Local bus
North Western Karnataka RTC (NWKRTC) buses link the town with villages and nearby towns. You buy tickets on board.
Getting here & around
Honavar transport information
As a first-time visitor, getting around Honavar can be a bit of a challenge. Here's everything you need: buses, trains, flights, autos and trusted local cab drivers.
Travel to Honavar
From Goa
Dabolim 180 km, about 3.5 hours on NH66. Includes the animated drive.
Read more →From Mangaluru
IXE ≈180 km, about 3.5 hours north on NH66.
Read more →From Bengaluru
Overnight sleeper bus, the Vistadome train, or 8.5 hours by road.
Read more →Local cabs
Verified local drivers for airport pickups and day trips.
Read more →By air
Honavar has no airport, but two are an easy drive away. Mangaluru (IXE): about 180 km, roughly 3.5 hours on a very good highway. Goa Dabolim (GOI): 180 km, about 3.5 hours. Hubballi (HBX) and Shivamogga (RQY) are each around 4 hours away across the Ghats.
By train
Honavar station (code HNA) is on the scenic Konkan Railway, with trains from Mumbai, Goa, Mangaluru and Bengaluru. From Bengaluru you can take the Vistadome glass-roof coach. The station is at Karki, about 5 km from town. Autos and cabs wait outside.
By bus
Shreekumar Travels operates the most buses from Bengaluru and VRL Travels runs services from cities including Hyderabad and Mumbai. Sleeper buses are comfortable and save a night's stay, but you'll usually arrive early in the morning while hotel check-in is around 2 pm.
Getting around Honavar
Tempo (shared ride)
Privately run 'city ride' vehicles, more frequent than government buses. Wave one down anywhere along the route.
Auto-rickshaw
Hail one on the street, or find them waiting at the bus stand and railway station. There are no meters, so agree the trip before you set off.
Taxi & cab rental
4-seaters and 6–7 seaters, AC or non-AC, best booked for half or full days and for airport runs.
If you're driving yourself, Google Maps is generally reliable around Honavar, except for the Chaturmukha Basadi.
Plan your trip
Ready for the river and the sea?
Pick a stay, choose an itinerary and book online on the property's site or a booking platform.