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Isle of Man
Douglas
Things to Do in Douglas
Isle of Man Bus and Rail
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Isle of Man Bus and Rail

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Isle of Man Bus and Rail
4.5
1,299
#3 of 30 things to do in Douglas
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The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
110 within 3 miles
Just Pizza & Pasta
438
485 ft$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Mediterranean
Bonzai Pan Asian Kitchen @ Seven Kingdom Distillery
191
55 ft$$ - $$$ • Filipino • Bar • International
Little Fish Cafe
715
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • British • Vegetarian Friendly
Enzos Restaurant
277
0.3 mi$$$$ • Italian • European • Contemporary
14 North
648
0.1 mi$$ - $$$ • European • British • Vegetarian Friendly
Wine Down
372
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • International • British • Vegetarian Friendly
Cappadocia Turkish Restaurant
53
0.3 miTurkish
Isola
198
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Italian • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
Tacoma Bar & Kitchen
54
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • Contemporary • Pub
The Courthouse Bar & Club
242
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • British • Vegetarian Friendly
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Attractions
24 within 6 miles
St George's Church
1
0.2 miChurches & Cathedrals
Manx Museum
1,002
0.5 miSpeciality Museums
Isle of Man Welcome Centre
229
0.5 miVisitor Centers
The Tynwald Library
22
0.3 miLibraries
Gaiety Theatre
199
0.6 miTheaters
Manx Electric Railway
1,812
1.8 miPublic Transportation Systems • Scenic Railroads
Home of Rest of Old Horses
284
2.3 miEquestrian Trails
The Studio Theatre
3
0.5 miTheaters
Isle of Man Steam Railway
1,246
2.6 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks
The Strand Shopping Centre
11
0.4 miShopping Malls
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See what other travelers are saying
  • maxine g
    Sheffield, United Kingdom15 contributions
    Wonderful Bus Service
    My friend and I purchased a 5 day Go explore bus and rail ticket. It cost us £43 each, but it is well worth it if you havent any other means of transport to get around the Island. The buses are frequent, and the drivers are friendly and helpful. They even wait for passengers running to the buses, something you dont see in Cities in England. The trains only run on certain day, but you are given a timetable when the tickets are purchased. Daily explore tickets can be purchased on board the buses, but if you want to purchase tickets for longer than they can be purchased online before travelling, but allow approx 2 weeks before you go, as they are posted to you. We purchased ours from the welcome desk in the ferry port in Doulgas. However note that the desk closes at 6pm and isnt open on Sundays. Unsure if there is a similar desk at the Airport.
    Written October 12, 2021
  • jenchappers
    Newton Stewart, United Kingdom11 contributions
    Fantastic
    Fantastic service, we bought a card for 5 days, really good value. The trains, trams and buses all ran on time, friendly drivers and conductors. We really enjoyed our trips around the Isle.
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 23, 2022
  • David F
    Leicester, United Kingdom274 contributions
    Explorer ticket great value for Trams, Trains, Buses
    We bought a 7 day Explorer card for £50 which was exceptional value, covered all island transport. The buses (Vannin) covers the island, Steam Railway operates great service daily to Port Erin via Castletown. The electric railway covers the north from Douglas to Laxey and Ramsey, which includes the mountain railway to top of Snaefell mountain (2036 ft high) for tremendous views.
    Written September 24, 2022
These reviews are the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor checks reviews for fraud.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
1,299 reviews
Excellent
1,015
Very good
232
Average
35
Poor
12
Terrible
5
Lee
1 contribution
Poor customer service
Dec 2021 • Solo
Bus service and drivers are usually great however on this occasion very disappointing.
Bus driver on the number 1 Tuesday morning bottom of Royal Avenue 8:15 (30 Nov 2021) - My other half got on the bus and tried to pay by card. Didn’t work. So the driver told her to try again. Didn’t work again. She apologised and insisted she has got money in her account especially considering she has just been paid so she doesn’t understand why it’s not working. To which he replied “the card machine is fine, you mustn’t have any money” So she tried for a third time - it didn’t work again. So the bus driver in front of a pretty much full bus decided to start shouting at her and telling her repeatedly again that she “clearly doesn’t have any money. The card machine is working fine.” Bla bla bla. Humiliating her in front of everybody. We all know how embarrassing it is when your card doesn’t work in any circumstance.. So she said it’s okay I’ll jump off and get a taxi. But a lovely lady intervened and offered to pay for her instead. At this point he decides to say “forget it just get on”.
Next stop a fella jumps on the bus, tries to pay by card and it doesn’t work again! Shock horror..
Bus driver doesn’t say a word and just let him on.
So again the lovely lady said to the bus driver “you didn’t humiliate him like you humiliated her did you” 👏 *Silence*
Maybe he was having a tough morning but a bit of compassion would of been nice 👌 Very foolish.
Written December 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
YORKY209
YORKSHIRE178 contributions
Just Superb
Sep 2021
We went on both the Ramsey to Laxey service on the Electric Railway, on some superbly maintained and authentic carriages. We were offered various ticket options, we plumped for the Day Rover which covered all trains, Steam and Electric, buses, trams, etc for the whole day at £17.00 each, which was really good value. The journey is slow and steady but thoroughly enjoyable to take in the beautiful scenery.
We were a little disappointed when we reached the top of Snaefell Mountain at 2,036 feet to find ourselves engorged in thick cloud. Not surprising given the altitude and not something the railway staff could determine or predict. But we had hoped to see the fabulous views of Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland from the peak.
Written September 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Billhyland911
County Galway, Ireland57 contributions
Driving tourism to new heights.
Mar 2022 • Couples
We stayed for 4 days this week and travelled extensively on the bus and rail services. The drivers were unbelievable and could not be more help. They were courteous and kind on every route we travelled and explained the best and cheapest ways to tour the island. This came as a surprise to us as we normally don’t get to interact with the drivers, it’s no wonder EVERYONE who got on and off thanked the drivers every time. A credit to the company one and all. The railway and tram service was even better, every one on time and again the helpful and friendly staff made it one of the highlights of our stay. The trams brought us to the top of the mountain (scafell?) and linked up seamlessly with the other transport services. Overall a magical experience.
Written March 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
underwhisky
Guernsey, UK26 contributions
Excellent public transport system
Jul 2020
We purchased a Go Ticket for £52 which gave us unlimited travel on the Buses, Steam Railway, Electric Tram, Groudle Glen Railway and the small Mines Train in Laxey. We found all the public transport workers and volunteers on the railway very helpful and went out of their way to help us. We managed to see the whole of the Island during our 11 day stay. We stayed in Douglas which made local transport a viable option.
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
QueenslandTommy
Burpengary, Australia1,406 contributions
Once in a lifetime experience
Jul 2022
Living in Australia and visiting the IOM I took advantage of a 5 day Explorer pass which allowed unlimited use of bus , train , tram throughout the island . Although the bus timetable is all over the place (due to staff shortage) I found all transport clean, well maintained , really friendly & helpful staff. If you want to experience all types of transport and visit the major towns on the Island the Go Explore ticket is the way to go , with the experience of riding on steam pulled carriages and Electric tram is one to cherish.
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Alanthebairn
Falkirk, UK875 contributions
A very Good integrated transport system
Aug 2021
The Travel pass which allows you to travel on buses, the stream and electric railways allow you an easy way of visiting the Isle of Man.

