31+ Unbelievable Things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea

I can’t believe it has taken me this long to write about things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea. I’ve been visiting Jeju since I was a kid, I remember visiting when I was 15 years old and riding a horse in the middle of the rain in red coats and surprisingly that part hasn’t changed. Jeju is considered to be the Hawaii of South Korea, it’s been a famous and popular location to visit among locals, Asians, and also foreigners. It’s one of Asia’s bucket list destinations. It’s one of South Korea’s most treasured places and for good reason. 

New to South Korea? Be sure to read my South Korea travel guide. 

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Best things to do in Jeju Island, South Korea | The Ultimate Guide to Jeju

So you are looking the best things to do in Jeju Island. There are so many great things to do in Jeju from horseback riding to museums, hanging out by the beaches, and more. I will dive right into some of the most popular and unique things to do on Jeju Island. 

Jeju is a very large island and surprisingly takes quite some time to get from one end of the island to the other. It may be difficult to check out all the things to do in Jeju. This is mainly due to the mountainous areas and it’s difficult to travel around without a car. It can still be difficult to do everything there is to do in Jeju if you only have a short amount of time. 

I decided to break down the most popular Jeju Island Attractions into regions from the East, West, South, and North parts of Jeju. These Jeju attractions will help better plan your trip and also help you decide on where to stay in Jeju. 

Things to do in Jeju – Jeju West Coast Attractions

This is a list of things to do in West Jeju. 

Nonhyeon Super Market

Address: 제주 제주시 노형로 89

This was probably one of the most interesting Jeju Island tourist spots I went to. It starts out in a cafe and then you move along after you get your ticket based on the time. You can easily purchase your ticket when you arrive but it would be better to book your ticket in advance. You first arrive at a weird black and white supermarket, you can walk around and then some weird things start to happen. You are then led into different areas and you will see some fascinating art shows. 

Camellia Hill (카멜리아힐)

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 병악로 166

Flowers are a popular photo spot for Koreans and are considered one of the places to visit in Jeju Island. These flowers are only available during the winter months and maybe early spring. They are these beautiful orange color flowers that are in a giant field. Save money and book your tickets here.

Hello Kitty Island Museum and Cafe

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 한창로 340

If you are obsessed with Hello Kitty, I highly suggest you go and visit Hello Kitty Island! It’s one of the most popular things to do in Jeju and has gone viral several times on social media. It’s a beautiful store and cafe worth visiting. If you miss out on tickets or come too late for the last tour, that’s okay you still have access to the gift shop as well. 

Chocolate Museum

Address: 제주 서귀포시 대정읍 일주서로3000번길 144 초콜릿박물관

This chocolate museum has been a favorite and highlight in Jeju for quite some time. The chocolate is quite delicious and an interesting place to visit, to say the least. The exterior is quite different and you can also take a chocolate-making class as well. They are every hour on the hour. Book your experience here. 

O’Sulloc Green tea field

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 신화역사로 15 오설록

There are 3 attractions on this property, the Innisfree house (known for skincare), the tea museum where you can get delicious green tea ice cream, and finally the fields you can roam and explore. Although, I would say that Boseong Green Tea Farm is my favorite in South Korea. O’Sulloc is a nice green tea farm, but the beautiful rolling and mysterious hills of Boseong are why it’s my favorite. 

Hike Mount Hallasan 

Hallasan National Park is probably one of Jeju’s main attractions. People from all over the world come to hike this gorgeous mountain in Jeju. It’s a gorgeous mountain with a gorgeous view. It’s an intense hike not recommended for beginners and is the tallest mountain in South Korea. When you hike the top, you can see the inside of the beautiful crater that is sometimes filled with water. 

Teddy Bear Museum (테디베어뮤지엄 제주)

Address: 제주 서귀포시 중문관광로110번길 31

If you are interested in Teddy Bears, the Teddy Bear Museum is a popular Jeju Attraction. You can find out everything you need to know about Teddy Bears. The teddy bear was first created over 100 years ago and named after Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States of America. There is a lot to learn at this interesting museum. 

