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north jeju tour

Exploring North Jeju in a Day

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Jeju (Cheju) is perhaps the most popular tourist destination in South Korea. With cheap flights connecting all major cities, in the mainland, to Jeju; it makes for an excellent weekend getaway. Exploring the whole island itself, will take longer than a week and yet, it might not be possible to cover everything. Jeju is one of  “ The New 7 Wonders of Nature “  and has an enviable wealth of natural diversity in the form of lengthy coastlines, quaint fishing villages, oreums , lush forests, arboretums, and Korea’s pride, Mt. Hallasan . It also has a fair share of museums, amusement parks, recreational areas, shopping markets, and casinos. Take your pick!

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For simplicity, the island can be divided into 5 zones (corresponding to the geographical orientation) namely: north, south, east, west, and centre. We started our 10 day trip in the north, travelled to the east, back to the north again, and ended the trip in the south combining it with the central region (Mt. Hallasan). The best way to get around would be to rent a car, scooter, or if you’re adventerous — a bicycle. Local bus connectivity is a test of your patience and is pretty scarce after 7 pm. Tour buses run with a similar frequency, but have an added advantage of connecting tourist places of interest with popular hotels. If you have a T-Money Card (Seoul), it will be valid across public modes of transport in Jeju. Cabs may turn out to be expensive and it’s probably best to avoid them for longer distances. Although,walking is the least popular mode of transport for many, it’s the simplest and most enjoyable way to get around.

We spent about 4 days in the north, clubbing it with Basil’s work trip, and explored the popular areas in quick succession depending on the available time. However, it’s possible to cover most of the north in a day — if you’re pressed for time.

Breakfast at Tapdong

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Tapdong’s top draw is its scenic coastline. It’s a great way to kickstart your morning with a walk along the rocky shore. Although, it might get a bit noisy with planes landing at regular intervals. The street parallel to the coastline is famous for its cafes, shopping markets, casinos, and high-end hotels. A Factory Cafe , opposite Arario Museum, has a fine collection of art books, a seating area with free WI-FI, and is perfect for a light meal.

Arario Museum

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Like most of its counterparts in Seoul, Arario Museum doesn’t allow photography of its exhibits. Showcasing contemporary artworks by artists, across the globe (Andy Warhol, Subodh Gupta), Arario might be a bit disappointing if you’re not into contemporary/abstract art. The cold, grey brick stones didn’t do much for me. Some of the exhibit areas were dimly lit and it was creepy to be alone in a room, with little light, and the overpowering smell of cement. Since I couldn’t get any pictures inside the museum, I tried to take abstract pictures of the building instead. The irony was not lost on me.

Yongduam Coastal Road

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Tapdong is about 15 minutes away from Yongduam Rock on foot. The Golden Bus City Tour has a pickup at Ramada Hotel (Tapdong) — if you want to skip the walk. The coastline, connecting these two popular tourist spots, is lined with fish restaurants (the most popular local meal in Jeju) and cafes.   Yongyeon Pond ,  a quiet cove, painted bluish green, by the confluence of fresh and sea water — lies just before  Yongduam Rock . If you’re not in a hurry, you could try kayaking here. We explored a bit of the bridge and walked towards the fabled “ Dragon Head Rock “.

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Tourists were having a field day with the camera and blue seas — in the background. We did manage to get a couple of good shots without getting photobombed. The jagged coastline and rock shapes are result of erosion by the sea and wind over the years. However, local legends prefer to narrate interesting stories about fallen dragons and mystical deities, to explain the origin of these strange rock formations.

Lunch at D-Stone Pub

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Leading away from Yongduam Rock towards the coastline trail, at the far end, lies D-Stone Pub . If you’re lucky to get a seat by the window, you’d be privy to some of the best views of the sea.

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The choices of food match the location of this restaurant/cafe. Many guests (suited business men and young couples) chose to reserve tables by the window — to enjoy a cup of coffee or desert. We were hungry and indulged in King Prawn pasta and burgers instead.

Haenyeo Women Divers

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If you’re lucky, you might spot  Haenyeo Women Divers in the wide expanse of blue. These women have quite an extraordinary ability to hold their breath underwater for 2 or 3 minutes. And, it’s fascinating, because they don’t need specific gear earning them the name of Mermaids of Jeju . Many of them sell their catch (abalones, shellfish, seaweed) along the rocky bed of the sea.

Jeju Museum of Art

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Jeju Museum of Art  is situated in the midst of nature — away from the chaos of the main city. The modern building is surrounded by art exhibits, a clear pond, and trees. Noisy ravens crackled in the background and soft sounds of music (from the neighbouring Love Land) trickled in. On the day of my visit, I wasn’t charged an entrance fee. However, only two of the exhibitions halls were open for visitors and photography wasn’t allowed inside. Exhibition hall 1 showcased the paintings of Chang Lee Suok  highlighting stories of the hardships of the past. The Haenyeo Women Divers are a prominent feature of his work.

Jeju Love Land

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Keeping up with the island’s underlying theme of bizarre museums and amusement parks,  Jeju Love Land is known for its erotic take on love. The exhibits are the creations of art graduates from Seoul’s prestigious Hongik University.

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Since, Jeju happens to be a popular honeymoon destination for newly weds and young couples, this museum fits in quite well. However, Love Land has its fair share of elderly tourist groups, happy to pose with the exhibits, or flaunt the unfazed look. I was asked to double as photographer on multiple occasions. And I found people watching, more interesting, than the exhibits themselves. Ajummas laughed at a nude male exhibit, an elderly man walked and posed beneath a large exhibit of a woman’s legs (when he thought no one was looking), and couples had a field day with the interactive devices. In the background, the Beatles and Beejees tried to croon some real love into the air. Personally, I was disappointed. Having visited the  Khajuraho Temples in India and the Sex Museum in Amsterdam ; I thought Jeju Love Land was a rather tame version of what it claimed to be.

Hot dumplings

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On a cold day, it’s perfect to have a quick snack of steaming hot dumplings. The stall, run by an elderly lady, outside Jeju Love Land offers a good selection of Korean meals.

Chilsung-Ro 

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Jeju’s shopping markets are known to be open till late evening and some through the night. These streets are great to stroll around and soak in the atmosphere — even if you don’t want to shop. Chilsung-Ro, near Tapdong, has some of the popular brands and a couple of good eating options. Most places were shut by 8 pm, so you’d want to visit earlier.

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The underground shopping centre (also serves as an underpass) is perfect to get good deals on clothes or shoes. Since we hadn’t had our meal yet, we decided to grab a bite to eat at one of the local burger joints. And there’s some pretty stiff competition out here. Exit 11 leads you to  Jeju Gwandeokjeong Pavilion.

Jeju Gwandeokjeong Pavilion

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We reached  Gwandeokjeong Pavilion  around 9 pm. The doors to  Jeju Mokgwana (the former government office) were shut. On a full moon night, we weren’t disappointed, and were happy to even see  Dol Hareubang .  

You can now download this post on  GPSmyCity  to follow our path.  Click here  to explore. 

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40 replies on “ exploring north jeju in a day ”.

Beautiful photos

Thanks, Mathew! 🙂

What a wonderful guide to Jeju Cheryl. You certainly explored a lot in a day and brought all of its colour to life. Beautiful. xo

Glad you liked reading it, Miriam. I have so much to write on Jeju — one of the reasons I’ve delayed posting for so long. 🙂 When I started writing this, I thought it’s going to be the easiest part of the trip and it took me much longer to get it all documented (hyperlinks). Phew! We did (north) this in bits and pieces as Basil had to break our holiday and mix it with work. 🙁 But if someone had to get a taste of Jeju, it’s possible to do this in a day. Thanks so much for your comment! It feels so good to be appreciated! xo

Oh, you’re definitely appreciated Cheryl. I love the wonder lusting attitude that you and Basil have. It shines through in all of your posts. xo

Thanks so much, Miriam. I had to tell you about this incident. Basil rarely reads my posts, probably just glances through the photos and reads some comments. The other day, I made (forced) him to read a post, and he said, “You have become so good!” Haha! He’s been my toughest critic and always keeps me grounded. I must thank Basil for a lot of our travels. He pushes me and I never really thought — I’d had it in me! My family is pretty shocked I’ve travelled like this! Haha! I’m trying hard to get him to write a post. Have a super weekend, Miriam! Always feels good to connect with you! xo

That’s so great to hear. I think it’s awesome that Basil said that and acknowledges your writing because it really is good. You obviously make a great team. Sometimes I wish my husband was more involved in my blog. Although he reads some of my posts and occasionally comments I don’t think he really gets it. Tell Basil from me that I’d love to read a post from him! Enjoy your weekend my friend xo

I’ve been telling him for ages! I said no one will expect anything from you and they would love to hear your side of the story. I’m sure our readers would like a fresh perspective. haha! Hope you had a nice weekend yourself. Ours was packed and really needed some time out today. 🙂 xo

Oh, absolutely. Convince him Cheryl! Sounds as though you had a busy weekend. Hopefully the week ahead is not so crazy but happy and relaxed. Take care. xo

I’m hoping for the same thing, Miriam. I’ve been making a lot many new friends (I can’t remember so many) and also have signed up for couple of Korean craft classes. These days I’m travelling around the world without leaving Seoul. 🙂 Sounds crazy right?

No, it sounds wonderful. Enjoy!

I’m going to write a post on my Hanji (Korean paper craft) addiction soon. 🙂

Why not? Look forward to it. 😊

Aww! Thanks for your interest, Miriam. I haven’t been able to take ‘tasteful’ pictures of my work. 🙂 Once I can cross that hurdle, the post will follow soon. My friends and family are pretty pleased with it. And I’m surprised myself. Haha!

Excellent post. Felt as if I was there.

Thanks a bunch, Sue! All the more reason to make that trip to Jeju? 🙂

I had a couple of friends move there recently so it is on the list. Thanks for the post. That love museum looks hilarious.

There’s so much more coming up, Jeff. I’d say the north is where you’d want to spend the least time. We found the east and south more appealing (fantastic forest, cycling, walking, and oreum trails). The trick is to escape the peak season. We got lucky with the weather (good sunshine) and since everyone else was probably enjoying fall in the mainland (mountains), many places were pretty empty. Glad you enjoyed reading this post! Thanks for your comment, Jeff! 🙂

What a great, easy getaway spot! You certainly made the most of your time there, too.

It’s the easiest part of our trip, Lex. The rest of the trip had a lot of walking and hiking. Jeju was such a pleasant surprise!

South Korea is certainly not a popular tourist destination in this of the World. But looking at your recent posts which explores South Korea, it looks like its surely a great offbeat place to visit…quite like Japan.

I’m so glad that many will consider South Korea as a potential holiday destination. I think, the country is very well documented by expats. I’ve seen some fantastic blogs. I guess, most tourists don’t have time to explore the lesser known places because of the time crunch. Japan is fantastic too. 🙂 Vegetarians might have a slight problem. 🙁

When I compare place like Thailand with Japan and Korea to some extent, (even though they all have “big time problem” when it comes to Vegetarian food) exchange rate, expensive economy and tourist friendly infrastructure are major differentiating factors. While Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand have targeted Indians in a big way, China, Japan and Korea are yet to do. I do see Korea Tourism adverts in travel magazines in India but unless they plan specifically I don’t see it as a popular travel destination specially for individual travelers. China is picking up but people prefer to travel in a group tours which saves them language and food troubles. Being a vegetarian, even though I have survived on fruits and ice cream sundaes during far east travel, I’m always happy exploring India…This life time won’t suffice for country like India. And I hate group tours…they take away my freedom!

Haha! I know what you mean! 🙂 I don’t like group tours either.

I knew that 😉

You’ve read a lot many of our posts! 🙂

omg, these mouth-watering food snaps 😀

Haha! I know! It was divine! 🙂

Haha I wish I’d read your guide before we visited Jeju ourselves. You accomplished so much in a short period of time! We spent SO much time in the car driving between north and south, and should’ve just divided up the trip. Would’ve been so much more effective. And by the way – the air route between Seoul and Jeju is the world’s busiest…and has been for quite a number of years I think…CRAZY.

Haha! Jeju was an unplanned trip with Basil falling sick before leaving etc… I’m not sure how did we do so much! I think we just went with the flow. I was too lazy to get Basil his international driver’s license and so we had to use public transport (buses and even taxis). We stayed at Ramada (second time in the north) and the view was amazing, but the planes a real nuisance! I agree, it’s so crazy!

What a terrific guided tour. Wonderful photos too!

Thanks so much, Belinda! 🙂

Thank you for taking me there, it’s like I did the tour with you !

Haha! One of the reasons I love blogging is that we get to get to go for virtual tours. You’ve taken me through Iceland, Taiwan, and the UK! 🙂

I love blogging for that reason as well… and of course to keep track of my own memories 😉

Ooh! I know exactly what you mean! 🙂

many m any South Korean drama’s are based in Jeju island… Love the place so much. So cute and sweet photographs..

Thanks a bunch! 🙂

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Jeju Island Travel Guide: Where to Stay, Top Attractions, Bus Guide

Here’s my Jeju Island Travel Guide with everything I learned from traveling Jeju Island in South Korea. I recently came back from my 2nd trip there.

It’s a really beautiful island but there are things I wish I knew before traveling to Jeju!

I tried to go to as many places as I could and traveled all around Jeju without a car .

If you’re new to South Korea, read my travel guide to South Korea.

👩🏻‍💻 Read next: 22 Things to Do in Jeju (+ Top 5 You MUST Visit) and The Perfect Jeju Island Itinerary for 2-5 Days .

Book Before Your Jeju Trip: 🚕 Hire a private chartered car for a Jeju Island day tour 🏢 Book discounted hotels in Jeju on Agoda 🎫 Browse through dozens of available Jeju tours 🚌 Buy a Jeju Bus Hop On & Hop Off Day Pass here 🚙 Rent a car in Jeju Island for as cheap as $28 USD a day

Table of Contents

Where to Stay in Jeju Island

This is probably the top question: where to stay in Jeju Island.

There’s four main areas to stay in Jeju Island. Most tourists will either stay in Jeju City in the north, or Seogwipo City in the south.

Where to stay in Jeju Island will depend on what activities you want to do & how long you’re staying.

If you’re staying longer than 3 nights, you can always switch hotels to experience different areas.

The two hotels I stayed at:

  • ASTAR Hotel (photo above)
  • Reve Business Hotel Jeju

1. Jeju City (north)

Jeju City is where the airport is. There’s a few cool tourist sites , but other than that, Jeju City looks like your typical busy city, with lots of restaurants, hotels, shops, and buildings.

People like to stay in Jeju City because:

  • It’s only 10-minutes from the Jeju airport , and it’s a bit livelier, though quieter compared to Seoul or Busan.
  • It’s also easier to take the bus from Jeju City to main tourist sites throughout the island. There’s more buses available here. This is where I stayed. It takes around 30-minutes to around an hour to get to the different parts of Jeju.

⛴ Try this: Explore Jeju City with a Rainbow Yacht Tour 😎

If you’re only staying a night or 2 or have an early flight out, it’s probably better to stay in Jeju City to be closer to the airport.

If you’re traveling only by bus & for only 2 nights, Jeju City is also a better option. And you’ll see why in the bus section of this post.

Hotel Recommendations for Jeju City:

Astar hotel.

One of the cleanest and most comfortable hotels I stayed in South Korea. While a 4-star hotel, it’s still quite affordable. Close to buses and walkable to the main Jeju City Bus Terminal.

Reve Business Hotel

This was the hotel I stay at during my second visit. Clean, and around the corner from a main street with lots of restaurants, as well as an airport bus stop. Plus, very afforable!

2. Seogwipo City (south)

Seogwipo City is the 2nd largest city on Jeju Island, though more chill. It’s closer to greenery and natural sites, like waterfalls and cliffs.

The hotels in Seogwipo City are also cheaper in the south than in Jeju City.

Stay in Seogwipo City if most of things you want to do are in the south, so you don’t have to keep going back and forth.

But, if there’s only a few things you want to do in the south, you can just allocate a day in the south and stay elsewhere.

Hotel Recommendations for Seogwipo City:

I haven’t stayed in Seogwipo City yet, but hotels are cheaper in the south. Here’s the top hotels in Seogwipo to browse through.

🚌 Explore southern Jeju Island with a Group Tour (includes Hallasan Mountain)

3. East Coast, or Seongsan

A main reason to stay in the East Coast, or Seongsan, is to be closer to specific tourist sites.

People like to hike Sunrise Peak or Seongsan Ilchulbong right at sunrise, and staying in the east is just more convenient.

Also for people who want to travel early to Udo Island, which is just off the east coast.

Hotel Recommendations for East Jeju:

There are lots of hotels in the east, many near the beach that are also affordable. Here’s hotels in east Jeju to browse through.

🚌 Explore East Jeju with a Group Tour (includes Sunrise Peak & Jeju Stone Park 🌅)

4. West Coast

People stay in the west coast in Jeju Island, or more north-west for all the beaches and cafe culture along the coastline. A lot of the airbnbs and home pensions are also located in the west.

I’d stay in the north-west if you want to be closer to those specific beaches. Otherwise, there’s beaches in other areas too.

Hotel Recommendations for West Jeju:

West Jeju has lots of nice villas and affordable pensions, both on Airbnb and hotel booking sites. Many near the beach too.

Here’s hotels in west Jeju to browse through.

🚌 Explore the West Coast with a Group Tour (6 locations included)

In Summary on Where to Stay in Jeju Island:

  • If you want to travel all around Jeju Island, are traveling by bus, have an early flight out, or are staying for only a short time, I recommend staying in Jeju Island. 
  • If you want to spend more than 1 day in the south and most of things you want to do is in the south, stay in Seogwipo City.
  • Stay in the west or east if you want to be in those specific areas most of the time. 
  • If you’re staying longer than 3 nights, try changing hotels.

Also, if you’re traveling Jeju Island by bus, look for a hotel that’s walkable or a quick bus ride to the main bus terminals to save time.

Hotels are more expensive in Jeju City, but you can find decent ones around $40 USD a night. In the south you’ll get bigger and cheaper options.

Things to Do in Jeju Island

Make sure to read my list of 22 things to do in Jeju Island and write down which sites interest you.

Here are my top 5:

  • Sunrise Peak / Seongsan Ilchulbong
  • Hike Hallasan Mountain
  • Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff
  • Handam Coastal Walk
  • Hamdeok Beach Area

Choose from these sites to create the Perfect Jeju Island Itinerary for 2-5 Days :

🏝 7 Best Beaches in Jeju to Visit (with Photos & Reviews)

🌊 5 Amazing Waterfalls in Jeju Island You Can Visit

🎫 Choose from 112 Jeju group & private tours from Viator

General Jeju Planning Tips

1. Try to bunch sites together that are walkable from each other, to make the bus ride or drive worth it.

One of the things I enjoyed most was walking between sites. You’re usually surrounded by nature, or interesting remote areas. And there’s trails and paths set up throughout Jeju Island.

2. To find more places to go to nearby, type in “nearby attractions” in Google Maps and tourist spots are marked with a camera icon.

Look at reviews and photos if the site interests you and write it down.

3. Try to plan around sunsets around 6-7pm. They’re really pretty in Jeju at the beaches or coastlines.

Popular Jeju Tours

1. Eastern Jeju Island Discovery Tour :

  • Jeolmul Natural Recreation Forest
  • Seongsan Ilchulbong
  • Seongeup Folk Village
  • Jeju Stone Park

2. Western Jeju Island Exploration Group Tour

  • Hallim Park
  • O’sulloc Tea Museum
  • Songaksan Mountain
  • Hyeopjae Beach
  • Choose Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls or Teddy Bear Museum

3. Jeju Island UNESCO Day Tour : choice between south, west, and east Jeju Island.

Here’s popular activities to join in Jeju Island:

Transportation

In case you didn’t know, there is no subway on Jeju Island.

Read my full guide to traveling Jeju without a car if you plan to only use public transit in Jeju.

From the airport, you have 3 options:

  • Rent a car in Jeju – You’ll need an international license or a South Korea license, for around $50-100 USD per day. You can also hire a private driver in Jeju from around $150-300 dollars per day.
  • Take a taxi – if you’re staying in Jeju City, it’s only a 10-minute ride away. You can take one for around $7 to $8 dollars. A taxi ride to the south will be $30 to $40 USD and take around 45 minutes.
  • Take a bus – The cheaper option would be to take the airport limousine bus #600 from the airport. It runs every 15 to 20 minutes. It first stops at popular hotels in Jeju City, then cuts down to Seogwipo City, which will take about an hour. You can pay with T-money card and the stops are announced in English.

🚌 You can also purchase a Jeju Island Hop On & Hop Off Day Pass

Getting around by Taxi

  • It’s easier to hail taxis or book a taxi on the Kakao T app in main touristy areas. If you’re in a more remote area, finding taxis is not guaranteed.
  • Uber Taxi only seems to work in Jeju City , though it might take a while to get one.

Jeju Bus Guide

A lot of people will discourage you from visiting Jeju Island if you can only take the bus. Jeju actually has tons of buses. They have the airport bus, intercity buses, INTRAcity buses, and express buses.

For both my visits to Jeju, I took only the bus and I was able to go all around Jeju Island. The most I walked from a bus stop was 15 to 20 minutes, and the views were nice.

It is a slower pace if you’re only used to subways, but I personally enjoyed the bus rides. I downloaded audiobooks and music to listen to, and it was really peaceful and nice.

ALSO all buses in Jeju have free and fast wifi. And minus the airport limousine bus #600, bus fares are only $1 to $2 dollars. It might sound like a lot and maybe complicated, but I also want to help you set your expectations. 

For a complete public transport guide, read my traveling Jeju without a car blog post, with all the bus tips you’ll need.

Alternatives to public transport in Jeju:

  • Take the Jeju Island Hop On & Hop Off Day Pass
  • Rent a car in Jeju for as little as $28 USD/day
  • Hire a private driver in Jeju for a day
  • Join a guided Jeju tour , which generally provides transportation

Final Thoughts on Jeju Island

The first time I went to Jeju I did try fitting in as many places as I could and rushing a bit to stick to bus schedules. The second visit, I took it slower, I took my time at sites and beaches, and wandered around.

You can always come back to Jeju, and if you’re not able to, take your time to enjoy the views, rather than places to check off your list, which I tend to do.

Traveling around Jeju does take some effort, but you can always look up a Jeju group tour to make it easier and meet others.

I would totally go back to Jeju, and next time do more of the hiking trails. Let me know if you have questions and I’ll try my best.

I hope this Jeju Island Travel Guide was helpful!

Enjoy your trip to Jeju!

Jeju Travel Quick Links: 🚕 Hire a private chartered car for a Jeju Island day tour 🏢 Book discounted hotels in Jeju on Agoda 🎫 Browse through dozens of available Jeju tours 🚌 Buy a Jeju Bus Hop On & Hop Off Day Pass here 🚙 Rent a car in Jeju Island for as cheap as $28 USD a day

Related Posts

Essential Tips to Getting Around Jeju Without a Car

The Perfect Jeju Island Itinerary for 2-5 Days

22 Things to Do in Jeju (+ Top 5 You MUST Visit)

Guide to Hiking Eoseungsaengak Trail (+ How to Get There)

5 Amazing Waterfalls in Jeju Island You Can Visit (2024)

7 Best Beaches in Jeju to Visit (with Photos & Reviews)

How to see Cherry Blossoms in Jeju Island in 2024

Roseanne Ducut is a solo female traveler and Filipina from the Bay Area, California. She writes practical and culture-rich travel guides and encourages solo female travelers to take #yolo trips. A veghead for over 15 years, Roseanne also writes vegan guides to help others plan their trips.

All about Jeju Island

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Woljeongri Beach

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Jeju Small-Group UNESCO Day Tour – South Course

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Jeju Small-Group UNESCO Day Tour – East Course

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Yakchunsa Temple

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31+ Unbelievable Things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea

I can’t believe it has taken me this long to write about things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea. I’ve been visiting Jeju since I was a kid, I remember visiting when I was 15 years old and riding a horse in the middle of the rain in red coats and surprisingly that part hasn’t changed. Jeju is considered to be the Hawaii of South Korea, it’s been a famous and popular location to visit among locals, Asians, and also foreigners. It’s one of Asia’s bucket list destinations. It’s one of South Korea’s most treasured places and for good reason. 

New to South Korea? Be sure to read my South Korea travel guide . 

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Best things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea | The Ultimate Guide to Jeju

So you are looking the best things to do in Jeju Island. There are so many great things to do in Jeju from horseback riding to museums, hanging out by the beaches, and more. I will dive right into some of the most popular and unique things to do on Jeju Island. 

Jeju is a very large island and surprisingly takes quite some time to get from one end of the island to the other. It may be difficult to check out all the things to do in Jeju. This is mainly due to the mountainous areas and it’s difficult to travel around without a car. It can still be difficult to do everything there is to do in Jeju if you only have a short amount of time. 

I decided to break down the most popular Jeju Island Attractions into regions from the East, West, South, and North parts of Jeju. These Jeju attractions will help better plan your trip and also help you decide on where to stay in Jeju. 

Things to do in Jeju – Jeju West Coast Attractions

This is a list of things to do in West Jeju. 

Nonhyeon Super Market - Things to do in Jeju

Nonhyeon Super Market

Address: 제주 제주시 노형로 89

This was probably one of the most interesting Jeju Island tourist spots I went to. It starts out in a cafe and then you move along after you get your ticket based on the time. You can easily purchase your ticket when you arrive but it would be better to book your ticket in advance. You first arrive at a weird black and white supermarket, you can walk around and then some weird things start to happen. You are then led into different areas and you will see some fascinating art shows. 

Camellia Hill (카멜리아힐)

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 병악로 166

Flowers are a popular photo spot for Koreans and are considered one of the places to visit in Jeju Island. These flowers are only available during the winter months and maybe early spring. They are these beautiful orange color flowers that are in a giant field. Save money and book your tickets here.

Hello Kitty Island Museum and Cafe

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 한창로 340

If you are obsessed with Hello Kitty, I highly suggest you go and visit Hello Kitty Island! It’s one of the most popular things to do in Jeju and has gone viral several times on social media. It’s a beautiful store and cafe worth visiting. If you miss out on tickets or come too late for the last tour , that’s okay you still have access to the gift shop as well. 

Chocolate Museum - Things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea

Chocolate Museum

Address: 제주 서귀포시 대정읍 일주서로3000번길 144 초콜릿박물관

This chocolate museum has been a favorite and highlight in Jeju for quite some time. The chocolate is quite delicious and an interesting place to visit, to say the least. The exterior is quite different and you can also take a chocolate-making class as well. They are every hour on the hour. Book your experience here . 

O’Sulloc Green tea field

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 신화역사로 15 오설록

There are 3 attractions on this property, the Innisfree house (known for skincare), the tea museum where you can get delicious green tea ice cream, and finally the fields you can roam and explore. Although, I would say that Boseong Green Tea Farm is my favorite in South Korea. O’Sulloc is a nice green tea farm, but the beautiful rolling and mysterious hills of Boseong are why it’s my favorite. 

Hike Mount Hallasan 

Hallasan National Park is probably one of Jeju’s main attractions. People from all over the world come to hike this gorgeous mountain in Jeju. It’s a gorgeous mountain with a gorgeous view. It’s an intense hike not recommended for beginners and is the tallest mountain in South Korea. When you hike the top, you can see the inside of the beautiful crater that is sometimes filled with water. 

Teddy Bear Museum (테디베어뮤지엄 제주)

Address: 제주 서귀포시 중문관광로110번길 31

If you are interested in Teddy Bears, the Teddy Bear Museum is a popular Jeju Attraction. You can find out everything you need to know about Teddy Bears. The teddy bear was first created over 100 years ago and named after Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States of America. There is a lot to learn at this interesting museum. 

Automotive and Piano Museum

World Vehicle and Piano Museum

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 중산간서로 1610 세계자동차 제주박물관

This is an interesting museum to go to. We decided to check it out because well I grew up with classic cars and my boyfriend also enjoys classic cars as well as being a mechanic. We were confused about why it’s a vehicle and piano museum, but it was quite interesting. 

On top of it all, they have deer on the property that you can feed as well!! You start on the exterior in checking out the different vehicles and they have other vehicles inside including a Delorean. If you want to try and escape the heat for a little bit of air conditioning, it was a fun place to look at. Save money and book your ticket here. 

Museum of Sex and Health

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 일주서로 1611 건강과 성 박물관

So there are two popular areas to see funny sex-related things in Korea. As I had mentioned, Jeju is the Hawaii of South Korea, so just like Hawaii, it’s a popular destination for people all over the world to visit during their honeymoon. So because of that a lot of areas are filled with these funny sex museums. This one focuses primarily on health and the other one is Loveland which focuses on funny sexual statues. Book your tickets in advance here. 

Arte Museum

Address: 제주 제주시 애월읍 어림비로 478

This museum is a beautiful light installation museum that highlights some popular works of art. It’s Korea’s largest immersive media art exhibition. They are also known for the wave exhibit that has been used at the popular COEX. They have about 12 popular exhibitions and are absolutely stunning to check out. It’s an awesome place to visit if you are looking for things to do in Jeju when raining. You can see more on their website here . 

Spirited Garden

Address: 제주 제주시 한경면 녹차분재로 675 생각하는정원

This is a beautiful place to discover 7 amazing small gardens. There is a cafe and a healing lunch buffet. YOu can see a lot of Bonsai trees located in this garden. I would say this is more of a traditional garden with beautifully tended plants. Save money and book your tour here.  

9.81 Park 

Address: 제주 제주시 애월읍 천덕로 880-24

This is an amazing adventure location to visit. You can ride go-karts, do VR, a sports lab, relax, bumper cars, and so much more. It’s a very interactive place and perfect for young adults and kids to check out. They have indoor and outdoor spaces.

Hallim Park 

Address: 제주 제주시 한림읍 한림로 300

A beautiful park located on the West coast of Jeju lies Hallim Park. They have a lot of tropical plants including beautiful large and mature palm trees and cacti. You’ll find some interesting animals as well. It’s pretty much like an indoor and outdoor arboretum that also includes a cave. 

Things to do in Jeju – Jeju East Coast Attractions

This is a list of things to do in East Jeju. 

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 성산읍 성산리 1

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak also known as sunrise peak has been a popular tourist destination. It’s located on the West side of Jeju. This is one of the most popular places in all of Jeju to see the sunrise. In Korean tradition, people usually see the sunrise for the New Year. It’s been a tradition for as long as people can remember. It’s considered the best place on Jeju to see the sunrise. 

Udo Island with Haeneyo Statue

Travel to Udo Island – A hidden gem on the coast of Jeju 

Address: 제주특별자치도 제주시 우도면

This is one of my favorite places to visit and things to do in Jeju. I absolutely loved Udo. Udo is a small island on the east coast of Jeju that you can get to by ferry. It’s easily accessible and the entire island can be biked within a day. It’s an interesting and beautiful gem to visit. Read about my things to do in Udo Island post . 

Manjanggul Cave

Address: 제주 제주시 구좌읍 만장굴길 182

This is the most popular cave in Jeju where you can see the famous lava tube. You will walk through a dark long tunnel until you access it. It’s a great spot to hit up if you want to cool down from the summer heat. To be honest, I wish I brought a hoodie with me! I was traveling in the middle of August and was surprised by how cool it was down there compared to the humid summers in Korea. It’s one of the biggest lava tubes in the world. This is a must-see on Jeju Island. 

Jeju Horseback Riding

This most popular place to do Jeju Horseback riding is at Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak also called Sunrise Peak. It’s a great place to ride horses along the beach. Horses in Korea are considered to be a strong breed to survive harsh winter and summer conditions. The horses in Jeju were revitalized in a program to preserve them in the 1980s. Save money and book your experience here .  

Bichui Bunker

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 성산읍 고성리 2039-22

This is another light show location where they focus on light media art. It was built to represent the colors of Jeju. They have different exhibits of many famous artists from Van Gogh to Monet. They focus mainly on impressionist artists currently, but that may change in the future. Read about their interesting story on how a hidden bunker is how they got their name here. 

Bimirui Forest

Address: 제주특별자치도 제주시 구좌읍 송당리 2173

Another beautiful forest to take photos of within Jeju. It’s a not very well-known Jeju attraction except with a few Korean’s and looks to be like a small glamping location. It’s a cute location to see some interesting trees and a cute camper van at the end. I’m not sure what kind of trees they are made of, but the trees split into V’s and almost look like very long forks.

Things to do in Jeju – Jeju South Coast Attractions

This is a list of things to do in South Jeju. 

Jeongbang Waterfalls

Address: 제주 서귀포시 칠십리로214번길 37

This is one of the most popular things to do on Jeju Island. It’s one of the popular 3 waterfalls located in Jeju Island which is absolutely stunning. There is a story about this waterfall which you can read here. This waterfall is the only waterfall that falls into the ocean. 

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 서홍동 791

This is a beautiful lookout point in Jeju. You can see some beautiful lava formations that lead out into the ocean. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Jeju Island. There are a lot of legends and stories about this rock. One mentioned it’s a grandmother and another mentioned it’s a woman who had committed suicide. I suppose it depends on who tells the story. 

31+ Unbelievable Things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea 1

Jusangjeolli Cliff

Address: 제주 서귀포시 이어도로 36-24

This is a beautiful cliff near Cheonjeyeon cliff and one of the best attractions in Jeju Island. This cliff is made up of volcanic rock formations. It was created when the lava from Hallasan Mountain erupted into the sea. They are hexagonal in shape and if you have ever been to Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, they are very similar. This has been a popular place to visit in South Korea for many years and I even have pictures of my parents spending time there as well!  

Jeju Folk Village

Address: 제주 서귀포시 표선면 민속해안로 631-34

Although I haven’t been here in quite some time, I remember a lot from visiting when I was a preteen. It’s very traditional when it comes to some of the things to do in Jeju Island. I remember going to this village and we were told about the Black Jeju Pig. They teased about how the bathrooms were used very long ago. There is this toilet or spot where you can sit to poop and it would fall into the pig’s pen. If you weren’t careful, the pig would bite your butt as you pooped. 

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall 

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 천지동 667-7

This is probably one of my most favorite waterfalls to visit in Jeju. It’s a beautiful waterfall that you can easily walk to on foot. It’s probably one of the most accessible ones in Jeju as well. It costs about 1,000 won to enter and there is a beautiful covered pathway you can walk until you get to it. You will see a lot of Dol hire bangs which are said to promote fertility and help in producing a boy.

31+ Unbelievable Things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea 2

Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls

Address: 제주 서귀포시 천제연로 132 천제연폭포관리소

Not to be mistaken for Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, it’s both accessible and in a nearby location. It’s one of the 3 main waterfalls to see when it comes to things to do in Jeju. It’s a beautiful waterfall that is stunning to see. You can also check out the hexagonal lava forms there as well. 

Starbucks – One of the most beautiful Starbucks in Korea

Address: 제주 서귀포시 중문관광로110번길 32

This is considered to be one of the most beautiful Starbucks in Korea. If you are a Starbucks fanatic, it’s worth checking out and you can grab some Jeju exclusive Starbucks drinks and cups. It’s definitely a popular hit on Instagram as well. 

Alive Museum

Address: 제주 서귀포시 중문관광로 42

These are popular all over South Korea and obviously, a must for things to do in Jeju. They have varying locations in Insadong, Hongdae, and more. They are all different and unique in their own ways. They are an optical illusion museum that appears like you are in a specific space or location but they’ve just been painted to feel and look like you are in a 3D space.

Jeju’s Alive Museum is the world’s largest optical art museum. There are 5 different themes you can access which are optical illusion, sculpture, media, object, and impressionism. 

Hydrangea

Take Photos with the Beautiful Hydrangea 

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 남원읍 태위로 337

These hydrangeas usually bloom in May, when I visited in May a few years ago, they are absolutely stunning and cover the entire island. There are so many beautiful flowers to see in Jeju that at worth chasing. This becomes a popular flower to visit during late spring or early summer. It’s a less-known for things to do in Jeju Island.

Things to do in Jeju – Jeju North Coast Attractions

This list is for things to do in North Jeju. 

A walk or drive along Aewol Coastal Road

Probably one of the most popular roads and views in Jeju. Most people will know of this road. 

Funny story – I was getting a watch fixed at a watch repair shop in Gangnam and my friends and I were patiently waiting. We overheard the person fixing the watch about things to do in Jeju as he has never been. His friend mentioned this road, and we were honestly shocked that he, a Korean who’s lived in Korea his whole life, had never heard of this place. 

If you haven’t been here, can you really say you’ve been to Jeju? It’s honestly that well known. Please make the opportunity to go.

31+ Unbelievable Things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea 3

Address: 제주 제주시 1100로 2894-72 제주러브랜드

This is absolutely cheezy but totally worth checking out. It’s been featured all over Facebook because of these funny and interesting provocative statues. My boyfriend and I went here for my birthday and we found this place to be quite hilarious. I was absolutely in love with the spinning sex-making kinetic sculptures. 

Jeju Dongmun Market

Address: 제주 제주시 관덕로14길 20

This is the most famous, oldest, and largest market in Jeju. They are mostly known for selling fresh fish, produce, clothing & general goods. It’s a popular place to get Korean Street Food as well. 

READ: Gwangjang Market

Jeolmul Forest Park

Jeolmul Forest Park 제주절물자연휴양림

Address: 제주 제주시 명림로 584

This is a beautiful forest in Jeju and is less talked about as an attraction. I visited here with my cousin and her best friend and it was a fun place to stay cool during the summer heat and take some great photos. It’s a beautiful walking path filled with large mature trees. 

Address: 제주 제주시 조천읍 번영로 1278-169

An amusement park focusing on picture opportunities, they are filled with beautiful flower fields, a traditional-looking train, and some interesting landmarks. You can find some animals as well on the property. It’s definitely a beautiful place to check out if you want to see all the different plants that grow on Jeju. You can find anything from any season at this park. 

Closed Attractions in Jeju

There are a lot of attractions that people are talking about in Jeju, but unfortunately many have been closed for various reasons including COVID and lack of tourist attractions. I’ll list some of the closed attractions in Jeju as I come by them. 

  • Play K-Pop Museum

Where to stay in Jeju – Hotels in Jeju Island

This depends on where you plan to spend most of your time exploring the island. However, there are always a lot of things to do in Jeju Island especially on the East and South coasts of Jeju. Not to say that there aren’t things to do in the other parts, there just always seems to be more in these areas. 

Where to stay in West Jeju

  • La Beaute Jeju Pension
  • Sun and Moon Resort
  • J Raum Resort

Where to stay in East Jeju

  • Chuidasun Resort Tea & Meditation
  • Arts Spa & Poolvilla
  • Co-op City Hotel Seongsan

Where to stay in South Jeju

  • Lotte Hotel Jeju
  • Witch’s Hill Ocean View Private Villa
  • Hotel Seogwipean

Where to stay in North Jeju

  • Hotel Regent Marine The Blue
  • Ramada by Wyndham Jeju City Hall

Find more info about the best accommodations in Jeju here.

Best Tours in Jeju

There are a lot of great ways to save money in Jeju. You can book some of these tours below to save money and time to see all the best things to do in Jeju. 

  • Jeju Island UNESCO Day Tour – Want to save time and not worry about planning your trip? This highly recommended tour gives you all the best of Jeju. Book your affordable Jeju day tour here. 
  • Jeju Taxi Tour – Rent a taxi for the day and explore all of your favorite locations in Jeju. These are a great option to see all the things to do in Jeju without worrying about driving abroad.
  • 3 Day Taxi Tour – Rent a taxi driver for 3 days and don’t worry about renting a car and driving in another country.

Best Beaches in Jeju Beaches

There are a lot of beautiful beaches in Jeju. Some of my favorite ones honestly were in Udo which I felt was less explored, calm, and clean. Check out the most popular Jeju beaches to add to your list of things to do in Jeju Island.

  • Hamdeok Beach
  • Hyeopjae Beach
  • Gwakji Gwamul Beach
  • Jungmun Saekdal Beach
  • Geommeolle Beach
  • Woljeongri Beach

How to get to Jeju

There are 2 main ways to get to Jeju. 

How to get to Jeju via Airplane

The main way to get to Jeju Island is by airplane. It’s the most popular way to get there and easiest. You can fly out from any of the airports in Korea usually to get to Jeju. If you are in Seoul , you can travel from Gimpo Airport (GMP), from Incheon (ICN)  you can travel from Incheon Airport, if you are traveling from Busan you can fly out of Gimhae International Airport (PUS) and if you are traveling from Pyeongtaek, you can travel from Cheongju (CJJ) Airport. 

