How to Get Around on Jeju Island (Buses, KakaoT, Private Cars)

If you're planning to visit Jeju Island on your trip to South Korea, then one of your leading questions might be exactly how to get around the island. Luckily, public transportation in Jeju, and the rest of Korea, is very straightforward and quite easy to use with the help of local apps. Generally speaking, you have 3 options when visiting Jeju - the public bus system, KakaoT (Korea's "Uber"), and private cars or tours.

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
​There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. After traveling to South Korea over a dozen times, these are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform and tend to focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

To keep cell phone service, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

What to Expect When Visiting Jeju Island

Jeju Island is the hidden oasis of South Korea, and is often referred to as the Hawaii of Asia. If you're lucky enough to spend a few days here, then luckily there's plenty to do on the island, even if you're just visiting on a cruise port day.

If you've spent the rest of your time in Korea on the mainland near Seoul, then you can expect a much quieter pace of life, views of the horizon and coastlines, and delicious unique foods like Jeju's famous "black pork." If this is your first time on Jejudo, or if you're porting for the day via a cruise, then here's a short list of a few things you won't want to miss :

• The Coastline - Jeju's coastlines are often compared to Hawaii's, there's plenty of short hikes that'll lead you to some incredible views!
• The Waterfalls - Especially if you're visiting the South of the island, there's plenty of waterfalls that are just a short hike, my personal favorites are the Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls and Sojeongbang Waterfall!
• Jeju Stone Park - A local museum with incredible insight into Korea's traditional stories and lore. Here, you can learn all about the Dol Hareubang you'll see spotted all around the island
• Jeju "Black Pork" - A unique option for trying Korean BBQ, this pork isn't actually black. It's simply named for the type of pig - Jeju Black Pigs.
• ​Hello Kitty Island - Another unique option for anyone who loves Sanrio and Hello Kitty. Although it's geared toward younger visitors, this interactive museum has a fun cafe inside where you can order Hello Kitty themed drinks and foods.

My Favorite Tours on Jeju Island : 
- Folk Village & Women Divers Full Day Tour
- Luxury Sailing Tour

Getting Around on Jeju Island

There are 3 main ways to get around Jejudo, or Jeju Island - all of them are fairly straightforward.

• Public Bus System - In order to take the public bus, you can either use your credit/debit card to tap on and off each time you ride the bus, or you can purchase a T-Money Card or Bee Card at pretty much any local convenience store. You can then use these pre-loaded cards on any public transportation in South Korea - so if you purchased one in Seoul it will also work in Jeju! Because the buses only stop at so many places, this is the most difficult to plan ahead for specific stops - luckily most major attractions on Jeju have a bus stop within walking distance. If you're traveling with a group, you can also let the bus driver know how many are in your group before you tap your card to get onto the bus! Kakao Map and Naver Maps are excellent apps to download on your phone to see the exact bus schedules and routes.​
• Tourist Buses - Since I last visited, Jeju has also implemented Tourist Buses. An easy way to navigate different areas of the island with different routes that go towards the east and to the west. If you get a day pass, you can hop on and off and they conveniently stop at most major attractions on the island. However, it's worth noting that the narrated tour is only in Korea, but they have TV's onboard that highlight each next stop in Korean and English.
  

• KakaoT - As long as you have downloaded the KakaoT app and created an account, you can easily order a Kakao Taxi and pay through either cash, credit/debit card, or your T-Money Card. These "KakaoT" cards work just like Uber. (Note, there is no Uber in Korea.)
• Private Car - If you're only visiting for a short time, you might want to just book a private tour! This way you can avoid any hassle of getting around the island. There are plenty you can find on Viator that offer full day tours around Jeju. On the other hand, if you have a few days on the island, the easiest option might just be to rent your own car! You'll need your International Drivers Permit, and parking might be difficult in the large cities - but at most attractions on Jeju there's plenty of parking for visitors.

Watch my Adventures on Jeju Island here!

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Other Korea Blog Posts you might be interested in : 
-> Lotte World Full Guide
-> Seoul's Best Cherry Blossoms
-> Seoul Capsule Hotel

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