Transportation

Don't bother to pack a compass. New Orleans has no north, south, east or west. The city is shaped along the Mississippi, a curve or crescent shape. Hence, the nickname, "The Crescent City." It's easy to get lost, as many streets that start as parallel on one side of the city end up perpendicular on the other. Even locals get confused.

We recommend you get a good map of the city (there's one in the Visitor's Guide section under Maps) and travel by taxi, streetcar or bus (the city has excellent public transportation), or airport shuttle. Car rental is easy and the rates are competitive. When in the French Quarter, take a horse and buggy and see the sights.

Or you might want to pack your shoes and plan to walk. New Orleans is a very visual city, with exquisite architecture and moss-draped trees. It's best seen at a slow pace so no detail is missed. Ride into the heart of the city from Louis Armstrong International Airport on a local shuttle, or ride through tree-lined streets in a piece of history: New Orleans Streetcars.