Udo Island, South Korea | 13+ Amazing Things to do in Udo

Udo Island in Jeju, South Korea, is a beautiful island just east of the Island. It’s a beautiful small island that’s completely worth visiting if you get the chance. I would say it’s less visited by tourists because the island isn’t as well known and most people stay to visit on the main island of Jeju. There are some interesting and beautiful things to do in Udo which can easily be done in one day. 

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Udo Island, South Korea | Things to do in Udo

One day to see all of the things to do in Udo Island, I feel is enough, however, you can take the time to stay longer and rent a hotel and explore the island more. There are a few things to do in Udo Island and most people stay for its relaxing and calm island vibes. Udo literally translates to cow island in Hanja because from afar the island looks like the shape of a cow laying down. 

Best time to visit Udo Island

I will always say the best times to visit anywhere in Korea would be in the fall and spring. However, Jeju and Udo Island are known for their beautiful beaches so you may want to swim or relax by the ocean and summer is okay to do that as well. The weather during summer is quite miserable with heavy monsoon rains and when taking the ferry boat to the island, it can be quite risky to go to Udo Island during those months. 

Why visit Udo Island

I think it’s important to note that Udo island is quite unique on its own. It has its own tourist attractions and small local vibes which is why I think it’s a great place to visit in South Korea. There are a few interesting things to do in Udo. I think visiting Udo Island is perfect for kids, families, and just everyone who is interested in visiting. I think you should experience Udo at least once in your lifetime if you live in South Korea, if you don’t and are only on vacation it can be skipped unless by the end of this post I’ve convinced you enough. 

How to get to Udo Island

The best way to get to Udo Island is by ferry boat. The ferry schedule typically runs every hour with the first boat starting at 8 am and the last boat scheduled for 5-6 pm depending on the season. You can see the Udo Island Ferry Schedule below. 

Udo Island Ferry Schedule

The Udo Island Ferry route is from Seongsan Port to Udo Island. You can check out the timetable below. If you look at the top, it shows what months those times are available. 

Address for Seongsan Port: 제주 서귀포시 성산읍 성산등용로 112-7
Address for Udo Cheonjinhang Port: 제주 제주시 우도면 연평리 1737-15

How to get around Udo Island

There are a couple of ways to get around the island. You can rent a taxi, travel around on motorbike or scooter, by bicycle, and by bus. 

Udo Scooter Rental 

The most popular form of transportation is by renting a scooter or motorbike. However, in order to do this, you have to have a Korean driver’s license. There may be some locations that do allow it with an international license, however, it’s not guaranteed. When you get off the ferry boat, there is often a police officer who talks about the laws in Korean. We were able to tour a big majority of the island in about 3 hours. It was pretty doable and we really enjoyed driving around and looking at the sites more than anything. 

Bicycle Rental

It’s easy to rent a bicycle for the day and the island is quite small. I would suggest if you choose this option to start fairly early so you can bike to a lot of the spots. 

By Bus

If you get tired of riding the bicycle or you are riding with a group of people, the bus is a great option as well. There is a bus that takes you to a lot of the major Udo tourist attractions. The bus is affordable and a great alternative to the above options as well. 

Must see things to do in Udo – Top Udo Attractions

There are quite a few things to do in Udo. It’s not quite extensive and the island can easily be completed within a day by motorbike, bicycle, and bus. There are 8 main great sights that are popular to see in Udo, but there are a few more.  

Udo Island Submarine

There is also a submarine you can take on Udo Island. It’s a popular Jeju tourist attraction for things to do in Udo Island. This submarine is to view some of Jeju’s beautiful marine life. This is such a rare opportunity to have and a great way to see some marine wildlife only available off the coasts of Korea and Japan. Save money and book your tour here.

Juganmyeongweol (주간명월)

This is the first of the 8 views of things to do in Udo. It is a beautiful cave where the sunlight pours in through a moon life shape between the hours of 10 and 11 o’clock. This beautiful cave has a circle pattern in the ceiling which creates the moon shape. It’s a popular tourist attraction on the island and many people will take a boat to go see it. 

Yahangeobeom (야항어범)

This is the second of the 8 views of things to do in Udo. This location is about the lights of boats lit up at night in the seas to catch fish, squid, and cutlassfish. You can see many of the fishing boats with their lamps on. 

Cheonjingoansan (천진관산)

This is the third of the 8 popular tourist things to do in Udo. It refers to the view of Mt. Halla from Dongcheonjin-dong in Udo. The high peak on the left is Hallasan. You can get the scenery surrounding Hallasan mountain. The high peak on the right is Jimi Oreum, which is visible from a short distance away.

Jiducheongsa (지두청사) also known as Jidu Government Complex

This is the fourth of the 8 popular views of things to do in Udo. This is the view from Udo peak and another great view of Udo. There is Udo lighthouse on this peak with a wooden road that seems to go down to the head of the cow. It’s a great path to walk around. You may run into horses that roam the area as well.

Jeonpomangdo (전포망도)

This is the fifth of the 8 views for things to do in Udo. From this view you can see the island of Udo, this view is usually on the boat ride between Jeju and Udo. You can see from this angle the view of the island with its shape looking like a cow that is laying down. 

