How many days in Jeju? 4 days: one coast at a time, and Hallasan if the weather allows
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Jeju is a volcanic island about 73 km wide, an hour's flight south of Seoul, with Hallasan (1,947 m), South Korea's highest mountain, in the middle and 360-odd small volcanic cones, the oreum, scattered around it. Distances look short but buses are slow, so give it four days and take one coast per day: the east with its crater and lava tube, the mountain, the south around Seogwipo, and the west with its beaches and tea fields. Keep a flexible day for Hallasan, which closes in bad weather.
Short answer
Three days covers the east coast, Seogwipo and the west if you skip the summit of Hallasan. Four lets you climb it or take a slower day on Udo.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: East coast: Seongsan Ilchulbong and Udo
Morning. Climb Seongsan Ilchulbong, 'Sunrise Peak', a tuff cone rising 182 m from the sea (about ₩5,000; the stairs take 20-30 minutes). It opens before dawn for the sunrise. At its base, the haenyeo, the island's women divers, show their catch at set times.
Afternoon. Take the 15-minute ferry from Seongsan port to Udo (about ₩10,000-11,000 return). Rent an e-bike or scooter and loop the 17 km coast road past Seobin Baeksa, a beach of white coral sand, and the cliffs of Udo Bong. Try a peanut ice cream, the island's specialty.
Evening. Return via Haenyeo Museum in Gujwa if time allows, then eat heuk dwaeji, Jeju black pork, grilled at your table in Seongsan or Jeju City, about ₩20,000-30,000 per portion.
Ferries to Udo can stop in strong wind. Check the morning schedule, and carry ID: passengers must fill in a boarding form.
Day 2: Manjanggul lava tube and the forests
Morning. Visit Manjanggul, a UNESCO-listed lava tube about 7.4 km long, of which about 1 km is open (about ₩4,000). Inside it is 11-21°C all year, with a 7.6 m lava column at the end of the walkway. Book the timed entry online in busy seasons.
Afternoon. Walk through Bijarim, a forest of some 2,800 old nutmeg yew trees (about ₩3,000), then climb a small oreum such as Darangshi Oreum (about 30-40 minutes) for views over the craters of the east.
Evening. Stop at Woljeongri Beach for the cafés facing turquoise water, then head back to Jeju City for the Dongmun Market night stalls, with tangerine juice, abalone and grilled skewers for ₩5,000-15,000.
Manjanggul closes on the first Wednesday of each month; check the official site before you go.
Day 3: Hallasan, or Seogwipo's waterfalls
Morning. To reach the summit crater lake Baengnokdam, hike the Seongpanak trail (9.6 km, about 4-5 hours up) or the steeper Gwaneumsa trail; both need a free online reservation and you must pass the checkpoint by about 12:30. The shorter Yeongsil trail (about 2.5 hours up) reaches Witse Oreum shelter at 1,700 m without a reservation.
Afternoon. If you skipped the summit, go to Seogwipo on the south coast for Jeongbang Falls, which drop straight into the sea (about ₩2,000), and Cheonjiyeon Falls in a gorge 10 minutes away. Walk part of Olle Trail 7 along the cliffs past Oedolgae rock.
Evening. Eat at Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market, with grilled hairtail, tangerine snacks and raw fish platters, about ₩10,000-30,000.
Hallasan trails close in heavy rain, snow or high wind. Check the national park site the night before and keep this day flexible.
Day 4: West coast: cliffs, tea and beaches
Morning. See the hexagonal basalt columns of Jusangjeolli Cliff at Daepo (about ₩2,000), formed when lava cooled into the sea. Then visit Sanbangsan and the rocky coast of Yongmeori, 'Dragon Head' (access depends on tides and waves).
Afternoon. Visit the O'sulloc Tea Museum (free) next to green-tea fields, and the Jeju Stone Park or Camellia Hill inland. Then swim or walk at Hyeopjae Beach, with shallow emerald water facing the small island of Biyangdo.
Evening. Watch sunset at Hyeopjae or Aewol, a cliffside strip of cafés, then a final dinner of godeungeo-gui (grilled mackerel) or jeonbok juk (abalone porridge), about ₩12,000-25,000.
