Arriving into Jeju Airport is the most common way to the Island. When you arrive its easy to navigate your way out, to the taxis, bus stands or you can rent a car from the many providers at the airport. The cheapest way of getting into the city, or surrounding areas of the island is by bus. Since there are no trains or subway in Jeju Island, buses and taxis are the two main public transportation modes on the island. However, if you are on a tight schedule busses might be more time consuming as their times are not as often as on the mainland.  You can take several busses, costing from 1250 Won to 5500 Won. Going to Jeju City is better to take the blue busses which cost less money. 
If you are going to Seogwipo, on the south side of the island, then take bus 181 (2000 Won). From stand 2 just outside arrivals. You can pay with T-Money card or APP directly on the bus! You can also take bus 600 or 800 which are express busses and cost 5500 Won. 

Arriving by ferry: There are also ferries if you decide to come from the mainland driving. A ferry from Busan to Jeju takes about 11 hours and costs around 40,000 won for the lowest category. If you’re departing from Mokpo, the journey costs about 20,000 won and takes 6 hours of travel time. You can also board a ferry to Jeju from Wando (3 hours) and Incheon (15 hours).

Once in Jeju, you can find the  City Bus,  (Blue) Express Bus (red), Tourist Shuttle Bus (yellow-gold), and Airport Limousine Bus  which cover almost all of Jeju Island. Fares range between 1250KRW (City Bus) and 5500KRW (Airport bus). All buses accept cash or Seoul’s T-money transit card, but we recommend using the T-money card for the fare because you can transfer three times, each within 30 mins, for free.

There are some busses which do a circular tour around some of the major tourist attractions on the west side of the island, this is bus 810-820. (see the PDF file below for more info on this route. 

✔️Tip: If you are a short time in Jeju its worth the cost to get some of the tours which operate around the island! There are 3 major tours which the operators offer:
East island Tour, West island Tour and the South island Tour. Most tours start from Jeju City or the airport. But it's also possible to start from Seogwipo (the south city).
Tours cost around $100 (USD) per person and include English speaking guide, lunch and transportation. For more information check with : Yehatour.com

The island is one of the most relaxing vacation spots found in Korea thanks to its unique local atmosphere and beautiful natural environment. The volcanic lava tubes that make up nearly 10% of the island’s area are a designated UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. So it's no surprise that many visitors not only come for a relaxing time away from the bigger cities but also to adventure into nature and discover a very wild but beautiful landscape!

Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone, Manjanggul Lava Tube, and Hallasan National Park are must-see sights. Additional attractions include forests, waterfalls and volcanic cones. With so many beautiful things to see, it can be hard to know where you should plan your trip. 
Divided by regions you can find the highlights below of what to see and do in Jeju Island!

• Jeju-si or Jeju city: Its the main commercial and political centre of the island. It also hosts the majority of Hotels, motels and budget accommodation options so if you are staying a short time in Jeju, the city is your best option. From here most of the tours will depart and the northern side of the island also offers the best beaches! 
  In Jeju-si itself there are also a few interesting things to see and do. Below you will find more details:
  

• Yongduam, or Dragon Head Rock, is a natural rock formation and is a popular tourist spot that anyone can stop to view for free! Much of Jeju’s topography was formed by solidified lava. The formation is close to the airport and has visitor facilities, such as a car park and an observation deck. If you’re trying to decide where you should begin your Jeju sightseeing, Yongduam should be at the top of your list. You can get there by bus 432 or 453. As you walk on the road you will see a rock monument, here there is a pathway that takes you down to the base where you can get a good view towards the dragon head.  You can continue to walk around the area where at night there is a rainbow bridge and several restaurants if you want to have dinner here.  
  

• Dongmun Market Place: This is Jeju Island’s largest and oldest permanent market. A street market, night market, traditional market, and seafood market are all combined in one place, and there are many places where you can eat and shop, so it is popular with tourists.
  To get there you can walk if you are in the city centre or local busses stop just outside the main entrance. (Numbers 312, 315, 316, 325, 326, 332, 344, 351, 352, 380, 412, 421, 466).

