If you are travelling to South Korea, then I’m sure you have heard of Jeju Island. As it is commonly known as the “Hawaii of Korea” this island offers many beautiful attractions for everyone to enjoy! We rented a car for our 3 night trip as a way to maximize our short time here!
We came for the natural beauty and certainly were not disappointed! We loved our time here and listed our favourite sights below!
Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak
Cost: 2,000 krw
This simple hike takes about 20 minutes to reach the top. The hike is lined with stairs and thus makes it an easy walk. It is known as “Sunrise Peak” and I think it would have been really neat to make it there for dawn. We began our hike around noon and it was moderately busy. The view from the top is pretty neat and certainly worth the trek out to see it. It is a cool experience walking inside the crater while taking in the view from the outside. If you are visiting Jeju Island then add this hike to the list!
Jeongbang Waterfall
Cost: 2,000 krw
These falls were my favourite ones while exploring Seogwipo. Located on the southern cost, the view around these falls are stunning. It only takes about five minutes from the entrance to reach the falls and luckily for us it wasn’t to busy with tourists!
Cheonjiyeon Waterfall
Cost: 2,000 krw
These falls were beautiful, however they just didn’t have quite the same view as the Jeongbang Waterfall. It takes a little longer to reach these falls at about 10 minutes upon entering the park. The path is guided and easy to follow to reach them. Since we were during cherry blossom season, what I liked the most was seeing these trees line the little river. If you have the time, then certainly visit these falls, however I wouldn’t go out of my way if you’re tight on time.
Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff
Cost: 2,000 krw
This stunning cliff formation was truly the highlight of our trip to Jeju Island. The ticket entrance is only a couple of minutes away from the cliff itself. I would recommend going in the morning in order to truly take in the view without the crowds of tourists. We spent about a half an hour walking the small path and snapping photos! When you leave you’ll also be prompted to pay for parking, which costs 1,000 krw per vehicle (500 krw only for EV’s).
Olle Trails
One of the best ways to take in the beauty of Jeju Island is to go on a hike! The Jeju Olle Trail is comprised of 27 trails that make their way around the entire island. You can pick a trail that best suits your schedule and enjoy the beauty of Jeju! Find more about the Jeju Olle Trail here!
Noksan-ro
If you are visiting Jeju Island in the spring then THIS is the place to be! Where cherry blossoms meet the blooming yellow canola flowers along a picturesque road. Certainly make the stop here if the flowers are in bloom. You won’t be disappointed. Note: there were many tourists here, however the longer we drove down the road, they were fewer and father between they were, making for better picture opportunities!
Hamdeok Beach
I was greatly impressed while stopping in at this beach, located just east of Jeju City! These bright blue waters were paired with a beautiful sandy beach – making for a great place to be in the summer! Since we were there in March, it was a little chilly to go for a dip, but a great place to check out nonetheless.
Songaksan
This small trail was one of my favourites! Right on the edge of the southwestern part of the island, it offers incredible views and was an easy path to follow!
Jeju Greem Cafe
This cafe was certainly a highlight! Located on the 4th floor of the Aerospace Museum, it is still one of the most unique cafes that I have ever been to!
Mt. Hallasan
If you have the time, I’d certainly recommend hiking Mt. Hallasan! If you are interested, be sure to book your spot in advance to ensure that you are able to secure your spot! When we went in the month of May, it was quite the rainy day. This also meant that it was complete overcast at the summit and no view at all haha! Oh well, what can you do! The photo does make me laugh though!
It took about 4 hours each way and this was walking at a simple pace. Overall a fun day and hopefully we have a better view if we climb this mountain again!
Altogether you really can’t go wrong planning a trip to Jeju Island! Renting a car certainly was the way to go as it allowed us to travel at our own pace, see all the sights on our list, and navigate around the island with ease! These sights are just a few of the many around the island, including Mt. Hallasan, located in the center of the island!
Have a great trip to Jeju Island!