How to get to Jeju via Car

There are ways to get there via ferry boat as well. If you have your own car, you can drive down and take the ferry down. Incheon just mentioned that they reopened their ferry services from Incheon to Jeju recently as well. 

Car Rentals in Jeju

There are a lot of places where you can rent a car in Jeju. However, after your book your flight and hotel , I highly recommend booking your car rental right after. These can get quite competitive as the cars get more booked. The cost of a car rental increases as their availability runs out. 

I highly suggest you rent directly near the airport because it’s a lot easier so that when you return, you can easily return it to the airport. They will usually take you by shuttle to the car rental location nearby and you can also take the shuttle back to the airport after dropping off the rental car. Book your car rental here . 

Jeju Food – What to eat in Jeju

There are quite a few interesting things to eat that are local to Jeju. The most important 2 are the Jeju Oranges and the Black Pork. They are the most popular items to try and if you head over to Udo, it’s also about eating the famous peanut ice cream. 

  • Black Pork Korean BBQ
  • Abalone Porridge
  • Seafood Hot Pot
  • Jeju Oranges

Where to shop in Jeju

There are a few places to shop in Jeju, although Jeju is more known for outdoor activities, museums, and just a place to relax. Seoul is more known for shopping. However, there are a few places I would recommend shopping at while in Jeju. The other parts would be souvenir shopping at any of the places listed above. 

  • Jeju Jungang Underground Shopping Center
  • Dongmun Market
  • Jeju Traditional Five Day Market
  • Han Collection

Where and what to drink in Jeju

There are a lot of places to drink in Jeju. From bars to experiences, but I just wanted to list the most popular drinks and popular tours to take when it comes to drinking in Jeju. 

  • Maekeolli – Maekeolli in Jeju is quite different. Some come in a variety of different fruit flavors and some with a nut base. 
  • Hallasan Soju Tour
  • Magpie Brewery (맥파이 브루어리)

Cafes in Jeju

There are a lot of beautiful cafes in Jeju, here are some of my favorites. Cafe hopping is one of the best things to do in Jeju when raining.

  • Starbucks in Jeju
  • Cafe Del Mundo

Best time to visit Jeju

The best time to visit Jeju and see all the best things to do in Jeju Island varies upon the weather and tourism. Jeju weather can be quite difficult to navigate through during the summer months. This is mainly because the summer months can be quite hot and sticky from the humidity and additionally, it can be quite rainy due to tropical storms from the monsoon season. 

I would say that Jeju is perfect to visit all year long since it’s beautiful during winter because the blue skies and the snow can make it quite magical. 

Fall and Spring are a great time to visit Korea because it’s quite beautiful with the fall and spring foliage. It’s absolutely stunning during these months since many of their flowers bloom during these 2 seasons. 

The summer can be great despite the heat and rainy weather because since it is a tropical location, it’s beautiful to swim and relax by the beach, poolside, and more. 

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Hey, I'm NieNie, also known as Stephanie – a California native of hapa heritage (an American with a mix of Korean and German) with an enduring love for travel. Transitioning from my expat life in South Korea to embracing the experience of living in Germany, while also frequenting visits to my family in the Philippines, I'm documenting my adventure as a plus-size woman immersing herself in diverse cultures. Join me on Adventures with NieNie for travel tips, cultural insights, and inspiring stories from South Korea, the Philippines, and Germany. Let's embark on this adventure together!

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1. Jeju Island East UNESCO Day Tour with Lunch included

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2. Jeju Island English Flexible Private Tour from 1 to 13, 10 tours

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4. Private Day Tour in South and West in Jeju Island

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5. Jeju Premium Small Group UNESCO Day Tour - South Course

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7. Jeju Island Private Taxi Tour : UNESCO Day Tour

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11. Half or Day Tour For Cruise customers arriving at Gangjeong Port

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12. Jeju Island Private Taxi Tour : 2 Full days

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13. Full-Day Private Jumbo taxi Tour - East of Jeju Island (UNESCO)

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14. Jeju Island Private Half day Transport : South / West

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15. Small group tour FULL - PACKAGE Tour to All Areas in Jeju Island

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16. jeju island private jumbo taxi tour - West & South of Jeju

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First Timer's Jeju Itinerary (3 Days, With or Without Car)

Updated: Oct 7, 2023 by Max · This post may contain affiliate links · 42 Comments

I’ve just completed my fourth trip to Jeju Island, so I think it's about time I update my itinerary— a lot can & has changed in two years! Originally I wrote this Jeju itinerary to fit all seasons, but I've since added tips for visiting in winter, and for traveling by car or by bus.

I believe that even if you only have a long weekend to explore Jeju, maybe from Seoul or Busan , there's no reason it can't still be fantastic. Both now and during the three years I was teaching English abroad in Korea, Jeju has been by far my favorite weekend getaway.

It's the perfect addition to a Korea itinerary , especially considering how inexpensive the flights are. But n o matter how many chances you have to visit, if you carefully decide on what to do, what to eat, and where to stay in Jeju, then the memories will last a lifetime.

Click here to read about to where to stay in Jeju!

Since this is a truly massive Jeju travel guide, please click around using the table of contents.

Visiting South Korea (Update)

Visiting jeju island in winter, arrival & getting around in jeju, where to stay on jeju, what to do in jeju, what to eat in jeju, sample jeju itinerary: 3 days, travel tips for jeju island, practical travel info, jeju island travel faq, jeju attractions map.

Guide to Jeju Island | #travel #korea #jeju #island #itinerary

Those of you looking to visit South Korea are probably as confused by all the changes as I was before I visited again post-covid. But as of March 20th, 2024, masks are still required in medical settings like hospitals but are NO LONGER REQUIRED in all other indoor public places, including public transport.

Here are what document you need to visit Korea as a tourist:

  • K-ETA ( Korean Electronic Travel Authorization , applied for at least 72 hours before departure) OR Visa to visit Korea (countries which previously had a visa exemption now need to apply for a K-ETA). From April 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024, passport holders from 22 countries will also temporarily NOT need a K-ETA or visa to visit Korea (includes: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, US (including Guam)). If you're a valid ABTC card holder (APEC card), you are not required to apply for a K-ETA [excluding Americans & Canadians].
  • Q-Code (can also be filled out upon arrival) : visitors need to fill out information for the Korean quarantine system, known as Q-Code . Note that all travelers are now allowed in regardless of vaccination status, but you do need to have filled out your Q-Code before going through immigration.

If for some reason you need to take a covid test in a South Korea airport, the cost of a covid test in Incheon Airport is currently ₩80,000 ($60USD), with some options within Seoul as inexpensive as ₩65,000 ($50USD). There's no testing requirement to leave South Korea.

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north jeju tour

Does it snow on Jeju? How cold does Jeju get in the winter? When is low season on Jeju? So many people have asked me about traveling to Jeju in winter that I decided to add a section on just for that. To answer the overall query: it's totally possible to visit Jeju Island during winter, and Jeju is seriously one of the most underrated places to visit in Korea during winter.

To answer the above questions: yes it snows, it can get as cold as -7C/20F, and winter is low season on Jeju. But no worries, there are plenty of things to do on Jeju , even when the temps hit single digits. Just remember:

  • Pack layers, including thin heat tech layers you can remove every time you go inside places. Wintertime on Jeju runs from November to March, though the end of March will see cherry blossoms and can have some very warm days (though still some cold nights).
  • Jeju weather is fickle, just like on the Korean peninsula, so in the winter it's possible to have snow anytime, though it is rare outside of December and January. Jeju in December is also really pretty, especially if it's just snowed on Hallasan. Be extra careful when driving.
  • On that note, winter activities on Jeju include picking hallabong (Jeju oranges) and gyul (Jeju tangerines), without much other interference. Most things don't close on Jeju in the winter, even Hallasan; you can still hike everywhere, though I wouldn't recommend a beach day.
  • Popular things to do on Jeju in winter include: Love Land, the Aquarium, wandering Camellia Hill, and visiting all of Jeju's many museums!
  • If you're on Jeju from mid-December to mid-January, definitely check out the Jeju Winter Festival, if only for the street food.

So if you're deciding between Jeju or Busan in winter , I'd suggest heading to Jeju. It's quieter and the flights are more affordable, and so is the food & accommodation. Plus, unlike Busan the snow stays untouched and pristine for quite awhile on Jeju!

north jeju tour

Transportation in Jeju can be a bit of a mess. Since it's an island, actually getting to Jeju is a relatively simple matter of taking a flight. Note that if you are flying out early from Gimpo Airport, the airport closes each night from 12am-4:30am. Though some people have a fear of flying, and may choose to get to Jeju by ferry .

Either way, once you arrive you will find yourself on the north side of the island, nearly inside Jeju City. It's certainly possible to get around Jeju by public bus or taxi, but not recommended, as the first costs lots of time, and the other costs lots of money.

But for those who hate to drive as much as I do, I've also shared tips below on how to get around Jeju by bus. As for the infamous tour packages that most Koreans seem to favor, the jury is still out on that one.

I've experienced some amazing tours in South Korea, but it certainly limits what you see and how much time you spend there. The best option by far is to rent a car, or bring your own over on the ferry from the mainland.

I've gotten around Jeju by tour bus, public bus lines, and driving a rental car. There's no metro or train system on the island, though there are ferries. So if you choose not to or simply can't rent a car on Jeju, you're left with the bus.

driving in Jeju

Traveling Jeju By Bus

As I've said, this is not my favorite option, but it's doable. If you travel Jeju by bus, you'll want to stay along the coast so you're no more than two buses from where you want to go. I recommend staying in Seogwipo, so that you can follow the itinerary below.

Your favorite bus line on Jeju will be the 201, which takes you in a ring around the island. The scene along the coast is particularly gorgeous from April to June. For your initial arrival, Jeju airport limousine bus 800 and 800-1 will take you from the airport to Seogwipo the most directly, with buses every 15 minutes between 6am-10pm daily. 

Most of the bus routes stop running just before 10pm. If you arrive after 10pm, I'd recommend staying in Jeju City for the first night; you can take the 3000's lines to a few different places, but those also stop at 12am. Taxis will always be waiting to take you somewhere, but the lines are always long at night.

