The Metrorail is an excellent means of transportation for travelers who do not want to rent a car while visiting the city. RELATED LINKS Return to Washington, D.C. City Guide

Frequent traffic jams, confusing roundabouts, security-related road closures and limited parking in many areas make driving in Washington a challenge. Fortunately the city has one of the nation's best public transportation systems, so most visitors will find it much easy to get around by rail, bus and taxi.

Metrorail is a clean, modern surface and subway network with 106 miles of track on five lines that converge in downtown Washington. Choose a hotel with easy access to a Metro station and you'll have no trouble getting to most of the major attractions in town — just try to avoid peak hours when trains are uncomfortably stuffed with commuters. Many stations are deep under ground, and the system offers a unique opportunity to ride the longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere, which rises 230 feet from the depths of Wheaton Station. Distance-based fares range from $1.35 to $3.90 per trip, though you might be able to save money with a $6.50 day pass, or a $22 short trip pass, which is good for a week of unlimited travel (extra charges apply for longer journeys during peak hours). See www.wmata.com for details.

For areas not served by the Metro, you can use Washington's extensive network of city buses, or simply hail a cab. Taxis are reasonably plentiful and affordable in D.C., with a zone-based fare system in lieu of electronic meters. The cost of each ride is determined by the number passengers and by the number of zones you traverse en route, with surcharges for rush-hour journeys and radio dispatching. Most of the major tourist attractions are in Zone 1, but for longer rides you may be able to save a little cash by consulting the zone map before jumping into a cab. (A downloadable PDF version is available online in the "Getting Around" section of the Washington, D.C. tourist office Web site at www.washington.org.) Say you're in Zone 1 near the boundary of Zone 2C, for example, and your destination is in Zone 3C. If you cross into 2C to catch a cab, you'll pay for only one zone instead of two.