Ready to plan your trip to Jeju? From where to stay, what to eat and when to visit, this Ultimate Jeju Travel Guide will give you the inside scoop on all the popular attractions and hidden gems Jeju has to offer!
Jeju is Korea’s southernmost island, the place where Koreans come to for relaxation and ‘healing’. The backdrop for many stunning K-dramas, this island has everything from great food, stylish cafes, white sand beaches, dramatic waterfalls, flower fields and picturesque hiking!
Are you planning your South Korea trip? Looking for travel inspiration? Or maybe you’re debating if it’s worth it to make the trip to Jeju? You’ll discover all the best things to do, see, eat and stay with this Solorella Travel Guide.
Jeju is unlike any other part of Korea and if you’re deciding whether or not it’s worth a trip to Korea’s largest island, Jeju-do is wonderful for 3 days, 5 days, 7 days or even 2 full weeks!
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Essential Tourist Info ℹ️
Language
Korean is the official language in Jeju. Don’t expect locals to speak english but it’s more common at popular attractions or cafes. Most locals are quite friendly and patient and you can download the Papago app for translations. Most Google products (Google translate, Google maps etc.) don’t work well in Korea.
Climate + Weather
Jeju is a sub tropical island with all four seasons in stark contrast of each other. Summer in Jeju is hot, humid and with a lot rainfall with temperatures peaking around 30C/86F. July and August are also the high summer season in Jeju so expect higher prices and larger crowds. Winters in Jeju are cold with a bit of snow and rain and temperatures going to -6C/22F. Spring and Autumn both average around a lovely 20C/68F, but some days can become quickly chilly or sunny so pack layers in your suitcase.
Getting to Jeju ✈️
If you live in a country lucky enough to have a direct flight to Jeju (mainly asian countries) you can save a lot of transit time. For most international visitors, you'll arrive in Seoul at Incheon Airport. You'll need to transfer via subway, bus or taxi to Gimpo Airport to take your domestic flight.
Seoul to Jeju is the busiest flight route in the world with over 15 million passengers every year! There are flights leaving every 15 minutes and I find there isn't much of a difference between all the various airlines. Just pick the time that fits your schedule best.
Despite so many flights leaving all the time, certain times (Friday nights from Seoul > Jeju and Sunday evening from Jeju > Seoul) can sell out quickly! Trying to book around Korean public holidays is also very tricky. Book your tickets as soon as you can.
Credit Cards or Cash?
Jeju uses the Korean won and cards are accepted almost everywhere! However, bring cash if you are visiting night markets, seasonal flower fields/attractions or if you plan to use public transport. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, but you might run into some trouble with American Express. I always recommend travelling with a Wise Card (you can easily use multiple currencies at once!) and another spare credit card from your local bank.
Solo Travel Friendly?
As a solo female traveller, I felt very comfortable in Jeju (and all of South Korea)! Even without speaking Korean, I found locals very willing to help me whenever I had questions. In general when eating out and visiting places alone, no one looked at me twice haha. If you go on hikes, I suggest picking more popular trails (e.g. all the trails up Hallasan are full of people) and let someone at home know where you’re going and when you expect to be back. I was even able to get cell service at the summit of Hallasan!
The only downside to solo travel in Jeju is that Korean BQQ can be tricky with one person. Some BBQ restaurants might insist that you order 2 servings of meat (it's actually pretty easy to eat 2 portions by yourself), but some are happy to accommodate you with just 1. Don’t be afraid to ask, after all you’re on holiday - you’ll never see them again 🙂
Wifi/Internet Data
In Jeju, I highly recommend travelling with mobile data. You can find wifi in most cafes and tourists attractions but Jeju can go from populated city to remote countryside in a few minutes. If you’re planning on hiring a rental car, internet data is also important as some cars don’t have an inbuilt navigation system and its a lot easier to search locations in English using your phone rather than the Car's English navigation system.
Should I choose a wifi egg, physical sim or eSim in Jeju?
When you’re visiting South Korea, a physical sim with a Korean phone number is the best option. You’ll need internet data when using the Kakao T app to call a taxi and when navigating maps to explore. For most cafes, restaurants and pop-up shops, you’ll need a Korean phone number to join the queue. Even in Hyundai and Shinsegae department stores you need a Korean phone number to order food from the food court.