Introducing the T-Money card, a transportation card like no other. Mine was attached to my credit card while I lived in Korea, but you can also get one at any of the convenience stores in Korea. You can use your T-Money card to get all around the island, even in most taxis (but always bring cash just in case).

Most fares will be ₩1250 (~$1USD) each way, though the cost of taxis depends completely upon distance. Be sure to download the Naver Maps app before arrival so that you can get bus route info immediately.

north jeju tour

Driving in Jeju

Driving in Jeju is quite safe, with lots of open roads and several paths across the island in addition to the loop around it. A self-drive in Jeju is also the best way to see the beauty of the island's countryside vistas, stay flexible with plans in case of weather interruptions, and stay in cheaper hotels if budget is an issue. 

The only requirements to rent a car in Jeju is a license in your home country and an international license (which is applied & paid for separately, almost always before you arrive to South Korea).

Koreans drive on the right hand side of the road, just as they do in the US and most of the rest of the world. Driving in Jeju City isn't very challenging, though going into more rural parts can be challenging since the roads narrow quite a bit.

Your Korean GPS will give you numerous speed warnings every time you're approaching speed cameras (so you have no excuse for getting a ticket!), so don't freak out when it chirps and beeps at you a lot.For a car rental, Jeju Island is one of the easiest spots I've ever rented in.

We just followed the signs in the airport, took the shuttle to Lotte Rental Cars, pulled a number for help in English, and we were in our car within 15 minutes. That was on a public holiday, too! Rental Car places are called " ren-ta-ca ," so try saying that if nobody seems to be able to help you in English.

Having a car on Jeju got us to about twice as many sites across the island, not to mentioned allows you to rent a scooter on Udo Island (if that's your kind of thing).

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Choosing where to stay on Jeju Island may not seem like as big a decision as it actually is. Jeju is by no means small, but it is of a manageable enough size that you could spend one night in each part of the island and still see everything you're interested in.

Yet most people wouldn't choose to change accommodation every night if they don't have to. So in this post I narrowed it down to the four best regions in which to base yourself, and a different spot for every budget and comfort level.

If you're unsure of where to stay at all, or just have a day or two, then I highly recommend you stick to the transportation hub of Jeju City. If you're spending at least 3 days on Jeju, consider splitting up your accommodation and staying in two different parts of the island.

If you follow my sample Jeju itinerary below, it would be best to stay near Udo Island on the first night, and then in Seogwipo for the last 2 nights. I know that all the place names can be confusing, so I made a map of Jeju attractions that goes along with the 3 day Jeju itinerary below. Click here to scroll to it now.

Click here to see reviews of Jeju accomodation on Agoda.

north jeju tour

Jeju has innumerable sites that involve the sea and nature, including 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. But the island has its fair share of quirk and Korean tradition (naked hot tubs, anyone?). This list could seriously go on for hours if I listed out everything that locals do for fun.

So to stick to the more accessible stuff for 3 days in Jeju, I'll share just the weird, the natural, and the educational, divided by region. Don't forget to carry around a few extra thousand-won notes to pay for parking! 

Surprisingly, I found the points of interest in Jeju to be more accessible than those in Seoul or Busan. Most everything was available in Korean, English and Chinese, and many more people were able to speak English than I expected.

So don't shy away from something that sounds interesting, just because it looks rural. Looks can be deceiving, and Jeju Island is the land of things-built-only-as-tourist-attractions.

north jeju tour

Love Land (erotic museum) /// ₩9000 entrance /// 9am-midnight daily

Love Land is a very blasé name for this unusual park full of penises and other erotic sculptures. It was actually opened in 2004 by a group of art students from Seoul's Hongik University (of 'Hongdae' fame). Please note that you must be at least 19 to enter the park .

Hallasan Hiking /// free /// roughly sunrise to sunset

It's tough to designate a specific starting point to hike Hallasan, considering that it's at the center of the island. Hallasan is actually an active volcano, though it ' spews no lava or smoke at the moment, and it's the reason why Jeju island exists at all. T 's safe to hike, and t he views from the top are unforgettable .

Note that it is not safe to Hike Hallasan in the rain and that you should bring extra layers no matter the weather when you start.

Orange Picking Experience /// ₩3000-₩6000 /// usually 8am-6pm

With peak orange season from November to February, orange picking is a winter activity on Jeju that most everyone participates in, local or tourist. You pay a flat fee per person to pick and eat as many oranges as you want & bring home a kilogram.

Manjanggul (lava cave) /// ₩3000 entrance /// 9am-6pm daily (closed first Wednesday of every month)

As one of Jeju's 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the 1,000 meters of cave open to the public gets quite packed on weekends. The slippery floors can become extra hazardous, so bring grippy shoes and plan to spend about an hour exploring the cave and surrounding property.

Manjanggul Lava Cave | #travel #korea #jeju #island #itinerary

Jeongbang Waterfall /// ₩2000 entrance /// 8am-6pm

Jeongbang's claim to fame is as the only waterfall in Asia to fall directly into the ocean, which is honestly really cool sight. There's also a tiny beach in front of it, just before the vast ocean extending way beyond. The walk down is worth it in nice weather, but can be a bit treacherous in rain or snow.

Olle Trails (Oedolgae Rock) /// free /// roughly sunrise to sunset

A rock may not sound like a very impressive attraction, but this stunning viewpoint is the perfect spot from which to admire the ocean & the many small islands off the coast of this side of Jeju-do. Many people come here each day just to trek the well-trod trails and stop at a lookout every once in awhile to soak it all in.

Jusangjeolli Lava Cliffs /// ₩2000 entrance /// roughly sunrise to sunset

Often compared to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Island, the Jusangjeolli cliff faces are another act of nature bestowed upon Jeju by the volcano that formed its body. Easily less than 5 minutes from the parking lot, the cliffs are deep grey rectangular and square formations which jut picturesquely out into the ocean.

Jusangjeolli Lava Cliffs | #travel #korea #jeju #island #itinerary

Jeju Folk Village (Jeju Minsokchon) /// ₩11000 /// 8:30am-5pm or 6pm (spring & summer)

Jeju Island is the land of the unexpected, and on my last trip I ended up in this tiny mountainous village for lunch, in an area I later learned was called Minsokchon . The traditional Jeju Folk Village appears as if it had sprung out of the mountains, populated with short, flat-rooved structures which recall traditional living on the island.

Aqua Planet Jeju /// ₩37200-₩40900 /// 10am-7pm

If you're visiting Jeju with kids, this is a must-see. This massive aquarium has not only penguins and sea lions, but whale sharks. They offer daily demonstrations and educational programs about the animals (in Korean), while all of the aquatic animals found around Jeju are in their large main building (with English signage).

Seopjikoji (scenic view point) /// free /// roughly sunrise to sunset

Just across from Seongsan is Seopjikoji, an area famous for being the filming location for several dramas and a gorgeous area, to boot. The draw here is the defined walking trail along the cliffs and a beach side restaurant, though the most gorgeous scenes are when the canola flowers bloom in the spring .

Trinkets from Jeju | #travel #korea #jeju #island #itinerary

Submarine Ride to & from Udo /// ₩36000-₩55000 /// departing 8:55am-4:30pm

This is not a cheap activity, but it is one that you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Jeju is famous not only for its women divers, but also for its scuba diving. Children of all ages are able to experience the beauty of the ocean, without the need to swim in it.

Explore Udo /// ₩10.500 (same-day round trip ferry) /// 7:30/8am-⅚:30pm (varies by season)

Despite the fact that Jeju has become famous for their black pork, Udo Island is actually named for a cow, which the island is said to be shaped like. Like the rest of Jeju, Udo is know for its great views and it's beaches, but unlike the rest of Jeju, Udo has a special dessert: peanut ice cream.

Seongsan Ilchulbong (sunrise peak) /// ₩2000 /// Summer 7:10am-7pm & Winter 7:30am-6pm

The immensity of the green and the brightly colored flowers that greet you here in the spring could very well distract you from ever climbing to the top. This fairy tale mountain was formed long ago by a volcanic eruption, just like the rest of Jeju , and is great for a quick hike, and horseback riding and boating for a bit extra.

The Entrance to Seongsan Ilchulbong | #travel #korea #jeju #island #itinerary

Western Jeju-do

The Chocolate Museum /// ₩6000 /// 10am-6pm

Built to resemble a castle, this massive museum is actually the second-largest chocolate museum in the world, behind the one in Cologne, Germany. Its exterior is covered in a volcanic landscape inspired by the island, while the inside smells as if it were coated in chocolate.

There are exhibits on chocolate history and chocolate making, as well as a cafe and a sales area where you can buy boxes of the sweet stuff. It's a chocolate lover's paradise, but I'll also admit that I've seen better . Note that the Jeju chocolate museum closes an hour early in winter and an hour late in summer.

Sanbangsan Carbonate Springs /// ₩12000 base entrance /// 6am-midnight (indoor hot springs)

This will be one of the strangest experiences of your life if you've never been to a Korean sauna. Everybody here is naked, albeit separated by gender. The hot springs, glorified swimming pools in many ways, are available in a variety of temperatures and with various healing properties.

O'Sulloc Tea Fields & Museum /// free /// 9am-6pm

Being a tiny museum near a massive tea field, I wouldn't expect much in the way of tea education. But if you came for the green tea products, then this is your spot. The small museum is attached to a massive cafe serving up a variety of teas from their farm, plus coffee and desserts , with an Innis Free cosmetics store a hundred meters away .

The best part for most people will be the tea plantation itself, however, which is situated across the street from the museum and simply laden with photo-ops. There are honestly so many things to do in Jeju , but it's all so different that it's unlikely that everything will appeal to you.

So just pick your favorites in each area, and then move on to the next one.

Jeju Black Pork barbeque dinner | #travel #korea #jeju #island #itinerary #food #foodie

Confession time: despite being a food blogger, I don't center my schedule around meals. I might center the occasional day around dessert for dinner, but for the most part, I carry my chocolate & some almonds in my bag and like to see where the wind takes me.

It's how I travel anywhere, so it's not really fair of me to recommend you any specific restaurants around which to plan your day. However, I freely offer food recommendations, and the must-try foods on Jeju are...

