Car Hire Isle of Man

Guide

Situated in the Irish Sea midway between England and Ireland is the beautiful Isle of Man. Filled with history, the island is self-governed and is only 20 miles long offering something for everyone, from exploring Viking castles, diving on shipwrecks, to bird watching and playing golf. Travel around freely with cheap car hire in the Isle of Man. Book with us today for the best deals online. We compare quotes from over fifty top car rental companies, to find you the best deals and cars across the market.

Explore the Isle of Man

The island is literally littered with attractions. Walking around the medieval castle in Castletown will transport you back in time. A visit to Laxey Wheel, a huge water wheel over 70m tall, offers rewarding views of the countryside. You can even ride on old tramcars up to the top of Snaefel, the island’s highest mountain, or witness the annual TT races, an exciting high speed motorcycle race on the public roads.

Although the island is predominantly rural, Douglas, its small capital city, is the thriving hub of most of the island’s activity. Douglas is small enough to walk around, although many people use the charming horse drawn trams to get around. A walk down Strand Street will take you past the modern shopping centres to the sea front with its hotels, piers and entertainment venues, such as the Edwardian Gaiety Theatre built in 1893, or the National Sports Centre, which offers a gym, swimming and various indoor and outdoor sports. Also nearby is the Manx Museum with its outstanding overview of the island’s cultural heritage.

Whilst Douglas is the centre for nightlife, fine dining is on offer across the island and everywhere there’s a wide range of seafood available, such as fresh crab, Manx Lobster, and the local delicacy, Queenies (a type of scallop).

Being so small, the island is ideal for exploring by car, so wherever you stay, you can visit the beaches, the mountains or enjoy the attractions of Douglas in an easy day trip.

The only airport, Ronaldsway (near Castletown), is a short bus ride or drive to anywhere on the island and there are direct flights from many UK cities.

Transport

Geographically, this island is rugged and uncompromising. Set in the Irish Sea, it is often the victim of turbulent weather patterns. Once on the island, getting around poses no problem; there is a decent bus service and the roads are well-maintained.

By air
Ronaldsway Airport is located in the south of the island, east of Castletown. There are six airlines which serve the island: Aer Arann, Eastern Airways, British Airways, Euromanx, Flybe and Keenair. British Airways operate flights to the Isle of Man from several airports; London Luton, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow. Eastern Airways flies from Leeds-Bradford, Bristol, Birmingham, Newcastle and East Midlands.

Car hire is available at the airport, the port and many of the island's villages and towns.

By taxi
Taxis are available at a fixed tariff and meet all flights. Alternatively, bus number 1 runs through the airport from Port Erin to Douglas hourly.

By ferry
Ferry services operate to and from the Isle of Man, usually from Heysham, Dublin, Belfast and Liverpool through the 'Steam Packet Company'. If you would like to get to the island in the quickest time possible then the Fastcraft services are your only option and these only operate during the summer period.

The island is also a destination for cruise ships, and vessels dock either in the sheltered bay or alongside the quays of Douglas.