Written by Kathryn, one of the best travelers I know! We met in Alaska in 2015 and while sitting in a dive bar, she agreed to travel Peru with me. Been buddies since!

So you’ve got a couple days to spend in South Korea’s paradise? Wondering how you should spend it most efficiently? Here’s one itinerary that will make sure you see some of the best sights on the island of Jeju-do. If these don’t suit your fancy, there are some honorable mentions at the bottom of the page for your convenience!

Getting to Jeju-do:

Flying out of Seoul is a breeze! As long as it’s not a holiday weekend, you can purchase your boarding pass up to 30 min before hand. I recommend 90 minutes to be safe, but it CAN be done in a pinch! The flight will be approximately an hour and quite snug. If memory serves correctly it was $80-130 for the round trip airfare. There’s also a ferry from Busan if that’s where you’re coming from.

Getting around Jeju-do:

Jeju-do has an efficient bus system that makes travel a breeze, even if you speak zero Hangul. The public buses have LED screens at the front that tell you how many stops until your destination. They also notify you in English when you have reached them.

From the airport in Jeju-do, you’re most likely going to be heading south to
the most popular resort city; Seogwipo-si. Transportation does NOT typically cut straight due south, but moves counter-clockwise in a big circle around the island. Expect to hop on a bus and head west right away.

There are two buses: The red express bus, which skips all local stops and takes you straight to the major hotels and the local bus, which stops frequently but is a bit cheaper. Because the local bus has several lines it’s important that you get on the right bus.

There are only two lines that make the whole island loop, and they go counter-clockwise and clockwise respectively…those are your safest bets! During daylight hours, the buses come by frequently, and can be tracked through a touch pad at most stops. This tracking method is VERY accurate, down to the minute. The bus maps and schedule can be found HERE.

Should you rent a car? In my opinion, NO.

There were only two times in all of my travels on the island that I needed my own wheels, and it was honestly easier to just take a taxi and forget the hassle. Korean driving is very chaotic and very fast, so not something I wanted to attempt. Besides, riding in a taxi affords you the much needed time to chill out and watch the landscapes go by.

Friday in Jeju-do: Jusangjeolli Cliffs

Fly down to Jeju-do in the afternoon. Once there, pick up a bus map at the travel kiosk.

Getting to the south side of the island, you can take a cab (45min, $35), the RED express bus (1hr, $8), or the local bus (2hr, $3), depending on your travel preferences. I would take the express bus to your hotel, drop off your luggage, then head back towards the Jusangjeolli Cliffs using the local bus.

Find a bite to eat and then explore the park, which is lovely to walk through. Try to get to there 1-2 hours before sunset, as the best viewing stands for the cliffs get crowded as sunset approaches. After seeing the rays light up the volcanic cliffs and listening to the waves crash on the hexagonal rocks, take a cab or the bus back towards Seogwipo and have some soju and sushi at the local izakaya, maybe even some karaoke?

For more information, click this LINK.

Saturday in Jeju-do: Scuba Diving + Cheonjiyeon Waterfall

Jeju-do Scuba Diving Option

If you were born with gills like a fish (like me), then diving in the Pacific Ocean might be on your bucket list! Korea boasts vibrant and luxurious loft corals along their southern coast, with tiny critters waiting to be discovered among the fauna. And one of the best places to discover them is off Jeju-do!

For the certified diver, Little Munsom island could be right up your alley. BigBlue33 is a great no-frills dive shop eager to get you in the water and up close with the ocean’s secrets. At $130 for a morning tour with 2 tanks and all rental gear included, this is by far the most affordable diving adventure I’ve ever encountered.

See more on Scuba Diving in Jeju-do HERE .

From there, the Cheonjiyeon Waterfall park is only a short walk away, and a nice way to wind down the rest of your afternoon.  

Click HERE for more information

Hallasan National Park + Seonim Bridge option

If scuba diving is not your thing, then head to the Hallasan National Park, Korea’s tallest peak and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and do some light hiking with spectacular views.

Don’t worry, the bus will take you most of the way up the mountain, and some of the hikes are on sturdy wooden boardwalks so they suit all ability levels. Getting there, you can totally take the bus, just stay vigilant on the ride and communicate to your driver where you’re trying to go. They will tell you when to get off the bus so you don’t miss it.

Click this linkfor more information

WARNING: Do not attempt in January. I did. The buses were not running because of the snow, so I had a cabbie drive me up the mountain and we spun out in the blizzard. Back at sea level, it was 70F and sunny. Moral of the story, you do NOT know better than the Korean weathermen. The mountain is tall and weather is radically different up there.