  • Sannakji  ("live" octopus)
  • Abalone (Sea Snails)
  • Green Tea Anything
  • Hallabong (those big oranges grown throughout the island)
  • Peanut Latte
  • Jeju Chocolate

Bonus: many local friends told me that Jeju is known for their Indian food, so if you're feeling some international fare, consider going out for Indian food in Jeju (see travel tips below). 

north jeju tour

3 days is enough to see the major sites of Jeju, so on the map I've outlined where to go for each day. This assumes that you can arrive at the first spot around 9am, and will be tired enough for dinner and relaxation around 7pm.

If this sounds like you, this may be your perfect Jeju itinerary. 3 days may not be enough for some, but never fear— not everything will appeal to you, and this is easy enough to remove stuff from or add to. You can read more about each site above.

At the bottom of the page is a map of the island, with all of these points of interest marked off. Proceed at your leisure.

Jeju Itinerary Day 1

9am // Manjanggul : If you're traveling by bus, skip to the next stop, as you won't have time for this part. Start out the day at the lava caves, a kilometer of dark, firey history, and a look into how the island was formed. You can only explore the first 1000 meters of the more than 13,000 formed.

B ut the multi-lingual signage will explain how rivers of lava burst from the earth and tunnel upwards to form the basis of modern-day Jeju Island. It's chilly down there, so bring a jacket. This can be done either first or last, depending on your starting point, but remember that they close at 6pm.

10am // Udo : The first ferry to this island is not particularly early, but they can get packed on weekends. If you're visiting on a Saturday or Sunday, be prepared to wait a bit for the next ferry, and don't forget to buy round trip tickets.

It's only a 15-minute ride, so once you're on the island, head straight from the ferry terminal to Udo Seobin Baeksa , a gorgeous beach just a 10-minute walk from the port.

Once you're there, grab some peanut ice cream and walk along the beach. Other things to do on Udo are: rent bikes to ride around the island, watch locals dive in the ocean, go horseback riding, grab a coffee on the pier, and hike Udobong. I highly recommend having black pork burgers for lunch.

4pm // Seopjikoji or Seongsan Ilchulbong at sunset : Once you've returned from your half day on Udo, head just a few kilometers down the road to the beautiful look out point of Seopjikoji.

If you don't go now, I'm afraid you'll be too tired to go at the end of the day, so just muster up the will power to see one more beautiful site, if only from just a wee bit closer up. Alternatively, even closer by is Seongsan Ilchulbong.

Walking around Seongsan Ilchulbong, I swear you'll think you're walking into a scene straight from the highlands of Northern Ireland. Seongsan Ilchulbong is one of Jeju's UNESCO World Heritage sites, and you'll immediately understand why.

Two hours is just enough to walk around and take pictures, observe the famous women divers of Jeju, maybe take a boat ride, and hike to the top of the small mountain. Going later in the day also allows you to look around without the mid-day sun glaring in your eyes, and with many fewer people.

One view from the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong | #travel #korea #jeju #island #itinerary

Jeju Itinerary Day 2

9am // Jeongbang Waterfall : Literally a one minute walk to the falls (& the ocean), and another few minutes for the close-up view, this is a perfect first stop for day 2. If your legs are sore from the day before there's no need to go down for a closer look, and there's a coffee shop right in the parking lot, should you need it.

10am // Oedolgae Rock : Just like with the waterfall, this can be a more or less involved part of your trip. If it's raining or you're tired, then just walk over to where the view point is and admire the gorgeous natural scenery. Trekking is available here, however, and is quite possible. It can get rather crowded here on nice weekend afternoons, so head over before lunch.

11am // Jusangjeolli Lava Cliffs : If you're traveling by bus, skip to having lunch, as you won't have time for this part. Unlike the lava caves you (may have) visited yesterday, these cliffs are a spectacular representation of what happens after the lava shoots out of the earth.

Looking just like the legos you played with as a kid, these lava tubes are a wonderful photo-op for any kind of traveler.

11:30am // Lunch Time : Most people's favorite time of day. Head into downtown Seogwipo and look around for a barbeque restaurant that served black pork, and ask for samgyeopsal .

This is pork belly, and they'll bring it out in long strips that look like thick-cut bacon, and you can thank me later. Don't worry, all the side dishes they bring out are included in the price of the meat. Note that the more side dishes, the more respect they're showing you.

north jeju tour

1pm // Chocolate Museum : If you're traveling by bus , you should choose 2 of the 3 activities left today. After a nice hearty meal, it's time for some dessert! Once you get over the immense grounds of this castle-like factory, head inside and learn all about how chocolate is made , and some history about chocolate (plus free samples).

Kids and adults are all huge fans of the delightful aroma and variety of samples on offer, as well as the reasonably-priced gifts in the shop, though it's definitely more of an introductory-level chocolate experience.

3pm // Green Tea Fields : Once you manage to drag yourself away from the chocolate factory, make the short drive over to the green tea fields. O'Sulloc's tea plantation is famous throughout Korea for its quality tea (despite the name, the plantation produces a number of different teas from this one variety).

But if you're still full from the pigging out and the chocolate, then work off the calories by strolling around the endless fields of green. Peak season in from April to June.

6pm // Love Land : If by some miracle you're still able to take in more sites, I highly recommend Love Land. It is Korea's only Adult Theme Park, though I think of it as more of an erotic photo zone. However, it's also open until midnight.

So if you're traveling with kids, I'd recommend grabbing dinner first and then leaving them in the hotel for a movie while you get your adulting on in the erotic theme park you never knew you would see.

Jeongbang Waterfall, unfortunately sans rainbow, here. | #travel #korea #jeju #island #itinerary

Jeju Itinerary Day 3

9am // Hike Hallasan : I hope you're not still sore from walking around the day before yesterday, because today is hiking day! Sort of. Mount Halla actually has 5 trails, and each is vastly different from the others. One of them only takes half an hour each way, though you don't see much.

The route that starts at Eorimok Trail and returns down Yeongsil Trail is rightfully the most popular, however. This trip take about 5 hours total, so be sure to bring water bottles and snacks. If you're using public transport, bus 740 heads to Eorimok and stops by Yeongsil, as well.

2pm // Late Lunch : After all that exertion, it's only right to grab some nice warm soup to re-hydrate. Stop in at any of the many local restaurants at the bottom of the trail head, or head towards the hot springs and eat closer to there (though there aren't any restaurants right around the springs).

3pm // Sanbangsan Carbonate Springs : This was honestly one of the weirdest and one of my favorite parts of Jeju. There are saunas and jjimjilbangs everywhere in Korea, but outdoor hot springs or pools are much harder to find.

Especially good for relaxing your muscles after a hike and challenging your definition of too many naked people, the Sanbangsan Carbonate Springs are heavenly. You can pay the extra ₩3000 for access to the outdoor pools and hang out with your significant other.

Alternately, you can just stay in the cocoon of warmth inside, scrubbing off all the dead skin once you've had enough. General relaxation is a great theme for your last night on Jeju. Now that you have an idea of what the island has to offer, you're just about ready for your trip to Jeju Island.

A view of Hallasan from the coast, visible even in fog. | #travel #korea #jeju #island #itinerary

  • Get a sim card with calling capabilities . I literally lived in Korea for three years using only a pre-paid sim card from Olleh. That cost me ₩20000 (~$17USD) a month for 2GB of data, and another few thousand a month for calling, and it saved me many times over the years to have someone be able to call a hotel or taxi for me using my own phone.
  • Speaking of calling, the Korea Travel Hotline , known to expats as the "English Help Line," should be your go-to with any issue. Simply dial 1330 and press 1 for English, and you'll be connected to someone at any hour of the day, any day of the week. They can help with ticket prices, bus schedules, attraction locations, and even translating for taxi drivers. They also speak Japanese and Chinese.
  • Rent a car (remember your international driver's license!). If my helpful info on renting a car in Jeju wasn't enough convincing, keep in mind that most attractions are far from cities and far apart. Taxis can also be hard or impossible to come by after 10pm (coincidentally, also when most of the buses stop running).
  • Travel the island in sections . Take a careful look at attractions' opening hours & days, because even though the island appears small at first, it can be a very long drive to backtrack to somewhere you've already been, just to see that one museum.
  • It does get very cold in the winter , so pack a heavy winter coat from November-March, and a light jacket in October and April. While you could have some less cold days in the winter, it can get downright freezing in January and February.
  • Just as in the rest of Korea, Google Maps isn't useful or detailed on Jeju, so do remember to download the English-language version of Naver Maps , the Korean map app.
  • Try Indian food — no, seriously. Jeju has a small but sizable Indian population, and along with that, some bomb-a*s Indian food.
  • Beaches close for winter , at least for swimming. Just like in the rest of Korea, from September to May you're not allowed to swim in the water around Jeju, though you can certainly still walk along the beach and take pictures. This is for safety reasons, as that water is frigid .
  • Jeju has a decent salsa dance scene, but don't come here for the nightlife . Since it's mostly a family holiday and honeymoon destination, there aren't many clubs and there are few bars in Jeju City and Seogwipo. You'll have more luck finding a noraebang (Korean Karaoke bar) to sing it up in after dark (and karaoke is definitely wirth adding to you Jeju Island itinerary !) .
  • Speaking of early nights, try to start your day early . Lots of attractions open around 8am or 9am, and close around 5pm or 6pm; the last ferry from Udo Islandcomes back before 7pm, so after sunset there's not much to do but sleep and set your alarm for the sunrise.

Language:  Korean people speak Korean, and most of those who work in tourism will speak a little English. Often someone will also speak some Japanese and Mandarin, while outside of tourist areas you'll have the best luck finding English-speaking young people.

There's also a strong regional accent on Jeju, so even if you speak Korean you may have trouble understanding older people.

Population: ~600,000 people.

Currency: the Korean won (KRW), written as either ₩ or 원 (in Korean). 1000 won is equal to about $0.85USD or ₱42.

Korea Visa:  While there are still 112 countries whose citizens don’t need to apply for visas before visiting Korea for 30 to 90 days, as of September 2021, ALL visitors from those approved countries still need to have an approved K-ETA before arriving in Korea. K-ETA stands for Korea-Electronic Travel Authorization.

You can check if yours is one of those visa-exempt, countries and how long your visa lasts for,  here . Common countries: USA (up to 90 days), Canada (up to 6 months), South Africa (up to 30 days), Malaysia (up to 90 days), Singapore (up to 90 days). But remember, even if you don’t need to apply for a visa, from now on you do still need to  apply for a K-ETA , which is good for two years form the date of approval.