World Vehicle and Piano Museum

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 중산간서로 1610 세계자동차 제주박물관

This is an interesting museum to go to. We decided to check it out because well I grew up with classic cars and my boyfriend also enjoys classic cars as well as being a mechanic. We were confused about why it’s a vehicle and piano museum, but it was quite interesting. 

On top of it all, they have deer on the property that you can feed as well!! You start on the exterior in checking out the different vehicles and they have other vehicles inside including a Delorean. If you want to try and escape the heat for a little bit of air conditioning, it was a fun place to look at. Save money and book your ticket here. 

Museum of Sex and Health

Address: 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 일주서로 1611 건강과 성 박물관

So there are two popular areas to see funny sex-related things in Korea. As I had mentioned, Jeju is the Hawaii of South Korea, so just like Hawaii, it’s a popular destination for people all over the world to visit during their honeymoon. So because of that a lot of areas are filled with these funny sex museums. This one focuses primarily on health and the other one is Loveland which focuses on funny sexual statues. Book your tickets in advance here. 

Arte Museum

Address: 제주 제주시 애월읍 어림비로 478

This museum is a beautiful light installation museum that highlights some popular works of art. It’s Korea’s largest immersive media art exhibition. They are also known for the wave exhibit that has been used at the popular COEX. They have about 12 popular exhibitions and are absolutely stunning to check out. It’s an awesome place to visit if you are looking for things to do in Jeju when raining. You can see more on their website here. 

Spirited Garden

Address: 제주 제주시 한경면 녹차분재로 675 생각하는정원

This is a beautiful place to discover 7 amazing small gardens. There is a cafe and a healing lunch buffet. YOu can see a lot of Bonsai trees located in this garden. I would say this is more of a traditional garden with beautifully tended plants. Save money and book your tour here. 

9.81 Park 

Address: 제주 제주시 애월읍 천덕로 880-24

This is an amazing adventure location to visit. You can ride go-karts, do VR, a sports lab, relax, bumper cars, and so much more. It’s a very interactive place and perfect for young adults and kids to check out. They have indoor and outdoor spaces.

Hallim Park 

Address: 제주 제주시 한림읍 한림로 300

A beautiful park located on the West coast of Jeju lies Hallim Park. They have a lot of tropical plants including beautiful large and mature palm trees and cacti. You’ll find some interesting animals as well. It’s pretty much like an indoor and outdoor arboretum that also includes a cave. 

Things to do in Jeju – Jeju East Coast Attractions

This is a list of things to do in East Jeju. 

Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 성산읍 성산리 1

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak also known as sunrise peak has been a popular tourist destination. It’s located on the West side of Jeju. This is one of the most popular places in all of Jeju to see the sunrise. In Korean tradition, people usually see the sunrise for the New Year. It’s been a tradition for as long as people can remember. It’s considered the best place on Jeju to see the sunrise. 

Travel to Udo Island – A hidden gem on the coast of Jeju 

Address: 제주특별자치도 제주시 우도면

This is one of my favorite places to visit and things to do in Jeju. I absolutely loved Udo. Udo is a small island on the east coast of Jeju that you can get to by ferry. It’s easily accessible and the entire island can be biked within a day. It’s an interesting and beautiful gem to visit. Read about my things to do in Udo Island post. 

Manjanggul Cave

Address: 제주 제주시 구좌읍 만장굴길 182

This is the most popular cave in Jeju where you can see the famous lava tube. You will walk through a dark long tunnel until you access it. It’s a great spot to hit up if you want to cool down from the summer heat. To be honest, I wish I brought a hoodie with me! I was traveling in the middle of August and was surprised by how cool it was down there compared to the humid summers in Korea. It’s one of the biggest lava tubes in the world. This is a must-see on Jeju Island. 

Jeju Horseback Riding

This most popular place to do Jeju Horseback riding is at Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak also called Sunrise Peak. It’s a great place to ride horses along the beach. Horses in Korea are considered to be a strong breed to survive harsh winter and summer conditions. The horses in Jeju were revitalized in a program to preserve them in the 1980s. Save money and book your experience here. 

