Public transit by city
How to use public transit in 42 major travel cities — system name, fares, day-pass prices in USD, payment methods, and the scam to watch for.
Cheapest day passes (USD)
If you're city-hopping, here's where your transit money goes furthest.
#1
Shanghai
China
US$2.50
day pass
#2
Delhi
India
US$2.50
day pass
#3
Bangkok
Thailand
US$4.00
day pass
#4
Istanbul
Turkey
US$4.00
day pass
#5
Athens
Greece
US$4.50
day pass
#6
Chicago
United States
US$5.00
day pass
#7
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
US$5.40
day pass
#8
Tokyo
Japan
US$5.50
day pass
#9
Prague
Czechia
US$5.50
day pass
#10
San Francisco
United States
US$5.50
day pass
#11
San Diego
United States
US$6.00
day pass
#12
Seattle
United States
US$6.00
day pass
All cities — alphabetical
AmsterdamMetro + Tram + Bus + FerryAthensAthens Metro + Tram + Bus + Suburban RailBangkokBTS Skytrain + MRT Subway + Airport Rail LinkBarcelonaMetro + Tram + BusBostonMBTA Subway (the T) + Bus + Commuter RailBrusselsSTIB Metro + Tram + BusBudapestBudapest Metro + Tram + Bus + TrolleybusCairoCairo Metro + BusCape TownMyCiTi Bus + MetrorailChicagoChicago 'L' (Elevated) + CTA Bus + Metra (commuter)CopenhagenCopenhagen Metro + S-train + Bus + Harbor BusDelhiDelhi MetroDubaiDubai Metro + Tram + Bus + Water TaxiDublinDublin Bus + Luas (tram) + DART (rail)EdinburghLothian Buses + Edinburgh TramsHelsinkiHelsinki Metro + Tram + Bus + FerryHong KongMTR + Bus + TramIstanbulMetro + Tram + Funicular + Bus + MarmarayLisbonLisbon Metro + Tram + Bus + FunicularLondonLondon Underground (Tube) + Bus + DLR + OvergroundMadridMetro + Cercanías + BusMexico CityMexico City Metro + Metrobus + SuburbanoMilanMilan Metro + Tram + BusMontrealMétro + Bus + REM (commuter)MumbaiMumbai Suburban Railway + Metro + BusNew YorkMTA Subway + BusOsloOslo T-bane + Tram + Bus + FerryParisMétro + RER + Bus + TramPragueMetro + Tram + BusRio de JaneiroMetro + Bus + BRT (TransOlímpica/TransCarioca)RomeMetro + Bus + TramSan DiegoTrolley + BusSan FranciscoBART + Muni Metro + Cable Car + Bus + FerrySão PauloMetrô + CPTM (rail) + BusSeattleSound Transit Link Light Rail + Metro Bus + StreetcarShanghaiShanghai Metro + MaglevSingaporeMRT + LRT + BusSydneySydney Trains + Buses + Light Rail + FerriesTokyoTokyo Metro + Toei Subway + JR linesTorontoTTC Subway + Bus + StreetcarVancouverSkyTrain + Bus + SeaBusViennaU-Bahn + Tram + Bus + S-Bahn
Universal transit-traveler rules
- Validate paper tickets. Most of Europe (Italy, Czechia, Hungary, Germany) sells tickets you must stamp before boarding. Inspectors fine €60-100+ for unvalidated tickets and don't accept "I didn't know."
- Touch in AND touch out on London, Amsterdam, Sydney, Copenhagen, Singapore — failing to touch out caps you at the max fare.
- Daily caps beat day passes in cities where contactless cards auto-cap (London, Sydney, Copenhagen). Just tap your phone or card every ride — the system stops charging once you hit the daily limit.
- Pickpocket hotspots are predictable: packed metro cars, tourist-route trams, escalators in transit hubs. Bags in front, phones in pockets, no flashy watches.
- The night-bus question: most cities have one. They're usually safer than they look but slower than rideshare. Check the schedule before your last metro.