Public transportation usually starts as a logistical question, whether that means getting from the hotel to dinner, reaching a museum, or figuring out whether a day pass is worth buying. In some cities, though, the route itself becomes one of the better parts of the day. You might board because you need to cross town and find yourself watching the skyline change from the water or seeing neighborhoods from an angle that would be impossible on foot. What makes these experiences especially enjoyable is that they weren’t created for visitors.
They still carry commuters, students, families, and people heading home from work, giving travelers a way to see the city while joining its normal rhythm. Choosing the right route can therefore do more than save time. It can show how a city fits together, how its geography shaped the way people move, and why certain forms of transportation became part of its identity.
Istanbul, Türkiye: Cross The Bosphorus On A Public Ferry
Crossing between the Asian and European sides is part of everyday life here, which makes the Bosphorus ferry far more than a scenic extra. Şehir Hatları runs regular services between neighborhoods including Kadıköy, Üsküdar, Karaköy, Eminönü, Beşiktaş, and Kabataş. On the Kadıköy-Karaköy-Eminönü route, departures continue throughout the day and into the evening. Leaving Kadıköy for Eminönü or Karaköy brings minarets, domes, ferry traffic, and the historic peninsula into view as the boat approaches Europe. A scheduled ferry delivers much of the pleasure of a Bosphorus cruise while still getting you somewhere you were likely headed anyway.
Medellín, Colombia: Take Metrocable Line K Into The Hills
The steep slopes around the Aburrá Valley help explain why Medellín added cable cars to its public transportation network. Metrocable Line K connects hillside communities directly to the metro and opened between Acevedo and Santo Domingo in 2004. According to Metro de Medellín, it became the world’s first aerial cable system built specifically as part of a mass public transportation network. The roughly nine-minute ride passes above dense residential blocks while the valley opens below, making the city’s geography much easier to understand. The official Line K information lists four stations along the roughly two-kilometer route.
Hong Kong: Cross Victoria Harbour On The Star Ferry
Once the boat pulls away from the pier, Victoria Harbour gives both sides of Hong Kong’s skyline room to come into view. The Star Ferry still carries passengers between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, with the Central-Tsim Sha Tsui route operating from early morning until late evening, according to the current timetable. Towers on Hong Kong Island recede behind the boat while Kowloon’s waterfront comes steadily closer, all during a crossing short enough to fit naturally between other plans. Star Ferry still describes the service as part of Hong Kong’s cross-harbor transportation system, which keeps the experience connected to ordinary city life rather than turning it into a separate sightseeing excursion.
Wuppertal, Germany: Ride Above The River On The Schwebebahn
Suspended trains have been moving above the River Wupper since 1901, and the Schwebebahn remains far more than a piece of historic engineering. The railway celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2026 and still carries more than 80,000 passengers a day along a route of about 13 kilometers with 20 stations. Much of the line runs directly above the water, passing close to bridges, roads, and buildings squeezed into the narrow valley. The trip between Vohwinkel and Oberbarmen takes about 30 minutes, giving passengers an unusual view of a city that seems to have grown around the railway.
New York City: See The Harbor From The Staten Island Ferry
For one of New York’s broadest harbor views, there is still no ticket to buy. The Staten Island Ferry is a free form of public transportation that crosses 5.2 miles between Whitehall Terminal in Lower Manhattan and St. George Terminal on Staten Island. The journey takes about 25 minutes, runs 24 hours a day, and carries more than 16 million passengers annually. Lower Manhattan gradually recedes as the ferry heads into the harbor, while the Statue of Liberty comes into view off the route. Anyone making the round trip should remember that all passengers must disembark at St. George before boarding a ferry back.
San Francisco: Ride The Powell-Hyde Cable Car To The Waterfront
Climbing through Nob Hill and Russian Hill before dropping toward the bay gives the Powell-Hyde line a route almost designed for looking out the window. The cable car runs between Market Street and Hyde and Beach streets as part of San Francisco’s Muni system. Around Hyde and Lombard, the elevation brings views of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The changing grade is just as memorable as the scenery, particularly as the car crests the hills and begins its descent toward the waterfront.
Chicago: See Downtown From The Elevated ‘L’
On the Brown Line, residential neighborhoods on Chicago’s North Side gradually give way to the denser streets of downtown before the train reaches the elevated tracks around the Loop. From there, passengers pass upper-floor windows, rooftops, fire escapes, and architectural details that are much easier to notice from the train than from the sidewalk below. The CTA’s Brown Line information shows the route running between Kimball and downtown, while CTA system facts confirm that Chicago still has more than 35 miles of elevated railway structure. Visitors in 2026 should note that the State/Lake station is closed for reconstruction, with Clark/Lake and Washington/Wabash serving as nearby alternatives.
