Jeju Island Island

Website: https://www.visitjeju.net/en

Jeju Island is a volcanic island province at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula known for its volcanic landscapes, coastlines and distinctive local culture. The island’s central feature is Hallasan, a shield volcano that rises to 1,947 metres and dominates the island’s interior.

Jeju’s geological heritage includes extensive lava tubes, several of which are protected as part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, and scenic coastal formations such as the tuff cone of Seongsan Ilchulbong. Popular visitor activities include hiking Hallasan, exploring lava caves, coastal drives and visiting seaside villages.

The island formed through volcanic activity and has a long local history including unique traditions such as the haenyeo female divers. In the modern era Jeju developed into a major domestic and international tourist destination with infrastructure for trekking, sightseeing and cultural visits.

Jeju lies off Korea’s southern coast and is served by regular flights and ferries from the mainland; internal roads and a network of trails and parks provide access to the island’s main natural and cultural attractions.

• Hallasan summit: Hallasan reaches 1,947 metres and provides the island’s principal long-distance hikes; weather and trail conditions change rapidly, so check local guidance before starting a summit walk.

What to See#

• Hallasan (summit): Hallasan - the island’s central shield volcano and South Korea’s highest peak at 1,947 metres, offering multiple summit trails and alpine habitats.
• Manjanggul Lava Tube: Manjanggul Lava Tube - a long, accessible lava tube cave with preserved flow structures and a section open to the public as part of the UNESCO listing for Jeju’s lava systems.
• Seongsan Ilchulbong: Seongsan Ilchulbong - a tuff cone formed by hydrovolcanic activity, famous for its sunrise views and a popular short hike along its rim.

Jeju Island is most commonly reached by air - frequent flights operate from Seoul (Gimpo/Incheon), Busan and other Korean cities to Jeju International Airport (Jeju City). Ferries also run from mainland ports (Mokpo, Wando and Busan) but are much slower.

From Jeju Airport it’s about 5 km to Jeju City centre (10-15 minutes by car) and roughly 40-50 km to Seogwipo (about 1 hour). Renting a car is the most convenient way to explore the island’s attractions.

• Rent a car or book day tours in advance: Jeju's highlights are widely spread and public transport can be slow, so driving is the most time-efficient way to see multiple sites in one day.
• Avoid major Korean holiday weekends (Seollal, Chuseok) when flights, ferries and accommodation sell out and local sites are extremely crowded; if you must travel then, book everything well ahead.
• Plan sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong or sunset at the western cliffs (e.g., Oedolgae/Seogwipo) for the island's most memorable coastal light, and expect peak crowds at those times.
• Structure your itinerary geographically (east, south or west loops) so you minimize repeated driving across the island and can fit in specialty stops such as Haenyeo museums, lava tubes and local markets.