• Seogwipo town: Technically covering the entire south side of the Jeju island, Seogwipo city, consists of a rather small urban centre and port on the coast, directly south of Jeju's most prominent landmark: Mt. Halla. However, the city has grown now and has spread along the coast westwards up to the township of Jungmun and some of the coastal villages beyond.
  

  Seogwipo is another good option for accommodation, specially when staying longer in the island and travelling around. The city also has some more fancy accommodation and you will be able to find the island's only stadium here. Along some of the best waterfalls are in easy reach from Seogwipo centre, as well as some great walks, trails and beaches. There is also a good daily market which sells both fish, meat, fruit and typical Jeju products and souvenirs which gets very popular in the evening. 
  To get to Seogwipo, you can take bus 600 (airport express), 181 from the airport or Jeju city or 202 (local bus around the west of the island).

• Waterfalls:Jeongbang Waterfall is one of three main Jeju waterfalls, along with Cheonjiyeon Waterfall and Cheonjaeyeon Waterfall.
  
• Jeongbang is the only one in Korea which spills directly into the sea. Harmonized with the sea, two 23m-tall columns of water fall with a sound like thunder and offer us a magnificent view. Cliffs and old pine trees surrounding the waterfall are always scenic. It takes about 5 minutes to walk to the waterfall down steps and the admission ticket is 2000 KRW. There is also an exhibition centre close by, which costs 500KRW to get in and offers some nice additional views to the cliffs. There is a small exhibition building but no translations in English. To get to Jeongbang Waterfalls you can get bus 651 or 652 from Seogwipo main square. 

• Cheonjiyeon Waterfall:  Also located within Seogwipo City, Cheonjiyeon Falls, gets its name because it means “sky connected with land.” It is 22m high and 12m wide.  It is also famous for the Natural Habitat for Giant Mottled Eels, which are nocturnal. The rock itself does not look too unique, but when the surface of water reflects the rock, the rock and the reflection look like a face. When seen from the left, it looks like the face of an adult, but when viewed from the right, it looks like the face of a baby.  The face is clearer in the afternoon, when the sun starts sinking in the west, than in the morning. Admission applies of 2500W per adult. To get there, you can take bus 880 (tourist bus) or local bus 611, 641 or 692. 

• Cheonjaeyeon Waterfall: Located 30 min from Seogwipo, by bus. This is the last of the three main watermfalls in the island. However, its consisted of 3 different levels of waterfalls in itself. The first upper cascade is 22 m high and the second 30 m high. The height of the third cascade is not mentioned, but it definitely is less tall than the first two.
  
  The first cascade marks also the beginning of the stream,  it appears above the falls from a cave. Water is falling into a turquoise-colored pool,  Cheonjeyeon pond, which is 21 m deep. Often this part of the falls is dry (unless it has rained on the day) but the place is beautiful anyway with majestic basalt columns around the pond.
  The second cascade comes after some 140 meters and, in general, has more water in it than the first. Here the water flows down along a steep, moss-covered basalt rock into the next pond.
  After some 300 meters is the final cascade. With a single drop, the stream falls into one more deep-blue pond. Some 900 meters further the stream reaches the sea.
  As you enter the entrance, located here 📍, there is a ticket to buy (3000 Won). The river is crossed by a the Seonimgyo Bridge, a beautiful bridge that is adorned with seven nymphs. Note that swimming in the falls is forbidden. To get there you can take bus 510, 520, 521,or 690. (The entrance is next to the botanical garden).
  

• Jungmun Beach: is surrounded by cliffs and has a sandy beach. Also the views to it and the overall panorama is very romantic. It is located in Jungmun Resort, so visitors can enjoy many recreational facilities around the beach. Wind surfing, water-skiing and para-sailing. You can swim in the cobalt coloured ocean, or view the great views below whilst having a drink on some of the bars and restaurants situated above. To reach there by public busses, take 510, 520, 240.
  

