Jeju Island, what to see in one of the 7 natural wonders

Discover the Jeju Island, what to see and do in one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. This volcanic island is the largest in South Korea and, in addition to being a natural wonder since 2011, it has several places declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The main attractions of Jeju are its white sand beaches, geological resources, green tea fields, waterfalls, unique cuisine and traditions. Here is also Mount Halla, the highest peak in South Korea with 1.950 meters of altitude. In addition, it is where you can see the famous women of the sea o Haenyeo. Without a doubt, we believe that Jeju must be included in your trip to South Korea and then you will know why.

Next, we detail the small index of the contents that you will find throughout this article on the Jeju Island, what to see and more tips.

Jeju Island, South Korea

As we said, Jeju Island is a must-see place what to see in South Korea. It is located in the south of the Korean peninsula and can be comfortably reached within an hour's flight from Busan or just under 2 hours from Seoul (flight for less than €100). Its climate is warmer than the rest of the country (subtropical), being one of the favorite destinations of Koreans to spend their holidays. On the other hand, due to its geographical isolation, Jeju island has cultural peculiarities that differentiate it from other areas of the country. For example, The harubang or stone grandparents sculpted in lava blocks are the most representative symbol of the island. It is said that they offer protection from demons and that is why you will see them at the entrances to towns and houses.

Jeju also stands out for its matriarchal families, particularly on the island of Udo. Here the haenyo or "women of the sea" are a clear example. These fisherwomen earn life collecting shellfish such as abalone or abalone doing freediving. As if that were not enough, Jeju Island is also Biosphere reserve and Global Geopark by UNESCO, given its high geological value. Many call Jeju, the Hawaii of South Korea or the island of love, because many Koreans come to spend their honeymoon. Next, we detail what to see in Jeju and you will understand why it is one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

What to see and do on Jeju Island in 3 days?

¿Jeju is worth visiting? Definitely! ¿How many days to visit Jeju? We dedicate to you 3 nights, although one more day would not have hurt to be more relaxed and even spend the night in Udo. In any case, we believe that 3 days is the minimum. We have grouped you places to visit in the north/east and south/west area with restaurants (we include Naver location). Therefore, we recommend dividing your stay as follows:

• Seongsan, we recommend hotel Co-op City Hotel Seongsan: at least one night
• seogwipo, we recommend the Zinc hotel: at least two nights

What to see in Jeju, car route map

You should know what it is advisable to rent a car in Jeju to explore the islandAt the end of this article we will tell you how we did it. We leave you with him map of places to see in Jeju. We know first hand that It will be of great help to plan your visit to the island. We would have shared a interactive map from Google maps, but as you may know, it does not work in South Korea. For To get around Jeju you must use Naver map or Maps.me. Now let's go with the Jeju must-sees!

1. Jeju beaches: Hamdeok beach

As soon as we arrived at Jeju International Airport, we picked up the car and headed towards Seongsan along the coast. We made our first stop at one of the most beautiful beaches in Jeju. This is the Hamdeok beach, with white sand, crystal clear waters and black volcanic rock. This area is somewhat touristy and has good offer of accommodation and restaurants.

2. Seongsan Ilchulbong, a must see in Jeju

Seongsan Ilchubung is one of the Jeju tourist places that captivated us the most. It is an extinct volcano, Heritage and you can access the top by paying just under €4 per person. The ideal would be to have a bird's eye view of its crater, but drone filming is not allowed. We leave you with a photo of the entrance so you can get an idea of ​​what this place is like, since the view from above does not allow you to appreciate its magnitude.

The path takes about 30 minutes to climb and from above you can see it. crater, as well as having the best panoramic views of the Seongsan Peninsula. Many travelers decide to visit it to see the dawn, something that doesn't seem like a bad idea to us if you want to avoid the heat, since the path is somewhat hard if you visit in summer. Since you are in the area, take the opportunity to also visit the Cape Seopjikoji, we didn't have time.

Seongsan Restaurants

• ☕ Coffee The Light, overlooking the sea and Seongsan lchulbong
• ???? ️ Seongsan Fisheries restaurant. We recommend you order a tasting of one of their mackerel menus that includes, mackerel sashimi, grilled mackerel and mackerel soup. Spectacular food and service, although it is not cheap. They have Jeju beer here, very good. Address Naver map.

• ???? ️ 바다풍경 Restaurant: this traditional restaurant is specializing in grilled fish and Jeju black pork (ask for it without fail). Here you can also try the abalones alive (if you dare). Very authentic. We have not found his name in Spanish or English, but don't worry, we'll leave you his address. Naver Map. It is right in front of the "woman diver rest area", a few steps from where the Haenyeo do their exhibition.

3. Udo Island and the Haenyeo divers, the best thing to see in Jeju-do!

If you really want to know the tradition of Haenyeo divers you have to go to Udo Island. The boat ride from Seonsang port is only 20 minutes and cost us €7 per person (round trip). To explore Udo you can do it in one morning, either by renting a bike, motorcycle or a mini car (all electric). The island has only 17 kilometers perimeter so in less than 1 hour you can go around completely. There is also a 11,3 km circular route for hiking lovers, the Udo Olle Route trail. In any case, if you have time to spend a night in Udo, we are sure it can be a great experience.

