Africa > South Africa > George (GRJ)
The Car or no Car advice for George can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in George ; 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 George ?
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 George?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
In this part of South Africa, the answer is usually clear.
🚗 Advantages of Renting a Car in George
Renting a car is strongly recommended 🚗.
George is ideally positioned for exploring the Garden Route, but almost all of the highlights — beaches, forests, viewpoints, and neighbouring towns — are spread out and difficult to reach without a car ⏱️.
A car gives easy access to places like Wilderness, Knysna, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, and the mountain passes into the Klein Karoo 🛣️.
The surrounding scenery, including coastal drives, forest roads, and mountain routes, is best experienced independently 🏞️.
Road conditions are generally good, traffic is light outside peak times, and driving is relaxed by South African standards 🚦.
🚫 Disadvantages of Renting a Car
Within central George, a car may feel unnecessary for short errands 🚶♂️.
Traffic can build up during weekday rush hours, especially on routes linking residential areas and shopping zones 😬.
If your stay is extremely short and focused on one location, a rental car may be underused 💸.
🚕 No Car: Possible but Limiting
George is not well suited to car-free travel 🚫.
Public transport is limited and aimed primarily at local commuting rather than visitor travel 🧭.
Taxis and ride-hailing services exist but are not ideal for scenic exploration or multiple daily trips 🚕.
Without a car, accessing beaches, forests, and nearby towns becomes slow or impractical ⏱️.
🚆 Revival of the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe
After nearly two decades of silence, plans are well under way to bring back the iconic Outeniqua Choo Tjoe as a heritage tourist train along the Garden Route. In late 2025, a 25-year concession agreement was signed between Transnet and the Outeniqua Choo Tjoe Company, marking the most concrete progress yet toward restoring and operating the line between George and Knysna as a world-class tourism experience.
The restoration will proceed in two phases: first between Knysna and Sedgefield, then from Sedgefield to George. Clearing of vegetation and initial engineering assessments are already under way, with bridge surveys, track repairs, locomotive restoration, and carriage refurbishment in progress.
While no official opening date has yet been set, project leaders estimate the first phase could be completed in about 12 months, with full service along the entire George–Knysna line potentially following within two to two-and-a-half years.
The revival is not just about nostalgia; it is expected to have significant economic impact, attracting tourists back to this scenic rail corridor and supporting jobs and businesses along the route.
✈️ Getting to George
George is served by George Airport (GRJ), with frequent flights from cities such as Cape Town and Johannesburg, making it one of the most convenient arrival points on the Garden Route ✈️.
🧾 Conclusion: should you rent a car in George?
If you want to experience the Garden Route properly, you should rent a car. It is the most practical and enjoyable way to explore the region.
If your stay is extremely short and tightly focused on one area, you could manage without one — but with clear limitations.
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