Intra-city Buses | Transportation

Intra-city Buses

Riding the Bus Four types of buses cover routes connecting every corner of the city: Branch Route, Main Route, Circulation Route, and Metro Route. Bus routes can be the hardest to master for newcomers.
Once you get the hang of riding the bus, however, it may be easier for you to reach destinations not easily accessible by subway. The buses travel at 5 ~ 15-minute intervals, but may take longer in busier parts of the city.
Schedules vary depending on the bus routes, but most routes start at 4:30 a.m., with the last bus of the day making its rounds at 12 a.m. One of the advantages of traveling on a bus is that you can actually enjoy the sights and sounds of various neighborhoods around Seoul. If you are worried about traffic, it is good to know that some bus routes do not get as congested, since the designated lanes marked in blue ensure the free flow of bus traffic. Still, the drawback to this is that it may be difficult to find a seat on a moving bus full of commuters. The experience gets a bit more interesting when you have to squeeze your way toward the rear exit.
Bus Types “Ilban” buses are sometimes referred to as city buses, the most commonly seen type of bus in the city. “Ilban” buses come in yellow, blue, and green.
Bus numbers indicate the area of departure and arrival plus another digit or two for bus identification. To access a bus route search engine and a Seoul Bus Map, visit http://bus.seoul.go.kr [K, E]

“Ilban” buses are sometimes referred to as city buses, the most commonly seen type of bus in the city. “Ilban” buses come in the colors of yellow, blue and green.
Bus numbers indicate the area of departure and arrival plus another digit or two for bus identification. To access a bus route search engine and a Seoul Bus Map, visit http://bus.seoul.go.kr [K, E]
Green buses are operated by private companies. These branch buses connect residential areas, subway lines and bus terminals. Their routes are identified by a four-digit numbering system: departure area + arrival area +double-digit serial number.
Circulation buses accommodate various traffic demands. The yellow buses circle Downtown Seoul and make short stops at major tourist, shopping, and business areas around the center of the city. Their routes are identified by two-digit numbers: area number + serial number.
Red buses or express buses are the quickest of the group for a wide area line since they make fewer stops. These buses are the most comfortable and are designed to seat every passenger on the bus. Express buses come in various colors; the main purpose is to provide commuters easier access to neighboring cities such as Ilsan, Bundang, Suji, Suwon, Anyang, and Incheon. Express buses are labeled with a four-digit number on the front, side, and back.
Late-night buses (Owl buses)
Late-night Buses are operated from midnight until 5:00 AM with total 9 routes in downtown, Seoul. They can be easily recognized by marking an owl character and a route number on both the front part and LED electronic display at the side of each bus.
Maeul buses
Smaller community buses are for shorter routes that often include residential areas.
Maeul buses are easy to spot due to their significantly smaller size in comparison to other buses.

Living in Jung-gu