Things to Do in Jeju Island
Things to Do in Jeju Island: Volcanic Landscape and Coastline
Jeju is a volcanic island reached by a short domestic flight, with a landscape built around a dormant volcano at its center and a coastline unlike anywhere else in Korea.
What are the best things to do on Jeju Island?
Hiking Hallasan, South Korea’s highest peak, climbing Seongsan Ilchulbong for the sunrise, and a half-day trip to Udo Island off the east coast form the core of most Jeju visits. Add a lava tube, a waterfall or a stretch of the Olle Trail, and time on a beach in summer.
Hallasan National Park
Hallasan is South Korea’s highest peak at 1,947 meters, a dormant shield volcano at the geographic center of Jeju and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Several hiking trails lead to the summit, passing through primeval forest and volcanic rock formations en route.
The mountain sits in the middle of the island, and most sightseeing routes follow the coast around it. Roads do cross its flanks, the 5.16 Road and the 1100 Road among them, and they are the fastest way between Jeju City and Seogwipo. Both are winding, and in winter snow can mean chains or a closure, especially on the 1100 Road.
Only two trails reach the summit crater, Baengnokdam: Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa. Both need an online reservation through the Hallasan reservation system, with daily caps of 1,000 hikers on Seongpanak and 500 on Gwaneumsa. Since May 2025 the lower sections can be walked without a booking; reservations are checked at Jindallaebat Shelter on Seongpanak and Samgakbong Shelter on Gwaneumsa, and each checkpoint has a seasonal cut-off time after which nobody continues up. For a shorter day with no booking, the Eorimok and Yeongsil trails climb to Witse Oreum and the junction below the summit wall. Our hiking guide compares the routes.
Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak)
Seongsan Ilchulbong is a volcanic tuff cone on Jeju’s eastern coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, formed by a volcanic eruption and topped with a large crater. The hike to the viewing platform takes roughly 20 to 30 minutes on a stepped trail that gets steep in places, manageable for most fitness levels with good shoes.
As the name suggests, sunrise is the time to go, for the light and for smaller crowds; later in the day the parking lot and the path fill up. The gate opens early to allow for it, and the hours move with the season: 06:00 to 18:00 from November to February, 05:00 to 19:00 in March, April, September and October, and 04:30 to 20:00 from May to August, with ticket sales ending an hour before closing. Adult admission is 5,000 won. The site closes on the first Monday of each month (the next day if that Monday is a public holiday).
The path is fully exposed on the seaward side, which makes wind the deciding comfort factor far more than temperature.
Udo Island
Udo is a small island reached by ferry from Jeju’s eastern coast, known for its peanut farming and peanut-flavored soft serve sold throughout the island. Udo Peak, a gentle climb to the island’s highest point at 132 meters, gives 360-degree views that can include Hallasan and Seongsan Ilchulbong on a clear day.
Half a day is generally enough to see Udo’s main features, and it’s commonly combined with a morning at Seongsan Ilchulbong for a full east-side day, since the ferry departs from near the base of Sunrise Peak.
Lava Tubes, Forests and Oreum
The northeast of the island, between Jeju City and Seongsan, has two stops that fit easily into the drive to or from Sunrise Peak, and the west has the easiest of the island’s small volcanic cones.
Manjanggul Lava Tube
A lava tube that is part of Jeju’s UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The walkway through the open section ends at a lava column roughly 7.6 meters tall. It reopened in 2026 after more than two years of renovation; tickets are sold from 09:00 to 17:00, the cave closes at 18:00, and adult admission is 4,000 won. It stays cool inside all year, so bring a layer in summer.
Bijarim Forest
A forest of about 2,800 bija (Japanese nutmeg yew) trees, many of them 500 to 800 years old, with a walking loop of a few kilometers. It is one of the few properly shaded walks on the east side, which makes it a good midday stop in summer.
Saebyeol Oreum
Oreum are the small volcanic cones scattered across Jeju. Saebyeol Oreum, in the west, is an easy one: about 30 minutes up a grassy slope, with silver grass in autumn and wide views at sunset.
Waterfalls and the Olle Trail
The south coast around Seogwipo has three waterfalls within a short drive of each other, usually seen together, and several routes of the Olle Trail follow this coast.
Jeongbang Falls
About 23 meters high, and unusual because it drops almost straight onto the shore; steps lead down to the rocks at its base.
Cheonjiyeon Falls
Reached by an easy path through a wooded gorge in Seogwipo. It is lit and stays open into the evening, so it is the one to leave until after dark.
Cheonjeyeon Falls
Three tiers of falls near the Jungmun resort area, linked by paths and a high arched footbridge.
Jeju Olle Trail
A network of walking routes around the island: 21 numbered main routes plus side routes, about 437 km in all, averaging around 16 km each. Most visitors walk part of one; Route 7 along the Seogwipo coast is a common choice.
