St. Charles Avenue Streetcar

The St. Charles streetcar is the best-value sightseeing in New Orleans and the single most atmospheric commute in America. The line began service in 1835 and is described as the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world; its olive-green cars, with mahogany seats, brass fittings and windows that slide open to the humid air, are as much a symbol of the city as the balconies of the French Quarter. The route runs from Canal Street at the edge of the Quarter through the Central Business District, around the traffic circle at the head of the avenue, and then for miles up St. Charles Avenue under a canopy of live oaks, past the Greek Revival and Italianate mansions of the Garden District, the campuses of Loyola and Tulane universities, and the front lawn of Audubon Park, before curving onto Carrollton Avenue in the Riverbend and ending at Carrollton and Claiborne. It is a working transit line rather than a tourist ride, which is exactly the appeal: you share the benches with students, commuters and dressed-up diners heading Uptown, and the car stops whenever someone pulls the cord. The fare is a standard transit fare, and an unlimited Jazzy Pass makes hopping on and off throughout a stay effortless. The line runs around the clock, though service is less frequent late at night. The cars are not fully accessible; accessible buses serve the route. Fit: first-timers (it is the city's best orientation), couples (sit by an open window at golden hour), families (kids love the bell and the clatter), and anyone heading to the Garden District, Magazine Street or the zoo.

How to ride it well: board at Canal and Carondelet for the full experience, and sit on the right side of the car heading Uptown for the best mansion views, or the left for the parade of oaks along the neutral ground (the grassy median New Orleanians call the neutral ground). Pay with exact change or use the Le Pass app; a one-day Jazzy Pass costs little more than two rides and covers other streetcar lines and buses. Expect the ride from Canal to Audubon Park to take a while, especially in traffic, and do not ride it as a hurried connection; it is a slow, rocking experience that rewards an unplanned afternoon.

Where to hop off: Washington Avenue for Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, Commander's Palace and the heart of the Garden District walk; Louisiana Avenue or Napoleon Avenue for Magazine Street's shops and restaurants a few blocks toward the river; Audubon Park for the oak-shaded jogging loop and the walk to Audubon Zoo; and the Riverbend at the end of the line for Oak Street's cafes and a stroll on the levee. During Carnival season, parades roll along St. Charles Avenue and streetcar service is suspended or rerouted on parade days, so check the transit authority's Mardi Gras service page if you are visiting then.

Practicals: the line runs twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, with less frequent service overnight. The historic green cars have steps and are not wheelchair accessible; accessible buses run on the route. Hold on to the overhead rail when standing; the cars sway. The ride is free of commentary, so download a self-guided map or simply watch. For the classic Uptown day, ride out to Audubon Park in the morning, walk to the zoo or the river, lunch on Magazine Street, explore the Garden District in the afternoon, and ride back downtown as the light turns gold on the oaks.