The Haenyeo, another icon to see in Jeju and Udo

As we said, here you will see the Octogenarian fisherwomen who dive to almost 10 meters to fish at the top of their lungs. Supposedly, You can also see the Haenyo in Jeju, but this is more like a tourist attraction or demonstration. In Udo you will see them in full action on each beach without putting on a show around it.

Furthermore, in Udo there are paradisiacal beaches of white sand that contrast with its volcanic rock. Below we leave you a photo where you can see one of the Udo beaches with Haenyeo volcanic rock sculptures. If you like beaches, you will have a lot of fun in Korea, since Koreans don't like the sun and you will be practically alone. Also look at their peanut plantations, something very typical of Udo. That's why they also call it "peanut island" or peanut island.

• 🍽️ Restaurant Haha Hoho Udo to test the Udo's peanut sauce burger.
• 🍽️ Restaurant On-off Udo to eat a good tonkatsu (breaded pork fillet) with sea views.

4. Manjanggul Cave, another World Heritage Site to see in Jeju

El Manjanggul lava tube, also a World Heritage Site, is one of the most lengths of the world with 7,4 km long. Although many call it Manjanggul Caves, it is really a lava tube as we say and you can visit part of it (about 1 kilometer). Inside you can also see the largest lava column in the world at 7,6 meters high. Please note that during this activity what to do in Jeju You are going to walk underground at about 12 degrees of temperature, so remember to bring a coat. The journey takes just over half an hour (round trip). It opens from 9 a.m. to 18 p.m. (last entry at 17 p.m.) and costs 4000 won per person (about €3).

5. Seogwipo: Jeongbang waterfalls, Cheonjiyeon falls, Sojeongbang falls and Oedolgae rock

In the south of the Jeju Island There are other tourist places that we recommend visiting. Plus, they are all very close to each other. We recommend the seogwipo city as a base camp to visit all the sites that we are going to mention below.

✔ Jeongbang Waterfalls, the most spectacular to see in Jeju

These waterfalls are the most impressive to see in Jeju, with a height of about 25 meters. Furthermore, according to the Visit Korea website, It is the only waterfall in all of Asia that faces the ocean. Access to the waterfalls is paid, but it is only 2.000 won per person (less than €1,50 per adult). We were surprised that At the entrance there were signs about "do not touch snakes", thank goodness we didn't see them haha. Next, we see Jorge filming in front of the waterfall for the super video we prepared about the places to visit in Jeju. Everything got wet! You can see it below.

✔ Cheonjiyeon Waterfalls

Cheonjiyeon is another of the stops to make in Jeju, in the southern area. Access to these waterfalls also has a cost 2.000 won (€1,50 per person). Until you reach the waterfalls you will pass through a quite beautiful garden area, but the journey takes less than 20 minutes. A few steps away you can also visit Saeseom Island crossing the Saeyeongyo Bridge on foot, it won't take you more than half an hour, although it is not essential.

• 🍽️ Restaurant 돌하르방잔치국수. If you feel like Korean food after visiting Cheonjiyeon Falls, in the same parking lot you have this restaurant that we can't find out his name in our alphabet. You can see the exact location by clicking the link. We ate super homemade and delicious!

✔ Sojeongbang Waterfalls

At approximately 300 meters Jeongbang Falls you can also visit the Sojeongbang falls, 5 meters high. They are less spectacular, but since you are here, we recommend a visit. Furthermore, on the way you will pass through the famous Jeju Olle Trail 6, a 13,3-kilometer trail that runs along part of Jeju's southern coast. You will also pass by the Castle of La Concha.

✔ Oedolgae Rock

Lastly, Very close to Seogwipo is also the finger-shaped rock of Oedolgae. It stands out from the sea reaching a height of about 20 meters. The landscape of the area is beautiful, as it is surrounded by islets. There are also some nearby natural pools where you can take a dip.

6. Osulloc Green tea museum, Jeju island, South Korea

Another things to do in Jeju islandAlso very close to Seogwipo is the tea museum and its green tea plantations. The access it's totally free and you can buy many delicious things made from tea, both remembrances, like to drink in your cafeteria. We tried a sweet, an ice cream and a milkshake. Everything is delicious! They also sell beauty products and they have a restaurant. The facilities themselves are spectacular and Being able to visit a tea plantation seemed like a great experience.

7. Hyeopjae, Jeju beaches to visit

La Hyeopjae beach It is one of the ones we liked the most in Jeju. Despite being a somewhat touristy area, it is less crowded than Hamdeok. Also, from here you can see a perfect sunset with Biyangdo island in the background. There is a wide range of restaurants Jeju black pig and Korean barbecues, we didn't eat here, just We enjoyed some beers with views of the sunset.

• 🍽️ Ebiga Food Chinese Restaurant 이비가 짬뽕동광점. On the way to Seogwipo we stopped to eat at this Chinese restaurant chain. Very good and cheap.

