Jeju could also be an island, however it’s South Korea‘s largest island and a lot bigger than what most people might imagine – it’s greater than twice as massive as Singapore! Most folks advocate self-driving round Jeju for essentially the most flexibility and so you may attain extra distant locations across the island, however renting a automobile is probably not the most affordable or most sensible choice particularly when by yourself. I visited Jeju solo in September 2022 and took a mix of buses and taxis to discover, and thought I’d share my tips about taking public transport in Jeju and exploring Jeju and not using a automobile for anybody planning on doing the identical.
Why I selected to not drive in Jeju
I’ve a Class 3 automobile driving license in Singapore and whereas I’m open to the thought of driving in international international locations to get round, I normally keep away from renting a automobile if I’m travelling solo as a result of I get a bit nervous on the thought of driving alone in an unfamiliar place. Oddly sufficient I’m blissful to leap on a scooter (particularly on cute little islands with little visitors), however not a lot by myself.
Expensive for one individual: on common, renting a automobile was going to price me at the least 120,000 KRW (S$120) per day. This price is certainly okay with you have got at the least one different individual to separate it with, however not one thing I used to be prepared to pay by myself.
Heavy visitors: Jeju visitors could be fairly heavy particularly in and across the main metropolis areas like Jeju City and Seogwipo. You will run into peak time visitors jams in these areas. Isn’t it at all times higher to have the ability to house out in a visitors jam than must drive by it?
Unfamiliar roads/signage: Korea drives on the proper aspect of the street, whereas Singapore drives on the left aspect, so it will take some adjustment for me to get used to the course modifications. Also I must depend on GPS to navigate and I believe I’d be wired looking for my manner and unable to simply recognize the surroundings and drive. I’d be alright to drive with at the least one different individual with me to assist me out, however I didn’t need to do that by myself.
A word that you will want to apply on your International Driving Permit (IDP) should you plan to drive in Korea – pop by AA and it’s finished fairly shortly for $20. I obtained mine finished for this journey however ended up not utilizing it.
Another factor about Korea is that for worldwide licenses, you completely can not hire a bike/scooter (A category on the IDP) with only a automobile license (B class on the IDP) sadly, which was an issue for me on the island of Udo the place the principle mode of transport are these electrical scooters/bike automobiles.
Where I travelled in Jeju
Can you discover Jeju and not using a automobile? I did it! I spent 10 days in Jeju and break up up my journey into completely different segments so I may scale back the quantity of lengthy transits crossing the island. For instance, getting from Aewol to Seogwipo takes at the least an hour even by automobile.
- Day 1-4: 3 nights in Aewol and exploring the northwest area (Aewol, Hallim, Biyangdo)
- Day 4-7: 3 nights in Seogwipo exploring the south coast as much as Seongsan Ilchulbong within the east
- Day 7-9: 2 nights in Udo
- Day 11th of September: 2 nights in Seoul
- Day 11-12: 1 closing night time in Jeju City to catch my morning flight again to Singapore
Public buses in Jeju
The least expensive and best solution to get round Jeju is to hop onto one among their public buses. Jeju has a reasonably in depth community of buses categorised into 4 completely different bus varieties with their very own assigned color.
Red: Express intercity buses – should you’re based mostly in Seogwipo, that is the quickest manner so that you can get from Jeju airport.
Blue: Intercity buses – these go between cities however cease at many small stops alongside the way in which. The buses that I took essentially the most have been in all probability 201 and 202 that circle the island alongside the coast from Jeju City to Seogwipo – 201 covers the east aspect whereas 202 covers the west aspect. They should not a foul solution to take pleasure in seeing the island for affordable, however they are often fairly gradual as they cease at each cease alongside the way in which.
Green: City buses – these cowl shorter routes with the town
Yellow: Tourist buses – these cease at main vacationer stops across the island. There is a west loop and an east loop
If you might be commuting to or from the airport, I took one among these buses and it even had a multilingual information on board who helped passengers type out which cease they wanted to cease at.
Learn extra about Jeju’s bus system or seek for Jeju’s bus routes to plan your journey.
