The Solomon Islands

Oceania > 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands

The city by city Car or no Car advice for Solomon Islands can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Solomon Islands;  is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).

🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Solomon Islands?

These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.

---

💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Solomon Islands?

These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.

---

🏙️ Main Cities in Solomon Islands

---

The Solomon Islands are one of the most remote and untouched destinations in the South Pacific. The country stretches across hundreds of islands, most of which have no roads at all. Therefore, the question should you rent a car in the Solomon Islands? is unusually easy to answer: for most travellers, the answer is no.

Cars only make sense on Guadalcanal, around the capital Honiara, and even there the road network is limited. The rest of the country is reached by boats, ferries, small planes, or local transport arranged by lodges.

---

🚗 Car Rental in Honiara – Limited but Possible

You can rent a car at Honiara International Airport (HIR) or through a few local agencies in town. However, driving conditions vary:

• Roads are often narrow, potholed, and slow.

• Traffic in Honiara can be chaotic, especially at peak times.

• Outside the city, many roads are unpaved and sometimes impassable after rain.

A rental car only really helps if you’re staying in Honiara for several days and want to explore the east and west coasts of Guadalcanal at your own pace. Even then, taxis or local drivers can be easier.

---

🚌 Buses and Shared Transport

Honiara has informal minibuses running along the main roads. They’re cheap, frequent, and widely used, although they don’t follow exact schedules. For short hops within the capital, they work well. Outside Honiara, public transport becomes very limited.

---

🚤 Boats, Ferries & Small Planes — Your Real Transport Network

Most movement across the country happens by sea or air, not by road.

Inter-island ferries & boats

Ferries connect Honiara with islands such as:

• Malaita

• Western Province (Gizo, Munda)

• Makira

• Isabel

Schedules change often, so travellers usually check in person or through local accommodation.

Solomon Airlines

The national carrier links the islands with small turboprop flights, making it the quickest and most reliable way to reach:

• Gizo

• Munda

• Seghe

• Kirakira

• Auki

This is the most practical way to travel between islands, especially during the wet season.

---

🏝️ When a Car Is Useful

A car can help if you want to explore the following on Guadalcanal:

• Bloody Ridge (WWII history)

• Tenaru Falls trailhead

• Villages east of Honiara

• Bonegi Beach for diving (wrecks offshore)

Even here, many travellers hire a local driver instead, because road conditions can be unpredictable.

---

🌋 The Rest of the Solomons — No Roads Needed

Once you leave Guadalcanal, cars become irrelevant. Highlights such as:

• Gizo & Munda (diving

• Tetepare (untouched wilderness)

• Marovo Lagoon

• Rennell & Bellona (UNESCO lake landscapes)

…are places reached only by boat or aircraft. Local guesthouses and eco-lodges typically arrange all transfers.

---

🧭 Summary — Should You Rent a Car in the Solomon Islands?

You probably shouldn’t rent a car in the Solomon Islands unless you plan to stay around Honiara and want a little more independence. Everywhere else, you’ll rely on boats, ferries, flights, and local transfers, which are the natural and most enjoyable way to explore this far-flung island nation.

If you want flexibility on Guadalcanal, hiring a car for a day or two might help, but for most travellers it’s unnecessary. The Solomon Islands are best experienced on the water, in the air, and on foot, rather than behind the wheel. 🌴✈️🚤

---

---

🚗 ✅ ❌ Summary Table

This summary brings together taxis*, how much you really need a car, whether it’s worth it, driver options, local driving rules, and an overall recommendation. *Taxis act as a hybrid between private cars and public transport, so they aren’t counted in the overall public-transport or non-car scores. 🚕  This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow.