Around the world in 12 taxis
Taxis are a place of cultural exchange - all over the world. When you enter a country by plane or train, the taxi driver is often the first local you come into contact with.
Yellow icons
The Checker Cabs in New York City are arguably the most famous taxis in the world. Although Checker Motors Corporation stopped producing them in the 1980s, the robust and boxy yellow cabs are still legendary. In 1999, the last official Checker Cab in use was auctioned off for $134,500. Today, only a few can still be seen on the streets, but the gas-guzzlers are no longer practical as taxis.
The power of pink
To make travel a bit safer, a few of the big cities in Mexico - including Mexico City and Puebla - launched the Pink Cab project. The bright pink cabs are driven exclusively by women and only take women and children as passengers. They all have three essentials on board: a GPS, an emergency button and a cosmetic kit.
Back to the future
A lot of classic American cars can be found in Cuba. The vintage vehicles often have more than 100,000 kilometers behind them, but still serve as taxis. A journey through Cuba's bustling streets can be quite an experience for tourists. Taxis are often shared with other passengers, so contact with locals is guaranteed.
All aboard!
In Kinshasa, the capital of DR Congo, there is no maximum number of passengers allowed. As long as the taxi can drive, everything is allowed on board that won't fly off. Scenes like this are not only common in Africa, but also in Asia, where for many people shared taxis are the only way to cover long distances.
Water taxis in Dubai
The 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) Dubai Creek divides the city with two million residents into two districts. Since there aren't many bridges, water taxis come in handy. Only small wooden boats, which carry up to 20 people and are known as abras, are permitted on the creek. A one-way trip costs 0.22 euros ($0.30), making it the cheapest taxi in the world.
Human motor
The rickshaw was first invented in Japan and then spread throughout Asia. These days, it can be found nearly everywhere on the continent, most often attached to a bicycle. Carts pulled purely by hand, like this one in Calcutta, have become rare. Some politicians want to ban this kind of work as inhuman and out of date.
Holy ride
A taxi ride in Thailand can be an adventure. Getting into a tuk tuk - a three-wheeled moped - requires strong nerves and a calm stomach. It's much more comfortable to take a four-wheeled sedan. Tourists should inform themselves of the prices before getting in. But monks in Thailand have special status and can ride for free.
Passenger pigs
In Cambodia, there are many ways to get around, from rickshaws to motorcycle taxis to minibuses. The pick-up truck pictured here is one of the cheaper alternatives. There's plenty of room in the back. But passengers shouldn't complain if they find themselves sharing their spot with an animal.
Lost in translation
Taxis are one of the most important means of transportation in China's big cities: They're affordable and ubiquitous. In Beijing alone, there are some 66,000 taxis on the streets. Tourists should know, however, that most of the taxi drivers don't speak English, so it's helpful to have the name of your destination written down on a piece of paper in Chinese.
Ecological rainbow
When you think of London, black cabs and red double-decker buses spring to mind. That will soon change, however, since the city's famous black cabs aren't efficient enough for the London mayor, who plans to have them banned. The alternatives in the works are not only "green" - they're colorful!
Chain reaction
Berlin's taxi fleet encompasses 7,600 vehicles. From the photo, it looks like they all hang out at Tegel airport, collecting passengers one after the other like a conveyer belt. But they can also be found all over the German capital. The drivers are said to be the coolest in the country - even through they're known for speaking the heavy Berlin dialect and being very direct.
Just for tourists
Venice is famously crisscrossed with canals rather than streets of asphalt. Motorized taxi boats may be commonplace, but true romantics continue to choose the old-fashioned gondolas, hoping the gondolier will serenade them on their journey. Careful, though. The straight-out-of-a-film experience can cost an arm and a leg: A 40-minute trip goes for as much as 150 euros.