Signage at jeju bus stops
Bus stops in Jeju can vary from primary signposts with some paper schedules, or fancier coated shelters with an interactive contact display that reveals you the arrival of the numerous buses on the bus cease, and you should utilize it to have a look at different bus routes. Ideally you’d need to have Naver Maps (extra on that beneath) available so that you aren’t caught and not using a clue even if you’re at a primary bus cease with no digital signage.
Remember to hail your bus: Buses could not at all times cease in any respect stops, so make certain to flag down your bus should you see it coming.
Signage on Jeju Buses
Jeju’s buses are fairly wonderful for vacationers even when they don’t perceive Korean. Most buses have a TV display in entrance that mechanically pronounces the subsequent cease’s title and reveals the route and following stops. For sure stops there are even English bulletins, so it’s fairly simple to maintain monitor of the place you might be particularly when you have Naver Maps that can assist you see if you’re approaching your vacation spot.
How to sign your cease: whenever you hear your cease being introduced, hit the cease button and begin getting ready to disembark.
Ring Routes: 201 and 202
The buses that I took essentially the most usually have been in all probability 201 and 202. These are blue intercity buses that circle the island alongside the coast from Jeju City to Seogwipo – 201 covers the east aspect whereas 202 covers the west aspect. They should not a foul solution to take pleasure in seeing the island for affordable, however they are often fairly gradual as they cease at each cease alongside the way in which.
Tip: if you’re planning to journey a protracted distance alongside the coast, it is perhaps less expensive to take a bus moderately than a cab that takes about the identical period of time. For instance, I took the bus again from Seopjikoji Beach (east) to Seogwipo (south) – the journey by taxi would have taken about 1 hour and price about 39,000 KRW, whereas the bus trip took simply 10 minutes longer and price simply 1,200 KRW.
How to take public bus in Jeju
Use Naver Maps to examine bus routes and arrival instances
In Jeju, Naver Maps is important for taking public transport as it really works out the space by driving, in addition to the bus timings, arrival and connections. It’s helpful to gauge how lengthy or tough it is perhaps to get to a sure place.
There is an English map interface that you should utilize to look, however generally the spelling/areas of the English names aren’t at all times correct, so having the Hangul title or deal with available to look can also be helpful, or you are able to do so visually should you can kinda learn Korean. I normally bookmark the placement as soon as I’ve discovered it.
How to entry Naver maps: Download Naver Maps app from the Apple App Store or Google Play retailer. You’ll want to enroll in a Naver account to make use of it but it surely’s free and simple to do. WIth an account, you may as well save places to lists and rename them to a extra acquainted/English title if it’s essential to.
Get a T-Money Card to pay for bus rides
Having a T-Money card is important for taking the bus anyplace in Korea. You preload the cardboard with some money and faucet on the reader as you enter and exit the bus. You will pay with money on the bus should you do must, however fumbling with cash on the door isn’t any enjoyable in any respect.
Besides being extra handy, the T-Money charge is normally barely cheaper than the money charge (about 100 KRW cheaper for adults) and you may get switch reductions inside half an hour if you must do a couple of bus hops – simply make certain to faucet out on the exit.
A T-Money card is reasonable – the usual charge is 2,500 KRW (fancier designs could price extra) and it doesn’t expire both so you may at all times reuse it on future journeys. Foreigners may also get the Korea Tour Card for 4,000 KRW which you should utilize as a T-Money card and provides you further attraction perks. (If you have got an Android cellphone, there’s a Korea Tour Card app which helps you to use the cardboard in your cellphone, however the opinions look… not nice)
How to cost T-Money card in Jeju: Because there aren’t any subways right here, you will have to discover a comfort retailer (CU, 7-eleven and many others) to cost your T-Money card, which for some odd cause can solely be finished in CASH on the counter (it is among the few belongings you’ll want bodily cash for in all of South Korea, extra information right here) and also you cost in increments of 1,000 KRW. Check out the KTO website for an in depth rundown on using transportation playing cards in Korea.