Huhaeseokbyeok  (후해석벽)

The sixth out of the 8 views for things to do in Udo. This is the popular and famous rock cliff located in Udo. It was created due to volcanic activity which happened over 2 million years ago. It created these beautiful rock formations. It’s highly recommended to visit during sunrise and is considered to be one of the most beautiful places on Udo. They say it looks like rice cake piled up on top of each other. 

Dongangyeonggul (주간명월)

This is the seventh of the 8 views in Udo. This is another cave-in Udo that is only available to see during low tide. You can also see Juganmyeongweol and Dongangyeonggul cave through a boat tour. You can easily grab a boat tour from Geommeolle beach. From the boat tour, you can also see the other part of the land and the crystal clear waters. 

Seobinbasksa (서빈박사)

This is the eighth and final of the popular 8 views in Udo. This is the popular coral beach, this beach is filled with white broken coral that leads out into the water. It’s quite beautiful and a popular place to relax. You can see how clear and blue the waters are here along the beach especially against the white coral. Also, you will see a lot of Hanyeo statues in Udo. Hanyeo is what we call today Jeju Mermaids. These are women in their 50s who swim out to the sea and dive as deep as 60 feet to collect food. 

Hassudong Beach (하고수동 해수욕장)

This is a popular beach to go swimming in. The sand is beautifully white and the water is fairly shallow so it’s perfect for kids. You can swim out pretty far which is great for families and people who have kids. 

Mangru Light House (망루 등대)

This is the popular white lighthouse that is pretty popular to take photos near in Jeju. It’s easily accessible and visible on the roads along the beachside. You will easily see it and just further up you should find the popular peanut ice cream cafe. 

Udo Bong (우도봉)

This is a wonderful place to check out where you can overlook the scenery of Udo. As stated, the island resembles a cow, so in that areas, you will be standing on the cow’s waist. You can get a panoramic view of the ocean.

Changkop Rock (창꼽바위)

This is just a popular photo spot of a rock that has a hole in the middle. It’s quite beautiful and you can see the ocean views within the circle of this rock. You can even see the lighthouse, where a lot of people will sit in front of the rock and place a heart over the lighthouse.

Geommeolle Beach (검멀레 해변)

This is a popular beach and one of the most famous things to do in Udo. From this beach you can see the famous rock cliff, Huhaeseokbyeok. Most people will come here because of the gorgeous views and nice cafes. There are a few restaurants and places that you can eat here as well as grabbing some ice cream and drinks at the convenience store.

Udo Botanical Garden (우도정원)

Address: 제주특별자치도 제주시 우도면 연평리 1964

There is a gorgeous botanical garden located on Udo island which was created to bring in more tourists to visit the island. The botanical garden is filled with tons of palm trees making it a tropical paradise. It’s honestly one of the best things to do in Udo during the fall months because they have gorgeous lavender fields, pink muhly, and more.

What to eat in Udo

There are some places to eat in Udo, but I would say they are most popular for their peanut ice cream and tangerine ice cream. You can easily find convenience stores on the island for some ramyeon, snacks, and more. I find there are more cafes on the island than restaurants. 

Sea snails

Koreans absolutely love these sea snails. They often have them in bibimbap, by themselves, and added to other dishes. They can be quite pricey to get in Korea but they are quite popular in Udo Island. They have a similar texture to muscles so if you love seafood, I highly recommend you try this dish if possible. 

Peanuts – Including Peanut Ice Cream

Peanuts are a popular delicacy in Udo. They are very common to eat and get in Udo so if you love peanuts you definitely have to try them. On top of that, they specialize in peanut ice cream. This is probably by far the most popular thing you can find on the Island. It’s pretty freaking amazing and I also suggest having the famous Jeju tangerine ice cream as well. It can’t be beaten with these 2 amazing ice cream flavors. This is a must for things to do in Udo.

Garlic

Korean’s absolutely love garlic and it’s very common in many Korean dishes. Garlic is a popular ingredient to get in Udo because of its great climate. Jeju is like Hawaii in Korea, so the islands are perfect for these kinds of plants to grow. 

Chives

Just like garlic is quite popular in Korean cuisine, so are chives. They are easily found in Udo and are a popular ingredient that grows on the island. 

Agar

This is a jelly substance that is popularly used in Korean cuisine.

Where to eat in Udo

Rainbow Burger

Address: 제주 제주시 우도면 우도해안길 144

If you are interested in just having something fun to eat, I would highly suggest grabbing the rainbow burger. It’s quite large so I suggest sharing it if possible. It’s a pretty cute restaurant with a surfer style. They are only known for this burger which has a rainbow bun, covered in caramelized onions, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles. It has a bit of a bbq sauce flavor to it. 

Udo Cafe Poyoyo

Address: 제주 제주시 우도면 우도해안길 128

This is a beautiful cafe where you get the best views of Udo. You can see the island and enjoy a coffee or tea outside on the picnic tables. You will get a great view of the ocean as well and it’s a relaxing place to have a break. You can also find a lot of the best of Udo and Jeju’s tourist snacks. You can also paint Udo seashells here as well. 

Where to stay in Udo

Udo Island Accommodations are very few, but it’s a great island to also go camping if you enjoy camping. A lot of Koreans will come here to camp out on the island. I’ve listed some of the most popular Udo Island Accommodations you can stay at. There are only two on booking.com that you can reserve, the rest would be on Naver or through camping. 

• Haumok-gil 52 Rent-a-House – On Udo
• Robin and Blue – On Udo

Map of Udo

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