• Olle Walking Trails and hike to Gogeunsan Mountain: Olle in the local dialect means a winding path to your front door, and Olle coastal trails now wind around much of the island. You will notice when you are walking along these trails, from the hanging orange and blue ribbons which are placed every 50m or less along the whole island. The trails cover all the island, but you can easily select which trails you wish to do on a particular day and the level of difficulty. From easy to advance. The trails are free and open to everybody. Please keep the trails clean and respect the signs which are placed around them. 
  One interesting trail to do close to Seogwipo is the Gogeunsan Mountain hike. It is a moderate hike and takes around 30 min from the base of the mountain to the top or 2 hours if you are walking from Seogwipo city. The decent route is easier and takes 1 hour from the top to the Seogwipo Intercity bus station.  To start the hike we recommend taking the bus 644, 655, 641 or 691 from Seogwipo city centre and alight here 📍. After take the Olle Trail and follow the ribbons. 
  

✔️Tip: For  more information on the Olle Trails please visit their information centre📍 in Seogwipo city or read online at jejuolle.org/trail/eng/

• Osulloc Green Tea fields and Tea House: Initially, O’sulloc originated from a rocky volcanic field back in 1979. After recognizing the value of the ecosystems & pristine lands of Jeju Island, O’sulloc founder, Jangwon Seo Seong-wan launched a project to grow a tea field called Dolsongi. With his ambitions to revive the Korean tea tradition that was slowly beginning to fade, O’sulloc was thus developed. 
  
  Today, O’sulloc is globally recognized for its advanced organic farming methods & the production of high quality teas. The company also maintains a signature fermentation process using Korean traditional paste extracts that have aged on Jeju island. Their premium teas have even won prestigious international tea contests every year for its palatable taste! You are able to see the museum and taste some good teas and some expensive prices! To get there take bus 151 from Jeju Bus Terminal or Bus 181 from Seogwipo and Change at Donggwang Interchange for bus 255 (stop 2).

• Hallim park: Located about 33km west of Jeju city, Hallim Park is one of the most popular places to visit in Jeju Island. The park has a great combination of nature and culture. The main attraction is Hyeopjaegul Cave and Ssangyonggul Cave, known as the only two-entrance caves in the world. The caves, were formed by an eruption of Mount Halla many years ago. Many people believe that the caves were below sea level at the time of formation based on discovering fossilized seashells and abalone shells. Only a 500-meter length of Hyeopjaegul and Ssangnyonggul caves are currently open to the public.
  
  Other things to see at the park are: The Stone and Bonsai garden,  the garden is large, offering a collection of 300-year-old pines, quince trees, crape myrtles, and maple trees. The Jea-am Folk village, the folk village is an interesting feature of Jeju island. It preserves Jeju Island’s traditional lifestyle and culture during the 19th century. You can see roof houses, stone walls, and sculptures of people and animals in the village. The bird garden, interesting to see the elegant peacocks walking around the garden, Ostriches, the biggest bird in the world, could also be found here.
  The entrance fee is 12000 Won. To get there take bus 202 from Jeju city (best) or from Seogwipo city centre. 
  

• Gwakji Beach: is 350m long and 70m wide, Gwakji is known for its white sands and clear blue water. This beach also has a spring that will make you shudder from its cold temperature even in the peak of the summer. Picking the abundant clams and other shellfish is another bonus that can be enjoyed aside from swimming. Its has a more local feel that the other beaches and its less crowded. It also has a few restaurants where to enjoy the Jeju sea food. To get there take bus 202 from Jeju city (best) or from Seogwipo city centre. 
  

• Marado island: If you are staying in Jeju a little longer, its a beautiful trip to go to Marado island, which has also the characteristic of being South Korea's most southern territory. See the Suggestion point below for more info!

• Jeju Folk Village: is the Most Jeju-like Place in Jeju! Folklore symbolizes the spirit of its people, and is a living culture that adapts and changes to its times and surroundings as it is passed down from generation to generation. As time passes, new elements are added or existing ones are removed. As such, folklore can be considered a concrete aspect of life and basic culture that contains the spirit and ideals of the people. Jeju Folk Village has comprehensively organized Jeju’s traditional folklore materials by setting 1890, the end of the Joseon Dynasty, as its base year and has put them on display for all to see. It is a place where Jeju’s folk culture is properly preserved, where people can see trees and flowers in a single glance. To get to the Folk Village, you can take bus 221. 222 from Seogwipo centre or express bus 121 from Jeju City.