Where to purchase and cost T-Money card at Jeju Airport: If you propose to take the bus as quickly as you landing at Jeju Airport, there are CU and 7-eleven shops inside the constructing on the higher ranges the place you should buy a T-money card and cost it. Make certain you have got money for that.
Taxis in Jeju
Sometimes buses aren’t essentially the most environment friendly solution to get round, particularly in additional distant areas the place there’s a protracted watch for the subsequent bus or the bus takes a really winding route. I used to be carrying a bigger suitcase on this journey and a taxi undoubtedly was a extra snug solution to journey.
I had no issues getting a taxi all through my time in Jeju, nor was it too costly. My most costly rides have been roughly hour lengthy journeys from Gwakji Beach to Seogwipo (about 43,000 KRW) and Seogwipo to Seongsan Harbour (about 46,000 KRW). My different shorter journeys ranged from 5,000-15,000 KRW.
How to take taxi in Jeju
Use Kakao T App to guide taxis
Kakao T is a extremely helpful app the place you may simply guide a taxi. You can key within the data or set location through map so that you received’t even have to fret about communication points with the motive force and you’ll monitor the route in your cellphone. It has an entire host of capabilities however I’ve actually solely used it for getting a taxi.
If you’ve used Grab or Uber earlier than you’ll discover it comparable – enter your vacation spot, request your taxi and you’ll see how far/close to the motive force is and monitor your route as properly.
Download Kakao T from Apple App Store or Google Play retailer. You’ll have to obtain Kakao Talk and join a free Kakao account to make use of, and you should utilize your personal cellphone quantity (no want Korean quantity) as properly to confirm the account.
Pay taxi fare with bank card
In phrases of creating cost, choose Pay Direct to Driver whenever you make your reserving since you received’t have the ability to hyperlink your bank card immediately and not using a Korean ID. All the taxis I took have been in a position to take bank card, so that you don’t have to fret about dealing with money both – my Wise card [referral link] labored in most locations all throughout Korea together with the taxis and I appreciated how simple it was to transform SGD to KRW and the charges have been a lot better than the cash changer.
Stay related: Data choices
I can not stress how essential it’s to have knowledge when attempting to navigate in South Korea – I obtained a limiteless knowledge plan so I by no means needed to fear about utilizing maps and translations or attempting to hail a rideshare.
Data isn’t that costly and there are many web sites providing completely different plans and methods to attach. See what works finest for you, however right here’s a fast run-down of what’s obtainable:
- eSIM playing cards: My present go-to choice for knowledge abroad as a result of you may simply set up a knowledge plan with out eradicating your present SIM card, have entry the second you contact down and no want to fret about the place to choose up the cardboard. Cons are that you just don’t normally have a Korean cellphone quantity which can be a problem in case your taxi driver is attempting to name you, but it surely’s not a giant problem in my view. Here’s the limitless knowledge Frewie eSIM I used from Klook [affiliate link] that price about S$38 or you may take a look at eSIM websites like Airalo [affiliate link] although I discovered these plans a tad pricier.
- Prepaid SIM card: SIM playing cards are normally the most affordable choice with quite a lot of plans/time-periods obtainable and you’ll usually choose up in each Korea (cell shops and on the airport), or Changi Recommends has a number of Korean SIM card choices you could choose up on the Singapore airport – for some cause most of their SIMs solely have an Incheon pickup. I’d get this if I used to be on a finances or wanted a neighborhood Korean quantity, however examine as not all SIM playing cards supply home calls/texts. Klook has a KT-Olleh 4G LTE limitless data-only SIM card [affiliate link] that permits you to prime up 11,000 KRW (about S$11) for some voice calls.
- Portable Wifi Device: Good if you’re extra safety aware and have a number of units like tablets and laptops to attach, otherwise you’re travelling in a bunch and searching to save cash however could be cumbersome as a result of it’s an extra gadget to hold round that must be charged, and you must pickup/return normally on the airport should you use Changi Recommends.
Have you taken public transport round Jeju? Share your experiences right here.
Stay tuned for extra articles on Jeju, however within the meantime listed below are extra articles on locations that I’ve visited in South Korea.