The downtown is genuinely walkable — almost every place mentioned on these pages is within a twenty-minute walk of the Old Capitol. The CAMBUS shuttle system, run by the university, is free for everyone and useful for getting between downtown and the west campus or the hospital. Iowa City Transit covers the wider city for a low flat fare.
Bike rental is available through the city's bikeshare. A car is convenient for evenings on the Coralville strip or for day trips out into the surrounding countryside but is not necessary for a downtown-only visit.