The bus services are frequent and they operate into the late evening on certain routes.

The steam and electric railways are a great way of travelling and provide a leisurely of seeing the Island .

Much less stressful than hiring a car and cheaper too.
Written August 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sandra H
Leeds, UK7 contributions
Great day out to Peel and transfer from port and town
Oct 2021
We used the bus and rail card to travel around the Isle of Man and it was excellent value. We arrived at the port and asked a bus driver where our hotel was and he dropped us at the end of the street. So helpful.
We used the ticket on both steam and electric railways and the bus to Peel.
Excellent service and no driving.
Written November 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Peter H
11 contributions
PERFECTION
Oct 2022
Bought a Rover Ticket for £17 - a bargain - gives access to ALL Steam Trains/Electric Trains/Horse drawn buses and all other bus.
Difficult to fit in all available in one day . If we had time would have spent 2 days .
Only problem was face ache at the end of the day from constantly smiling !
Written November 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sarah-Jo B
Isle of Portland, UK29 contributions
Steam train and tram excellent
Aug 2022 • Friends
The steam train ride from Douglas to Port Erin is lovely. Easy to book onto and staff were lovely and helpful throughout. We took the electric tram to Snaefell mountain too, which was also lovely. I'd definitely recommend the Go Explore ticket that can be used on the trams, train and buses. Great value. Visit the 'trammers' to have a look at the beautiful horses in their lovely clean stables, and read about their history
Written August 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Sheila F
18 contributions
Miserable staff
Aug 2020 • Family
I decided to take my four year old granddaughter on the steam train from douglas to Castletown to play in the park she was very excited and i was also looking forward to a trip on the train. As we went in to get tickets i was greeted by a surly male who asked me where i was going to as i paid my money i said put the change in the charity box. I was told we dont allow charities government policy if we had one we would have to have them all. Charming i thought. As we then approached the train i wasnt sure how full it was so i went to the back carriage where i saw an elderly group of people and i saw there was room for me and my granddaughter. There was one very rude croney. A woman taking pictures of her other cronies who said can you go further along there should be plenty of room. I was totally gobsmacked by this despicable woman she obviously didnt want a four year old in her carriage i was so taken aback at her ladyship thinking she had her own private carriage i informed the guard of what happened i thought he might go and reprimand her but he shrugged his shoulders. Great what a start As it happened i did get a carriage with some lovely disabled teens on a trip out with their carer who made the journey very pleasant for us. He even helped me down the steep step from the train with my granddaughter as there was no help from any staff. If i was a visitor to the island i would be disappointed at the staff to say the least. I think they need some training on being pleasant and promoting the steam train. And not just be intolerant and miserable
Written August 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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