If you’re spending more than a few days in Korean and are planning to visit specific restaurants or cafes, it’ll start to get a bit frustrating if you don’t have a Korean phone number.
The best sim cards for foreigners in South Korea are Chingu Mobile and Woori Mobile. They are super affordable compared to the kiosks you’ll find in the airport.
With both companies, you need to order your sim in advance to arrival and can pick it up from Incheon Airport in Seoul or get the physical sim card sent to your hotel for free.
If you’re arriving directly to Jeju airport (normally from Asian countries) or staying at an airbnb and you want to have internet data frmo the moment you land, you can purchase Korean sim cards from Klook that can be sent to your home country.
Alternatively, Airalo sells Korean eSims. Esims are a good option if you want to keep your current sim card in your phone, however some don’t have Korean phone numbers so they are mainly useful for phone data.
Pocket wifi/wifi eggs are a good option when travelling in Jeju in a group (and with children) but personally I find them a hassle as you need to carry around another device and make sure its charged.
*Top Tip for Tourists in Jeju*
Google maps directions don’t work very well in South Korea and combined with the differences between English and Korean hangul, simply searching a place’s name in English will often give varying results.
Before arriving in Korea, download Naver maps (my personal preference) or Kakao Maps for public transport or driving directions. If you’re an English speaker, make sure to have English mode on (it will be a lot easier for you!)
However, Google maps is still useful as foreigners can’t make accounts on Naver or Kakao maps which means you can’t save any locations.
This is how I get around using map apps in Jeju -
- Save any restaurants/cafes/attractions you want to visit in Google Maps
- If you need directions or opening hours > Open up Kakao Maps or Naver maps > search the name in English without spaces. E.g. “Cafe Dendri” > search “cafedendri”
- If you still can’t find the right location, copy and paste the Korean hangul from google maps into Naver maps or Kakao Maps e.e.g Google name “ Cafe Dendri 카페 덴드리” > search “카페 덴드리” in Naver or Kakao Maps
Best Time to Visit Jeju 🍁
When is the best time to travel to Jeju? Which season is the most beautiful? When is Jeju crowded? What's the weather like in different seasons?
Jeju fully experiences all 4 seasons from hot and humid summer, breezy autumn and chilly, snowy winters. While there are benefits to each season, I highly recommend visiting Jeju in Spring or Fall. Specifically, April for Cherry Blossom season and October for Fall Foliage and great weather!
I first visited Jeju as a kid in the middle of December for 4 days and recently made another trip over a decade later for 2 weeks in October 2023.
My childhood memories of winter in Jeju were cold and rainy but full of beautiful camellia flowers, delicious tangerines and huddling inside in cosy cafes. In winter, prices for flights and accommodation are also a lot cheaper.
On the other hand in October there was so much to do outdoors. From fall foliage to silver pampas reeds, pink muhly grass and white buckwheat flower fields. Fall in Jeju is so incredibly stunning!
I could’ve gotten lucky but I had 2 weeks of perfect sundress weather with blue skies everyday. Fall Foliage season also tends to lasts longer than Cherry Blossom season so it’s easier to plan a trip around Fall Foliage.
If you are hoping to see cherry blossoms or fall foliage, make sure you check the weather forecast in advance to planning your trip as predictions and peak season changes every year.
Avoid August as its school summer holidays in South Korea so prices are high and you’ll have to queue for a lot of restaurants and attractions. July and August are also monsoon season in Jeju and the rainy weather can drag on into September.
*How to find 'hidden gems' in Jeju*
Everyone is always looking for ‘hidden gems’, local spots or less crowded attractions when they’re travelling. In Jeju (and all of South Korea) I’ve found that by searching for things in Korean Hangul instead of English, you can find so many incredible places! This works across Google maps, Kakao maps and Naver maps. I’ve added the Korean hangul for key words below, so you can copy and paste them into any map app and look for hidden gems!
Jeju Flowers + Foliage by Season 🌸
Jeju experiences all four seasons and the type of trip you'll have can vary wildly depending on the season! Check out this list below to find the best times to visit Jeju for beautiful flowers, tangerine/hallabong picking or fall foliage.
