Travel guide · South Korea
Jeju travel guide
Volcanic craters, lava tubes, haenyeo divers and black-pork barbecue
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Robert Simmon, using Landsat data provided by the United States Geological Survey., Public domain
Quick answer
Jeju is a volcanic island off the southern tip of the Korean peninsula, roughly 73 km from east to west, with Hallasan (1,947 m), South Korea's highest mountain, rising in the middle. Most visitors fly into Jeju International Airport on the north coast and split their stay between Jeju City and Seogwipo on the warmer south coast. The UNESCO-listed volcanic sites — Hallasan, the Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone and the Geomunoreum lava tubes — sit alongside the Jeju Olle walking trail, white-sand beaches, tangerine orchards and the haenyeo women free-divers. Distances are bigger than the map suggests, so most travellers rent a car or join tours. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are April–May and October–November.
Key facts
- Country
- South Korea
- Best time to visit
- April–May and October–November
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- CJU
- Mid-range daily budget
- $120–$230 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Hallasan, Volcanic landscapes, Haenyeo women divers and Black pork barbecue
Why visit Jeju
- Three UNESCO-listed volcanic landscapes — Hallasan, Seongsan Ilchulbong and the Manjanggul lava tube — are all within about an hour's drive of Jeju City.
- The Jeju Olle Trail splits the coast into numbered day-walks, from cliff paths around Seogwipo to village lanes lined with black stone walls and tangerine farms.
- Island food differs from the mainland: charcoal-grilled black pork with anchovy sauce, cold raw-fish soup (mulhoe), abalone porridge and hallabong tangerines.
- Beaches such as Hyeopjae, Hamdeok and Woljeongri have pale sand and turquoise shallows, warm enough for swimming from July to early September.
- The haenyeo, women divers who harvest shellfish and seaweed without breathing gear, are recognised by UNESCO and still work off Seongsan, Gujwa and Udo.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Nature · Central Jeju
Hallasan National Park
South Korea's highest mountain is a dormant shield volcano whose summit crater holds the small Baengnokdam lake.
- Time needed
- Full day (summit); 3–4 hours (Yeongsil)
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Active
- Nature
- Views
- Free
Nature · Seongsan
Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)
This tuff cone, formed by an underwater eruption about 5,000 years ago, rises roughly 180 m from the sea at Jeju's eastern tip.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Active
- Outdoors
Nature · Gujwa
Manjanggul Lava Tube
Part of the UNESCO-listed Geomunoreum lava-tube system, Manjanggul runs for about 7.4 km underground, of which roughly 1 km is open to visitors.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Kids
Nature · Jungmun
Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff
Lava cooling against the sea formed these tightly packed hexagonal basalt columns along about 2 km of coast west of Jungmun.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Nature
Nature · Seogwipo
Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
A level path through a subtropical gorge leads in about ten minutes to a 22 m waterfall dropping into a deep green pool, a short walk from Seogwipo harbour.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
Nature · Seogwipo
Jeongbang Waterfall
Jeongbang is unusual because it falls about 23 m off a cliff directly onto a rocky shore and into the sea.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Where to stay
Jeju City Old Town is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and food lovers
Jeju City Old Town
Dongmun Market, the Tapdong seafront and the old provincial office around Gwandeokjeong
$$$ · Best for shopping, families and nightlife
Sinjeju and Nohyeong
Newer high-rise district with duty-free shops, Jeju Dream Tower and late-opening restaurants
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, families and food lovers
Seogwipo
South-coast harbour town with waterfalls, Olle Market and the warmest winters on the island
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families, couples and beach
Jungmun Resort
Purpose-built resort zone of large hotels above Jungmun Saekdal Beach
What to eat
- Jeju black pork — Thick-cut pork from Jeju's black-haired pig, grilled over charcoal with the skin on and dipped in melted anchovy sauce (myeolchijeot) bubbling at the edge of the grill.
- Cold raw-fish soup — A chilled summer soup of sliced raw fish, often damselfish (jari) or squid, in a tangy broth seasoned with doenjang or gochujang, vinegar and herbs.
