Visit Jeju Island South Korea

Why Visit Jeju Island, South Korea? 

Are you tired of the same old vacation destinations? Looking for a unique and breathtaking experience? Look no further than Jeju Island – the gem of South Korea. With its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural history, and endless activities, it’s no wonder that Jeju Island has become one of the world’s top travel destinations. 
But what makes this island so special? In this article, we will dive into why you should visit Jeju Island, and add it to your travel bucket list. From its majestic volcanic landscape, botanical gardens and waterfalls to its delicious cuisine, we will cover everything you need to know to plan your perfect Jeju Island getaway. So pack your bags and get ready to discover the wonders of Jeju Island – it’s an adventure you won’t want to miss out on.

How to get from Seoul to Jeju Island, South Korea?

You ask “How to get from Seoul to Jeju Island.” There are a few ways, but the fastest and most convenient option is by plane. Here are two main ways to get to Jeju Island, South Korea: by plane or by ferry.

✈️ Flying (Fastest & Easiest)

• Duration: About 1 hour, 10 minutes from Seoul
• Airports: Depart from Gimpo International Airport (GMP) or Incheon International Airport (ICN)
• Arrival: Jeju International Airport (CJU)
• Airlines: Jeju Air, Air Seoul, Jin Air, T’way Air, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines
• Cost: Starts at ₩50,000 (~$38 USD) one-way
• Frequency: Flights depart every 5–10 minutes

⛴️ Ferry (Scenic but Longer)

• Duration: 6–12 hours, depending on departure port
• Departure Ports: Mokpo, Wando, Busan, Yeosu, Goheung
• Cost: Varies, but generally more expensive than flying

Flying is the quickest and cheapest way to reach Jeju Island South Korea, while ferries offer a scenic experience if you have extra time.

Best Time to Visit Jeju Island, South Korea

The best time to visit Jeju Island South Korea depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for! Here’s a breakdown by season:
🌸 Spring (March – May)

• Best for: Cherry blossoms, canola flower fields, mild weather
• Temperature: 12–20°C (54–68°F)
• Why visit? The island comes alive with blooming flowers, making it perfect for sightseeing and outdoor activities.

☀️ Summer (June – August)

• Best for: Beach vacations, water sports, vibrant nightlife
• Temperature: 22–30°C (72–86°F)
• Why visit? The warmest season, ideal for swimming and hiking, but it’s also the peak tourist season—expect crowds and higher prices.

🍂 Autumn (September – November)

• Best for: Fewer crowds, pleasant weather, hiking
• Temperature: 15–25°C (59–77°F)
• Why visit? Cooler temperatures and less rain make it perfect for exploring Mount Hallasan and scenic coastal trails.

❄️ Winter (December – February)

• Best for: Quiet escapes, snow-covered landscapes, budget travel
• Temperature: 5–12°C (41–54°F)
• Why visit? Fewer tourists, cheaper accommodations, and a chance to see snow on Mount Hallasan.

For the best balance of weather and fewer crowds, spring and autumn are the best times to visit Jeju Island, South Korea. If you love beaches and don’t mind crowds, summer is great. Winter is peaceful but chilly.

Jeju Island Tour

There are a number of ways you can get around Jeju Island, South Korea to see all the wonderful sights. You can rent a car, but we highly recommend that you take a Jeju Island tour.  Some of the best tours are available on Viator, and we suggest you check them out here.

THE BEST 15 Things To Do on Jeju Island, South Korea (UPDATED 2025) Attractions & Activities

There is plenty to do on Jeju Island, but we recommend that you hire a guide to help you find the best places to go. Viator is the best website to find the bet places to visit on Jeju Island.

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Our Visits to Jeju Island, South Korea

With the sun rising over the mountains, as our cruise ship pulled into the port at Jeju Island, we knew we were in for something special.

We visited Jeju Island South Korea twice during our 72-day 2025 “Whispers of the Orient” trip to Asia. Once while we were touring southern Japan on a 12-day round trip from Yokohama, and the second time when we departed from Incheon, Korea on our way back to Yokohama.  Both visits were extraordinary.
Unfortunately, on the first visit Robin was not feeling up to par, so Cos made the excursions solo.  He had a great time, including having lunch with three young gentlemen from New Zealand.  They were as much interested in learning about him, as he was in learning about them.
On the second visit, we were both back to fighting condition, and we happily visited the island together.

What to Do on Jeju Island?

You ask, “What to Do on Jeju island?” We have identified eight exciting things to do on Jeju Island. The first five items we did on or first visit, and the final three items on our second visit.

What to Do on Jeju Island? #1Jusangjedi Lava Formed Cliffs

Jeju Island contains hundreds of volcanoes that have erupted over the years and have created some amazing lava formations.  Here are a few pictures from the lava formations at the Jusangjedi Clifffs.

What to Do on Jeju Island? #2 Choonjiyeon Waterfalls

The Choonjiyeon Waterfalls are beautiful, but they are difficult to reach.  The walk down from the parking lot is 300 steps. Not a problem going down, but Cos opted out to pass on the walk back up.  He got this picture from an overlook near the botanical garden (see below).

What to Do on Jeju Island? #3 Yeomiji Botanical Garden

The Yeomiji Botanical Garden is impressive with it’s huge indoor gardens representing many different forms of climate.  The main part of the indoor greenhouse has a very mild, but tropical climate perfect for orchids and other tropical plants.
 