Bichui Bunker

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 성산읍 고성리 2039-22

This is another light show location where they focus on light media art. It was built to represent the colors of Jeju. They have different exhibits of many famous artists from Van Gogh to Monet. They focus mainly on impressionist artists currently, but that may change in the future. Read about their interesting story on how a hidden bunker is how they got their name here. 

Bimirui Forest

Address: 제주특별자치도 제주시 구좌읍 송당리 2173

Another beautiful forest to take photos of within Jeju. It’s a not very well-known Jeju attraction except with a few Korean’s and looks to be like a small glamping location. It’s a cute location to see some interesting trees and a cute camper van at the end. I’m not sure what kind of trees they are made of, but the trees split into V’s and almost look like very long forks.

Things to do in Jeju – Jeju South Coast Attractions

This is a list of things to do in South Jeju. 

Jeongbang Waterfalls

Address: 제주 서귀포시 칠십리로214번길 37

This is one of the most popular things to do on Jeju Island. It’s one of the popular 3 waterfalls located in Jeju Island which is absolutely stunning. There is a story about this waterfall which you can read here. This waterfall is the only waterfall that falls into the ocean. 

Oedolgae

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 서홍동 791

This is a beautiful lookout point in Jeju. You can see some beautiful lava formations that lead out into the ocean. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Jeju Island. There are a lot of legends and stories about this rock. One mentioned it’s a grandmother and another mentioned it’s a woman who had committed suicide. I suppose it depends on who tells the story. 

Jusangjeolli Cliff

Address: 제주 서귀포시 이어도로 36-24

This is a beautiful cliff near Cheonjeyeon cliff and one of the best attractions in Jeju Island. This cliff is made up of volcanic rock formations. It was created when the lava from Hallasan Mountain erupted into the sea. They are hexagonal in shape and if you have ever been to Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, they are very similar. This has been a popular place to visit in South Korea for many years and I even have pictures of my parents spending time there as well!  

Jeju Folk Village

Address: 제주 서귀포시 표선면 민속해안로 631-34

Although I haven’t been here in quite some time, I remember a lot from visiting when I was a preteen. It’s very traditional when it comes to some of the things to do in Jeju Island. I remember going to this village and we were told about the Black Jeju Pig. They teased about how the bathrooms were used very long ago. There is this toilet or spot where you can sit to poop and it would fall into the pig’s pen. If you weren’t careful, the pig would bite your butt as you pooped. 

Cheonjiyeon Waterfall 

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 천지동 667-7

This is probably one of my most favorite waterfalls to visit in Jeju. It’s a beautiful waterfall that you can easily walk to on foot. It’s probably one of the most accessible ones in Jeju as well. It costs about 1,000 won to enter and there is a beautiful covered pathway you can walk until you get to it. You will see a lot of Dol hire bangs which are said to promote fertility and help in producing a boy.

Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls

Address: 제주 서귀포시 천제연로 132 천제연폭포관리소

Not to be mistaken for Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, it’s both accessible and in a nearby location. It’s one of the 3 main waterfalls to see when it comes to things to do in Jeju. It’s a beautiful waterfall that is stunning to see. You can also check out the hexagonal lava forms there as well. 

Starbucks – One of the most beautiful Starbucks in Korea

Address: 제주 서귀포시 중문관광로110번길 32

This is considered to be one of the most beautiful Starbucks in Korea. If you are a Starbucks fanatic, it’s worth checking out and you can grab some Jeju exclusive Starbucks drinks and cups. It’s definitely a popular hit on Instagram as well. 

Alive Museum

Address: 제주 서귀포시 중문관광로 42

These are popular all over South Korea and obviously, a must for things to do in Jeju. They have varying locations in Insadong, Hongdae, and more. They are all different and unique in their own ways. They are an optical illusion museum that appears like you are in a specific space or location but they’ve just been painted to feel and look like you are in a 3D space.

Jeju’s Alive Museum is the world’s largest optical art museum. There are 5 different themes you can access which are optical illusion, sculpture, media, object, and impressionism. 

