Oxford is genuinely walkable, which is unusual for a Southern town. The Square, the university, Rowan Oak, and most of the better restaurants are within a 20-minute walk of each other.
On foot. Walking is the easiest way to see the centre. The Square to the Lyceum is about 15 minutes through pleasant residential streets; Rowan Oak is a 15-minute walk south from the Square and connects to the University Museum through Bailey's Woods.
The OUT system. The free Oxford-University Transit bus runs several routes through town and the campus on weekdays during term time. The Red Line is most useful for visitors — it loops between the Square, the campus, and the main shopping areas every fifteen minutes or so.
By car. A car is useful for the outlying lakes (Sardis Reservoir, Enid Reservoir) and for Holly Springs National Forest. Parking on the Square is metered and limited during business hours; the parking garages on the eastern side of the Square are the easier option.
By rideshare. Uber and Lyft operate in Oxford and are the easy late-night option after the bars close.