Europe > Spain > Fuerteventura (FUE)
The Car or no Car advice for Fuerteventura can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Fuerteventura ; 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 Fuerteventura ?
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 Fuerteventura?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
Fuerteventura without a car 🚌
It is possible to get around Fuerteventura without a car, but it requires patience. Public buses (guaguas) do exist and are reliable, yet they are infrequent and slow. Routes tend to radiate from Puerto del Rosario and Corralejo, and connections between resorts often involve long waits. Journeys that take 40 minutes by car can easily stretch to two hours or more by bus.
Taxis are widely available, but distances are long and fares add up quickly. For short hops within resort areas, they are fine. However, using taxis for beach-hopping or island exploration soon becomes expensive.
Why the island favours driving 🚗
Fuerteventura is the second-largest Canary Island, yet it has a relatively small population and very low density. Roads are generally excellent, quiet, and easy to drive, with little congestion outside peak times. Unlike Tenerife or Gran Canaria, there is no motorway network, but the main roads are fast and well maintained.
Many of the island’s best beaches—especially the wild, unspoilt ones—are simply not practical to reach without a car. Places such as Cofete, remote sections of the Jandía Peninsula, and stretches of coastline far from resorts are either poorly served or not served at all by public transport 🏖️.
A different kind of island experience 🌋
This is also an island where the joy is often in the journey. Driving across volcanic landscapes, open plains, and rolling hills is part of the experience. Parking is usually free and plentiful, even near beaches and viewpoints. Fuel costs are low compared with mainland Europe, which further tilts the balance towards driving.
Conclusion – should you rent a car in Fuerteventura?
For most visitors, yes. While it is technically possible to rely on buses and taxis, a rental car transforms what you can see and how easily you can see it. On an island built around space, freedom, and nature, driving simply fits the geography far better than public transport 🌞.
