Do you need to rent a car in Jeju?

Asia > South Korea > Jeju

See: Why hire a car in Jeju ? | Why not? | Ratings | Summary | Comments

Please note that Carornocar.com is currently being revised and updated in preparation for the Summer 2021 (northern hemisphere) tourist season. It is expected that some social distancing rules will still apply. For additional Jeju car hire advice, please use the comments form below.

Quick Ratings

Price band:

Jeju is in car rental price band: 8/10 (1 = cheapest car rental location)

General comment - based on price alone, is it worth renting a car in Jeju?

No. Car rental is very expensive by global standards.

Volatility:

Can you expect big swings in car rental prices in Jeju between the peak and the off peak season?

5/10 (0 = stable prices)

Driving score: 1/10

Non car score:7/10

Balance: 1

(0 = car hire not advised / 10 = rental car essential)

General comment -

Situated just off the southern tip of South Korea, the island of Jeju is perhaps most popular as a domestic tourism destination, yet it is also still one of the world’s top 100 destinations. So if you’re planning on visiting Jeju, is there any point in getting a rental car here?

Why? Visiting Jeju using a hire car

Why do you need a car in Jeju ?

Unlike the heavily developed South Korean mainland, there are no rail services on the island of Jeju.
You should hire a car in Jeju if you want to take advantage of he flexility of having one – but you may find that availability is difficult, regardless.

Why not? Visiting Jeju without a car

Why don't you need a car in Jeju ?

Regular scheduled bus services are widely available, including to scenic hiking areas in the centre of the island.
The airport is very centrally located, and the main accommodation areas are densely developed and easy to walk around.
Given the small size of Jeju, it’s unsurprising that car rental facilities are not widely available here, as there is little point.

Ratings: How does Jeju compare?

Is it worth hiring a car in Jeju? TBC

This is based on a rough consideration of the costs of renting a car in Jeju, and how this compares with the costs of using public transport. The answer to this varies hugely from one destination to the next, based on a wide range of factors. It's based on renting a car at the airport (TBC), and driving for an average of 2-3 hours on open roads on most days.

How does this compare if:

You are travelling:

Solo / As couple / small family / larger family / senior couple etc

Does car rental make sense on different budgets?

Do you need to hire a car in Jeju? TBC

This is based strictly on whether or no we think it's possible to visit Jeju (and the surrounding area) without using a car. Of the three key questions, this one is the most likely to be a "no".

Should you rent a car in Jeju? TBC

This is a balance of all factors. Remember this is an answer to the question for people who are already asking it. That's why the answer might still be a "yes", even when public transport is good.

See global comparisons

Hiring | Driving | Parking

Trains | Buses | Local travel

Car hire basics:

Public transportation basics:

Regular bus services: YES

Coach (inter-city): YES

Tram: NO

Metro: NO

Commuter Rail:

High Speed Rail:

Rail type (end stub / through / junction / hub):

As you start ....

Does Jeju airport have a direct rail link?

(Yes - within terminal / adjacent / short walk) (Yes - bus transfer / other) No

Changelog

Has our advice for Jeju car rental changed over time, or has it been pretty constant?

2017 - 1

2019 - 2

2021 - 1

Average score - 1

Notes:

As a holiday island off the main Korean peninsula, the atmosphere of Jeju is in stark contrast to what you will find in Seoul or other large Korean cities. However, contrast in geography doesn’t mean that we would offer any contrasting advice when it comes to car hire options in Jeju.

Summary

Do you or don't you need a car in Jeju ?