🌸 Jeju in Spring
Cherry Blossoms: Mid - Late April
Cherry blossom season is such a romantic and stunning time in Jeju that normally peaks around mid-late April! Make sure to check the season forecast ahead of time (Google Jeju cherry blossom forecast + year) and cross your fingers that you'll get lucky with the weather! Here's a list of all the places you can find cherry blossoms in Jeju (and they're all free!) -
- Noksan-ro + Gasiri Wind Power Plant - This highway in the middle of the countryside is lined with cherry blossom trees and canola flowers. This spot is very popular, so I recommend visiting early.
- Jangjon-ri Cherry Blossom Tunnel (장전리 벚꽃길)
- Jeonnong-ro Cherry Blossom Road - Cherry Blossom trees dotted along a road of shops
- Shinsan Neighbourhood Park - Cherry Blossom trees close to the airport.
- Jeju National University Cherry Blossom Road - Lovely road for driving through a cherry blossom tunnel.
Cherry Blossoms are very delicate so they fall easily with a bit of rain or wind. This means the season tends to be shorter. It helps to have a more flexible itinerary and plan in advance activities you want to prioritise. Check weather apps, wind direction and recent google images for that location so you can try to maximise your chances of seeing them!
Canola Flower Fields: Mid March - End April
From early Spring, Jeju is awash with tiny yellow flowers all over the island. The Canola Canola Flower Season begins around mid March and lasts throughout April. The season lasts a lot longer than Cherry Blossom season and if you’re lucky you can see the overlap canola and cherry blossom season together!
When visiting Canola Flower Fields, bring small cash as some fields will have an entry fee from 1000 - 5000W.
- Noksan-ro Canola/Rape Flower Field - This entire area is full of canola flowers and the main road also has cherry blossom trees! My top recommendation if you want to see both. Visit this area early in the morning to avoid crowds, but honestly its so big you’ll have lots of space to wander.
- Seongsan Canola Field - Free with sea views 🙂
- Sanbangsan Canola Field - 1000W entry fee (There are smaller fields near the temple down the road that are free)
- Hangpaduri - Small Canola Field near the airport. There are also cosmos flowers in fall!
- Seoubong Trail - Seaside hiking trail with canola flowers
- Udo Island - Perfect for a day trip, take a short ferry ride to discover Udo Island. You can hire bikes or mini cars to explore the flower fields all over the island.
🍂 Jeju in Fall
Fall Jeju is absolutely magical and overflowing with seasonal activities! The highlight of fall are the the pink muhly grass fields, silver pampas reeds, cosmos flowers and buckwheat flower fields.
Buckwheat Flower Fields: September - October
Jeju is Korea’s largest producer of buckwheat and from early - mid fall, the fields bloom with thousands of tiny white flowers.
When visiting Buckwheat Flower Fields, bring small cash as most fields will have an entry fee from 1000 - 5000W.
- 메밀꽃밭 - Entrance fee 2000W (Oct 2023), cash only and come early if you want photos by yourself. I visited this field at opening and was the only one there for 20 minutes. It was so peaceful with tiny white flowers and the sea shining in the distance. After 30 minutes it started to get busy!
- 와흘메밀마을 - This buckwheat field even has a swing!
- 제주도 뷰 좋은 곳 - The largest buckwheat field in South Korea and its close to the city.
- Ora-Dong Green Barley - Buckwheat Field
Pink Muhly Grass: Late September - November
On Jeju there are dozens of spots for Pink Muhly Grass but most of them require an entrance fee. Pink Muhly Grass fields can also vary quite a bit in terms of size and landscape, so I recommend checking google photos to see which one you prefer 🙂 The season lasts a long time from mid/end September all the way to November.
- Jeju Herb Garden - Entrance fee 13,000W (Oct 2023).
- I visited at opening and it was completely empty! I visited this place as it was closet to my accommodation. The pink muhly is a section on a small hill so it’s easy to take photos. Highlight was the rosemary ice cream, I was very skeptical but it’s delicious!
- Cafe Saebil - Industrial cafe on a hill with views of pink muhly fields.
- Cafe Glencoe - If you purchase a drink from the cafe you can enter the garden for free. I drove past in the afternoon and the entire area was extremely busy so I kept driving past 🙂
- Hueree Nature Life Park - This park is well known for hydrangeas in summer, but there’s a small section of muhly grass in the fall.
