A Island Hopping Trip, The Right Way to Get Jeju Island!

No need for complicated visa applications or long queues for landing visas, Jeju Island is the perfect place for a relaxing vacation during a short break. All you need is a passport and an entry stamp.

A chance encounter led me to Jeju Island, and I discovered that it was even more beautiful than I imagined. The sea and sky were so blue, the coastline was devoid of tourists, the windmills swayed in the breeze, and there were coffee shops with a unique charm that accompanied the sea, all of which were part of the beauty of this island.

1. Passport (valid for at least 6 months)

2. Portable WiFi

3. Travel adapter and power strip, although many hotels will provide you with an adapter upon check-in, it’s still a good idea to bring one just in case.

4. T-Money card. This is a Korean transportation card that can be purchased at any local convenience store. The card can be used for taxis, buses, and more. You can refund any unused balance at a convenience store after your trip.

5. Download Google Maps for route information.

6. Download the Han You app, which provides Chinese-language information about attractions and maps.

7. If you’re traveling in the summer, you can bring your own swimsuit.

After getting off the plane, you need to fill out the following entry form (it’s best to bring your own pen).

Three Major Regions of Jeju Island

Western Route: Yongduam Rock, Dongmun Market, Teddy Bear Museum, Dinosaur Land, Automobile Museum, Manjanggul Lava Tube, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, Udo Island, Undersea World, Seopjikoji, Seongeup Folk Village, etc.

Eastern Route: Woljeongri Beach, Sanbangsan Mountain, Zipline, Forest Train, Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak, Udo Island, Undersea World, Seopjikoji, Seongeup Folk Village, etc.

Jungmun Tourist Area: Various museums and art galleries.
It’s best to spend a whole day in one region, otherwise it can be quite rushed. The eastern region has more natural scenery, and Udo Island requires a whole day to explore.

Transportation

馃殞Bus

The only drawback to public transportation is the language barrier. Be sure to check the arrival time on Google Maps for your estimated time of arrival. Jeju Island has a relatively small local population, so buses generally have seats and are quite comfortable.

馃殨Taxi

You can hail a taxi on the street or ask the hotel front desk to arrange a taxi in advance. It’s very convenient, but the price is a bit higher.

Private Car

You can find a private car driver who speaks Chinese locally for around 600-700 yuan.

Address: Woljeong-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

Transportation: Take intercity buses 701 and 910 to Gujwa Central Elementary School stop
Phone: 82-64-7283394

Admission Fee: Free

Out of the many beaches, Woljeongri is considered to have the cleanest water. The sea and sky blend seamlessly into one, the coastline is longer, and the sand is finer. With windmills, reefs, blue sky, and sandy beaches, it truly fulfills all your fantasies about the sea.

On one side is the endless ocean, and on the other are coffee shops of various styles. If you walk further in, you’ll find a two-story bread and coffee shop with an open-air space on the second floor, offering different flavors of puffs and a window overlooking the sea.

You can’t miss the colorful little chairs, which have become one of the must-visit spots. Sitting there facing the sea creates a beautiful scene.

Whether you’re gazing at the sea from a coffee shop or strolling along the beach, listening to the sound of the waves, it’s a wonderful time for a holiday.

Aeweol-eup is located on the northwestern coast of Jeju Island, nestled against a curved, dark reef coastline. You can go boating in the sea or take a walk. It’s also a place with very few tourists, although transportation isn’t very convenient.

The most recommended sight here is the sunset, which is incredibly beautiful.
At sunset, the sky turns blue-purple, and everyone becomes a part of the scenery.

There are also many popular coffee shops here, such as Monsnt Coffee, where GD was a former owner, and Chuncheon Cafe, which has appeared in many Korean dramas. When you come here, don’t miss these coffee shops.

Bomnal Cafe

You’ll see this coffee shop right at the entrance, a small wooden house by the sea. As you walk in, you’ll discover a hidden gem with colorful little rooms and paths, windows with sea views, and four little Corgis greeting you at the door.
Further back, there’s a small courtyard with beautiful scenery. The drinks and food here are also very delicious, and you need to order in advance before entering.

Monsant Cafe

This cafe is completely different in style from the previous one, with an all-glass building. The industrial style with flashing neon lights adds a touch of modernity! You can also see the ocean through the glass from inside.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum

Address: 2864-2 Seogwipo City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

Admission Fee: 9,000 KRW for adults

Opening Hours: Weekdays 9:00-18:00, July 21-August 20 9:00-20:00. Entry usually stops one hour before closing time.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! Museum is one of the largest museums in the world, featuring the collections of explorer Robert Ripley, located at the entrance of the Jungmun Tourist Area in Seogwipo City.

