MARTA's new wrapped train RELATED LINKS Return to Atlanta City Guide

Given its sprawling layout, Atlanta is a city designed for driving, but depending on where you stay and what you plan to do, a rental car is not always your best bet for local transportation. The Metropolitan Atlanta Transit Authority (MARTA) operates an efficient light-rail system with two principal lines that intersect in the middle of town, providing a fast and easy link from the airport and serving some of the city's primary attractions and commercial districts. That said, MARTA stations are not found near all of the places you might want to go, and while buses and taxis are available, driving is a better option for many destinations.

When planning your trip, try to get a sense of how much you're likely to stray from the MARTA rail lines and use that as a basis for deciding whether or not to rent a car. If you do get a car, be sure to budget for the steep parking fees charged by some Atlanta hotels, and brace yourself for ubiquitous traffic jams during morning and evening commute hours.

If you opt to use public transportation instead, be sure to choose a hotel that's close to a MARTA station, and consider buying a MARTA Visitor Pass instead of paying the normal fare of $1.75 per ride. The single-day pass available for $8 is not appealing unless you'll take four or more rides in the day, but multi-day passes ($13 for seven days, for example) can be a very good value. For route and fare information, visit www.itsmarta.com.

For trips around Buckhead, use the free BUC shuttle service (www.bucride.com), which has three routes linking the Lenox MARTA station to hotels, shopping areas, restaurants and office complexes on or near Peachtree Road, Lenox Road and Piedmont Road. Buses run every 8-15 minutes Monday through Friday from 7 am to 9:30 a.m.; every 20 minutes from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; every 10-20 minutes from 3:30-7 p.m.; and every 30 minutes on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m..