5 days in Jeju

Day by day

1. Day 1: Hallasan National Park and Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)

   Hallasan National Park, Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) and Manjanggul Lava Tube, then Cheonjiyeon Waterfall in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hallasan National Park

      If you are not fit for a 9-hour summit day, take the Yeongsil trail: about 3–4 hours return with the best rock-pinnacle views on the mountain. (Full day (summit); 3–4 hours (Yeongsil), free).

   2. Late morning

      Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)

      Climb for sunrise or in the late afternoon; tour buses fill the stairs from mid-morning to early afternoon. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Jeju black pork

      Dedicated barbecue houses across Jeju City and Seogwipo, including the cluster of restaurants on Jeju City's Black Pork Street; staff usually grill and cut the meat for you.

   4. Afternoon

      Manjanggul Lava Tube

      Sections have closed for safety works in recent years, so check the official Jeju sites before driving out; bring a light jacket and grippy shoes for the wet floor. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Cheonjiyeon Waterfall

      Visit after dark when the path is lit and tour groups have gone, then walk to the Saeseom bridge for harbour lights.

2. Day 2: Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff and Jeongbang Waterfall

   Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, Jeongbang Waterfall and Hyeopjae Beach, then Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff

      Come on a day with a swell running; the spray over the columns is far more dramatic than on a flat calm. (45 minutes, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Jeongbang Waterfall

      Wear shoes with grip; the black boulders at the bottom are slippery, and the stairs are steep for small children. (45 minutes, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Cold raw-fish soup

      Seafood restaurants around Bomok harbour near Seogwipo, best in the summer damselfish season.

   4. Afternoon

      Hyeopjae Beach

      Stay for sunset, which drops behind Biyangdo; arrive before 10am in August to find parking. (Half a day, free).

   5. Evening

      Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market

      Come after about 6pm for the night-market food stalls, and buy boxed hallabong here to take home rather than at the airport.

3. Day 3: Hamdeok Beach and Seoubong and Haenyeo Museum

   Hamdeok Beach and Seoubong, Haenyeo Museum and Bijarim Forest, then Sunrise from Seongsan Ilchulbong in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hamdeok Beach and Seoubong

      Low tide exposes rock pools that children love; check the tide table and bring water shoes. (2–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Haenyeo Museum

      Pair it with lunch of abalone porridge at a haenyeo-run restaurant along the Hado or Jongdal coast. (1 hour, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Abalone porridge

      Haenyeo-run restaurants and seafood houses around Seongsan, Gujwa and the north-east coast.

   4. Afternoon

      Bijarim Forest

      Bring insect repellent in summer, and keep to the marked trail; the scoria path is easy for children and older walkers. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Sunrise from Seongsan Ilchulbong

      Climb in the dark and watch the sun rise over the sea from the crater rim, then have abalone porridge in Seongsan village.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Udo

   About 1 hour 15 minutes by car and ferry each way. Getting there: Drive or bus to Seongsan Port, then a 15-minute ferry.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Udo

      About 1 hour 15 minutes by car and ferry (Drive or bus to Seongsan Port, then a 15-minute ferry); about 55 km.

   2. Day

      Udo

      Udo, a flat island shaped like a lying cow, has a coastal road of about 17 km that you can circle by e-bike in a couple of hours. Best for couples, families and quiet stays.

   3. Evening

      Back in Jeju

      Dinner: try Braised hairtail.

5. Day 5: Jeju Stone Park and Jeju 4.3 Peace Park

   Jeju Stone Park, Jeju 4.3 Peace Park and Seongeup Folk Village, then Sunset on the Aewol coast in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Jeju Stone Park

      Start in the indoor museum to understand the island's geology, then walk the outdoor circuit, which takes about an hour. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Jeju 4.3 Peace Park

      Allow time for the exhibition hall, which is clearly laid out with English panels, and visit before rather than after a beach day. (1.5 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Braised hairtail

      Seafood restaurants around Seogwipo, Seongsan and Jeju City's harbour area.

   4. Afternoon

      Seongeup Folk Village

      Walk the lanes on your own; locals may invite you in to explain houses and then sell honey or omija syrup, which you are free to decline. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Sunset on the Aewol coast

      Walk the Handam coastal path over black lava rock and finish at a sea-view café facing west.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Hallasan National Park before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Jeju City Old Town keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Sinjeju and Nohyeong ($$$) suits shopping, families and nightlife. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 20–26 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in December to 14.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Jeju
• 2 days in Jeju
• 3 days in Jeju

Questions travellers ask