In early spring, the yellow canola fields around Seongsan and the west are in bloom, with cherry blossom in Jeju City in late March.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, combine the east coast and Manjanggul on Day 1, do Seogwipo and Olle Trail 7 on Day 2, and the west coast on Day 3.
Got extra days?
A 5th day can climb Hallasan by a second trail, take the ferry to Marado, Korea's southernmost island, or walk more of the 26 Olle Trails around the island. Families add Hallim Park and the Jeju Folk Village.
Where to stay in Jeju
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Jeju City (Nohyeong / near the bus terminal) | Cheapest guesthouses, close to the airport and bus hubs. | ₩50,000-90,000 |
| Mid-range | Seogwipo | Central for the south coast, waterfalls and Hallasan trailheads. | ₩100,000-180,000 |
| Mid-range | Aewol / Hyeopjae | Sea-view pensions and cafés near the western beaches. | ₩110,000-200,000 |
| Comfort | Jungmun Resort | Large resort hotels on the south coast, with beaches and golf. | ₩250,000-500,000 |
Getting around
A rental car (₩40,000-80,000 a day, plus insurance) saves hours; you need an International Driving Permit from your home country. Without one, Jeju's buses reach every sight: city buses cost about ₩1,200-1,500 with a T-money card, and airport limousine buses link Jeju City, Jungmun and Seogwipo. Taxis start at about ₩4,800. Jeju has no trains. Flights from Seoul Gimpo take about 1h10 and leave every few minutes.
What to eat in Jeju
Jeju food is built on the sea and the black pigs of the island. Heuk dwaeji (black pork), grilled thick-cut with salted anchovy sauce, is the dish to order. Try jeonbok juk (abalone porridge), godeungeo-gui (grilled mackerel), galchi jorim (braised hairtail) and momguk, a seaweed and pork soup. Everything tastes of hallabong, the large local tangerine, from juice to chocolate. A meal costs ₩10,000-30,000; black-pork barbecue for two, ₩50,000-70,000.
Best time to visit
April to early June and September to November: 15-25°C, clear skies and good hiking. Late March to April brings cherry blossom and canola. July and August are hot and humid, with Korean holiday crowds, and the rainy season (jangma) runs late June to July. Typhoons can hit from August to September. Winter is windy and mild on the coast, with snow on Hallasan.
Month-by-month weather for Jeju →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | ₩35,000 | ₩70,000 | ₩180,000 |
| Food & drink | ₩30,000 | ₩55,000 | ₩100,000 |
| Sights & tickets | ₩10,000 | ₩20,000 | ₩40,000 |
| Local transport | ₩8,000 | ₩40,000 | ₩60,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about ₩83,000 | about ₩185,000 | about ₩380,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in South Korean won; mid-range and comfort transport assume a shared rental car. Hotel prices include 10% VAT, and there is currently no separate tourist tax on Jeju.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need a visa for Jeju?
Jeju has its own visa-free entry for many nationalities flying in directly from abroad, usually up to 30 days on the island only. Travellers arriving via Seoul follow mainland Korean rules, which may require a K-ETA. Check the official Korean immigration and K-ETA sites before you book.
How do I book Hallasan?
The Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa trails to the summit require a free reservation on the Hallasan National Park website, which opens about a month ahead and fills quickly at weekends. Bring your ID and the QR code. Other trails, such as Yeongsil and Eorimok, need no booking but stop below the summit.
Can I see Jeju without a car?
Yes, but slowly. Buses reach every major sight, and the Kakao Map or Naver Map apps show routes and times in English. Allow an hour or more between areas. Taxis for a full day cost about ₩150,000-200,000, a fair option for groups of three or four.
Who are the haenyeo?
They are Jeju's women free-divers, who collect abalone, sea urchins and seaweed without oxygen tanks, often into their seventies. Their culture is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. You can see them at Seongsan and other harbours, learn their history at the Haenyeo Museum, and eat their catch in seafood shacks.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
Some links on this page are partner links. If you book through them TonyPlan may earn a commission; the price you pay is the same. How we make money.