Outdoors · Jeju · South Korea
8 best outdoor things to do in Jeju
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Grapesurgeon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Hallasan National Park, Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) and Manjanggul Lava Tube. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 13–16 hours across 7 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 13–16 hours
- Areas
- Central Jeju, Seongsan and Gujwa
Outdoors in Jeju
Nature · Central Jeju
1.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.
- Time needed
- Full day (summit); 3–4 hours (Yeongsil)
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Active
- Nature
- Views
- Free
Nature · Seongsan
2.Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)
Climb for sunrise or in the late afternoon; tour buses fill the stairs from mid-morning to early afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Active
- Outdoors
Nature · Gujwa
3.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.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Kids
Nature · Jungmun
4.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.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Photo spot
- Nature
Nature · Seogwipo
5.Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
Visit after dark when the path is lit and tour groups have gone, then walk to the Saeseom bridge for harbour lights.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- After dark
- Couples
- Kids
Nature · Seogwipo
6.Jeongbang Waterfall
Wear shoes with grip; the black boulders at the bottom are slippery, and the stairs are steep for small children.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Beach · Hallim and Hyeopjae
7.Hyeopjae Beach
Stay for sunset, which drops behind Biyangdo; arrive before 10am in August to find parking.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Free
- Photo spot
- Views
Beach · Hamdeok and Gujwa
8.Hamdeok Beach and Seoubong
Low tide exposes rock pools that children love; check the tide table and bring water shoes.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Central Jeju | Hallasan National Park | Full day (summit); 3–4 hours (Yeongsil) |
| Seongsan | Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) | 1.5–2 hours |
| Gujwa | Manjanggul Lava Tube | 1 hour |
| Jungmun | Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff | 45 minutes |
| Seogwipo | Cheonjiyeon Waterfall and Jeongbang Waterfall | 45 minutes + 45 minutes |
| Hallim and Hyeopjae | Hyeopjae Beach | Half a day |
| Hamdeok and Gujwa | Hamdeok Beach and Seoubong | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 5 low cost. Book ahead for Hallasan National Park. The longest visit is Hallasan National Park; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- 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.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Central Jeju): Hallasan National Park, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Seongsan, Gujwa, Jungmun and Seogwipo): Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) → Manjanggul Lava Tube → Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff → Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Seogwipo and Hallim and Hyeopjae): Jeongbang Waterfall → Hyeopjae Beach, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Hamdeok and Gujwa): Hamdeok Beach and Seoubong, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- October: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 7 rainy days, busy crowds. Dry, clear and comfortable; silver grass (eulsae) turns the oreum hills silver and Hallasan's upper slopes change colour late in the month.
- May: highs of 22°C (72°F), about 10 rainy days, busy crowds. Warm and settled, with royal azaleas on Hallasan from late May; school trips and long holiday weekends make it busy.
- September: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 11 rainy days, moderate crowds. Still warm enough to swim early in the month, and quieter once school holidays end, but this is the main typhoon month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Seogwipo — South-coast harbour town with waterfalls, Olle Market and the warmest winters on the island
- Jungmun Resort — Purpose-built resort zone of large hotels above Jungmun Saekdal Beach
- Hallim and Hyeopjae — West-coast beaches, Hallim Park and views of Biyangdo island
- Hamdeok and Gujwa — North-east beaches, Woljeongri cafés and the lava-tube country
More of Jeju
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Jeju?
Hallasan National Park. South Korea's highest mountain is a dormant shield volcano whose summit crater holds the small Baengnokdam lake.
+Which of these are free in Jeju?
Hallasan National Park, Hyeopjae Beach and Hamdeok Beach and Seoubong.