• Dongsan Herb Garden: In about 66,115㎡, there are about 150 types of herbs and wild flowers in each garden and small hill, and is formed with various contents including a scale of experiencing mandarin farm. While taking a walk along the garden's paths, you can smell the herbal scents that will give you a refreshing feeling. There is also fantastic scenery here and don't forget to take pictures with the background of its landscapes. Herb Dongsan offers a great day out activity, but it's highlight is also the night light scenes. With the night time taking on a much more magical view and romantic place for couples to visit!
  A maze garden near the entrance greets visitors with a mixture of herbs and flowers. From here, gardens branch out in every direction, each with different themes. There is also a café and shop within the gardens. The entrance fee is 9000 Won. The gardens are open till 22h. To get there you can take bus 222 or 295 from Seogwipo city centre.

• Seongsan llchulbong Peak: Seongsan Ilchulbong, also known as Sunrise Peak, was formed more than 5000 years ago by volcanic eruptions. It’s used to be a separate island, but it’s now connected to Jeju’s main island.        You have to climb to the top to see the true form of Seongsan Ilchulbong Mountain in Jeju. This majestic 182m high tuff volcano shapes like a large crater. Its forested crater has a basin shape with a diameter of about 600m and a depth of 90 m. Around the crater are 99 alternating rocks, giving this place a crown-like appearance on the background of a green valley. It's not possible to walk around it when you reach the top, however there is plenty of space to admire the view and take pics.
  
  The entrance fee is 2000 Won. As you enter the base, remember to stay on the right side, because this lane is for the paying public who wish to go up to the top. The walk takes about 25 min up, with around 300+ steps to hike. It is a one way system. And remember to take some water with you, as you will need some energy to recover once at the top. The walk down is more comfortable from the other side of the peak. When going down, you can then opt to take a small boat trip or watch the woman diver show, famous in Jeju. (see below tip).
  

✔️Tip: You can see the women diver show, after (or before) the climb to the peak. Which is located on the left path as you enter the base of the peak. The dive show is Jeju cultural heritage, at Seongsan Ilchulbong. Women divers can go diving 10m under the sea to pick up shellfish without the help of oxygen masks. 

• Seopjikoji: gets its name from its shape, jutting out to sea, with 'koji' being the Jeju dialect for a cape. Located just south of Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak (Above), the cape is a popular tourist attraction. From here you can see the Ilchulbong Peak cone along with a beautiful view of the ocean and fields of canola flowers can easily be seen from the peak of Seopjikoji. On the island you can find some interesting features like a beacon fire station, reaching 4 meters in height with a diameter of 9 meters, built using volcanic rocks.  The white lighthouse, a candy style house and the Aqua Planet Theme park. Seopjikoji has been used as a filming site for many Korean movies and dramas. 
  
  To get there, it's a little remote location by public transport, but you can take bus 295, or connect with bus 721-2 if you know the times. Then walking around the whole island can take 90 min. To access the cape and walk around is free of charge.
  

❗Attention: Walking around the cape can be done taking a left turn when you reach the Aqua Planet building. After you have seen the lighthouse and continue walking round, the walkway will end at the car park. It is still possible to walk on the road side, this will take an extra 20 min until you reach the starting point. Just be aware of the traffic and walk on the opposite side of the road where cars can see you coming from the distance. (Alternatively, you can rent a car when in Jeju and this will be a much quicker trip!). 

• Manjanggul Cave: The cave is the 12th longest lava tunnel in the world. This lava tube was formed hundreds of thousands of years ago. Unlike most normal caves formed from natural erosion, Manjanggul Cave (만장굴) was formed between 200,000 and 300,000 years ago when the 456m volcano Geomunoreum erupted. Accordingly, magma flows with extremely high temperatures deep underground were formed from the materials that make up the Earth’s crust. Eventually, this magma rose to the surface and erupted in the form of lava. The lava then flowed down the coast, and the path extended for more than 13km, from which many lava tubes were created.
  