- Udo Garden - These pink muhly fields have a sea views and Jeju in the background.
Silver Reeds/Pampas Grass: Mid September - Late October
You can spot silver reeds all over Jeju in autumn and the best places are free!
- Ttrabi Oreum
- An incredible hill full of silver reeds, swaying in the wind with lovely views of Jeju. This was my favourite spot for pampas grass and one of those places that’s even better in real life than photos! It’s a tight drive to Ttrabi Oreum, so go slowly and be comfortable with reversing down a dirt path. From the carpark its roughly a 15 min walk through forest to reach the top.
- Dakmeoru Coast - A unique view of silver reeds and ocean! It’s very windy so be careful!
- Sangumburi - Short hike up through reeds to the summit.
🍊 Tangerine Picking: Late October - December
If you’re lucky, Jeju tangerine season will begin at the end of October and it peaks in the winter in December. From early - mid October you can pick green tangerines, that are a bit sour but still delicious!
When in season you can find tangerine trees everywhere in Jeju, mainly at the back of cafes and restaurants. If you ask the owners, often they’ll kindly let you walk around the fields and take photos but not all of them allow you to pick your own.
Here's a list of places where you can pick your own tangerines -
- Gyulhyangi Experience Farm
- For 7000W entry fee (Oct 2023), you can pick 1.5kg of tangerines and drink free tangerine tea with a tasting of tangerine jam. This farm's tangerines are spray free and all of their jams are produced from the fruit on the farm. I visited in the last week of October and the orange tangerines had just started to ripen for the season.
- Cafe Dendri
- This greek-styled cafe is located in the middle of a beautiful tangerine farm with benches and tables for photos. If you’ve ordered drinks from the cafe, you can wander around the farm and take photos freely.
- To pick your own tangerines, a small basket (I'm guessing approx. 1kg) was 10,000W.
- This place is definitely *aesthetic* but the food and drinks were also great! My tangerine tea was so flavourful, the perfect mix of tart and sweet and the pistachio baklava was crunchy, sweet and so moreish … I ordered a second helping 🙂
- Jeju Organic Tangerine Farm - This organic tangerine farm has a swing and view of wind turbines.
- Cafe Tangerine Flower Attic - A cottage core cafe with tangerine garden.
Cosmos Flowers: September - October
Driving around Jeju in the fall, you’ll find patches tall pink cosmos flowers billowing in the wind along the side of the road and especially in Seogwipo or more rural areas. Mid September - early October tends to be the peak, but I still saw lots at the end of October.
Here's a few places you can find cosmos flowers, but they pop up randomly (a bit like weeds) so I recommend keeping an eye out as you drive around!
- Shinhwa Park 신화가든
- Noksan-ro (near Aviation Pavilion)
Fall Foliage: Maple Leaf + Gingko Trees
In Jeju, the best time to see red, orange and yellow leaves is mid - late October - early November. Fall Foliage peaks tend to shift every year due to weather forecasts but late October is your best bet! Don't forget to check the Fall Foliage Calendar before planning your trip.
- Hike Hallasan - Korea’s highest mountain for incredible up close views of red and orange leaves. You’ll feel like you’re walking through a forest fire! It’s a long and steep hike up (I took the Gwaneumsa Trail) but incredibly rewarding! Learn more about my Hallasan adventures here.
- For a more relaxed hike, Eorimok Trail is very popular in Autumn but it doesn’t go up to the summit and is one way in and out aorund the base of Mt Halla
- Jeju National University (Gwonje Oreum) - A great place if you want to see yellow Gingko trees. The yellow gingko trees peak 1-2 weeks later than the red maples.
- Hangpaduri - You can find trees with red and pink leaves.
❄️ Winter in Jeju
Hallabong Fruit Picking: December - March
Hallabong are cute citrus fruits with a little bump at the top and you'll notice that they're a symbol of Jeju. Hallabong themed hats, snacks and drinks are some of the most popular Jeju souvenirs.
In season from December to march, Hallabongs taste like a mix of orange and tangerine and are so delicious! Most of the farms listed in the ‘Tangerine picking’ section will also have Hallabongs in the winter 🙂
- Bong Bong Tangerine Farm + Cafe - Entrance fee 5000W (Oct 2023), the cafe is full of citrus flavoured drinks and treats along with a view of the farm.
