Karlsruhe has one of Germany's best urban tram networks. The Karlsruhe Model — trams that run on city streets but also continue onto mainline railway tracks to reach surrounding towns — was pioneered here in 1992 and has been copied across Germany and beyond. Within the city, trams and buses run frequently on all major routes, and the Marktplatz in the centre is the hub for most lines.
The city centre is walkable; most sights are within 20–30 minutes on foot of the Marktplatz. Cycling is easy on the flat city streets — Karlsruhe has an extensive network of bike paths and bike rental is available through the KVV (the local transport authority) at several stations. A day ticket on the KVV network covers unlimited tram and bus travel within the city zone and is good value for a day of sightseeing.