50 types of transport from around the world

Last updated: 7 October 2026

There are many weird and wonderful types of transport around the world. From everyday types of transport such as cars, planes and trains to unusual ones such as camels, dune buggies and cable cars, there is a huge variety. This article explains 50 types of transport from around the world.

Types of transport around the world

When it comes to getting from A to B in different parts of the world, there are always plenty of options. Some are practical, like cars and buses, whereas others are more about the experience- a horse and carriage, for example. Fifty different types of transport are outlined below.

1. Bicycles (sustainable type of transport)

Bicycles, more commonly known as bikes, are prevalent around the world. They are a low-cost form of transport, in that once you have paid for the bike itself it is free to ride. With two wheels and zero emissions, bikes are also eco-friendly and good for health. The Netherlands has more bicycles than people, and cycling rates are also high in Denmark, Germany and China. Bike-sharing schemes and e-bikes have made cycling more popular in cities around the world.

2. Coach

Coaches are used for group travel and inter-city travel. You can hire a coach as a group to travel to a concert, for example, and schools often use them for field trips. They are also often a more affordable way to travel between cities. This is especially true in the UK, where train travel is very expensive.

3. Tuk-Tuk

The official name is an auto rickshaw. They are motorised rickshaws and are common in hot/tropical countries as they’re not fully enclosed. They are also fairly inexpensive to buy, own and use so can be found in various developing countries. Tuk-tuks are most common in India, and Thailand, and electric versions are becoming increasingly common.

4. Camel

Camels are used for transportation in sandy desert areas throughout Asia and northern Africa. This is because they can go several days without needing water and can carry large amounts of freight as well as people.

5. Cable Car

Technically called an aerial tramway, cable cars are for short distances. Small pods travel via two stationary ropes with a third moving rope, and they move fairly slowly. They are rarely used for urban transport or commuting (though in Wroclaw, Poland, you can cross the river using cable car where there is no bridge) but are common in ski resorts. They are most commonly found in the Alpine regions of Europe. However, some cities use them as public transport- La Paz in Bolivia has the world’s largest urban cable car network, Mi Teleférico.

6. Skateboard (fun type of transport!)

Skateboarding became an Olympic sport at the Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021), but it has been practised for decades. Some people use skateboards as a means of getting from A to B, too! This tends to be younger people heading to school or college, and is more common in America than elsewhere.

7. Aeroplane 

Also known as an airplane or simply a plane, an aeroplane is a fixed-wing aircraft. Commercial aviation is used to carry passengers and cargo around the world, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expected airlines to carry a record 5.2 billion passengers in 2026. Planes are also used by the military and for recreation.

8. Dune Buggy

Also known as a beach buggy, these are small motor vehicles with large wheels designed to use on beaches and other sandy locations. Generally they are used for recreation and fun, as well as sightseeing. They are commonly found in countries such as Peru, the UAE and Morocco.

9. Mokoro

This is a type of canoe commonly used in the Okavango Delta and on the Chobe River, located in Botswana. It is one of the less common types of transport in the world, and is now widely used to take tourists into the Okavango Delta. It is propelled through shallow water by standing in the ‘stern’ area and pushing with a pole.

10. Narrowboat

Found in the UK, this is a particular type of canal boat. They are designed to fit in the narrow locks here, and today they are mainly used for holidays and leisure. Thousands of people also live on narrowboats.

11. Reed boat (unusual type of transport)

Reed boats are among the oldest known types of boats. They are still used in a few places around the world as traditional fishing boats (mainly in South America- the Uros people of Lake Titicaca are famous for their totora reed boats and floating islands) though they have mostly been replaced with planked boats. They are often waterproofed with tar.

12. Moped

A moped is a small motorcycle, popular in Italy, Vietnam and many other parts of Southeast Asia. They are only just faster than a bicycle, although they are engine-powered.

13. Golf Buggy

Commonly found wherever golf courses are located, golf buggies are small vehicles (big enough for two) used to transport players and their equipment around a course.

14. Yacht

Yachts are a type of boat associated with celebrities and the rich, found in well-off parts of the world such as Miami and Cannes, used for holidays and parties.

15. Monorail

A monorail is an elevated singular-track railway used within theme parks and airports for the most part, to eliminate the need to walk from A to B.

16. Ferry

Ferries are a mode of transport used to transport people and cargo between countries. Many ferries carry vehicles, making them popular for holidays without the need to fly.

17. Tram

A tram is a type of train that runs on a track on the road. They are common in European cities as a mode of transport – Prague, Vienna and Ghent, for example.

18. Gondola

Found in Venice, these small boats (steered by gondoliers) are mostly used for tourist purposes now but were once the main mode of transport in this Italian city.

19. Zip-line (unique type of transport!)

A zip-line (or zip-wire) is a pulley on a stainless steel cable, generally found on a slope. Not really used for transit, they are more so used for fun and adventure sport. Zip World’s Velocity 2 in North Wales is the fastest zip line in the world, while the Jebel Jais Flight in the UAE is the world’s longest, at around 2.8 km.

20. Cruise Ship

Cruise ships are another type of boat used to transport people from country to country. However, they are much more comfortable than ferries and the ship is part of the holiday itself with various amenities included.

21. Coco Taxi

With three wheels and the shape of a half-coconut, this is an affordable way to travel in the cities of Havana, Varadero and Trinidad.

22. Dog Sled

This is a sled or sleigh pulled by dogs, and used to travel through snow and ice. Dog sleds are found in countries such as Canada and Greenland, as well as the state of Alaska.