Take Photos with the Beautiful Hydrangea 

Address: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 남원읍 태위로 337

These hydrangeas usually bloom in May, when I visited in May a few years ago, they are absolutely stunning and cover the entire island. There are so many beautiful flowers to see in Jeju that at worth chasing. This becomes a popular flower to visit during late spring or early summer. It’s a less-known for things to do in Jeju Island.

Things to do in Jeju – Jeju North Coast Attractions

This list is for things to do in North Jeju. 

A walk or drive along Aewol Coastal Road

Probably one of the most popular roads and views in Jeju. Most people will know of this road. 

Funny story – I was getting a watch fixed at a watch repair shop in Gangnam and my friends and I were patiently waiting. We overheard the person fixing the watch about things to do in Jeju as he has never been. His friend mentioned this road, and we were honestly shocked that he, a Korean who’s lived in Korea his whole life, had never heard of this place. 

If you haven’t been here, can you really say you’ve been to Jeju? It’s honestly that well known. Please make the opportunity to go.

Loveland

Address: 제주 제주시 1100로 2894-72 제주러브랜드

This is absolutely cheezy but totally worth checking out. It’s been featured all over Facebook because of these funny and interesting provocative statues. My boyfriend and I went here for my birthday and we found this place to be quite hilarious. I was absolutely in love with the spinning sex-making kinetic sculptures. 

Jeju Dongmun Market

Address: 제주 제주시 관덕로14길 20

This is the most famous, oldest, and largest market in Jeju. They are mostly known for selling fresh fish, produce, clothing & general goods. It’s a popular place to get Korean Street Food as well. 

READ: Gwangjang Market

Jeolmul Forest Park 제주절물자연휴양림

Address: 제주 제주시 명림로 584

This is a beautiful forest in Jeju and is less talked about as an attraction. I visited here with my cousin and her best friend and it was a fun place to stay cool during the summer heat and take some great photos. It’s a beautiful walking path filled with large mature trees. 

Ecoland

Address: 제주 제주시 조천읍 번영로 1278-169

An amusement park focusing on picture opportunities, they are filled with beautiful flower fields, a traditional-looking train, and some interesting landmarks. You can find some animals as well on the property. It’s definitely a beautiful place to check out if you want to see all the different plants that grow on Jeju. You can find anything from any season at this park. 

Closed Attractions in Jeju

There are a lot of attractions that people are talking about in Jeju, but unfortunately many have been closed for various reasons including COVID and lack of tourist attractions. I’ll list some of the closed attractions in Jeju as I come by them. 

• Play K-Pop Museum

Where to stay in Jeju – Hotels in Jeju Island

This depends on where you plan to spend most of your time exploring the island. However, there are always a lot of things to do in Jeju Island especially on the East and South coasts of Jeju. Not to say that there aren’t things to do in the other parts, there just always seems to be more in these areas. 

Where to stay in West Jeju

• La Beaute Jeju Pension
• Sun and Moon Resort
• J Raum Resort

Where to stay in East Jeju

• Chuidasun Resort Tea & Meditation
• Arts Spa & Poolvilla
• Co-op City Hotel Seongsan

Where to stay in South Jeju

• Lotte Hotel Jeju
• Witch’s Hill Ocean View Private Villa
• Hotel Seogwipean
• Jeju Aurum

Where to stay in North Jeju

• HANI Haus
• Hotel Regent Marine The Blue
• Ramada by Wyndham Jeju City Hall

Find more info about the best accommodations in Jeju here.

Best Tours in Jeju

There are a lot of great ways to save money in Jeju. You can book some of these tours below to save money and time to see all the best things to do in Jeju. 

• Jeju Island UNESCO Day Tour – Want to save time and not worry about planning your trip? This highly recommended tour gives you all the best of Jeju. Book your affordable Jeju day tour here. 
• Jeju Taxi Tour – Rent a taxi for the day and explore all of your favorite locations in Jeju. These are a great option to see all the things to do in Jeju without worrying about driving abroad.
• 3 Day Taxi Tour – Rent a taxi driver for 3 days and don’t worry about renting a car and driving in another country.