- Daldalmikkang Tangerine Field - A dedicated tangerine farm with cafe
Camellias: December - March
Beautiful bright red camellias bloom in the winter, adding a vibrant splash of colour to the snowy and grey winter season. You can spot a single camellia trees all over the island but if you want to see rows and rows of them, visit one of the many gardens with camellias. With all of the gardens I highly recommend going early to avoid crowds.
Transport 🚗
How do I get around Jeju? Do I really need to hire a car? Is it possible to visit Jeju without a car? Is public transport reliable in Jeju?
When visitng Jeju, your transport options are -
- Hiring a rental car (recommended!)
- Taxis (Kakao T app)
- Hiring a private driver
- Joining day/group tours
- Public Transport
Jeju is THE PLACE for a Korean road trip! Once you’re out of the main city, you’ll be driving along peaceful roads with stunning views over the crystal blue sea. Most attractions, restaurants and cafes are quite spread out from each other, so hiring a rental car is more economical than hiring taxis.
Despite the island being relatively small, it takes longer to get places than you think. To drive north to south it takes about 1 - 1.5 hours and to drive east to west 2 - 2.5 hours. A full loop of the island takes nearly 4 hours. With so much to see, do and eat you don’t want to waste your time stuck in traffic or backtracking to places you’ve already been.
In Korea they drive on the right side of the road and all rental cars are automatic. Most rental cars also have english navigation too.
I’m from New Zealand so I’m used to driving on the left side of the road and I found driving in Jeju very manageable. If it's your first time driving on the right side of road, Jeju is definitely a good option. The main roads are wide and on narrow roads, drivers go slow and give way easily. Life in Jeju is very different to the busy and crowded roads in Seoul!
In Jeju driving a 4wd isn’t necessary as the vast majority of roads were paved and roads can get narrow. Since I was travelling solo a small car suited me well 🙂
Hiring a Rental Car in Jeju
I hired a Kia Morning Urban directly from Lotte-Rent-a-Car as it had the best price and an english website for foreigners. Their Jeju airport branch also has pick up and drop off streamlined to a T! When you arrive, take a number from the electronic kiosk and you'll get be directed from paper work to pick up. The entire process was so easy!
(Tip - The Kia Morning Urban uses your phone's GPS for navigation, the car doesn't have an inbuilt navigation. You can connect your phone to the car via bluetooth or a USB-C cable.)
One thing to note with Lotte-Rent-a-Car is that you can only make a booking 3 months in advance. Also after you've made a reservation don’t worry if you don’t get a confirmation email. As long as you have the booking is under your account and bring along our international driver's license you’ll be fine 🙂
If you’re a super planner and you'd like to hire a car in Jeju in advance of 3 months, another option is Rentalcars.com. You’ll be able to pick and choose from a wide variety of companies and cars.
Taxis in Jeju 🚕
If you can’t drive or don’t want to drive, taxis are the quickest way to travel around Jeju. I recommend downloading the Kakao T app rather than grabbing one off the street. Kakao T is great because you don’t have to negotiate with a driver and you can see the price of the fare in advance.
Tip - To use Kakao T without a Korean ID, download the app before entering South Korea.
When calling a taxi, after inputing your address > swipe left > choose the ‘pay driver’ option. You’ll be able to pay the driver directly with cash or a credit card.
The only downside to hiring taxis is that some cafes, restaurants or attractions can be quite rural. Taxis are happy to drop you off anywhere but it might be hard to find another taxi when you're ready to leave.
Alternatively, you can hire/negotiate with a taxi driver to take you around and wait for a day at a set rate. This is a good option because not everywhere is frequented by taxis.
Can I visit Jeju with public transport?
Yes its possible to visit Jeju with public transport … but you’ll need adjust your expectations. Public transport in Jeju only visits some main attractions and is infrequent.
To get around Jeju with public transport, use Naver maps or Kakao Maps to look up bus schedules. They tend to be pretty accurate, so if the app says there is 'No ETA' that bus is likely more than 1 hour away!
If you’re planning on only using public transport, I’d recommend picking just 1 or 2 things a day to do in the same area. If you try to move around a lot as you’ll waste a lot of time waiting at bus stops. Choose to base yourself in Seogwipo or Jeju city and if you want to save time you can mix public transport with taking taxis.