Although this museum has 12 locations worldwide, including Shanghai, the one on Jeju Island has a unique exterior, resembling a deformed robot.
The museum exhibits a wide variety of bizarre objects he collected from 198 countries, accompanied by fascinating stories, some of which are quite interesting.

Teddy Bear Museum

Address: 31, Jungmun Tourist Road, Seogwipo City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

Admission Fee: 8,000 KRW for adults

Hours: 9:00-19:00 (Monday-Sunday), Peak Season (July 23-August 21): 9:00-22:00, Open all year round.

Jeju Island’s Teddy Bear Museum is the largest and oldest in the world. If you’re a fan of teddy bears, you can’t miss it. It features a collection of teddy bears from all over the world, dating back over 100 years.
The entrance is marked by a giant teddy bear, and inside there are recreations of classic animation scenes, making it a great place for photos.

Camellia Hill

Address: 166 Byeongang-ro, Andeok-myeon, Seogwipo, Jeju-do, South Korea

Website: http://www.camelliahill.co.kr

Admission Fee: 8,000 KRW

Visiting two museums in a row felt a bit boring, so I checked the map and was immediately drawn to a picture: Hydrangeas in full bloom. I saw that it wasn’t far away, so I decided to go there.
It’s a large park, with very few tourists, known only to locals. Hydrangeas are scattered throughout the park from July to August. It’s very quaint, and every shot you take looks great.

There are many young Korean couples here, and the park also has a small coffee shop and some small gardens.

The only drawback is the inconvenient transportation. We stayed until sunset before returning. There were no taxis going back, and there were no buses nearby, so we had to ask a Korean couple who came by car to give us a ride to the nearest bus stop before we could head back. If you want to visit, it’s best to go by private car or come early in the day.

Address: Udo Island, Jeju City, Jeju Province, South Korea

Admission Fee: Free

Udo Island is a small island off the eastern coast of Jeju, named after its shape resembling a reclining cow. It’s quite a distance from the city center and requires taking bus 210 to Seongsan Port, where you can buy round-trip ferry tickets. Fill out the form on the table in the middle of the ticket hall at the port in duplicate, providing your basic information, which will be collected by the ticket inspector on both the outbound and return trips.

When you buy your tickets, be sure to grab the ferry schedule. It generally runs every half hour. Pay close attention to the last ferry time, otherwise you’ll have to stay overnight on Udo Island.

The scenery is beautiful from the moment the ferry departs. The endless sea, flying seagulls, the lighthouse and mountains in the distance, all are stunning. The ferry has three decks. The second deck is a large air-conditioned room with floor seating, very comfortable.

Upon reaching Udo Island, there are many rental places at the entrance. You can rent motorbikes, cars, and electric bikes. If you don’t have an international driver’s license, you can only rent bicycles. You can also take a sightseeing bus around the island, but this limits you to fixed stops.
We ended up choosing an electric tandem bicycle, allowing us to ride and explore. The bike has electric assistance, so it’s not too tiring to ride. (There are also single-person electric bicycles.)

We found an empty spot, stopped the bike, walked onto the grass, and sat there gazing at the sea. It’s the perfect summer scene.
Udo Island is a great place to take pictures, absolutely no filters needed. The blue sky and sea, green grass, white houses, every picture is a masterpiece.

It’s also home to South Korea’s only coral sand beach, famous for its vibrant, clear waters. It also features iconic sights like the Dong-an Whale Cave, Ya-hang Fish Sail, and the West Coast White Sand, collectively known as the Eight Sights of Udo.

You have to try their famous peanut ice cream, it’s rich and delicious.

Black Pig Barbecue

Jeju Island has a Black Pig Street, which shows just how famous black pork is here. This restaurant is the number one ranked restaurant on Black Pig Street and is very popular.

The grilled pork neck and belly, served with side dishes and rice, are very satisfying. You can also grill the meat, cut it into small pieces, and heat the side dishes together. Then, add the rice and stir it all together, it’s incredibly delicious! (I learned this authentic way of eating from the table next to us.)

Cold Noodles

Cold noodles are another must-try dish on Jeju Island. We found a random restaurant near our hotel, and by chance, it seemed to be very popular. Five minutes after we entered, there was a long line outside. The taste was also quite good, and the portions were incredibly generous.

Jeju Island is truly a perfect place for a short break. Take a day off from work on the weekend or during a short holiday, book a flight, and you’re good to go. You can stay by the sea or in the city center.
Jeju Island also has very affordable duty-free shops, so you can do some shopping.
Come for an island-hopping trip!