Best Beaches in Jeju Beaches

There are a lot of beautiful beaches in Jeju. Some of my favorite ones honestly were in Udo which I felt was less explored, calm, and clean. Check out the most popular Jeju beaches to add to your list of things to do in Jeju Island.

• Hamdeok Beach
• Hyeopjae Beach
• Gwakji Gwamul Beach
• Jungmun Saekdal Beach
• Geommeolle Beach
• Woljeongri Beach

How to get to Jeju

There are 2 main ways to get to Jeju. 

How to get to Jeju via Airplane

The main way to get to Jeju Island is by airplane. It’s the most popular way to get there and easiest. You can fly out from any of the airports in Korea usually to get to Jeju. If you are in Seoul, you can travel from Gimpo Airport (GMP), from Incheon (ICN)  you can travel from Incheon Airport, if you are traveling from Busan you can fly out of Gimhae International Airport (PUS) and if you are traveling from Pyeongtaek, you can travel from Cheongju (CJJ) Airport. 

How to get to Jeju via Car

There are ways to get there via ferry boat as well. If you have your own car, you can drive down and take the ferry down. Incheon just mentioned that they reopened their ferry services from Incheon to Jeju recently as well. 

Car Rentals in Jeju

There are a lot of places where you can rent a car in Jeju. However, after your book your flight and hotel, I highly recommend booking your car rental right after. These can get quite competitive as the cars get more booked. The cost of a car rental increases as their availability runs out. 

I highly suggest you rent directly near the airport because it’s a lot easier so that when you return, you can easily return it to the airport. They will usually take you by shuttle to the car rental location nearby and you can also take the shuttle back to the airport after dropping off the rental car. Book your car rental here. 

Jeju Food – What to eat in Jeju

There are quite a few interesting things to eat that are local to Jeju. The most important 2 are the Jeju Oranges and the Black Pork. They are the most popular items to try and if you head over to Udo, it’s also about eating the famous peanut ice cream. 

• Black Pork Korean BBQ
• Abalone Porridge
• Seafood Hot Pot
• Jeju Oranges

Where to shop in Jeju

There are a few places to shop in Jeju, although Jeju is more known for outdoor activities, museums, and just a place to relax. Seoul is more known for shopping. However, there are a few places I would recommend shopping at while in Jeju. The other parts would be souvenir shopping at any of the places listed above. 

• Jeju Jungang Underground Shopping Center
• Dongmun Market
• Jeju Traditional Five Day Market
• Artbox
• Han Collection

Where and what to drink in Jeju

There are a lot of places to drink in Jeju. From bars to experiences, but I just wanted to list the most popular drinks and popular tours to take when it comes to drinking in Jeju. 

• Maekeolli – Maekeolli in Jeju is quite different. Some come in a variety of different fruit flavors and some with a nut base. 
• Hallasan Soju Tour
• Magpie Brewery (맥파이 브루어리)

Cafes in Jeju

There are a lot of beautiful cafes in Jeju, here are some of my favorites. Cafe hopping is one of the best things to do in Jeju when raining.

• Starbucks in Jeju
• Cafe Del Mundo
• The Cliff

Best time to visit Jeju

The best time to visit Jeju and see all the best things to do in Jeju Island varies upon the weather and tourism. Jeju weather can be quite difficult to navigate through during the summer months. This is mainly because the summer months can be quite hot and sticky from the humidity and additionally, it can be quite rainy due to tropical storms from the monsoon season. 

I would say that Jeju is perfect to visit all year long since it’s beautiful during winter because the blue skies and the snow can make it quite magical. 

Fall and Spring are a great time to visit Korea because it’s quite beautiful with the fall and spring foliage. It’s absolutely stunning during these months since many of their flowers bloom during these 2 seasons. 

The summer can be great despite the heat and rainy weather because since it is a tropical location, it’s beautiful to swim and relax by the beach, poolside, and more. 

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