Ultimate Guide to Getting Around Jeju Without a Car

Getting around Jeju without a car is absolutely doable—I’ve done it twice now, mostly by bus (with just one taxi ride to the airport).

While it takes more planning than in Seoul or Busan, I enjoyed the Jeju bus rides listening to podcasts, music, and audiobooks.

Here’s essential things to know about Jeju public transport and my best tips for making it easier if you’re not planning to drive.

➡️ Whether you choose to rent a car or getting around by bus, make sure to choose the right area to stay in Jeju.

Table of Contents

Basic Information About Jeju Public Transport

Jeju Bus Stop Terminal Buses - Jeju City South Korea

Jeju Island has no subway system, but has airport, intercity, INTRAcity, and express buses available. You’ll have plenty of options.
All buses in Jeju have free and fast WiFi.
Jeju bus fares are $1 to $2 USD, except for the airport limousine bus #600.
You can pay with a T-money card, and the stops are announced in English.
To load your T-money card, you can go into any convenience store. You hand the cashier the card and cash, and they’ll load it for you.

First Stop: Getting from the Jeju Airport

The entrance of Jeju Airport in South Korea, showing a white and red "Airport Limousine" bus parked at Gate 5, with a line of people waiting with luggage. A white car is driving past in the foreground, and the airport's exterior features a large overhang and glass windows.

Once you arrive at the Jeju airport, you can either:

1) Rent a car in Jeju Island – read my full guide

2) Take a taxi (Jeju City is 10-minute ride away and costs around $8 USD) or

3) Take the Jeju Airport Limousine Bus #600, which is the cheapest option.

Jeju Airport Limousine Bus #600 Information:

The bus runs every 15 to 20 minutes.
It stops at popular hotels in Jeju City before cutting down south to Seogwipo City, which takes about an hour.
The driver will ask you where you’re headed so they can charge you accordingly. You can tell them your hotel name, say Jeju City or Seogwipo, or show them on a map.
The stops on this bus are announced in English, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese.

*If you are not heading to Jeju City, Seogwipo City, or any of the Jeju Airport Limousine Bus #600 stops, there are other public buses running at the airport.

Best Apps for Jeju Transit — Naver vs Kakao vs Google

Screenshot of Naver Maps app ETA minutes Jeju Bus

I mostly used Naver Map over Kakao Map, which is another popular app in South Korea.

Naver Map shows all the Jeju bus options nearest you. Choose the bus that’s coming soonest and with less walking time.

Naver Map also shows your current location in real time, which is helpful for walking directions (similar to the blue dot in Google Maps).

If you typed in the location in Naver Map in English, and no results comes up, look up the location on Google Maps. If you scroll down in the description info, it usually includes the name in Korean/hangul. Copy and paste the name into Naver Map.

A scenic view from the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) on Jeju Island, South Korea, looking down a wooden staircase that winds through lush greenery. The vibrant landscape below features a coastal town, with buildings spread across the landscape and the blue ocean stretching into the horizon, dotted with small islands.

Using Google Maps in Jeju

While Google Maps can sometimes work, it’s generally not set up for South Korea.

The bus results for Jeju can be also incorrect. For example, the ETAs for when the bus will arrive are usually wrong.

The only bus Google Maps generally gets right is the #600 airport limousine bus.

Plus, not all of the routes will show up on Google Maps.

Add a Jeju Island Tour to your trip:

🎫 Jeju island UNESCO site full day guided tour

🎫 Hire a private car for a flexible Jeju Island day tour

🎫 9 -Hour Jeju Island highlights group tour (tickets included)

Figuring Out Jeju Bus Schedules and ETAs

The biggest complaint you’ll hear about getting around Jeju by bus is the wait times.

The bus schedule and wait times will depend on where you’re coming from.

At most, I waited maybe 20 minutes, or just walked to another nearby bus route.

If you’re coming from or going to the west, east, or somewhere closer, you’ll have plenty of bus options that are all going in the same direction.

Look for Electronic Signs at Bus Stops

A digital bus stop schedule sign in Jeju City

For intercity buses, most bus stops will have an electronic sign board showing the upcoming buses and how many minutes until they arrive.

Once a bus is 2 minutes away, it’ll announce in Korean that it’s coming. Make sure to stand up when it does and signal to the bus driver that you want to hop on. Remember to tap on and off with your Tmoney card.

The Exception: Jeju City Main Bus Terminal

Beige, red, and white buses stationed at Jeju City Bus Terminal with passengers waiting on benches. Important terminal is traveling Jeju without a car

If you’re taking a bus from the main Jeju City Intercity Bus Terminal (These are usually buses going to Seogwipo City and main Jeju Island stops):

Some buses from the terminal may only come once every 30 minutes or even once an hour, so plan ahead.
Naver Map will NOT show ETAs for the main bus terminals, just the bus number and how frequent it comes.
Buses from the terminals generally leave right on the dot, so get there on time!

