Where to stay · Jeju · South Korea
Where to stay in Jeju
8 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Martin Chen, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Jeju City Old Town. Dongmun Market, the Tapdong seafront and the old provincial office around Gwandeokjeong. Best alternatives — families: Sinjeju and Nohyeong; nightlife: Sinjeju and Nohyeong.
Key facts
- First visit
- Jeju City Old Town
- Families
- Sinjeju and Nohyeong
- Budget
- Jeju City Old Town
- Nightlife
- Sinjeju and Nohyeong
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Jeju City Old Town | Dongmun Market, the Tapdong seafront and the old provincial office around Gwandeokjeong |
| Families | Sinjeju and Nohyeong | Newer high-rise district with duty-free shops, Jeju Dream Tower and late-opening restaurants |
| Couples | Jungmun Resort | Purpose-built resort zone of large hotels above Jungmun Saekdal Beach |
| Budget | Jeju City Old Town | Dongmun Market, the Tapdong seafront and the old provincial office around Gwandeokjeong |
| Luxury | Jungmun Resort | Purpose-built resort zone of large hotels above Jungmun Saekdal Beach |
| Nightlife | Sinjeju and Nohyeong | Newer high-rise district with duty-free shops, Jeju Dream Tower and late-opening restaurants |
| Food lovers | Jeju City Old Town | Dongmun Market, the Tapdong seafront and the old provincial office around Gwandeokjeong |
| Shopping | Sinjeju and Nohyeong | Newer high-rise district with duty-free shops, Jeju Dream Tower and late-opening restaurants |
| Quiet stays | Aewol | North-west coast of sea-view cafés, small pensions and the Handam coastal path |
| Beach | Jungmun Resort | Purpose-built resort zone of large hotels above Jungmun Saekdal Beach |
Jeju neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget and food lovers
Jeju City Old Town
The historic core of Jeju City spreads from Gwandeokjeong pavilion and the restored Jeju Mokgwana government office to Dongmun Market and the Tapdong sea wall. It has the island's widest choice of mid-range hotels, guesthouses and barbecue restaurants, and it is about 15 minutes by taxi from the airport and close to the ferry terminal.
- Good
- Short ride from the airport; Night market and many restaurants; Buses to every part of the island
- Watch out
- Urban rather than scenic; An hour or more from the south-coast sights
- Nearby
- Dongmun Market, Gwandeokjeong, Yongduam Rock, Jeju Port
$$$ · Best for shopping, families and nightlife
Sinjeju and Nohyeong
Built from the 1980s west of the old town and next to the airport, Sinjeju and neighbouring Nohyeong are where Jeju's big hotels, duty-free stores and chain restaurants cluster. Nuwemaru Street is the main eating and drinking strip, and the 38-storey Jeju Dream Tower holds a large hotel and shopping complex.
- Good
- Five to ten minutes from the airport; Late-opening restaurants and shops; Large modern hotels
- Watch out
- Little traditional character; Traffic at rush hour
- Nearby
- Jeju Dream Tower, Nuwemaru Street, Iho Tewoo Beach
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, families and food lovers
Seogwipo
Seogwipo looks across to small offshore islets and has three waterfalls within easy reach: Cheonjiyeon by the harbour, Jeongbang dropping straight into the sea and Cheonjeyeon in Jungmun. The town centre around the Maeil Olle Market and Lee Jung-seop Street is compact and walkable, and several of the best Olle routes start here.
- Good
- Walkable town with sights on foot; Milder winter weather than Jeju City; Good base for the south and east
- Watch out
- About an hour from the airport; Quiet in the evenings
- Nearby
- Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, Jeongbang Waterfall, Saeseom Island, Maeil Olle Market
$$$$ · Best for luxury, families, couples and beach
Jungmun Resort
Jungmun is a planned tourist complex on the south coast where most of Jeju's large resort hotels, the ICC Jeju convention centre and a string of museums sit on cliffs above Jungmun Saekdal Beach. The Daepo Jusangjeolli basalt columns and Cheonjeyeon Waterfall are a short drive away, and airport limousine buses run directly to the hotels.