After spending the morning in nature, head down the mountain and to the Seonim Bridge, a brilliant salmon-colored bridge with a nice park on the far side. From here you can also get to some nice waterfalls and light walking trails.

Click HERE for more information

Finish your evening by taking the bus (1.5hrs) or cab (45min) to Seongsan and cozy up in your hotel. Get to bed early, you’re going to need the sleep!

Need a bite to eat?

East Coast Pizza Club is a Korean pizza joint that tries hard to be real pizza. The toppings are certainly Korean, but still very tasty! It was close to our hotel and close to Seongsan. Korean Name: 피자클럽동남점

Google Maps LINK

Sunday in Jeju-do: Seongsan Ilchulbong + Manjanggul Lava Tube

THE thing to do on Jeju-do is to watch the sun rise over the Seongsan Ilchulbong crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a beautiful treasure to the Korean people.

To do this, you must hike up the crater in the dark, early morning hours. You may want to call a taxi to bring you up to the park entrance, as you’ll be doing plenty walking this morning. A cab ride from our hostel was $8 for three of us.

The park gate will be open after 4 am, and there’s no admission charge for early-risers. The path is well-lit and steep at first, but then becomes a twisting rock stairwell. Dress in layers, as the ocean breeze can make the morning very brisk. You will, however, remove those layers once you start to work up a sweat and are shielded from the wind as you get closer to the top.

Don’t be offended when the little Korean grandmas speed past you as you’re trudging up the stairs; they do this every morning for exercise!

When you reach the top, you’ll still have some time before sunrise to relax. The wind will be in full effect, so you’ll want those layers again. Watching the sun rise over a crystal clear ocean knowing there’s NO LAND for thousands of miles is pretty magical.

Now, if the weatherman tells you it’s going to be gloomy, still do it!

I made this hike several times where the weather was not ideal, but the real beauty in the adventure is the hike itself… Coming down from the crater and taking in the elegance of natures creative architecture.

You can easily spend the rest of the morning watching the waves, but lunch time calls. There’s not much else in that neighborhood besides gift shops and restaurants.

Click this LINK for more information.

For a tasty and affordable lunch in Jeju-do…

Try GREENROOF JEJU, a cozy café with fare-trade handmade items for sale. Korean Name: 피자클럽동남점

Google Maps: LINK

Jeju-do: Home to the Longest Lava Tube

From Seongsan, catch a bus or taxi north west towards the Manjanggul Cave, the longest lava tube in the world! And another one of Korea’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

It goes on for miles, though the park only allows you to go about a mile inward. There’s a lava column the size of a tank that is crazy to see.

Getting here, I honestly recommend a taxi. Three of us spent $30 getting there and $30 getting back to the airport, but it was worth it, having just hiked the Seongsan Crater. The bus drops you off at the entrance to the park, but there’s a 2-mile driveway leading to the real entrance to the park…you probably don’t want to walk that! The park has an unassuming restaurant with all the favorites: bibimbap, kalbi, gimbap, etc, and will call the taxi for your departure.

Click this LINK for more information.

Now that your time on Jeju-do is over you will need to get back to the airport for a 4 pm flight.

You’ll be back Seoul and able to prep for your next adventure!

Honorable tourist attraction mentions:

Jeju Stone Park – LINK

Green Tea Plantation and Museum – LINK

Seongeup Folk Village – LINK

Thanks for reading! Anihahsayohhhh!!!!

A brief bio on Kathryn:

Hey there! I am Kathryn, a full time Army Officer and also part time scuba instructor, climbing fanatic, and dog mom. I love spaghetti, Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, and traveling.

My first trip was in college, first in groups, then on solo trips. The biggest solo trip of my life came up unexpectedly when I arrived at my first duty station in 2016. I found out my unit was going to Korea in just a few weeks. How can a brigade of 7000 Soldiers be a solo trip? Believe it or not, being a female officer and the new kid it is incredibly lonely. But after a rocky start to the deployment, I started to learn how to navigate the Army waters. Along the way, I picked up some useful travel skills.

Though it’s been years since my first solo trip, I still attack each new adventure with that nervous excitement that keeps you up at night because there’s just so much to imagine. I am so grateful for the chances I have had to get up close and personal with Mother Earth, and I can’t wait for what’s next around the river bend. 🙂