Visitor Information

Jeju-do Tourist Association Information Center (tel. 064/742-6051; daily 6:30am-8pm) is located at the airport in front of the arrival gate on the first floor of the domestic terminal, where you can get free Internet access. You can find the KTO Tourist Info Center (tel. 064/742-0032; daily 6:30am-8pm) there as well.

There are also tourist information centers, all open daily, at the Jeju-si Ferry Terminal (tel. 064/758-7181; 6:30am-8pm), the Yongduam Rock (tel. 064/728-3918; 9am-8pm) parking lot, Jeju-si Intercity Bus Terminal (tel. 064/753-0353; 9am-8pm), Jeju-si Underground Mall (tel. 064/750-7595; 9am-6pm), Shin-Jeju (tel. 064/755-5959; 9am-6pm), Tap-dong Outdoor Performance Hall (tel. 064/751-8111; 9am-6pm), inside Jeju City Hall (tel. 064/710-3314; 9am-6pm), at the Seogwipo Bus Terminal (tel. 064/739-1391), in front of Manjang Cave (tel. 064/784-2387), and in Sanbangsan (tel. 064/730-1549).

Be sure to get a map of Jeju-do and a current bus schedule, if you're planning to travel by bus. You can find one on the Jeju-do travel website at http://eng.tour2jeju.net.

Getting Around

Jeju-do isn't as small as you might think. Most people book at least 3 days and 2 nights to get a general overview of the island, since most tourist locations are about an hour from Jeju City. Jeju-do is best explored by car or taxi, if you're not on a strict budget. It's also one of the few places in South Korea where I would recommend renting a car (although it's still not the least expensive way to get around), since traffic is minimal and roads are easily marked. Easier and even cheaper than renting a car is to get a tour taxi for the day.

Buses are available and reliable, but are slower and require the exact fare, making it important to carry a pocketful of W1,000 bills and loose change wherever you go. There is no rail or subway system on the island.

Jeju Trolley Limousine Tour Bus -- Don't be fooled by the name, since this tour is neither a trolley nor a limousine, but rather a climate-controlled bus. Comfortable, nevertheless, this is a great way to get an overview of the island, especially if you're on a tight schedule. There are two courses: one that tours the east side of the island and another that goes around the west side of the island, including Seogwipo. Both courses start between 8:30 and 9:30am from the island's major hotels. The eastern course includes Seong-eup Folk Village, Manjang Cave, and Seopjikoji, a scenic peninsula where many movies have been filmed. The eastern course has an option to visit Elephant Land for an additional W12,000 (W9,000 for kids). The western course covers the O'Sulloc Tea Museum, the Soingook Theme Park, and Cheonjieon Waterfalls, with an option to ride the Seogwipo Ferry for an additional W16,500 (W9,000 for kids). Both courses end around 6pm and you can arrange to have them drop you off at the airport, if you wish. You must make reservations at least a day in advance by calling tel. 064/763-8879. A 1-day pass costs W35,000 adults, W28,000 children, and 2-day passes are W55,000 adults, W44,000 children.

By Car -- The island's destinations are clearly marked in both English and Korean and some of the remote places are most easily explored by car. You can take your pick from among the following reputable agencies: Jeju Ok Rent a Car (tel. 064/743-4000; www.jejuokrent.co.kr), Jeju Rent a Car (tel. 064/742-3307), Geumho Rent a Car (tel. 064/743-8107), Avis Rent a Car (tel. 064/749-3773), and Jeju Rental Car Service Association (tel. 064/747-4301). There are several more rental-car agencies in Jeju-do, but those I've mentioned are all available at the airport. If you're undecided about whether you want a car, you can rest easy. There's generally no need to make advance reservations -- there is a rental-car information desk when you arrive at the airport (on the first floor of the domestic terminal) and they usually have cars available. That said, I highly recommend reserving in advance if you're visiting during the summer or during a national holiday. Tip: If you're staying at one of the resort hotels, it's best for you to rent a car at the hotel's rental office, since they usually offer 50% discounts to guests.

You have to be at least 21, have been driving for at least a year, and have both your International Driving Permit and your passport with you in order to rent a car. You can get free maps at either the car-rental company or the tourist information desk at the airport. All the rental-car companies have comparable prices (Avis is a little pricier but their employees speak better English), starting at W76,000 for a small compact like the Hyundai Avante, W117,000 for a midsize car like the Hyundai Sonata, and W250,000 for an SUV like the Hyundai Grandeur. The per-day rates get lower the longer you rent.

The maximum speed limit on Jeju highways is 80kmph (50 mph), but most roads are 50kmph to 60kmph (31-37 mph). As on the mainland, the roads have high-tech cameras ready to catch you speeding, so be careful.

By Taxi -- Getting around by taxi is easier in Jeju-do than other parts of the country, since there is comparably little traffic (except a bit in the evenings). Tour taxis are popular among South Korean honeymooners, since they get a driver, tour guide, and photographer all in one. It may be a good option for you too if you don't want to drive, but still want access to out-of-the way scenic destinations (although most taxi drivers speak limited English, if at all). The good thing about Jeju-do's taxis are that they are all the same price, with regular fares starting at W1,500 and going up W100 every 213m (1/8 mile).The night fare (midnight-4am) is 20% more. If you decide to use a tour taxi, it will cost about W80,000 to W120,000 per day. You can negotiate with the taxi driver to try to get a better rate.

By Bus -- The bus system is reliable, though it's neither the most convenient nor the fastest way to get around Jeju-do (especially if you have limited time on the island). The buses do travel to most tourist destinations, but some (like the Manjang Caves) will require an additional bit of walking or hiking on your part. Most bus routes radiate from terminals in Jeju City or Seogwipo, covering most of the island, with service every 20 minutes or so. Be sure you get a copy of the current bus schedules at the tourist information center.

There are two buses that run on Highway 12, which circumnavigates the island. One bus starts at Jeju-si and goes to Seogwipo via Seongsan (going east), while the other starts at Jeju-si and goes to Seogwipo via Hallim (going west). They both start running at 5:40am every 20 minutes until 8pm. After 8pm, there are two more buses every half-hour until 9pm. Regular bus fare is W1,000 adults, W800 for junior high students, W400 for elementary school kids. You can get additional info on the intercity buses by calling tel. 064/753-3242 for Jeju-si and tel. 064/762-3248 for Seogwipo-si.

By Bike -- Outside of Jeju City and Seogwipo, biking is common. In fact, there is a continuous bike lane on both sides of Highway 12. Cycling the entire 182km (113 miles) will take about 3 to 5 days, depending on your skill level. Some shore roads also have bike lanes, but many of them aren't continuous and are inconvenient. Rentals are W5,000 to W8,000 per day and are available near the Jeju-si Bus Terminal, Yongduam (Dragon Head Rock, a basalt formation carved into its dragon-head shape by the wind and the sea), or the beachfront.

You can rent both bicycles and scooters, but bikes are more eco-friendly, of course. In Old Jeju, there is a motorbike shop where the owner speaks English well. Go to Seosara JC, go 1 block south, and look for Keumsung Motorcycle (tel. 064/758-5296; http://jejubike.co.kr, in Korean) on the east side of the street. They rent a scooter for about W20,000 per day.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.