- Good
- Resort pools and beach in one place; Direct airport bus; Close to the south-coast sights
- Watch out
- Expensive dining inside the resorts; Little local life outside the hotels
- Nearby
- Jungmun Saekdal Beach, Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls
$$$ · Best for couples and quiet stays
Aewol
Aewol stretches along the coastal road west of the airport, where former houses and warehouses have become sea-view cafés and bakeries. The short Handam coastal walk runs over black lava rock to Gwakji Beach, and sunsets face straight out to sea. It suits travellers with a car who want a quieter base 25–30 minutes from the airport.
- Good
- Sunset views over the sea; Many independent cafés; Close to the airport by car
- Watch out
- Hard to explore without a car; Cafés get crowded at weekends
- Nearby
- Handam coastal walk, Gwakji Beach, Saebyeol Oreum
$$ · Best for beach, families and budget
Hallim and Hyeopjae
The west coast around Hallim has two of Jeju's prettiest beaches, Hyeopjae and Geumneung, with white sand, shallow emerald water and the cone of Biyangdo island offshore. Hallim Park and its lava caves are across the road, and the Hallim harbour has ferries to Biyangdo. Guesthouses and pensions here are good value outside the July–August peak.
- Good
- Best swimming beaches on the island; Calm, shallow water for children; Sunset views
- Watch out
- Very busy in late July and August; Limited restaurants after dark
- Nearby
- Hyeopjae Beach, Geumneung Beach, Hallim Park, Biyangdo
$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
Seongsan and Udo
The village of Seongsan sits at the foot of Seongsan Ilchulbong, so staying here makes a sunrise climb easy. Ferries cross from Seongsan Port to Udo in about 15 minutes, and Gwangchigi Beach gives the classic view of the crater at low tide. Restaurants focus on seafood, hairtail and abalone porridge.
- Good
- Sunrise at the crater without an early drive; Ferry to Udo on the doorstep; Fresh seafood
- Watch out
- More than an hour from the airport; Day-tripper crowds around the crater by mid-morning
- Nearby
- Seongsan Ilchulbong, Udo, Gwangchigi Beach, Seopjikoji
$$ · Best for beach, families and quiet stays
Hamdeok and Gujwa
Hamdeok Beach, about 30 minutes from Jeju City, has a shallow turquoise bay below Seoubong hill, while Woljeongri and Gimnyeong further east add beach cafés and windsurfing. Inland lie the Manjanggul lava tube, Bijarim forest and the Haenyeo Museum, so this coast makes an easy base for the east without being as remote as Seongsan.
- Good
- Beaches close to Jeju City; Good bus links along the coast road; Easy access to the lava tubes
- Watch out
- Windy in winter; Few big hotels
- Nearby
- Hamdeok Beach, Woljeongri Beach, Manjanggul, Haenyeo Museum
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Jeju City Old Town | $$ | Dongmun Market, Gwandeokjeong, Yongduam Rock, Jeju Port |
| Sinjeju and Nohyeong | $$$ | Jeju Dream Tower, Nuwemaru Street, Iho Tewoo Beach |
| Seogwipo | $$ | Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, Jeongbang Waterfall, Saeseom Island, Maeil Olle Market |
| Jungmun Resort | $$$$ | Jungmun Saekdal Beach, Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls |
| Aewol | $$$ | Handam coastal walk, Gwakji Beach, Saebyeol Oreum |
| Hallim and Hyeopjae | $$ | Hyeopjae Beach, Geumneung Beach, Hallim Park, Biyangdo |
| Seongsan and Udo | $$ | Seongsan Ilchulbong, Udo, Gwangchigi Beach, Seopjikoji |
| Hamdeok and Gujwa | $$ | Hamdeok Beach, Woljeongri Beach, Manjanggul, Haenyeo Museum |
Getting to your hotel
Jeju International Airport is about 4 km west of the old town, roughly 15 minutes by taxi or bus to central Jeju City. Express buses and the 600 limousine bus reach Jungmun in about an hour and Seogwipo in about 1–1.5 hours, and car-rental shuttles leave from outside arrivals.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Jeju for first-time visitors?
Jeju City Old Town. The historic core of Jeju City spreads from Gwandeokjeong pavilion and the restored Jeju Mokgwana government office to Dongmun Market and the Tapdong sea wall.
+Where should families stay in Jeju?
Sinjeju and Nohyeong: Five to ten minutes from the airport.
+Which area of Jeju is best for a budget stay?
Jeju City Old Town ($$): Dongmun Market, the Tapdong seafront and the old provincial office around Gwandeokjeong.