However, to make the most out of you Jeju holiday, I really recommend hiring a rental car, getting taxis or a private driver. You’ll be able too see and do so much more with your time!
How many days should I spend in Jeju?
Jeju is such a great tourist destination because you can spend anywhere from 3 days, 5 days, 1 week or 2 weeks and never run out of things to do! For beginners, I recommend 7 days if you want to see a bit of everything (east, south, west) that Jeju has to offer. If your itinerary has less time available, don’t worry - you can still have a great time in Jeju with 3 days, 2 nights! Simply pick on area of Jeju (north, south, east or west) and stay in that area.
Accommodation 🛏️
Jeju is overflowing with beautiful accommodation options. From seaside apartments to cosy countryside villas there is something for everyone! There are also chain hotels and resorts in Jeju City and Seogwipo, but the island is full of pensions, boutique accommodation and airbnbs.
Here are the accommodations I stayed in during my 2 weeks in Jeju -
Mareta
Situated on the west coast, this airbnb features relaxing sea views with the most stunning sunsets. The couple that run this airbnb are so kind and helpful! It’s in a quiet part of Jeju, so make sure you don’t wait to long to have dinner as places close early (around 8pm).
Stay Seonhul Forest
My favourite accommodation from my entire South Korea trip! The home has a ‘japandi’ meets ‘industrial’ design. There’s an outdoor bath, full kitchen amenities and very private. You’ll need your own car to get there but its 100% worth it!
Other beautiful and relaxing Jeju accommodations -
Ui Haenu
Located in Seogwipo, was almost my final choice. Love the unique building shape, aesthetics and spaciousness.
Imimi
A cute and modern cottage in a quiet neighbourhood.
In South Korea, lots of great local accommodation isn’t listed on major international sites. Throughout my travels in South Korea, I discovered that Agoda.com is also a popular option with Koreans for pensions, local stays and hotels in Jeju.
Places to visit 🍵
Osulloc Green Tea Field + Cafe
The Osulloc Green Tea Field + Cafe is a lovely green tea farm with beautiful cafes and aesthetic souvenirs.
Is it touristy and crazy busy? Yes. Is it insta-worthy and the cafe delicious? YES!
Despite the crowds (literally by the busload), I love Osulloc in Jeju because the green tea ice cream is so flavourful and the Innisfree Cafe has a unique vista over the green tea fields.
Highly recommend visiting at opening, taking photos first then ordering a snack at the Innisfree Cafe or the Osulloc Cafe.
- Top tip - If there’s a queue at the main cafe (connected the the gift shop), exit out the back and enter the black building (Tea Pavillion) at the back of the grounds. There are kiosks inside where you can order from the same cafe and jump the entire queue waiting to order in the main cafe!
- Also don't forget to go up to the observatory for lovely views!
Udo Island
Udo Island, is a little island of the east coast of Jeju. It's full of peanut ice cream, seafood ramen, gift shops and crystal clear waters. Only a 15 minute ferry from the west Jeju, this picturesque island is perfect for a day trip.
To get to Udo Island, take the ferry from the Seongsanpo Port on the east of Jeju. In October, there were ferries leaving every 30 minutes and the ride to Udo only takes 15 minutes. A return trip for an adult was 20,000W (Oct 2023).
On Udo Island, you can hire a bicycle, tricycle golf cart or electric mini car. If you want to hire the Tricycle Golf Cart, you need a motorcycle license but with an international car driving license, you can hire an electric mini car 🙂
It was such a hot and sunny day, so I decided to hire the electric mini car. It cost 50,000W for 3 hours. The mini car could barely go faster than 30km/hr but it was so much fun!
In hindsight, I wished I had hired it for longer because I felt a bit rushed towards the end. There are so many cute cafes, gift shops and beaches on the island. I would have loved to spent an entire afternoon reading a book in a seaside cafe, looking at over brilliant white sand and crystal clear water.
Aewol Cafe Street + Handam Coastal Walk
Aewol Cafe Street is a coastal area full of seaview cafes and gift shops. It is a bit more on the 'touristy' side but the highlight is the seaside walk full of black Jeju volcanic rock. Along the Handam Coastal Walk, you can hire clear kayaks and paddle out into the sea.