Voltage: 220v/60Hz, with two round holes for the plug (type F).

Best Time to Visit Jeju

There's really no bad time to visit Jeju, since the weather on the island is so much milder compared to the mainland. But summer is definitely peak season, with mid-July to the end of August seeing the most visitors (when kids are off school). The best month to visit Jeju Island, and Korea in general, is in May.

Spring and Fall are my favorite times because the prices are a bit cheaper, the weather is still mild, and there are colors popping everywhere. Since most people come to Jeju for just 3 or 4 days at a time, flights are much cheaper to arrive Sunday through Wednesday & depart Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday .

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Safety Level: 10/10

Because this is Jeju Island , there's really nowhere for criminals to hide. That said, just like the rest of Korea, Jeju is just generally a very safe place to explore. The entire country outlaws guns, except for the military, and the crime rate is extremely low. There aren't any dangerous parts of Jeju, either, unless you count those really tall cliffs people like to hike up to.

Sample Jeju Budget: 3 Days

This Jeju travel budget assumes you're spending 3 nights on the island, and are traveling alone using the guide above. These prices will lower a bit per person as you share the cost of a rental car. If you travel by bus & taxi combined, you'd travel slower, but spend more like $10-20 a day per person. Note that the current exchange rate is roughly 1200KRW per 1USD.

  • Lodging : $70USD
  • Transport : $60USD (flights are so varied in cost that those are not included in this budget, and neither is the cost of a rental car )
  • Activities : $50USD
  • Food : $70USD

Total : $250USD

My latest round of Talk To Me In Korean Books.

Basic Korean Lesson

So you're all ready for your trip, but you don't know any Korean! So let's consider the language barrier. I don't discuss it much on this site, but for a native English speaker, Korean is one of the harder languages to learn. Lucky for you, I've already broken down this barrier several times over.

So to help you prepare for your trip, I've compiled a shortlist to help you order food and just be generally polite. Many Koreans speak enough English to understand your order in a restaurant, but it's always polite to throw in a little Korean.

If you get beyond ordering food in a restaurant, the language barrier only gets more obvious. I'd also highly recommend downloading a picture-capable translation app before you go, like Google Translate.

Hello //  An-nyeong-ha-se-yo . (안녕하세요.)

I don’t speak any Korean. // Han-guk-aw jal-moat-hae-yo. (한국어 잘못해요.)

Do you speak English? //  Yeong-aw jal-hae-yo?  (영어 잘해요?)

Thank you // Gam-saahm-ni-da . (감사합니다.)

How much is it? // Eol-ma-yeh-yo? (얼마예요?)

One of these, please. // Ee-gaw ha-na ju-say-yo. (이거 하나 주세요.)

It's to-go/takeout. // Po-jahng ee-eh-yo or Tay-kow-shi-yay-oh. (포장 이예요.)

Lesson complete! Now let's pack.

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When deciding how many days to spend in Jeju Island, you could spend as little as 2 days in Jeju and see most of the top sights, but most visitors find 3-4 days to be ideal.

The best months to visit Jeju Island are April, May, and September, due to the open hours of attractions and lack of crowds, but still beautiful weather and reasonable prices on hotels.

Yes! Jeju Island is absolutely worth a visit, and quite beautiful at any time of year, but particularly in the spring and fall.

When figuring out how to get to Jeju Island from Seoul, there are three options, one of which is markedly more appealing than the other two: by plane. You can also take a train and then a ferry or a bus and then a ferry, but since Seoul to Jeju and vice versa is actually the most-traveled route in the world, there's no shortage of cheap flights to Jeju from Seoul.

More South Korea Travel & Life

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Reader Interactions

Roxane Cordisco

February 17, 2024 at 9:35 am

Thanks for this nice article about Jeju. I am planning a 7-10 day trip to the island and I'd like to discover it by myself by scooter. Do you have any information about scooter rental agencies in Jeju? Thank you! Roxane (Belgium)

February 19, 2024 at 1:48 pm

Sorry, Roxane; I'm not very familiar with renting scooters on the island and haven't yet done so myself, but enjoy your trip & I hope you can find the info you need before heaidng out!

Danielle Ziss

February 06, 2024 at 2:11 pm

Wow - what a thorough post! Really appreciate you. Heading to Jeju in early March for 3 days. So excited!

February 06, 2024 at 2:18 pm

Thank you for the kind words!! Enjoy your trip, Danielle!

January 01, 2024 at 8:14 am

Bedankt Max voor je duidelijke en interessante reisgids voor Jeju. Wij zijn momenteel onze reis aan 't plannen voor de komende lente. Onze dochter van 19 is van sep 2023 tot mei 2024 in Seoul om Koreaans te studeren (Education First). Wij gaan met onze zoon van 22 naar Korea van 22 maart tot 9 april. Eerst gaan we naar Seoul, maar we willen zeker ook naar Jeju en Busan. Kan je ons ook helpen met tips voor Seoul en Busan en eventueel andere plaatsen die zeker de moeite zijn in onze trip? Alvast bedankt!

January 04, 2024 at 1:31 pm

Graag gedaan! Het spijt me, ik spreek geen Nederlands, dus ik gebruik Google Translate. Er zijn gidsen voor Busan hier en voor Seoul hier . Maar waarschijnlijk wil je de Korea-reisroute lezen, die lijkt op een minigids voor Zuid-Korea.

Als u de site wilt ondersteunen, kunt u ook pdf's van alle gidsen kopen om mee te nemen op uw reis (u kunt ze afdrukken of op uw telefoon bewaren).

September 10, 2023 at 5:54 am

Thank you for this post! Really helped with my planning by the different regions. I was just wondering, if it would be safe drive during Winter (late dec)?

September 10, 2023 at 8:08 pm

My pleasure, Isabelle! And yes, it would be perfectly safe as it very rarely gets even close to snowing on Jeju (maybe once a decade it flurries).

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

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    By visitkorea.or.kr. Address: 17, Iljudong-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do | 제주특별자치도 제주시 일주동로 17; Open hours: 9:00 - 18:00 daily; Contact: (+82) 064-720-8000; Admission: Free (except from some special exhibitions); Website: jeju.museum.go.kr; The Jeju National Museum, which opened in June 2001, is a place where you can explore the history and culture of Jeju Island.

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    Jeju-si, the northern part of Jeju Island, is where main sightseeing attractions are, such as Mt. Hallasan, the highest holy mountain in South Korea, Dragon Head Rock, and Iho Taewoo Beach, a paradise for leisure sports. Visit Jeju-si, where you can start the day off with a Jeju morning that often begins shrouded in fog, which can fill you with life and freedom and make you realize that you ...

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    Eoyeong Coastal Road is located north from Jeju Airport, and is a coastal walk which is part of the Jeju Olle Route 17 walking trail. ... How to Use the Jeju City Tour Bus. Jeju City is easy to get around using the Jeju City Tour Bus, which operates daily from 9am to 7pm. To do the full loop takes two hours.

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    Jeju Golden Tour Bus. For simplicity, the island can be divided into 5 zones (corresponding to the geographical orientation) namely: north, south, east, west, and centre. We started our 10 day trip in the north, travelled to the east, back to the north again, and ended the trip in the south combining it with the central region (Mt. Hallasan).

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    5 Amazing Waterfalls in Jeju Island You Can Visit (2024) 12. Jungmun Tourist Complex. The Jungmun Tourist Complex is a main tourist base in southern Jeju, with lots of resorts, cafes, and museums. Some popular sites are the Teddy Bear Museum, Grimm Forest, and Alive Museum. 13.

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    Explore East Jeju with a Group Tour (includes Sunrise Peak & Jeju Stone Park ) 4. West Coast. People stay in the west coast in Jeju Island, or more north-west for all the beaches and cafe culture along the coastline. A lot of the airbnbs and home pensions are also located in the west.

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    The UNESCO World Heritage-listed island of Jeju lies off the southern shores of South Korea, and reaching it from Seoul can be a challenge. On this full-day tour, visit Seongeup folk village, explore Seongsan Ilchulbong and the Manjang Cave, and learn of the island's famous female divers.

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    Check out our detailed article on Jeju Island tours, to help you work out the best option for your visit. Includes coach, small group, private and package tour options. ... Jeju Island has an oval shape, and measures 73km / 45 mi west to east and 31 km / 19 mi north to south. Hallasan Mountain is a dormant volcano which sits in the centre of ...

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    We did the Jeju Island UNESCO 1 Day Small Group Tour - South side option. Our guide, June, was excellent. She was friendly, kind, knowledgeable, and funny and made the... read more AllanD95 24 October 2022 First time in Jeju - Beyond expectation. Tour guide June was proactive in sharing the information about Jeju with us. ...

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    This highly recommended tour gives you all the best of Jeju. Book your affordable Jeju day tour here. Jeju Taxi Tour - Rent a taxi for the day and explore all of your favorite locations in Jeju. These are a great option to see all the things to do in Jeju without worrying about driving abroad. 3 Day Taxi Tour - Rent a taxi driver for 3 days ...

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    Operating Hours. 8:00am ~ 5:00pm. (The last bus departs at 3:30pm from Jeju International Airport) Availability. Every day except Mondays. Frequency. 6 times per day. (The buses depart from Jeju International Airport every 90 minutes) Jeju City Tour Bus Route (click image to enlarge)

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    14. Seogwipo Submarine. Jeju Island is renowned for its incredible coastline - there is no better way to get up close underwater than on a trip aboard the Seogwipo Submarine. Once aboard, dive around 40 metres underwater and see Jeju Island's abundance of colourful fish, coral reefs and also a sunken ship.

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    Note that the jjimjilbang (sleeping area) is open 24 hours, and costs an extra ₩10000 to stay in. Jeju Trick Eye Museum (트릭아이미술관) /// ₩7000-9000 entrance /// 9am-6pm. One of my favorite things to bring visitors to, the Trick Eye Museum is one of the best winter activities in Jeju.

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    The scene along the coast is particularly gorgeous from April to June. For your initial arrival, Jeju airport limousine bus 800 and 800-1 will take you from the airport to Seogwipo the most directly, with buses every 15 minutes between 6am-10pm daily. Most of the bus routes stop running just before 10pm.

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