’re in a rush to get to a restaurant reservation at one of my favorite must eat restaurants in New Orleans, or don’t want to sit on the non-air conditioned green streetcar line, you may opt for Uber or Lyft. It’s inexpensive enough within the city, and easy to get around. It’s also a great option to go to some of the more expansive cemeteries in the city.

My favorite one to visit, Lake Lawn Metairie cemetery, would be a perfect example of a good reason to use these methods of transportation. Hitting City Park, which is on the opposite side of Canal Street, might also be a good place to grab an Uber to visit. Sure, you can take the red line, but time may be of the essence, and you might snag a ride to accomplish more. They are plentiful and easy to get from one place to the other, so use them if you want to. No shame there.

Riding the hop-on hop-off bus in New Orleans, even as a local, is actually quite fun. Sure, it's touristy and you might feel like everyone is watching you, but I assure you it's not the case. This is New Orleans. Everything goes here, including giant red buses that take people around the cit sightseeing. Not only is this a good way to see the city, it's an easy way to get from one area to the next. You can get on and off as many times as you like with your ticket, which makes it convenient.

You'll be able to hit many attractions along the route, and buses come to the stops approximately every 25 minutes, so you'll never wait too long. You can grab a cocktail while you're waiting, too, since you're allowed to drink on the street. This is a great activity to acquaint yourself, and take a load off throughout the day and recharge and relax. Get yourself a day pass, do the ride, and go back to the areas of interest you want to see. That's my advice as a local.

Now that we have gone over most of the common methods of getting around New Orleans, I hope you can plan your amazing time here easily and enjoyably. We pride ourselves on how great our city is, and part of that is navigating getting around. You see so much when you go from place to place, and deciding beforehand (albeit loosely) will help you make the most out of your trip. You have options, so use them. And by all means, laissez les bon temps rouler.

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