Oceania > 🇵🇼Palau
Should You Hire a Car in Palau? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Palau (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Palau - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by Chat GPT, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.
Palau is a small island nation scattered across the western Pacific — pristine, tranquil, and home to some of the most spectacular marine environments on Earth. Its main island, Babeldaob, is connected to Koror, the tourism hub, by a bridge, making exploration relatively simple. The key question for visitors is: should you rent a car in Palau?
🚗 Getting Around Palau
For most travellers, renting a car makes perfect sense. Palau’s islands are sparsely populated, public transport is extremely limited, and taxis are expensive for long distances. A rental car gives you the freedom to explore beaches, viewpoints, and cultural sites at your own pace.
Several international and local car hire firms operate in Koror, which is also where most accommodation is based. Cars can be picked up directly from Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR), a few kilometres away, or delivered to hotels.
Driving is on the right-hand side, and roads are generally in good condition, particularly the compact, sealed loop road around Babeldaob.
🌅 What You Can See by Car
Palau may be best known for its underwater world, but there’s still plenty to explore on land:
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Babeldaob Island: Visit traditional Bai meeting houses, Ngardmau Waterfall, and scenic viewpoints over the lagoon.
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Koror: The country’s main urban centre with restaurants, small museums, and tour operators for diving and snorkelling trips.
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Airai: Home to the Airai Bai, one of the oldest surviving traditional meeting houses in Micronesia.
A car lets you move easily between these spots, stopping for photos or short hikes whenever you like.
🛥️ Getting Beyond the Road
Many of Palau’s highlights are offshore — from the famous Rock Islands to Jellyfish Lake and world-class dive sites like Blue Corner. These are reached only by boat tours, not by road. Most hotels and tour operators in Koror can arrange full-day or half-day excursions, including transfers to and from the marina, so a rental car isn’t needed for these trips.
🚕 Alternatives to Driving
Public transport in Palau is minimal. There are no scheduled buses and only a few taxis, which don’t circulate widely outside Koror. Some resorts offer shuttle services to beaches or town centres, and for short stays this might be enough.
However, if you’re staying for more than a couple of days and want to see Babeldaob properly, a rental car remains the most practical option.
🧭 Summary — Should You Rent a Car in Palau?
Why you should:
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Gives full freedom to explore Babeldaob and cultural sites.
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Public transport is almost non-existent.
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Roads are quiet and well-maintained.
Why you might not:
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Most of the island-hopping attractions are only accessible by boat.
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For very short stays, resort transfers and taxis may suffice.
✅ Conclusion:
In Palau, renting a car is strongly recommended for independent exploration of the main islands. Combine it with organized boat tours to experience the famous lagoons and marine life — that way, you truly enjoy both sides of this island paradise 🌴🚙🌊.
