Getting Around Daejeon

Getting Around Daejeon

Daejeon sits at the heart of South Korea's transport map. It grew up as a railway town and remains a road and rail hub where the country's main expressways and trunk railways meet, so arriving is usually easy. Getting around once you're there is a mix of a single subway line, a dense but leisurely bus network, plentiful taxis, and a compact downtown that rewards walking.

Arriving by Train

Daejeon lies on the main line connecting Seoul and Busan, and high-speed KTX services make the trip from Seoul quick — roughly an hour. Two principal stations serve the city: Daejeon Station, the main stop, and the secondary Seo-Daejeon Station. Both see KTX services, but they serve different corridors. If you're coming from or heading to the Jeolla region in the southwest, you'll want Seo-Daejeon Station rather than Daejeon Station. Depending on your direction, Shintanjin Station to the north of the city can also be a useful stop.

Conventional trains take about twice as long as the high-speed services but cost considerably less, so they're a reasonable option if you're not in a hurry. Do bear in mind that trains on the main line can sell out, particularly on Sunday afternoons and late at night, so book ahead when you can. Korail tickets can be bought at station windows, through travel agencies, or online.

Metro and Trams

Daejeon has a single subway line that bisects the city, running from the northwest corner toward the southeast. It's genuinely useful for reaching central Daejeon, the old downtown around Daejeon Station, and a handful of other sites — but it won't get you everywhere, and many of the city's attractions are easier to reach by bus or taxi. Think of it as one convenient spine through the city rather than a comprehensive network.

For tickets, the subway is compatible with Seoul T-money passes. You can also pick up a "Hankkumi" transportation card at manned booths within the subway stops; these are rechargeable at stations and at many GS25 convenience stores. Hankkumi cards and tags carry both Hankkumi and Seoul T-money functionality, so either system works.

Buses

The inner-city bus service is extensive but can be slow. Most routes pass through Daejeon Station, which doesn't have a single central bus rank — instead, buses leave from roughly ten stops scattered around the area, so it pays to check exactly where your route picks up.

City buses are colour-coded by type:

• Red buses are express services that stop only at major stops for faster journeys.
• Blue buses are regular services linking the downtown areas with the suburbs.
• Green buses come in two varieties: one connects the districts within Daejeon, and the other links Daejeon with neighbouring areas.

Fares vary by age group — children, middle and high school students, and adults each pay differently. Using a traffic card earns discounts and free transfers, and T-money also works for discounts and free transfers. Board through the front door and exit through the back, tapping your card on the reader both when you get on and when you get off. Cash payment is no longer available, so you'll need a card.

Note that express routes 1 and 2 are not always clearly marked, even at the bus shelters where they stop, so keep an eye out. A full bus route map is printed at practically every bus shelter in town, which makes navigation much easier when combined with a pocket-sized printed list of route numbers. Two city tour buses also run daytime trips between science-themed sites such as the Currency Museum, Expo Park, and KAIST, with night-time trips as well.

For longer stays, a Hana Bank rechargeable transportation card offers free transfers; opening an account at Hana Bank gives you a smart bank card that can be charged for use on buses and taxis.

Taxis and Ride-Hailing

Taxis are a practical fallback for the many parts of Daejeon that the single subway line doesn't reach, and they can be paid for using a rechargeable transportation card. For visitors staying only a short time, taxis are often the simplest way to cover gaps in the bus and metro network, particularly late in the evening.

Walking

Daejeon is spread across a broad lowland valley, so it isn't a city you can comfortably cross on foot end to end. That said, central Daejeon and the old downtown around Daejeon Station are compact enough to explore on foot, and walking works well in combination with the subway for reaching the areas it serves. Elsewhere, expect to rely on buses or taxis.

Getting In from the Airport

The nearest airport to Daejeon is Cheongju International Airport, just north of Cheongju city in the neighbouring province, at least thirty minutes away by road. Its schedule is limited, with flights from Jeju a few times a day, so it mainly serves domestic and a small number of international travellers.

There is a railway station next to the airport — Cheongju Airport Station, on the Chungbuk Line — though it sits some distance from the terminal, and a shuttle bus connects the station with the passenger terminals. All passenger trains on the Chungbuk Line stop there, and tickets are issued at the tourist information counter on the first floor of the airport terminal. In practice, though, the usual way to reach Daejeon from the airport is by intercity bus, which runs to Daejeon Dongbu Terminal.

Most international visitors, however, arrive via Incheon International Airport, and from there Daejeon is well connected by plentiful high-speed train and bus services. An airport bus runs to Daejeon as well, with a stop near the Government Complex; some express buses depart from Dongbu Terminal and Yuseong and also call at the Government Complex.

Intercity Bus Terminals

If you're arriving or leaving by long-distance bus, note that Daejeon has three intercity bus terminals, each serving different regions:

• Dongbu Intercity Bus Terminal and the Dongbu Express Bus Terminal share a building in Yongjeon-dong, Dong-gu. The intercity terminal connects to major cities in North and South Chungcheong province, while the express terminal links to most major cities nationwide.
• Seobu Bus Terminal in Yuseong-dong, Seo-gu, connects to western parts of South Chungcheong province such as Nonsan, Buyeo, and Daecheon.
• Yuseong Bus Terminal in Bongmyeong-dong, Yuseong-gu, connects to northern parts of South Chungcheong province such as Gongju, Yesan, Dangjin, and Cheonan.

One quirk to be ready for: incoming buses terminating at Dongbu Terminal sometimes drop passengers at one of several petrol stations or empty car parks near the terminal rather than at the terminal itself. It's inconvenient if you're transferring onward, but it does leave you on the right side of the road to catch local express bus #2 down to the central Korail and subway station.