The Star Wars galaxy is filled with awesome modes of travel and transportation. Since they are privy to unique power sources and energies, the characters have access to technologies that don't yet exist in the real world. These affect combat weapons, clothing, food harvesting and manufacture, and, yes, travel.
From spaceships to alien creatures to speeders, the characters have options that we don't. It can be difficult to choose which choice would be a personal favorite, but one thing is for sure. Even if it is difficult for a viewer to make up their mind, they certainly aren't lacking in variety.
10 Hyperdrive Means Faster Trips
The Millenium Falcon's hyperdrive suffers numerous setbacks during Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, to the point of being a running gag. But the frenetic desperation our heroes have in trying to repair it shows how absurdly useful and needed it is.
Since the galaxy is enormous with its society spread throughout, it makes sense that characters have to zip back and forth across it quickly. Enter the hyperdrive, which lets ships travel at light speed and arrive at their destinations, if not instantaneously, then at least much more quickly. The visuals are also thrilling to witness as stars whoosh by in illuminated lines.
9 Speeders Have Land & Air Variants
The Star Wars universe doesn't have our version of cars. Instead, they have speeders that hover, nullifying the need for wheels that our world still has not transcended. Their hovering abilities means that speeders can traverse terrain more easily than wheeled vehicles. As an alternative, speeders also come in flying models.
These flying versions are visible in the Coruscant skyway that appears in the prequel trilogy, and provide the setting for the first part of Anakin and Obi-Wan's scuffle with Zam Wessell in Attack of the Clones. Judging by how fast Anakin and Luke can drive their respective vehicles, it seems they are aptly named as well.
8 AT-AT Walkers Look Awesome Even If They Are Impractical
One of the Empire's most iconic pieces of tech is the AT-AT walker. They first appear in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back as part of the Empire's ground assault on the Rebel Alliance's Hoth base when orbital bombardment fails. Out-of-universe, the walkers have been criticized as being wildly impractical.
Their design makes them extremely top-heavy, they are relatively slow-moving, and their "ankles" provide a strategic weak point in combat. Overall, they aren't the best choices for warfare. But it is likely many viewers wouldn't mind a ride in one all the same, distinctive and devastatingly destructive as they still are.
7 The Force Makes The Impossible Possible
The Force is more than a philosophical guide and worldview. It also enhances the abilities and skills of those who are Force-sensitive and those who hone their connection to it. The Force can push its users far beyond their logical means, resulting in impossible strength and acrobatic feats.
One example is Force-speed. Qui-Gonn and Obi-Wan use it in Episode I: The Phantom Menace to escape droidekas by evading their blasters and darting down the corridor. Force-Jumping is another technique that Force Users can do. It involves leaping to incredible heights, often in combat situations, to avoid weapons and traps.
6 Spaceships Come In Many Shapes & Sizes
Starships are likely the most remembered method of travel in this universe by fans. Ships are treated here like cars are in our world, since moving between planets and sections of space is regarded so casually. The models of different ships are varied and almost limitless, with starfighters, TIE fighters, solar sailers, and Corellian star freighters being only a few.
Surprisingly, an iconic ship like the Millenium Falcon is seen as junk with the miracle being that it even operates. Regardless, it serves to impress viewers, both visually and with the tricks it manages to pull out from time to time.
5 Speeder Bikes Are The Star Wars Versions Of Motorcycles & Scooters
Just in case regular speeders are too enclosed for certain people, speeder bikes are an option too. Like real-life scooters or motorcycles, speeder users sit astride their vehicles and steer with handlebars to get where they need to go.
They, too, come in different styles, from Rey's fudgesicle-shaped ride in Episode VII: The Force Awakens to the Endor Scout Troopers' 74-Z speeder bikes in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi to Anakin's swoop bike when he searches for his mother in Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Some, like the Scout Troopers' bikes, are outfitted with blaster cannons as weaponry.
4 Star Destroyers Get Bigger & Bigger
The Star Destroyer arrived when Episode IV: A New Hope premiered. Its entrance, chasing Princess Leia's ship, is iconic for good reason. Lucas intended to hook the audience with this shot and he poured significant effort and detail into its immersiveness. Shockingly, Industrial Light & Magic upped their game and delivered the Super Star Destroyer in the next film.
Its introductory scene was equally memorable: casting a shadow over the regular Star Destroyers with its superior size. Shaped like daggers, the Destroyers are generally massive and come in many types used by the Empire, including droughnoughts, cruisers, and battlecruisers. Later, the First Order uses them in the sequel trilogy and introduces the next level: Mega Star Destroyer.
3 The Death Star Is A Moving Space Station
The Death Star is a weapon of mass destruction first and foremost. Secondly, it is a roving space station that moves so its superlaser gets within range of its desired targets. Aside from its potential to destroy and annihilate, the Death Star also provides an unusual means of crossing space and viewing its features.
Its ability to cause fear and death is nothing to be admired. However, if the Death Star had solely been planned as a galactic viewing and traveling platform, any objectionable aspects would be removed from what is actually a quite fascinating way to roam the galaxy.
2 The Coruscant Skyway Is Busy & Exciting
Coruscant is a planet covered in city landscapes that is located within the galaxy's Core Worlds region. It is the capital world of the Republic, and then the Galactic Empire. New buildings and skyscrapers are literally built on top of each other and the city is measured in levels.
Since space is limited, Coruscant's traffic occurs in the skyway. The hustle and bustle of said skyway feels reminiscent of the real world's Times Square in New York City, with the traffic ongoing at all hours. It is even the location of intriguing incidents in the saga, like Zam Wessell's run-in with Obi-Wan and Anakin, and meeting with Jango Fett.
1 Animals Go Where Vehicles Cannot
Sometimes, even top-notch Star Wars vehicles can't be used in certain areas. Maybe the environment is exeedingly harsh or difficult for tech. Sometimes the characters want to be stealthy and their speeders would be detected. The solution is riding native animals.
Several times in the saga, characters will utilize animals like varactyls or tauntauns in place of technology. Obi-Wan rides Boga on Utapau in the prequels while looking for General Grievous since the planet is covered in sinkholes. While on Hoth, the rebels in the original trilogy use tauntauns since the subzero temperatures make their speeders difficult to use.