So, there I was, stuck in the middle of Jeju Island, waiting for a bus that “should” arrive in 40 minutes. “I should’ve rented a car, I should’ve rented a car, I should’ve gotten my Korean license! Why didn’t I do it? It’s so easy to get one! You should’ve listened to your coworker!” You know, all that positive self-talk. I spent so much of the day navigating transportation that I didn’t get to see all the places I had on my list.

This brings me to lesson number 1….

Rent a Car

If you can, trade in an apostilled copy of your license for a Korean one as soon as you land in Korea. While I cannot verify this, I have heard from friends that you have to have a license for a year before you can rent a car.

Why rent a car? Because transportation is scarce in most parts of the island. I have had to wait up to 40 minutes for a bus, and at many other times, I’ve waited for what seemed like forever on the side of the road for a taxi to come by. Some parts of the island don’t get as much traffic, so getting from point A to point B is time consuming.

ATTRACTIONS ARE FAR APART which is why it’s better to have a car. Every day that I traveled to my first attraction and in between attractions, it would take an hour to 2 hours to get there. Add that to the waiting time and you’re looking at lots of precious time used just on transport.

IF YOU CAN’T RENT A CAR: Stay in either Jeju City or Seogwipo. They are the largest cities and, therefore, have more frequent transportation.

GO TO THE BUS STATION THE DAY BEFOREHAND: Sometimes, the map apps (Naver Maps and KakaoMap) don’t provide departure and arrival information. DON’T DO WHAT I DID and go to the bus station at the time that you hope to depart. Because you just might end up waiting 45 minutes to an hour….like I did. Go to the station the day beforehand and take a picture of the schedule for the particular bus that you will need the following day.

 

Eat Dinner Early

Maybe it’s because I was there in September, after the high season, but most restaurants seem to shut their doors between 7 and 8 at night. Which is quite early compared to where I live in Busan.

I spent a couple of nights in a desperate search for dinner, even though it was relatively early. One of those nights, I had to eat dinner at Paris Baguette.

Lesson learned.

Start Early

Whether you are driving or using public transportation, most attractions close at 6 PM. Don’t forget that it’ll most likely take you 1 – 2 hours to get to most places. Jeju is famous for its plethora of museums and natural sights, and even the natural attractions have an entrance and an exit, meaning that they will close as well.

This is why it’s important to wake up and start your day early so that there is enough time to drive/ride to each attraction and be able to see more than just one per day (because there are plenty that you will want to see!)

Bring snacks and entertainment

If you are wanting to see as much as you can during your trip to Jeju Island, you might not have time for lunch. Also, most of the island if quite rural, so there will be long stretches of nowhere to eat. It’s best to stop by a convenience store and pack some kimbaps or sandwiches for the road.

During my trip, it was difficult to find places, even convenience stores that had food. I learned the hard way to pack a lunch before heading out!

If you are traveling by public transport, definitely bring a book, tablet for videos, or headphones to keep you entertained during the long rides between points of interest.

The Best Time to Visit

is in June. Why June specifically? Because July is when the monsoon season arrives, so you’re going to see a ton of rain. And August is typhoon season. Yaaayyy!!! --When I went in September, the weather was absolutely perfect to go sightseeing in, although it still had leftover rains from monsoon/typhoon season. But….. it was too cool to swim in!

Charge Up Your Transportation Card

Whatever card you use for public transportation, make sure to charge it before your trip starts. I think 40,000 won is a good amount to start with. I say this because I almost got stranded in the middle of an isolated part of the island with no taxis in sight and only enough money left on my card for one bus ride only. Just because I didn’t track how much was left beforehand. And that was a very scary feeling. Don’t forget to bring cash as well because ATM’s aren’t easy to find, so it’s better to have that taken care of first. That’s the only way to recharge your card – cold, hard cash.

I hope these tips will bring some insight in helping you have a stress-free vacay at the beautiful Jeju Island.

⬇️⬇️⬇️If you have any questions, please leave a comment below⬇️⬇️⬇️