  The Manjanggul lava system is currently the largest cave in this system. The total length is more than 7400m long, with sections up to 25m high and 18m wide. However, the cave also has small parts, barely large enough for one person to pass through. There are three entrances to the Manjanggul lava tube, but visitors can only use one of them and walk a section of the tube which is 1km in length. The floor is wet and uneven so hold on to the railings as you may easily slip. At the end of the tunnel, is a giant lava column formed when volcanic lava spills from above. This is the highlight of the tube. Once you reach here, you need to turn back. There’s a small museum onsite where you can read more about the origin and features of the cave.
  The entrance ticket is 4000 Won. To get there by public bus, you can take bus 101 (from Seogwipo) and then change for 711-2. (the 711-2 has a reduced timetable, so check the timetable to be sure you are not waiting too long). When you go back, also take this bus 711-2 and you can then connect to other busses like 201 which stops at the beautiful beaches nearby. (see below)

• Gimnyeong Seonsegi Beach: Cobalt blue ocean and quality sand are the pride of Gimnyeong Beach. The majestic Manjanggul Cave is located not far away, and offers a cool hiding spot in its great caves, away from the blazing sun. So either you could come to the beach first, or make it your after destination from the cave. To get there, you can take bus 711-2 (from the caves) or direct from Jeju city bus 201.

• Hamdeok Seoubong Beach: is located along Jeju Olle Trail. It is also referred to as Hamdeok Seoubong Beach due to the volcanic cone nearby. Located just 20 kilometers from Jeju International Airport, the beach is famous for its great scenery of emerald-blue waters, tall palm trees, and white sandy shore. The beach is considered one of Jeju's top three beaches. To the western end of the beach, there is a bridge built over the water. Additional amenities include a grassy field perfect for picnics and a coastal walking trail. In particular, many people visit during summer evenings to enjoy the night sea. Seoubong Volcanic Cone is beautiful in spring when it is covered in yellow canola blossoms. Climbing up to the summit offers fantastic views of the entire area, including Hallasan Mountain on clear days. 
  To get there by public bus, take bus 201 or bus 101 (express) from Seogwipo. Or busses 335, 336 or 300 to Jeju City (bus station) or bus 325 and 380 to the Jeju Dongmun market.

• Jeju Stone Park: The Park was inspired by Jeju's culture and applications of stones. The main theme focuses on the foundation and identity of Jeju Island, based on the myth of Seolmundae Halmang (Grandmother Seolmundae), who created Jeju Island and the stones of Obaek Janggun (Five Hundred Generals). The park serves as a historical and cultural space where collected stones respresent Jeju's foundation and culture. There are 3 main areas to see and walking around will take approximately over 1 hour to see it all. Admission 5000 Won. To get there by public bus you can catch the express bus 131 from/to Jeju city or the 231 from Jeju city or Seogwipo.

When staying a little longer in Jeju and have an appetitive for more in depth travelling, an interesting suggestion is to visit Marado island which is just a 30 min ferry trip away from the main island! What is more, Marado is actually the most southern territory of the Republic of South Korea! 
Marado is the starting point and the ending point of South Korea. On the island, you can see the southernmost point monument and it only takes 60 minutes to walk along the island's coast line. There are many beautiful things to see on Marado Island, such as steep coastal cliffs, strangely shaped rocks, a sea channel that is called “Namdaemun”, and the sea cave. It is also worth seeing Cheonyeodang Shrine (or Halmangdang Shrine), which is a shrine that prays for the safety of the divers and of course the Lighthouse of Marado Island. 
The residents of the island provide 16 rooms for tourists which can provide a nice respite to get away from the crowds and enjoy a peaceful evening watching the sunset at Marado and dining some authentic Korean seafood!

Getting to Marado are two ferry options. Both cost 19000 which includes return ferry and the entry to the island.

• You can board the ferry from "Beautiful island" (Unjin Port📍) passenger terminal which has better bus connections to reach to, but the disadvantage is that there are limited departures and they get booked online beforehand at least one day before departure! So its important to book online via Wonderfulis.co.kr (only Korean cards are accepted, so ask your hotel to book or a friend).
  To reach Unjin Port for "Beautiful island" ferries you can take express bus 151 from Jeju City. From Seogwipo you can take local bus 202 and then change when you reach Daejong Elemtary School for bus 251, 252 or 253. 
  