23. Train 

A train is one of the most common types of transport around the world. Trains are track-based modes of transport used for both short and long journeys.

24. Airboat

Found in marshy areas like the Everglades, Florida, airboats are used for fishing and also for tourist purposes.

25. Tanga

Found across the Indian subcontinent, this is a specific type of horse drawn carriage which uses just one horse. They are so slow that they are not allowed in many cities and towns!

26. Felucca

This is a traditional wooden sailing boat with a canvas sail, which comes in various sizes and is mostly used for sightseeing. They can be found mainly in Egypt as well as Malta, Tunisia and Iraq.

27. Jeepney

These crowded and decorated jeeps are buses in the Philippines, although the traditional versions are gradually being replaced under a government modernisation programme.

28. Suspension Railway

This is a type of elevated monorail in which the vehicle is suspended from a fixed track built above streets or waterways. The best-known example is the Wuppertal Schwebebahn in Germany, which opened in 1901.

29. Car

A car is another of the most common types of transport in the world. Cars can travel both short and long distances, and can be carried by ferry across countries.

30. Hovercraft

Hovertravel’s service between Portsmouth (Southsea) and the Isle of Wight is the world’s only year-round commercial passenger Hovercraft service. Hovercraft can travel across most surfaces, including land and water.

31. Helicopter 

A helicopter is a rotorcraft which can fly forward, backward and laterally thanks to its rotors. They are mostly used for the emergency services and military as well as for sightseeing tours, such as over the Grand Canyon or New York.

32. Submarine 

This is a watercraft which can operate entirely underwater. Submarine usage is almost entirely military, but there are a few tourist submarines offering sightseeing trips in places such as Lanzarote, Tenerife and Hawaii. Deep-sea tourist submersibles came under intense scrutiny after the Titan implosion in 2023.

33. Reindeer Sled (a Christmas type of transport!)

Found in snowy countries like Finland, this is a sled pulled by reindeer mostly used for tourism, particularly on Christmas trips to Lapland.

34. Funicular

This is a cable railway found on steep slopes. They are found in many places around the world, with some famous ones in Cape Town, Hong Kong, Italy, Hungary and Canada.

35. Underground Funicular 

Located in Istanbul, Turkey, the Tünel is a funicular located underground and opened in 1875, the second-oldest underground urban railway in the world after the London Underground.

36. Truck

A truck is a large motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. They tend to have a small cab at the front, and back end shapes vary depending on the cargo.

37. Lorry (a practical type of transport)

A lorry is similar to a truck but with less variation at the back – they are generally just rectangular with a flat platform.

38. Unicycle 

With one wheel, a saddle and pedals, this is similar to a bike. They have mostly fallen out of use except for recreational usage, although some commuter unicycles do exist.

39. Donkey

Donkeys have been used for transport for thousands of years and are still working animals in many countries. In some tourist destinations, donkey rides are offered as a holiday activity, although there are animal welfare concerns in some places, such as Santorini.

40. Dinghy 

A dinghy is a small boat, often inflatable, that is usually used as a tender to ferry people to and from a larger boat, although there are sailing dinghies too. They are not designed for long journeys.

41. Parachute 

A parachute is a device used to slow a person’s fall (by creating drag) when jumping out of a plane. They are used for recreation rather than transit.

42. Sail Boat

A sail boat is a type of boat found worldwide, and propelled mostly or entirely by sails. Sailing holidays are very popular in Croatia, Greece, France and the Caribbean.

43. Mobile Home

Mobile homes, including RVs and caravans, are small ‘houses’ on wheels which can be driven from A to B. They are common types of transport around the world, particularly in the US and Canada as well as the UK and Germany.

44. Canoe

A canoe is a lightweight and very narrow boat propelled by a single-bladed paddle. These are used for sport/recreation globally.

45. Maglev

Maglev (magnetic levitation) trains use magnets to float above the track. The Shanghai Maglev, which opened in 2004 and has reached speeds of 431 km/h, is the best-known example, and Japan is building a maglev line between Tokyo and Nagoya that will be one of the fastest trains in the world.

46. Yak

In the Himalayan area and in Inner Mongolia, tourists can ride yaks. This is more of a tourist pastime these days, but yaks have been used for transit here over the centuries.

47. Cyclo

This is a taxi bike with three wheels and a double seat at the front for passengers, covered by a canopy. They are still used in Vietnam, mainly for tourist rides.

48. Snowmobile (perfect type of transport for snow)

This is a motorised vehicle specifically designed for travelling through snow and ice. You’ll find snowmobiles in places like Alaska, Greenland and Finland.

49. Segway

A segway is a self-balancing mode of personal transport with low emissions used for sightseeing tours in many cities. The original Segway PT was discontinued in 2020, and e-scooters have since become a more common form of personal transport.

50. Horse Drawn Tram

Located in Victor Harbor, Australia, this is simply a tram drawn by a horse. It is one of the most unusual forms of transport around the world.

Types of transport

There are many interesting types of transport around the world. As well as common types of transport such as cars, trains and planes, there are many unusual, innovative and fun ways to travel- and new forms of transport, from e-scooters to electric planes, are emerging all the time.

Types of transport: FAQs

Below are answers to some of the most common questions about types of transport.

Further reading

If you found this article useful, you may also find these articles helpful-

• The history of transportation
• Types of rail transport
• Types of airlines
• Types of tourism glossary

About the author

Dr Hayley Stainton is a tourism academic, examiner and the founder of Tourism Teacher. She has a PhD in tourism and more than 20 years’ experience teaching travel and tourism at school and university level. Read more about Hayley