8. Seongeup traditional village, Jeju Island inland tourism

Another of the places to see in Jeju is the traditional village of Seongeup, in the central east and a few minutes drive from Seowipo and Seongsan. Seongeup Folk Village has about 500 years of history. Their houses are built with stone walls and thatched roofs. El Access to the town is free, in fact there are houses where people live. In the surroundings of the town there are also restaurants and cafes where you can have a coffee to rest from the road.

8. Mount Hallasan National Park, Jeju Volcano and highest peak in South Korea

El Monte Halla or Hallasan is another Jeju attractions. This is the highest peak in South Korea with 1947 m altitude. It is right in the center of the island, so you can access it from all parts. In addition, the park has different hiking routes for all levels. U.S We did not include it in our Jeju itinerary, since they told us that it was not essential (both the Korean girl with whom we flew from Madrid to Seoul, and in some blogs in Spanish that we had read). In any case, we will tell you about it in case you have more time and interest.

And these are some of the places to see on Jeju Island. There is certainly much more to explore beyond this list. us for example We did not explore Jeju City because we had only a few days and we preferred to enjoy nature and visiting Udo more. Now let's go with more tips for your trip, keep reading.

Where to stay in Jeju, South Korea

As we mentioned at the beginning, we We dedicated three nights of our trip to South Korea to sightseeing in Jeju. However, we did not have time to visit everything and we are at a good pace. The island is large, it is about 1.848 km² (similar to Tenerife with 2.034 km²). It is 73 kilometers from east to west and 31 kilometers from north to south. Therefore, to avoid displacement, the best areas to stay in jeju It depends on what you are going to visit. Here our route:

• 1 night in Seongsan, hotel Co-op City Hotel Seongsan: to go to the Hamdeok beach, hike to Udo, climb Seongsan Ilchulbong and visit Manjanggul cave. It has free parking and good facilities, close to tourist spots and within walking distance of restaurants.
• 2 nights in Seogwipo, Zinc hotel. They have free private parking and you can walk to the entire restaurant area. From here We visited all its waterfalls, as well as we visited the Oedolgae rock. We also jumped to the Seongeup Village, Tea Museum and Hyeopjae Beach.

The two hotels where we stayed were great, but if you want to look for the Jeju hotel deals, you can do it below.

How to get around Jeju and drive in South Korea

To visit Jeju, the best option is rent a car at Jeju airport. We do it We rented with Avis from Spain (about €180), but then we did check in a Korean company called SK. This was a bit confusing because you have to take a shuttle (most companies are outside the airport). I'm sure you can find best rental offers with local companies in the comparator RentalCars. We leave you with a funny photo of a lady covered from the sun while driving through Jeju. Koreans protect themselves a lot from the sun!

How do you drive in South Korea?

As you can see, In South Korea you drive on the right like in Spain. Furthermore, the signs are perfectly understood, but be careful with the traffic lights at turns. On the other hand, keep in mind that in the rent a car They will ask for your international driving license, as well as your European Union driving license (or that of your country). By the way, Gasoline is super cheap, we only spent €20 and we traveled quite a bit and all the parking spaces in the places we visited were free. As we tell you in our article about what to see in South Korea with tips, Google maps does not work in this country. We recommend you download the Naver map app in Spain o your country of origin so that it is downloaded in your language and not in Korean.

How to get to Jeju Island

To get to Jeju we We took a plane from Busan and Jeju then flew to Seoul. The country is very small and Jeju is very close. Only 1 hour flight from Busan y 10 more minutes to or from Seoul. You can look at prices and schedules with these airlines: Jeju Air, Korean Air, T'way and Jin Air.

Typical Jeju food, what to see and what to eat

If the food is already super good in South Korea, we can say that in Jeju even better. Here they highlight famous tangerines and oranges, delicious. You will see plantations and juice shops everywhere. It is also well known Jeju black pig, there are restaurants – barbecues in every corner. Jeju cuisine also includes very good fish and seafood. For example, heas haenyeo They mainly fish for urchins, abalone or abalone, octopus and algae.. In a restaurant we saw how they ate live abalones (wuff). Likewise, it is typical grilled fish such as mackerel or sablefish (Galchi). With the saberfish or beltfish a is also prepared Spicy soup that includes vegetables in addition to fish. Is el Galchi Jorim We show you in the video about what to eat in south korea.

Peanuts are also known in Jeju and a star product is peanut ice cream, yum, yum! Finally, Be sure to try their green tea, matcha tea and all the products made with it. No need to go to the green tea museum, In many convenience stores you can find up to Cookies of Jeju green tea from the famous Hershey's brand.

We hope that this article about our recommendations for traveling to Jeju will help you. Yes too you are going to visit Seoul and Busan, we leave you our articles, we are sure that they will be very useful to you:

• What to see in Seoul
• What to see in Busan

Video with places to see in Jeju

In the following video we share the places and anecdotes of our trip to Jeju and South Korea. Subscribe here to our YouTube channel so you don't miss the next ones, since we are going to upload several videos of our Korean adventure.

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And here they end all our recommendations and tips for traveling to Jeju, If you have any other questions, we will be happy to read your comments and answer you. Have more Travel inspiration in the more destinations section of our blog and lots of valuable content to organize your trip to our island: Gran Canaria.