• The other option is to depart from Marado Passenger Terminal📍. There are few more ferry times and it is not as crowded as the the first ferry. So you can turn up 30 min before departure and get a ticket on most days. (Avoid weekends and school holiday times). Ensure you select your return time, mostly allow 2 hours in Marado which will be more than enough to go around the whole island! To book the ferry from Marado Passenger Terminal you can go to Maradotour.com (only Korean cards are accepted, so ask your hotel to book or a friend). To reach the port, by bus, you need to take bus 752-2 which does not have a good timetable, only once an hour! So give plenty of time when changing busses.  If you don't want to wait for the connection, you can take bus 151 from Jeju City to the other port and walk one hour. From Seogwipo take bus 202, get off two stops after Sagye Elementary School and walk for 45 min joining one of the Olle trails along the coast line. 
  

A good question is where to stay in Jeju? The whole island has many vantage points which can be ideal places to stay for your holiday! From beach front resorts and Hotels to convenient city hotels and budget hostels. It also depends on the length of time you are staying, as the transportation can add several hours to your trip each day. 

In regards to prices, Jeju is moderately priced. The cheaper hostels and hotels are in Jeju city and Seogwipo. However, many smaller places around the coast also offer reasonable but basic amenities. Expect to pay around €25 per night in basic normal hotels and €12-15 for hostels. 

Four star hotels and resorts will cost anything from €120 and above with even higher price tags those offering casinos and front view beach views! Airbnb and private accommodation options are less available but growing in time and should be checked if you are staying a longer time to have better facilities like kitchen or living room. 

We can divide accommodation location by the length of stay below:

• If you’re only staying for a night or two, stay in Jeju City. This is the main entry point to the island and a great place to do some shopping, historic sightseeing, and food-tripping. You can also see a lot of the island’s natural landscapes without having to drive all the way to the island’s southern area. You can visit several gorgeous beaches and go hiking, all in a couple of days. This is also an ideal base if you don’t plan to drive and plan to join day tours instead.
• If you’re staying for more than three nights, break up your stay. Stay one to two nights in Jeju City, then move south to Seogwipo City. This way, you’ll be able to explore more of the island without having to drive long distances each day, and you’ll get to reach more of the island’s beautiful landmarks. Seogwipo also has a more rustic and laidback vibe to it that island-lovers will certainly enjoy.
• If you’re looking for a really relaxing and laidback vacation, stay in the Jungmun Tourist Area. You’ll find most of the tourist attractions in this area, and you’ll be able to spend your vacation just lounging and relaxing by the beach. This is also ideal for big groups and holiday-goers who like to take it slow. Some hotels in this area can arrange for an airport/ferry pick-up and all-in tours, so you can spend all your time enjoying your vacation. Jungmun is the resort area and it’s got the best and most luxurious hotels on the island. Some of the places, are in fact shooting locations of K-dramas and many hotels line the cliff overlooking the ocean!

There are multiple reasons to come to Jeju island, from relaxing on the paradise coasts and admiring beautiful nature, to shopping, exploring restaurants and food tasting and active tourism and travelling to see many of the islands attractions and sights! There are dozens of things to see and do in Jeju so the trip can be ideal from just a few days to several weeks!

For a relaxing trip and seeing some nature and doing organised tours, a 3 night trip is enough to see the highlights. However, you might find it useful to rent a car as this will save lots of time. Staying in the north side of the island will also be more time saving. 

If on the other side, you are taking public transport and intend to do more activities, it will be worth to stay on the island for at least 7 nights! Each day, the transportation can add 3 or more hours to your trips plus the time waiting for the busses. As they are not so frequent. You can expect to see 2 to 3 things during the day if you leave in the morning and return in the evening for your activities to see and do in Jeju. Also, staying on the southern part of the island, in Seogwipo gives you more access to the destinations around, including those on the east and the west side.