4 Days in Jeju (제주) Without a Car | South Korea
Are you planning a trip to Jeju Island (제주도) without a car? Don't worry; it's entirely possible to explore this beautiful destination using public transport. With my last year's experience, I'll guide you through an exciting 4-day itinerary, split between Seogwipo (서귀포시) and Jeju City (제주시). Let's make the most of your time on Jeju Island!
💡 TIP: Whilst travelling by car is definitely faster, travelling by public transport is not impossible either. Just make sure to have Naver or Kakao maps and you can spot and read a printed timetable if need be (Papago can help with the reading part ;).)
Visiting Daegu? Check these 7 things you should not miss out on!
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post and I am not receiving any compensation for writing this. Any links included in this post are not affiliate links and I only include them for the reader's convenience. I am writing this because I want to share my experience with you.
Day 1: Arriving and Exploring Seogwipo (서귀포시)
After an early afternoon flight from Seoul, I landed in Jeju just before 2 pm. I took a limousine shuttle bus number 600 at gate 5 (5,500 KRW) to take me to Seogwipo (서귀포시) where I checked into the hotel and spent my afternoon admiring Jeongbang waterfall (정방폭포) (2,000 KRW, opening times vary), the only waterfall in Asia that falls directly into the ocean.
After admiring the beautiful sunset at the waterfall, I explored the famous Seogwipo Olle Market (서귀포 매일올레시장). Diner was Jeju's famous black pork with rice cakes and seeds and refreshing juice made of Jeju tangerines.
Day 2: Jeju’s Nature and Art
I spent day two exploring one of the places, that first inspired me to visit Jeju - O’Sulloc Tea Museum (오설록 티 뮤지엄) and Innisfree shop and cafe (이니스프리 제주하우스) where you can try Jeju special desserts and buy Jeju exclusive Innisfree beauty products.
💡TIP: Order Hallasan green tea mountain cake and Jeju's famous tangerine ice cream.
After enjoying a peaceful morning, I visited one of my favourite places in Jeju - Arte Museum Jeju (아르떼뮤지엄 제주). This is Korea's largest immersive media art exhibition located in the middle of the island. Even though it’s a bit tricky to visit using public transport, it is worth the journey.
Step into a world of captivating artistry where 10 colourful media art exhibitions await your exploration. Through a harmonious blend of light, sound, and fragrance, these immersive installations, centred around the theme of ETERNAL NATURE, transport you into a realm of awe-inspiring visuals and sensuous experiences. Truly a magical experience you cannot miss when in Jeju!
Day 3: Relaxing in Seogwipo (서귀포시) and Relocating to Jeju City (제주시)
I spent a relaxing morning on the Seogwipo side of the island, kicking it off by visiting Grimm Brothers-inspired Starbucks (스타벅스 제주중문점) where I treated myself to some Jeju exclusives. Word of warning, the drink was really sweet so keep that in mind when ordering tangerine-flavoured drinks. You can find the exact location of this particular Starbucks here.
As I still had some time before I had to take my bus to Jeju City (제주시), I explored the city centre and visited a brand new self-photo studio Photo Signature (포토시그니처) that just opened. As it was in the middle of the day, I was the only one there so I took my time exploring the props and taking photos. These studios are really popular across the whole of Korea and are a lot of fun to visit with your friends or on your own.
💡 TIP: Photo strips make for great souvenirs!
Do you want to know how self-photo studios in Korea work? Check out my TikTok video guide!
I arrived at Jeju City (서귀포시) in the evening where I explored the city centre before treating myself to some McDonalds. :)
Day 4: Cafe Hopping
Day four was my last full day at Jeju Island and I decided to spend it doing one of my favourite pass time activities in Korea - cafe hopping. I jumped on the bus that first took me to Orada Cafe & Bakery (오르다 & 베이커리). This cafe, located on the cliff, is popular due to its beautiful views, beach club vibes and a stairway to heaven photo op.
After enjoying a beautiful warm autumn morning on the cliffs, I hopped on another bus. Next destination - Jjokkeullak cafe (쪼끌락). This beachside cafe is known for its iced lattes, where coffee gets served to you in an ice cube shaped as hareubang dol (large rock statues found all over Jeju island).
After a refreshing walk on the beach, it was time to visit Gongbeach cafe & art exhibition (공백) especially popular among BTS fans, as it was opened by BTS’s Suga’s (Min Yoongi) brother back in 2019. Even though the cafe is no longer run by Suga’s brother, its innovative combination of a cafe and open space art gallery will impress any art lover who likes open space, nature and beautiful ocean views.
You can read more about the 5 cafes you should visit in Jeju (with Korean addresses) here.
After a long day of cafe hopping, I returned back to Jeju City where I treated myself to fire lobster at the Dongmun Traditional Market (제주동문시장).
This was my last day at the Jeju island and I had an early flight to Busan next morning.
Jeju Public Transport
When using public transport in Jeju, do not rely solely on information provided by the apps. Always double-check the printed timetables at the bus stops to avoid long wait times - I learned this the hard way when I was waiting for a bus for over 2 hours that was not coming. :) Be ready to take multiple buses to your destination or, ideally, plan your activities along the bus routes and schedules. 🙂
Heading to Busan? Check these 5 things you should do in Busan on your first visit.
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