Sinchang Windmill Road
The Sinchang Windmill Road, is a flat, winding road with amazing views of wind turbines in the sea.
Dolphin Spotting in Jeju
I spotted dolphins twice in Jeju! Bring along a picnic and relax while staring out at the ocean for a couple hours. The first time I saw them was about 1 hour before sunset heading south, but the next day the dolphins appeared about half an hour after sunset heading north. There’s no guarantee, but if you get lucky it’s so much fun!
Jeju Markets
There are many traditional korean markets in every area of Jeju but the Seogwipo Olle Market and Dongmun Traditional Market are open every day of the week and bursting full of Jeju street food. From abalone kimbap to hallabong juice and black pork sushi, there’s so much to try!
Beaches + Waterfalls
Iho Tewoo Beach + Lighthouses
On Iho Tewoo Beach, there are actually two famous horse lighthouses, one in red and another in white.
When I visited in October, there was also a field full of tiny pink and white flowers. Walk east along the main road, away from the White Horse Lighthouse and within 5 minutes you should them if they’re in bloom 🙂
Jeju beaches are known for their pure white sand, crystal clear waters and volcanic rocks. All of these beaches are lovely, I would just visit the one closest to you. Before visiting any beaches, in Jeju make sure to check the wind direction and forecast. The white sand is very fine so it goes everywhere on windy days!
Hyeopjae Beach - White sand beach with crystal clear water but a bit rocky. Beautiful sunsets!
Weoljeongri Beach - Lots of shops and restaurants right by the beach (Dambeag is my recommendation for dotsot - sizzling hot rice bowls)
Hamdeok Beach - Probably the most popular beach on the island, the sand is so soft and fluffy and the water very shallow.
Seogwipo, the south of Jeju is full of waterfalls and interesting rock formations. The most popular waterfall in Jeju is Jeongbang but you can explore the area to discover dozens more! Jeongbang is only waterfall that falls straight into the ocean on Jeju.
Hikes + Walks
Hiking in Jeju has such a wide variety of coastal walks and hilly countryside. Dulle gil trails run along the coastline, Oreum are small-large hills inland. No matter where you stay on the island, there will be trail nearby.
Seopjikoji - Lovely scenic + windy seaside walk in Seogwipo
Seongsan Ilchulbong - Also known as sunrise peak, you can enter for free if you start before sunrise. It’s 20 minute steep walk up, but the view is incredible! You can also visit in the afternoons to see the haenyeos (female free divers) collecting seafood.
Hallasan - Mt Halla is the tallest mountain in South Korea and there’s a wide variety of trails but only 2 go up to the summit. The Gwaneumsa Trail is steeper, quicker but more scenic whereas the Seongpanak Trail has a gentler incline but is rockier and takes more time.
Both trails are day hikes and you need to make a reservation to hike to the summit of Hallasan (it's free) for a specific day, time and trail. Once you reach the summit, you can take either trail down.
I recommend leaving early in the morning so that you have ample time to make it to the summit and take breaks. When hiking Hallasan, you need to reach specific rest stops before a certain time. If you miss the deadline, a park ranger will tell you to turn back.
What to eat 🍜
Jeju is a foodie paradise! There are incredible restaurants all over the island so don't feel like you need to queue for more famous places, the food scene is overflowing with so many hidden gems!
Jeju Black Pork
Jeju is famous for their black pigs, said to be more flavourful than normal pork. The best way to try Jeju black pork is Korean BBQ!
Daepyeong Babsang
This restaurant is in the middle of nowhere, but the food is incredible! Fresh, flavourful, generous with portions and the barchan were full of veggies and delicious.
The owners are so kind and will grill the meat for you. I recommend the black pork, grilled abalone and abalone fried rice. My favourite meal in Jeju 🙂
Sea Urchin / Uni
Uni a.k.a Sea Urchin, are spiky echinoidea. Inside the prickly black exterior lies the perfect umami flavour explosion. They’re harvested by haenyeos (female free divers) collect uni of the shores of Jeju. In Jeju, they are as fresh as you can get! Uni is most commonly eaten in a bibimbap (rice bowl with veges).
제주해조네 보말성게전문점
Their uni bibimbap and seaweed soup have a lovely depth of flavour but bear in mind that’s all they sell. This store is very popular with Koreans, so expect to queue if you arrive around peak times.