Where to find schedules for the Jeju City Main Bus Terminals:

They’re posted at the bus terminal in front of each bus
Online BUT the schedules are in Korean. So here’s what you do:

Papago translation of Jeju City Bus Terminal Schedule

Find out what Jeju bus you need to take on Naver Map
Look up that bus number + schedule online (I.e. “Jeju Bus #260 Schedule”)
Take a screenshot and translate it in Papago or Google Translate
Look for the Jeju City Main Bus Terminal stop and the times the bus arrives.

I know it’s a lot, but it’s the only way (that I know of!)

Using Naver Map for Jeju Bus Schedule

Sometimes when you look up bus directions on Naver or Kakao Map, no ETA will show up. (ETA being how many minutes until the bus arrives.)

Screenshot of Naver Maps app No ETA Jeju Bus

Here are two reasons why:

If you’re taking a bus from the Jeju City Intercity Bus Terminal, again, there will be no ETA on the apps. You’ll have to check the Jeju bus schedule online or at the terminal.
For non-terminal buses, there’s no ETA usually because the bus hasn’t left their starting point, so the ETA clock hasn’t started. Sometimes you have to keep refreshing until an ETA shows up. From my experience an ETA will pop up once they’re 15 minutes away. This is also the same for the electronic signs at the bus stop.

Additional Jeju Bus Tips for Traveling Jeju Without a Car

Bus Seats in AC bus in Jeju City South Korea

Some buses get packed around 5 to 6pm on weekdays so you might have to stand for a little bit.
Not all buses stop right in front of the sites, usually only for the most popular destinations. The most I walked from a bus stop was 15 to 20 minutes, but the views were scenic.
The last bus runs around 11pm, though there’s not much of a night life in Jeju except in Jeju City, where you can easily take a taxi.
Bus drivers generally don’t wait for you to sit. They leave immediately, so hold onto something while getting to a seat.

Top Alternatives to Jeju Public Transport

A sign at Jeju Airport in South Korea reads "Hello Jeju," with the text set against a green, plant-filled background shaped like Jeju Island, and a palm tree icon. A person wearing a cap and sitting on a stone bench is seen using their phone on the left side of the image.

If you want to mix it up with public transit and other ways of getting around Jeju, here are the main options:

Take the Jeju Island Hop On & Hop Off Day Pass
Rent a car in Jeju (read my full guide)
Hire a private driver in Jeju or
Join a guided Jeju tour, which often provides transportation.

1. Jeju Hop On & Hop Off Bus

People walking across a suspension bridge over a narrow river or canal in a city park. Buildings and trees are visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

For $9 USD, you can purchase a one-day Jeju City Tour Bus pass that lets you hop on & off a dedicated bus that stops at popular tourist destinations in Jeju Island.

While the Jeju City Tour Bus is limited to specific sites in Jeju and by times, it is more tourist-friendly.

🎫 Buy a Jeju Bus Hop On & Hop Off Day Pass online

2. Hire a Private Driver or Join a Group Tour

A collage of stunning landscapes and attractions from Jeju Island, South Korea. The top left image shows a tall, rocky islet rising from the sea, surrounded by lush greenery. The top right image captures a serene, forested area with a peaceful river flowing through rocky cliffs, near a traditional pavilion. The middle left image

If you read through all of this, and said nope, getting around Jeju without a car is just not for me! You can also opt for hiring a private driver in Jeju, which will cost more, but will save you time.

🚕 Check the prices for a private driver for Jeju Island

You can also choose to join a group tour in Jeju Island, which generally provides transportation and will take you to some of Jeju’s most popular sites.

Here are popular Jeju Island tours to consider:

1. Eastern Jeju Island day tour: 5 sites, Recommended by 98% of travelers

2. Western Jeju Island day tour: 5 sites, Van provided, Top Rated

3. Jeju Island full-day tour of UNESCO sites: private tour, fees included

I hope these tips were helpful, especially if traveling Jeju without a car is your only option.

Personally, I’d travel Jeju without a car for a third time! While it won’t be the easiest, it was always a fun adventure.

Quick Jeju Island Links:

🎫 Buy a Jeju Bus Hop On & Hop Off Day Pass here

🎫 Rent a car in South Korea for as cheap as $28 USD a day

🎫 Join a group tour that provides transportation

Ultimate Guide to Getting Around Jeju Without a Car

Basic Information About Jeju Public Transport

First Stop: Getting from the Jeju Airport