In this article, we have curated a comprehensive guide to help you plan your perfect trip to Jeju Island. Discover the must-visit places, tantalizing restaurants, comfortable accommodation options, and a suggested itinerary to make the most of your time on this captivating island.
Whether you’re seeking natural wonders, cultural landmarks, or culinary delights, we’ve got you covered. Join us as we delve into the enchanting beauty of Jeju Island and provide you with all the information you need to create unforgettable memories. Let’s dive in and embark on an extraordinary journey through this remarkable destination!
Intro
- Introduction of Jeju Island, South Korea
- Jeju Olle Courses:
- Public Transportation for Jeju Island Travel
- Recommended Jeju Island Travel Itineraries:
- Jeju Island Tour Buses
- Recommended readings about Korea trips
Introduction of Jeju Island, South Korea
Jeju Island is a large island boasting an area of 1,840 square kilometers and a coastline length of 308 square kilometers. Therefore, to fully enjoy a fulfilling trip within a set schedule, it is recommended to optimize your itinerary. Before embarking on your journey, explore the various aspects of Jeju Island.
Located in the southern part of South Korea, Jeju Island experiences distinct charms with each season.
- Spring: Jeju Island is the first place in Korea to welcome spring, with cherry blossoms blooming in March and April. If your purpose of traveling to Jeju Island is for walks and relaxation, spring is the best season.
- Summer: With numerous beaches, the allure of Jeju Island in summer lies in swimming and marine sports. Enjoy the beach’s endless stretches of beautiful white sand and indulge in water activities.
- Fall: This season showcases the highlight of Jeju Island travel, as the fields are filled with tall silver grass. Starting from October, the silver grass flowers begin to bloom, reaching their peak in November.
- Winter: Winter offers the opportunity to witness Mount Hallasan covered in snow. The cold winter seas of Jeju Island are sufficient to captivate travelers’ emotions.
Jeju Olle Courses:
“Olle” refers to small alleyways that lead from major roads to homes in the Jeju dialect. There are a total of 26 Olle courses spanning 425 kilometers along the coastline for walking trips in Jeju Island.
Public Transportation for Jeju Island Travel
While many people prefer to rent a car when traveling to Jeju Island, if that is not an option, buses are available. Renting a car may be more private and convenient, but leisurely bus travel can make your Jeju trip more memorable.
Jeju Island buses are classified into three types:
- Red Buses (Express Buses): These are mainly used for transportation to and from the airport, and they also stop at transfer stations in each region.
- Blue Buses (Intercity Buses): These buses operate throughout Jeju Island, including tourist attractions. Most people travel around Jeju Island using these blue buses.
- Green Buses (Local Buses): These buses circulate within town and village areas, covering every nook and cranny of the island.
- Other Options (City Tour Buses, Tourist Circulation Buses): City tour and tourist circulation buses cater to travelers, circulating major tourist sites.
Jeju Island buses accept both cash and transportation cards, and transfers are possible.
You don’t need to memorize the routes of each bus. By using Kakao Maps or Google Maps, you can enter your departure and destination points to find bus stops and routes.
Recommended Jeju Island Travel Itineraries:
Jeju Island travel can be divided into three main categories:
- Coastal Travel: Explore various regions along the coast, centered around Jeju City and Seogwipo City.
- Mount Hallasan Travel: Experience the breathtaking scenery of Mount Hallasan, the centerpiece of Jeju Island, and go hiking.
- Travel to Surrounding Islands: Tour the larger and smaller islands surrounding Jeju Island.
If you have a long itinerary, it is recommended to experience all three categories. However, if time is limited, explore places that suit your preferences and interests.
You can plan your route by referring to the maps of each Jeju Island travel destination mentioned below. Click on the top-left icon of each map to view detailed maps of specific attractions.
Jeju Island Tour Buses
Convenient transportation options for travelers visiting Jeju Island include the Tourist Circulation Bus and City Tour Bus. Check out the information for each bus below.
① Jeju Island Tourist Circulation Bus
Fare: Adults 1,150 KRW / 1-day pass 3,000 KRW
Operating hours: First bus at 8:30 AM / Last bus at 5:30 PM
Frequency: Every 30 minutes
Payment method: Transportation card (cash not accepted)
The Tourist Circulation Bus operates in both the eastern and western regions, running in both directions.
Eastern Region Tourist Circulation Bus Route: Daecheon Transfer Center <-> Geomun Oreum <-> Seonhol 2-ri Village <-> Seonyeo and Namuggun Trail <-> Seonindong Village <-> Daeheeyeon <-> Albam Oreum <-> Dongbaekdong San Wetland Center <-> Hanul Land <-> Eodeo Oreum <-> Deokcheonri Village <-> Dunji Oreum <-> Maze Land <-> Bijarim Forest <-> Darangshi Oreum Entrance (North) <-> Jeju Rail Bike <-> Yongnuni Oreum <-> Darangshi Oreum Entrance (South) <-> Songdang Village <-> Abu Oreum <-> Geoseonsemi Oreum <-> Daecheon Transfer Center
Western Region Tourist Circulation Bus Route: Donggwang Transfer Center <-> Hello Kitty Island <-> Jeju World Automobile Museum <-> Seogwangdong Village <-> Soin Folk Village <-> Seogwangseo Village <-> Nori Maeul <-> Gueokri Village <-> Sinpyeongri Village <-> Sanyanggotjawal <-> Jeju Peace Museum <-> Cheongsu Village Hall <-> Jeoji Oreum <-> Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art <-> Thinking Garden <-> Fantasy Forest Gotjawal Park <-> Jeju Glass Castle <-> Jeju Aerospace Hotel <-> Jeju Aerospace Museum <-> Myth History Theme Park <-> Donggwang Transfer Center
These buses pass by most of Jeju Island’s popular tourist attractions.
② City Tour Bus (Jeju City)
Fare: Single-use ticket for adults 3,000 KRW / 1-day pass for adults 12,000 KRW
Operating hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Frequency: Every 1 hour
Duration: 2 hours
Jeju City Tour Bus allows travelers to explore Jeju Island freely by hopping on and off at a total of 22 stops throughout the day with just one ticket.
City Tour Bus Route: Jeju International Airport -> Jeju Bus Terminal -> Jeju City Hall -> Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum -> Sarabong -> Cruise Passenger Terminal -> Jeju Coastal Passenger Terminal -> Kim Manduk Guesthouse -> Dongmun Market -> Gwandeokjeong -> Tapdong Square -> Yongyeon Cloud Bridge -> Yonghaero -> Eoyeondo Road -> Dodoobong -> Iho Tewoo Beach -> Jeju Traditional Five-day Market -> Black Pork Restaurant Street -> Halla Arboretum -> Nohyeong Intersection -> Maison Glad Hotel Entrance -> Jaewon Apartments -> Jeju International Airport
③ Electric City Tour Bus (Seogwipo City)
Fare: Adults 1,200 KRW / Youth 900 KRW (Cash and card accepted)
Operating hours: 9:00 AM to 11:35 PM
Frequency: Every 35 to 40 minutes
The Electric City Tour Bus operates with Seogwipo Hyangto Oil Market as the starting and ending point, passing through various tourist attractions in Seogwipo City.
- Electric City Tour Bus Route: Hyangto Oil Market -> Seogwipo City Hall -> Cheonji Dong Community
Recommended readings about Korea trips
Please refer to the link below for some great articles on traveling in Korea.
1/ Busan Travel Guide 2023: Must-Visit Places, Restaurants, Accommodation, and Itinerary Recommendations (Link)
Busan City Tour Bus/Train and Festivals in Busan 2023 (Link)