The Yeomiji Botanical Garden, indoor greenhouse also has rooms set for an even hotter climate, such as the desert.
The Yeomiji Botanical Garden, outdoor gardens included a Japanese and a Korean Garden, beautiful well-trimmed evergreens, as well as some very unusual sculptures.
    
 We were fortunate to be there at the start of spring and the trees had just started budding.

What to Do on Jeju Island? #4 Visit a Temple

Yakcheonsa Temple on Jeju Island South Korea is remarkable for several reasons:

• One of the Largest Buddhist Temples in Asia: Its grand scale and stunning architecture make it a standout among Korean temples.
• Historical & Spiritual Significance: Originally a small hermitage named Yaksuam, it was renamed Yakcheonsa due to a nearby mineral spring believed to have healing properties.
• Royal Connections: The temple enshrines tombstones of two royal couples from the Joseon Dynasty, adding to its historical depth.
• Temple Stay Programs: Visitors can participate in traditional Buddhist experiences, including meditation and cultural programs.
• Scenic Beauty: Located on Jeju’s southern coast, the temple offers breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding landscapes.

What to Do on Jeju Island? #5 BBQ Lunch

However, despite visiting the Temple, the Waterfalls, and the Botanical Gardens, the highlight for day was the wonderful dinner Cos had with his three new friends from New Zealand. This was his first introduction to Korean BBQ and this place where they had lunch could be no better.  

Cos and Robin had Korean BBQ three more times while in Korea, but this was the best. There is something to be said about “dry aging.”  Sorry, Robin that you didn’t feel well that first day on Jeju Island.  You missed a great lunch. 
Now for the second visit.

Second Visit to Jeju Island, South Korea

As our ship entered Jeju Island for our second visit having just left Incheon in mainland Korea, we learned that our cruise company, NCL, had decided to change our dinner reservations package. Not the only time that things on NCL were different from what was expected. Having traveled with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity on most of our other cruises, we chose this particular NCL cruise because of the unique itinerary traveling around Japan on the western side of the island.  NCL has some unusual approaches to the way they sell upgraded dining and beverage packages which were actually changed from when we purchased them a year before the cruise.  As a result, we only got a beverage package and not a special dining package.  They did allow us to purchase three specialty dinners at a reduced price. Not bad.
 Nevertheless, we found NCL to be a fun, but crowded ship, and once we learned the ropes we had a good time. We would not have been able to visit Kanazawa, Akita, Sapporo, Hakodate, Takushima, and Nagoya had we not taken this cruise.  If you wish to learn about these other ports please see our other “Whispers of the Orient” Japan Posts:

• Whispers of the Orient – Northern Japan, for Akita, Sapporo and Hakodate
• Whispers of the Orient – Kansai Japan for Takushima and Kochi
• Whispers of the Orient – Chubu Japan for Kanazawa and Nagoya.

If you want to learn more about cruising, please see our Cruises: Choices for You Post.

Jeju Island, South Korea Part II

We arrived at Jeju Island for the second visit mid-day, which was good because the weather had once again turned cool and it could warm up in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, it didn’t warm up very much, and we were cold all afternoon. It was surprising how cold the weather has been in Japan and Korea given it was late March and early April when we traveled there.  
During this second visit we visited Yongduam Rock, or better known as Dragon Head Rock.  We also visited the Jeju Folklore and National History Museum and the Dongmun Traditional Market.

What to Do on Jeju Island? #6 Dragon Head Rock 

In addition to the Jusangjedi Lava Formed Cliffs, which Cos visited on his first visit to the Island, Dragon Head Rock is also a nice place to visit.  Like the cliffs, Dragon Head Rock was developed based on lava streams from the volcanoes, hundreds of years ago.  While the Dragon Head Rock has been washed down a good bit from the waves, it is still possible if you use your imagination to see the head of a dragon.

Here is a mermaid statue and Robin’s back as she is checking out the Dragon Head Rock.

What to Do on Jeju Island? #7 Jeju Folklore and National History Museum

The Jeju Floklore and National History Museum is a nice place to learn about the history of Jeju Island, and to spot some magnificent Cherry Trees.  We were lucky to be there as the trees were in full bloom.  Please enjoy the pictures of the Cherry Trees.  

Outside of the museum, in addition to the Cherry trees, there were some interesting sculptures.
 
Inside the museum there are a number of exhibits featuring the sea life that is popular on the island.  The remains of the whales and other sea animals were particularly impressive.

A funny exhibit we came across at the museum were these masks.

What to Do on Jeju Island? #8 Dongmun Traditional Market

Our favorite stop of the second visit to Jeju Island, the Dongmun Traditional Market was well worth the visit.  They sell just about anything you can imagine.  We had some great grilled octopus including a flame show to cook the fish. 

We also bought some dried tangerines that we’ve been using in our old fashions.  A nice little accompaniment to our evening preferred drink.  Here is a woman at the market cooking up a storm.

And, here are some fish you might want to try.

Conclusion – Departing Jeju Island

Back at the port, we got a nice picture of the port as we were about to leave Jeju Island for the second time.  Our tour guide was very surprised that Cos had been there before.  
The Island is a fun place to visit when traveling in this part of the world.  It has a unique history from the rest of Korea and it was fun to learn about it. 
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