St Helena

Africa > 🇸🇭 St Helena

The city by city Car or no Car advice for St Helena can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in St Helena;  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 St Helena?

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.

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💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in St Helena?

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

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🏙️ Main Cities in St Helena

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These three remote islands form one of the world’s most isolated territories. Although they share a single administration, they sit thousands of kilometres apart in the South Atlantic and offer very different travel experiences. Naturally, visitors ask: should you rent a car in St Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha? 🚗🌋🌊

The short answer is mostly no, with one important exception: St Helena, where renting a car genuinely improves your trip. Ascension makes car hire optional, while Tristan da Cunha does not offer car rental at all.

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🟦 St Helena — The Island Where Renting a Car Helps Most

St Helena is rugged, green, volcanic, and much larger than many travellers expect. Its landscapes rise steeply from Jamestown, and attractions are scattered across deep valleys and exposed plateaus.

🚘 Why renting a car works well on St Helena

• Steep terrain means buses struggle to reach many viewpoints

• Attractions spread out, including Longwood House, Napoleon’s Tomb, Plantation House & Jonathan the tortoise

• Scenic spots everywhere — Diana’s Peak, Lot’s Wife, Sandy Bay, Blue Hill

• Public transport is infrequent, especially outside Jamestown

• Flexible days let you stop for photos whenever the scenery demands 📸🌄

🚫 Reasons you might skip the car

• You’re staying entirely in Jamestown

• Your hotel provides a driver or guide

• You’re uncomfortable with narrow cliffside roads

Verdict for St Helena: Renting a car for 2–4 days gives you the freedom to enjoy the island’s dramatic viewpoints. 🚗⛰️

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🟨 Ascension Island — Car Rental Optional

Ascension feels barren and volcanic, with roads linking Georgetown, the airfield, Green Mountain, and remote beaches. Distances look short, but walking in the heat can be demanding.

✔️ Why you might rent a car on Ascension

• Green Mountain is a long uphill journey

• Many beaches and hiking trailheads sit far apart

• There’s little shade, so driving makes exploring easier

• Some visiting workers or researchers already rely on cars

🤷 Why you might skip it

• Hitch-hiking is normal and socially accepted

• The island is small, so journeys are short

• Many visitors join organised trips or have workplace transport

Verdict for Ascension: Renting a car is helpful but not essential. 🚙🌋

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🟥 Tristan da Cunha — No Cars for Visitors

Tristan da Cunha is the most remote inhabited island on Earth. With no airport, all arrivals come by ship after a long sea journey. Once you arrive, the entire settlement — Edinburgh of the Seven Seas — is walkable.

❌ Why you can’t rent a car

• No rental agencies exist

• Roads are extremely limited and don’t extend far

• Local vehicles are used only for practical needs, not tourism

✔️ How visitors get around

• On foot, which is easy within the settlement

• Community-organised transport for excursions

• Boats for coastal trips

Verdict for Tristan da Cunha: A clear ❌ — no rental cars and no need for one.

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✈️🛳️ Travel Between the Islands

Movement between the three islands is very limited and mainly logistical rather than tourist-driven:

✈️ Flights

• St Helena: has scheduled flights from Johannesburg and occasional charters

• Ascension: receives limited flights tied to military or contractor operations

• Tristan da Cunha: has no airport

🛳️ Ships

• The RMS supply ships and occasional research vessels connect the islands

• Tristan da Cunha receives a handful of ships each year

• St Helena–Ascension links run more frequently, but not often enough for casual island-hopping

Travel between the islands requires patience, planning, and flexibility.

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🏁 Final Verdict — Should you rent a car in St Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha?

• St Helena → 👍 Yes, for a few days

• Ascension → 🤷 Optional

• Tristan da Cunha → ❌ No

If your itinerary includes only St Helena, then renting a car will dramatically improve your ability to explore volcanoes, coastlines, valleys, and viewpoints. If you’re visiting all three islands, expect a completely different transportation experience on each one.

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🚗 ✅ ❌ 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.