- Abalone porridge — Rice porridge simmered with abalone and sesame oil; the greenish colour comes from the abalone innards, which give it a rich sea flavour.
- Braised hairtail — Silver hairtail (cutlassfish) caught off Jeju braised in a spicy red sauce with radish and potato; the milder galchi-guk is a clear soup with pumpkin and cabbage.
- Pork noodle soup — Thick wheat noodles in a cloudy pork-bone broth topped with slices of boiled pork, a hearty everyday lunch that is distinct to Jeju.
- Momguk — A traditional Jeju soup of pork broth thickened with gulfweed seaweed (mojaban) and buckwheat flour, historically served at weddings and funerals.
When to go
The best times to visit Jeju are April–May and October–early November, when it is mild and dry enough for Hallasan and the Olle trails, with canola and cherry blossom in spring and silver grass in autumn. July and August are for beaches but are hot, humid and crowded with Korean holidaymakers, and typhoons are most likely in August and September. Winter is quiet and cheap but windy.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Canola fields, cherry blossom and royal azaleas, with mild temperatures ideal for walking; long weekends in May get busy. |
| Summer | June–August | Rainy season around late June and July, then hot beach weather; the busiest and most expensive period, with typhoon risk late in the season. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea in September, clear skies and silver grass in October, and the tangerine harvest in November; typhoons are possible early on. |
| Winter | December–February | Cool, windy and damp on the coast with snow on Hallasan; camellias, tangerines and low hotel prices, but grey days are common. |
Getting there and around
Jeju International Airport is about 4 km west of the old town, roughly 15 minutes by taxi or bus to central Jeju City. Express buses and the 600 limousine bus reach Jungmun in about an hour and Seogwipo in about 1–1.5 hours, and car-rental shuttles leave from outside arrivals.
Jeju has no railway, so travel is by road. Most visitors rent a car, which turns the island into a series of 30–90 minute drives; the bus network reaches every village but is slow for crossing the island. Taxis and day-hire taxi tours fill the gaps.
Plan your days
Three days covers the east (Seongsan and the lava tubes), the south coast around Seogwipo and one beach. Five days gives Hallasan a day of its own, adds Udo and the west coast, and leaves time to walk a couple of Olle routes. With a car you can cross the island in about an hour and a half.
Practical information
- Currency
- KRW
- Language
- Korean
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 220 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated to drinking standards, and Jeju's volcanic groundwater is bottled across Korea; many locals still drink filtered or bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance), 1330 (tourist helpline)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary in Korea and can confuse staff.
Jeju has low street crime. The main risks are natural: strong winds and swell on exposed coasts, slippery basalt rocks, sudden weather changes on Hallasan and typhoons from roughly July to September. Swim only at patrolled beaches and follow coastal path closures.
Flights to Jeju
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Jeju?
Three days covers the east (Seongsan and the lava tubes), the south coast around Seogwipo and one beach. Five days gives Hallasan a day of its own, adds Udo and the west coast, and leaves time to walk a couple of Olle routes. With a car you can cross the island in about an hour and a half. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Jeju?
The best times to visit Jeju are April–May and October–early November, when it is mild and dry enough for Hallasan and the Olle trails, with canola and cherry blossom in spring and silver grass in autumn. July and August are for beaches but are hot, humid and crowded with Korean holidaymakers, and typhoons are most likely in August and September. Winter is quiet and cheap but windy.
+What is Jeju known for?
Hallasan, Volcanic landscapes, Haenyeo women divers, Black pork barbecue, Tangerines and hallabong, Olle walking trails and Dol hareubang stone statues. Three UNESCO-listed volcanic landscapes — Hallasan, Seongsan Ilchulbong and the Manjanggul lava tube — are all within about an hour's drive of Jeju City.
+Is Jeju expensive?
Jeju is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $120–$230 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Jeju?
Recommended for most trips longer than two days. Buses cover the island but are slow between sights, and many beaches, forests and oreum are awkward to reach without a car; travellers who don't drive can use day tours or a taxi tour.