Public Transportation: Buses, Trams, and Trolleys

Buses are the most commonly used public transportation within cities. They run at intervals of about seven to ten minutes during the day and evening. They run less regularly late at night and shut down between the hours of midnight and 5:00 a.m. The bus may often be overcrowded, and it is important to guard your bag or purse from potential pickpockets.

Tickets may be purchased at a booth at the bus stop, from bus drivers, or from newspaper stands. Most tickets are good for all types of public transportation. Ticket options range from a one-month pass (with discounts for students and seniors) to regular or transfer tickets. Passes can only be purchased at bus stop ticket booths. It is necessary to validate the ticket on the bus using the ticket validating machine. Officials on the bus routinely check to see the validated ticket, and failure to validate will result in a fine.

Trolleys and trams have different routes from buses, so passengers are advised to check routes for the sake of convenience. Tickets are the same as those used for buses. Again, tickets must be validated on the tram or trolley. Trolleys tend to be slow since they frequently get stuck in traffic but go further into the neighborhoods than buses or trams.