Travel Guide: Jeju, South Korea

Jeju, formally known as Jejudo, is an island located in South Korea. Composed of gorgeous sights ranging from waterfalls to volcanic formations, Jeju is a must visit when in South Korea. If you want to truly experience this beautiful island, I would suggest allowing yourself a minimum stay of two nights. It would be necessary to pack in activities back to back and plan out a map for efficiency. My family and I were only in Jeju for about 24 hours and although we were able to see a lot of the natural beauties this island offers, I wish we had at least another day to explore. However, I was able to research a lot of activities before heading to Jeju that I can share in this guide along with advice and recommendations from my personal experience.

Getting to the Island

Take a direct flight from Seoul. I used JejuAir and booked from their website just two weeks before my trip, which a roundtrip flight cost me around $30.00. My flight departed from Gimpo Intl Airport (GMP) and arrived at Jeju (CJU). Gimpo International Airport is easily accessible by the AREX All Stop Train.

Getting Around the Island

Renting a car is a must! It’s the best way to get around the island. Here are a few notes about renting in Jeju.

• You can book through any travel website (Priceline, Expedia, etc. or direct with rental companies)
• All rentals come with a GPS system: speaks in English, viewed in Korean
• Standard is automatic transmission
• Inexpensive to rent (est. $25/day)
• Driving around Jeju is very easy – only congested around airport/city area
• Phone numbers are used as addresses to input in GPS
• You must have an international drivers license (can obtain at AAA)

Where to Stay

I booked an Airbnb in Seowipo-si for $139.00 (two beds, waterfront). This location was ideal for the itinerary I mapped out. It was located about an hour and a half away from the airport, but only 20 minutes from the waterfalls and other gorgeous sights we planned to see. Depending on what your goals are for Jeju will determine what area would be best for you to stay in. You could also do a night in Seowipo-si and a night in the western part of the island.

What to Eat

BLACK PORK: Jeju is known for this breed of pigs – small pig with black skin and smooth hair. The cuts of this pork are barbecued over hay to give the flavor an even more unique taste than normal pork. To be quite honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of this type of pork. However, I do think all visitors should give it a try!

SEAFOOD: This is a given on almost every island. The seafood prepared in Jeju is extremely fresh and I loved the variety available. We devoured a seafood hot pot filled with octopus, abalone, mussels, scallops, shrimp, and crab.

TANGERINES: You will see stands every where selling tangerines. They are simply delicious. Our Airbnb host left a bowl out for us, which we all enjoyed greatly. These tangerines are sweeter than most. You can also find stands selling tangerine flavored rice rolls and chocolate, which are equally tasty.

Things to Do

CHEONJEYEON WATERFALLS (GPS: 7381529)

Tip: Skip the 3rd waterfall. The full view is blocked by trees and the waterfall itself was pretty small. It’s not worth the extra steps to get there.

JEONGBANG WATERFALL (GPS: 7331530)

OSULLOC TEA MUSEUM (GPS: 7945312)

INNISFREE JEJU HOUSE (GPS: 7945351)

So, there you have it! A simple travel guide to the wonderful island of Jeju. It was nice to take a break from the city for a few days and explore the different beauties that South Korea has to offer. Hope you found this guide helpful and enjoy your time in South Korea!