Xiamen has a growing metro network with several lines covering most visitor destinations: Line 1 connects the high-speed rail station to the ferry terminal area; Line 3 runs to the airport. Buses are extensive and cheap but the routes are confusing without a Chinese-language app. Taxis are metered and reasonably priced; DiDi (the Chinese equivalent of Uber) works well throughout the city.
Cycling is the best way to explore the Huandao Lu coastal road — bicycle hire is available at several points along the route, and the dedicated cycling path makes it safe and scenic. On Gulangyu Island, there are no cars and no bicycles; walking is the only option, which suits the island's scale well. The island is about 1.8 square kilometres — you can cross it on foot in 20 minutes.