Choose wisely. Connect locally.Add your business Jeju Island, off the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, is a volcanic island built around a single great mountain, Hallasan, and dotted with hundreds of smaller volcanic cones called oreum.
Manjanggul lava tube
Bijarim Forest
Sangumburi
Hallasan National Park
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For Koreans, Jeju has long been the favorite domestic getaway, and it is increasingly popular with international travelers.
Jeju's volcanic landscapes are protected at the highest level. In 2007, Hallasan, Seongsan Ilchulbong and the Geomunoreum lava tube system were inscribed together on the UNESCO World Heritage list as Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes, the first natural World Heritage Site in Korea.
The island also has a distinct culture. Its dialect, stone grandfather statues known as dol hareubang, thatched farmhouses and food set it apart from the mainland. The haenyeo, women divers who harvest shellfish and seaweed from the sea without breathing equipment, are recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage, and you can still see them working along the coast.
Rising straight out of the sea on Jeju's eastern tip, Seongsan Ilchulbong, or Sunrise Peak, is a tuff cone formed by an underwater eruption.
A short ferry ride from Seongsan Port, Udo is a small island of farm fields, stone walls, peanut ice cream shops and beaches, including a beach of pale coralline algae fragments.
Manjanggul is one of the finest lava tubes in the world and part of the UNESCO-listed Geomunoreum system.
Manjanggul is part of the Geomunoreum lava tube system listed by UNESCO. Photo: Olga Lipunova, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Inland, Bijarim is an old forest of Japanese nutmeg yew trees, some of them centuries old, with shaded, mostly flat trails that make a quiet break from the coast. Allow about an hour, and go after rain, when the moss and ferns look their best.
Bijarim is a dense forest of Japanese nutmeg yew trees in northeastern Jeju. Photo: Sgroey, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Nearby, Sangumburi is a large, bowl-shaped crater whose walls shelter a mix of warm and cool climate plants, and whose rim turns silver with pampas grass in autumn. Allow about an hour for the loop path around the rim.
Sangumburi is a large crater in Jeju's eastern uplands, lined with grasses and forest. Photo: Naturehead, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Hallasan, at 1,947 meters, is the highest mountain in South Korea, and its summit crater, Baengnokdam, holds a small lake after rain. Only two trails reach the summit: Seongpanak, the longer but gentler route, and Gwaneumsa, which is steeper and more scenic.
Whichever route you choose, start early, carry plenty of water, food and warm layers, and check the weather, since conditions at the top can be very different from the coast. In winter, crampons are essential on snowy trails.
Baengnokdam is the crater at the summit of Hallasan, the highest mountain in South Korea. Photo: Joshua0608, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
In the southwest, the Osulloc Tea Museum sits beside rows of green tea bushes and introduces Korean tea culture, with a cafe serving green tea desserts. Allow an hour or two.
In Seogwipo, the island's southern city, Jeongbang Falls drops over a cliff onto a rocky shoreline right beside the sea, a rare sight in Asia. Steps lead down to the boulders at its base.
Jeongbang Falls in Seogwipo is known for falling directly toward the sea. Photo: Giuseppe Milo, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
A short walk from Seogwipo harbor, Cheonjiyeon Falls drops into a deep pool at the end of a wooded gorge, reached by an easy, flat path. Allow forty-five minutes.
Cheonjiyeon Falls lies in a wooded gorge a short walk from Seogwipo harbor. Photo: Yhnn0065 This photo was taken with Sony ILCE-6000, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
On the Jungmun coast, Jusangjeolli is a stretch of basalt columns formed when lava cooled and cracked into regular, mostly hexagonal shapes. Waves crash against the columns, especially on windy days.
The Jusangjeolli columns formed as lava cooled and cracked into regular shapes on the Jungmun coast. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
On the west coast, Hyeopjae Beach has shallow, clear turquoise water and white sand, with the small island of Biyangdo floating offshore. It is a favorite with families and at sunset.
Hyeopjae Beach on Jeju's west coast looks out to the small island of Biyangdo. Photo: Lcarrion88, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Jeju Olle Trail is a network of marked walking routes that circle the island along coastal paths, village lanes and oreum.
Jeju has its own food traditions.
Seafood fresh from the haenyeo, such as sea urchin, conch and abalone, is sold at stalls near the shore, especially around Seongsan and other fishing villages.
For markets, Dongmun Market in Jeju City is the largest traditional market on the island and has a night market with street food stalls, while Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market is good for snacks, fresh fruit and seafood.
Popular dishes to try in Jeju Island
Jeju City, on the north coast near the airport, is a practical base with the widest choice of accommodation, restaurants and bus connections. It suits short stays, budget travelers and anyone without a car.
Seogwipo, on the south coast, is closer to the waterfalls, Olle Trail sections and the warm southern coastline, and has a more relaxed, small-city feel.
On the east, Seongsan is ideal for an early climb of Sunrise Peak and a trip to Udo, with guesthouses and small hotels near the port.
Where to stay in Jeju Island
Spring is the most colorful season.
Summer, from July to August, is beach season and the busiest time for domestic travelers. It is hot and humid, and the rainy season usually runs from late June into July.
Autumn, from late September to November, is the favorite season for hikers: skies are clearer, the oreum turn silver with pampas grass and tangerines ripen in the orchards.
Jeju International Airport is one of the busiest in Korea, with very frequent domestic flights from Seoul Gimpo, Busan and other cities, as well as international routes.
Renting a car is the most flexible way to explore.
Without a car, the island's bus network, including express buses between Jeju City, the airport and Seogwipo, reaches most major sights, and a T-money card works on buses.
Arrive in Jeju City, eat at Dongmun Market, then drive east to Bijarim Forest and Manjanggul.
Climb Seongsan Ilchulbong at sunrise, then take the ferry to Udo for the morning.
Hike Hallasan from Seongpanak with an advance reservation, or take the shorter Yeongsil trail if you prefer a gentler walk.
Visit Jeongbang Falls and Cheonjiyeon Falls in the morning, walk a section of the Olle Trail, then see Jusangjeolli.
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