New Orleans Transport

The main public transportation choice in New Orleans is the bus network. The streetcar lines operating before Hurricane Katrina struck were severely damaged. Taxis, ferries and horse-drawn carriages are other options.

By bus

The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) operates good bus services. From the French quarter, most destinations are served by buses, which stop at the intersection of Basin and Canal Streets. All stops have signs showing the route name and number, while travellers may have to search all four corners of an intersection to find the stop they are looking for. The free New Orleans Street Map, available from information booths at the airport and downtown, details most routes and lists the route names you can expect to see displayed on the front of the bus. Phone: +1 504 248 3900; website: www.norta.com/index.php.

By ferry

The Canal Street Ferry operates along the 10-minute hop across the Mississippi River, from the downtown port to the historic district of Algiers. There is a fee for cars, but pedestrians travel free. Ferries depart every 30 minutes from 05:45 to midnight. Phone: +1 504 364 8100.

By taxi

Taxis are abundant in New Orleans. They can easily be hailed on the street in the French quarter and in some parts of the Central Business District, and they are usually lined up at taxi stands outside the larger hotels. Some of the main companies are: United Cabs (tel: +1 504 522 9771); Checker-Yellow (tel: +1 504 943 2411); and Coleman Cab (tel: +1 504 586 0222).

Tourist services

The guides offering horse-drawn carriage rides through the French quarter are certified by the city to have at least a basic knowledge of the quarter’s history. However, be aware that historical embellishment is the order of the day. Carriages depart day and night, until midnight, from Jackson Square.

From the airport

The Airport-Downtown Express (E-2) provides service from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in Kenner, along Airline Drive into New Orleans. The airport bus stop is on the second level of the airport, near the Delta counter. A shuttle service is available from the airport to the hotels in the CBD. Non-scheduled, walk up limousine and sedan services are available from the airport to the CBD and the French quarter. Limousine information desks are located on the lower level, next to the Baggage Claim areas. Taxis can be found on the lower level, outside the Baggage Claim area.