One day in Jeju

Day by day

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

   Hallasan National Park, Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak), Manjanggul Lava Tube and Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, 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. Allow Full day (summit); 3–4 hours (Yeongsil).

   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. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

   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. Allow 1 hour.

   5. Late afternoon

      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. Allow 45 minutes.

   6. 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.

Before you go

• Hallasan National Park: Summit hikes on the Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa trails have required a free advance online reservation in recent years; check the official national park site before you go.

If it rains

• Swap in Jeju Dongmun Traditional Market (Jeju City Old Town): Come after about 6pm for the night-market food stalls, and buy boxed hallabong here to take home rather than at the airport.
• Swap in Jeju Stone Park (Jocheon): Start in the indoor museum to understand the island's geology, then walk the outdoor circuit, which takes about an hour.
• Swap in Haenyeo Museum (Hamdeok and Gujwa): Pair it with lunch of abalone porridge at a haenyeo-run restaurant along the Hado or Jongdal coast.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 7–9 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: Car. Rental companies operate from depots near the airport, reached by shuttle buses from the arrivals hall.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Jeju
• 3 days in Jeju
• 5 days in Jeju

Questions travellers ask