On Public Transit, Some of the World’s Best Sightseeing

From Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Sydney, the best—and the cheapest—views are on ferries, buses, trains, and gondolas.

1 minute read

August 23, 2019, 5:00 AM PDT

By Camille Fink


Metro Cable

Alexander Ruiz Acevedo / Shutterstock

Keith Plocek writes about cities around the world where spectacular views are accessible and available on transit. "Many tourists ride the free Staten Island Ferry just to see the skyline and the Statue of Liberty, but New York isn’t the only place where public transportation provides outstanding vistas."

In London, he suggests hopping aboard the Route 11 bus, which travels by a number of sites, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Millennium Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and Westminster Abbey.

For most Americans, the cable cars of Medellín, Colombia, are a less familiar mode of transportation, but they are a cheap, and breathtaking, way to travel in the city. "A one-way fare costs tourists and locals alike 2,255 Colombian pesos (68 cents). You haven’t really experienced this city until you’ve queued up with locals and dangled over red-brick buildings while the morning sun pours into the valley below," says Plocek.

He also suggests traveling on ferries in Hong Kong and Sydney; the Venice water buses; trains in Lisbon, Los Angeles, and Paris; and an outdoor elevator in Salvador, Brazil.

Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in The New York Times

Single-family homes in a suburban neighborhood in Florida.

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power

The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

June 16, 2024 - The Guardian

Multistory apartment building under construction.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing

Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

June 10, 2024 - Nooga Today

Aerial view of intersection in New York City with yellow cabs and zebra crosswalks.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths

Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

June 13, 2024 - Todd Litman

Brick high-rise apartment buildings in New York City

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply

New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

June 18 - University of Kansas

Couple on one side of desk with banker on other side looking at paperwork.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?

Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

June 18 - Shelterforce Magazine

Rendering of Glory Park in Lewisville, Texas.

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas

The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.

June 18 - Lewisville Leader

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.