Beaches and Coastal Features
Jeju's coastal features
Hyeopjae and Hamdeok Beaches
Known for clear water and soft white sand, popular for swimming in warmer months.
Jungmun Saekdal Beach
A beach on the island’s south side, often paired with nearby Jusangjeolli, a cliff formation of hexagonal volcanic rock columns.
Jusangjeolli Cliffs
Hexagonal columns formed when lava flowing into the sea cooled and cracked, viewable from a coastal walking path.
Seopjikoji Cape
A coastal walking area near Seongsan with views toward Udo Island and the surrounding coastline.
Jeju’s Haenyeo Women Divers
The Haenyeo are Jeju’s traditional women free-divers, historically diving without oxygen tanks to harvest seafood, a practice recognized by UNESCO as part of the island’s intangible cultural heritage. The easiest place to see them is the haenyeo performance site just below Seongsan Ilchulbong, where divers give a short demonstration at 13:30 and 15:00, included in the Seongsan Ilchulbong ticket. It is called off in rough weather and on some holidays. Away from the show, divers can sometimes be seen at work in harbors around the island, depending on tides. A dedicated Haenyeo museum on the island covers the tradition in more depth.
Getting Around the Island
- Rental car is the most flexible option given how spread out Jeju’s attractions are around the island’s perimeter.
- Taxi works for specific trips but adds up over a multi-day stay, since the main sights are far apart; check the fare estimate in the Kakao T app before a long ride such as Jeju City to Seongsan.
- Tour packages covering major highlights by bus are available through most hotels or online booking platforms.
- Electric scooter rental is available in some tourist areas for short-range exploration near beaches.
Group the sights by coast (east, south, west) rather than crossing the island several times a day. When you do need to cross, the 5.16 and 1100 roads over Hallasan are shorter than going around, but slower in bad weather.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Jeju Island?
Most visitors fly. Gimpo Airport in Seoul to Jeju takes a little over an hour, and there are direct flights from Busan and other mainland cities. Car ferries also sail from south-coast ports such as Mokpo and Wando, which is useful if you are bringing a car. There is no bridge or tunnel.
How long does the Hallasan hike take?
The two summit trails, Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa, take most of a day and need an online reservation for the upper section, with a cut-off time at the checkpoint. The Eorimok and Yeongsil trails stop below the summit, need no booking, and take roughly five to six hours up and back.
Is Seongsan Ilchulbong difficult to hike?
The trail to the viewing platform takes about 20 to 30 minutes and is manageable for most fitness levels, though it includes steps and gets steep in sections.
Do I need a rental car on Jeju?
It’s the most practical option given how spread out the island’s attractions are, though taxis and tour packages are workable alternatives for a shorter stay.
What’s the best season to visit Jeju?
This depends on your priority: beaches are best in summer, while hiking Hallasan is often more comfortable in spring or autumn when temperatures are milder.
Overview of Things to Do in Jeju Island
Jeju Island centers on its volcanic landscape: Hallasan at the center, Seongsan Ilchulbong on the eastern coast, and a scattering of beaches and rock formations around the perimeter. Most visitors fly in from Seoul’s Gimpo Airport; if you are pairing Jeju with the mainland coast, our Busan guide covers the other half of that trip.
Hallasan, South Korea’s highest peak, sits at the center of Jeju and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Seongsan Ilchulbong is best visited at sunrise for both light and smaller crowds.
Udo Island is reached by ferry and is commonly combined with a morning at Seongsan Ilchulbong.
Jeju’s Haenyeo women divers are a UNESCO-recognized cultural tradition, viewable at select harbors and shows.
The Hallasan summit trails need a reservation; Manjanggul, Bijarim and the Seogwipo waterfalls need only a ticket.
A rental car is generally the most practical way to cover the island’s spread-out attractions.
- Best Places to Visit in Korea
- Hiking in Korea: Best Spots
- Best Time to Visit Korea
Sources
- Visit Jeju, Jeju Tourism Organization (official, English)
Jeju’s official visitor site. Trails, transport and attraction information for the island.
- Hallasan trail reservation system (official)
Reservations for the Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa summit trails, daily caps and seasonal entry cut-off times.
- Seongsan Ilchulbong, Visit Jeju (official, Korean)
Seasonal gate hours, ticket sales times and the first-Monday closure.
- Manjanggul Lava Tube, Jeju World Natural Heritage (official, Korean)
The open section of the cave and visiting information.
Links checked 26 September 2026. Trail rules, gate hours and fees change by season, so confirm on the official page before you travel.
What This Page Does Not Cover
This guide is compiled from Jeju’s official tourism, heritage and national park sources, listed above. It does not cover every beach or oreum, and it cannot account for weather, your mobility or a closure on the day.
Opening hours, fees and trail rules here were last checked in September 2026.