서광춘희
I recommend the uni bibimbap, uni ramen and carrot juice. The sweet and refreshing carrot juice works so well with the salty and savoury uni. This restaurant also serves katsu don and tempura shrimp, so it's a good option if you're travelling with others that don't like uni, but you do 🙂
Abalone
Abalone is also harvested fresh in Jeju and featured in popular dishes such as abalone porridge, grilled abalones and abalone fried rice.
Jeju Sangchunjae - This restaurant specialises in dosot, sizzling hot pots filled with rice, local veggies and other Jeju speciality proteins such as black pork, mackerel and abalone.
Jeju Restaurants 🍽️
Here's a list of my favourite restaurants in Jeju!
Ondajung - Korean Pork soup, a beautiful light meal that feels like home cooking. I recommend ordering the pork soup with pollack roe. The clear simple soup, pairs well with salty pollack roe side. Umami heaven 🙂
Table & Desk - Japanese omurice and curry with a tranquil view. The vibes of the restaurant are so stylish, yet warm and cosy. I could sit in this space and stare out the window all day!
분식후경 - a slightly fancier take on Korean street food with kimbap, ttokbooki and jeon (fried korean savoury pancakes).
Dambaeg - Jeju back pork + abalone inside a sizzling hot pot! This restaurant gets popular at peak times so arrive early or you'll need to queue.
Donato’s - Authentic wood fired pizza in South Korea! So authentic to Italy they even charge coperto haha (the table charged is waived if you purchase a drink). The Donato’s pizza was my favourite and definitely made for a more western palate. I recommend making a reservation in advance as they fill up quickly.
Stylish cafes in Jeju ☕
Aesthetic cafes with incredible views are all over Jeju (I only managed to visit on a few on my list of dozens!). However, beautiful interiors alone aren’t enough for me to recommend a cafe. Amongst all of the insta-famous cafes in Jeju, I found that some are worth the hype but my favourite cafes in Jeju were the ones I stumbled upon. All of these cafe recommendations have a lovely atmosphere, ambiance and great drinks and desserts!
Eumpa Cafe
Opposite The Islander gift shop in Jeju city, this hidden gem cafe is 100% good vibes and great music with vinyl records softly playing the background. They make an incredible hojicha latte and the chocolate terrine is decadent and lush.
Yang Snack Hall Cafe 양과자회관
A blissfully peaceful cafe with incredible desserts and interiors. The chocolate basque cheesecake was so rich and smooth and just what I needed after a 6 hour hike. The owner is also so kind and speaks English.
Cafe Dendri
A greek inspired, tangerine cafe + farm that is picture perfect from every angle. The baklava is a must try and the tangerine tea is lovely.
Seogwipean Bakery/Cafe
With sweeping sea views, and delicious bread and pastries, this cafe is very popular and for good reason! Go early in the morning to enjoy the atmosphere in peace but keep in mind that they bake throughout the day so not everything will be available. If it’s busy on the ground floor, head up the stairs to the 2nd. The view is even better and so much more peaceful. I recommend the cheese and onion bread and pear tea.
In’s mill
Visit this cafe for interesting interiors and barley drinks. I do think the aesthetics are more enjoyable than the menu but I loved the red bean chrysanthemum snacks.
Bbang-good
A bakery (not a cafe) that is so good, it deserves a mention. The mozzarella sandwich on crusty french-style bread made my heart sing! It also has a decent range of savoury options which is quite rare in South Korea.
Gift shops 🛍️
Bringing home a few special souvenirs are a great way to remember and reminisce after your holiday. In Jeju, you’ll quickly realise that the same souvenirs are repeated everywhere. These gift shops have unique and handmade items that you won’t find elsewhere!
The Islander
Situated in Jeju city, this boutique gift shop has lots of unique souvenirs and across from one of my favourite cafes Eumpa and near cute snack shops, Mochiron + Umu pudding.
Object Jeju 오브젝트 선흘점
The Jeju branch of popular stationary store from Seoul with lots of Jeju themed art and gifts.
무무제주
A cute tangerine themed shop, that’s also great for photos.
Mandal
A larger gift store that has a wide range of food and gift souvenirs, with a mix of more popular/common items.
Have fun in Jeju!
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