South Korea / Jeju Island / Jeju CityJeju City
Volcanic Island Gateway: Craters, Lava Tubes and Haenyeo
Jeju is Korea's volcanic holiday island, an hour's flight from Seoul on the Gimpo–Jeju route, the busiest air route in the world. Jeju City, by the airport, is the base for the north and east: Seongsan Ilchulbong's sunrise crater, the Manjanggul lava tube (UNESCO), the black-stone walls of Seongeup village, the haenyeo women divers, the beaches at Hyeopjae and Woljeongri, and Dongmun Market. Hallasan, South Korea's highest peak, is climbed in a long day; the summit trails need a free online reservation. Renting a car is the easy way round (an International Driving Permit is needed).
Highlights
- Sunrise from Seongsan Ilchulbong
- Manjanggul lava tube
- Hallasan summit hike
- Udo island by bicycle
- Seongeup black-stone village
- Haenyeo divers at Seongsan
- Hyeopjae's turquoise water
- Jeju black pork
- Canola flowers in spring
- Dongmun night market
Things to do
- Seongsan Ilchulbong crater at sunriseMorning · 2h
- Udo island by ferry & e-bikeMorning · 5h
- Manjanggul lava tubeAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Hallasan via Seongpanak (summit reservation needed; start by 07:00)Morning · 9h
- Hyeopjae Beach & Hallim ParkAfternoon · 3h
- Dongmun Market night stalls & black-pork barbecueEvening · 2h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – June, September – November
Worth knowing
Jangma: the Summer Monsoon
The monsoon (jangma) brings days of heavy rain from late June to late July, hot and humid in between. Flash floods can close riverside parks, mountain trails and some roads. Plan museums, markets and indoor days, carry an umbrella, and keep hiking days flexible.
Heads up
Monsoon Reaches Jeju First
The monsoon usually reaches Jeju in the second half of June, a week or so before the mainland. Early June is fine; later in the month expect rainy days.
Worth knowing
Typhoon Season
⚠️ Typhoons reach Korea mostly in August and September, and Jeju and the south coast take the brunt: flights and ferries are cancelled for a day or two, beaches close and coastal walks are shut. Watch the forecast in the week before, book refundable flights to and from Jeju, and keep a spare day before your flight home.
Worth knowing
Seollal (Lunar New Year) Travel Rush
Seollal falls on 6 February 2027 (holidays 5-7 February). Trains, express buses and Jeju flights sell out weeks ahead, expressways jam, and many small restaurants and shops close for the three days. Book every train and flight that week early, or stay in one city over the holiday.
Worth knowing
Chuseok Holiday Rush
Chuseok, the harvest holiday, falls on 15 September 2027 (holidays 14-16 September; in 2026 it was 24-26 September). KTX and bus seats for the holiday sell out within hours of opening, roads are gridlocked, and many shops and family restaurants close. Stay put over the three days and book any train before or after them.
Heads up
Cherry Blossom Crowds
Peak cherry blossom (late March on Jeju and around Busan, early to mid-April in Seoul and Gyeongju) brings huge weekend crowds to the famous spots and higher hotel prices. Go on a weekday morning, and book rooms early.
Heads up
Jeju Winter Wind
Jeju is milder than the mainland in winter, but strong north-west winds blow for days: flights and the Udo and Marado ferries are cancelled a few days each winter, and Hallasan's summit trails close in snow. Keep a spare day before your flight home.
Heads up
Hallasan Summit Needs a Reservation
The two trails to Hallasan's summit (Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa) take a daily quota booked online in advance through the Hallasan National Park reservation system, free; carry the QR code and ID. You must pass the halfway shelter by early afternoon or be turned back. The shorter Eorimok and Yeongsil trails need no booking but stop short of the summit.
- Seollal (Lunar New Year) — Three days of family holiday when much of Korea travels home: KTX, SRT and express-bus seats sell out weeks ahead, Gimpo–Jeju flights are full, and many small restaurants, markets and shops close. Palaces and the big sights stay open, often with folk games and free entry days. Avoid moving between cities on the first and last day.
- Chuseok (harvest festival) — Korea's biggest holiday: tens of millions travel to their home towns, trains and buses sell out the day bookings open, expressways jam, and many family restaurants, markets and shops shut for the three days. Seoul's palaces and folk villages hold events. Plan to stay put in one city over the holiday, and book any train before it.
- Cherry blossom festivals — Blossom opens on Jeju and around Busan (Jinhae's Gunhangje festival, the biggest) in late March and reaches Seoul (Yeouido, Seokchon Lake) and Gyeongju (Bomun Lake) in the first half of April; peak bloom lasts about a week and the forecast moves with the weather. Weekends at the famous spots are packed and nearby hotels double.