Jeju Island is one of the most unique destinations in South Korea and a place that feels completely different from the mainland. Known for its volcanic landscapes, waterfalls and coastal views, the island is even recognised as one of the world’s natural wonders thanks to its unique geology and biodiversity.

In this blog, I share my personal 4 days in Jeju itinerary, including where we stayed, how we got around and what I would honestly recommend after visiting. I will also cover practical tips like whether you need a rental car and where to stay, since these are some of the most important decisions when planning your trip.

We explored Jeju by car, stayed in Seogwipo and visited a mix of popular highlights and local spots. Not everything went as planned, mainly because of the weather, but that also gave us a more realistic view of what travelling on Jeju is like.

Do You Need a Rental Car in Jeju

One of the most common questions when planning a Jeju trip is whether you need a car. From my experience, the answer is yes. Jeju is a large island and most attractions are spread out across different regions, which makes getting around without a car much slower and less practical.

We rented a car with Enterprise and picked it up directly at the airport after our flight from Busan. This made everything much easier, especially since we arrived in the evening and still had about an hour drive ahead of us. We took a shuttle bus from the airport to the rental shop, which was all arranged by the rental company.

Having a car allowed us to visit multiple places in one day, adjust our plans easily because of the bad weather and explore more remote viewpoints and cafés. Driving on Jeju Island is pretty easy and the maximum speed level that we crossed was 80. If you want flexibility and to make the most of your trip, renting a car is definitely the best option.

Where to Stay in Jeju Island

Another key part of planning your Jeju itinerary is choosing where to stay. The two main areas are Jeju City in the north and Seogwipo in the south. Jeju City is closer to the airport, while Seogwipo is closer to many natural attractions like waterfalls and coastal cliffs.

Why I chose Seogwipo

We decided to stay in Seogwipo-si, and this worked perfectly with our itinerary. Most of the places I wanted to visit were located in the south or along the coast, which saved us a lot of time driving back and forth.

Our Airbnb was a really nice surprise. It was a cosy apartment with a bathtub on the terrace, which made it extra special after long days of exploring. For three nights, we paid €201.87, which felt like great value. It was located right next to a 7/11, which was a big plus for me! Onigiri everyday.

My tip

Choose your accommodation based on what you want to see, not just how close it is to the airport. If you are mainly visiting waterfalls, cliffs and nature spots, Seogwipo is the better base.

4 Day Jeju Island Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and Drive to Seogwipo

We flew from Busan to Jeju with Busan Air and arrived in the evening, which meant we did not plan any real activities for the first day. After landing, we picked up our rental car with Enterprise directly at the airport. This is something I would really recommend, because Jeju is much bigger than it looks and most places are quite spread out.

From the airport, we still had about an hour drive ahead of us to reach our accommodation in Seogwipo-si on the south side of the island. The drive itself was already a nice first impression of Jeju, with a much calmer atmosphere compared to Busan.

We arrived quite late at our Airbnb, but it was honestly such a great choice. The apartment was cosy, well located and had a bathtub on the terrace, which made it feel like a small luxury after a long travel day.

Day 2: Seongsan Ilchulbong, Seopjikoji, Soesokkak and Jeongbang Waterfall

For our first full day, we headed to the east side of Jeju to visit Seongsan Ilchulbong, one of the island’s most famous landmarks. This volcanic crater is one of the must do things in Jeju and ended up being one of my favourite activities.

When you arrive, you have two options. You can go to the free viewpoint near the entrance where you might see the Haenyeo, the traditional female divers, if you are lucky. There is also the option to hike up to the crater for a small entrance fee. We chose to go up, but honestly, the crater itself is not the most impressive part. The views along the way are what make it worth it.

After our visit, we had lunch at 성산일출봉손칼국수, a local restaurant near the area. I ordered the cuttlefish seafood pancake and it was one of the best things I ate on Jeju.

In the afternoon, we continued to Seopjikoji, which is a beautiful coastal area with open views over the sea. It is a really nice place to take your time, walk around and just enjoy the scenery. We stopped at Floyeast Bakery Cafe, where we had coffee and had some salt bread, something that is very popular in South Korea. I created a small addiction to these! If you park here, make sure to tell the staff at the information desk. You can get up to two hours of free parking.

From there, we drove towards Soesokkak. This area has a completely different vibe compared to the cliffs and open coast. It is known for its calm river surrounded by volcanic rocks and greenery. You can go kayaking or take a traditional wooden raft, but even just walking around the area is worth it for the scenery.

To end the day, we visited Jeongbang Waterfall, one of the most unique waterfalls on Jeju because it flows directly into the sea. It is very easy to access and definitely worth a stop. Just like most natural attractions on Jeju, there is a small entrance fee, usually around €2.

Day 3: Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, Jusangjeolli Cliff, Osulloc Tea Museum and Sangbanggulsa Temple

Our second full day unfortunately came with a lot of rain, which meant we had to adapt our plans.

We started with Cheonjiyeon Waterfall (because we were still hopefull it would stop raining), which has a very different atmosphere compared to Jeongbang. It is surrounded by greenery and feels a bit more peaceful. Since we got here pretty early and it was raining, there was almost nobody there! Like most waterfalls on Jeju, there is a small entrance fee.

After that, we continued to Jusangjeolli Cliff. This was one of the most impressive natural sites we visited. The volcanic rock formations along the coast are very unique and even in bad weather, it was still worth it. This location also requires a small entrance fee.

Next, we drove to the Osulloc Tea Museum to hide from the rain a bit. It is more of a shop combined with tea fields than a traditional museum, but it is still a nice place to visit. There is a large café where you can try many matcha products. I had the matcha cheesecake and it was definitely worth it. I also bought some Matcha snacks and Jeju Tangerine Tea, since the island is also known for its oranges.

Later in the day, we visited Sangbanggulsa Temple, which was one of the most impressive temples of the entire trip. The temple is built against a massive rock formation, which makes it feel very unique and different from other temples. After visiting the temple, we stopped for coffee at Sosaek Chebon. This was a really nice and cosy spot close to the sea with a beautiful view, perfect to take a break and warm up after walking around in the rain.

We also tried to visit Wonang Falls, which is one of the only waterfalls where you can swim, but unfortunately due to the rain this was not possible.

In the evening, we went for dinner at 요망진부엌, where we ate tonkatsu. It was a really nice, comforting meal after a rainy day. Afterwards, we went to Ruddy’s for a coffee, which turned out to be a very cosy spot and a great way to end the day.

Day 4: Flight to Seoul and What to Do in Jeju City

On our last day, we flew from Jeju to Seoul with Jeju Air. This is one of the most common domestic routes in South Korea and an easy way to continue your trip.

If you have a later flight, it is actually a great idea to spend a few hours in Jeju City before heading to the airport. Since it is close by, you do not lose time travelling.

Here are a few things you can still do in Jeju City:

• Visit Dongmun Traditional Market, a lively market where you can try local snacks and pick up souvenirs
• One of the nicest quick stops is the Dodu Rainbow Coastal Road. This coastal road is lined with colourful blocks in different shades, making it a fun and very photogenic place to stop.
• Walk around Yongduam Rock, also known as Dragon Head Rock, which is close to the airport
• Explore the coastal road near Iho Taewoo Beach for a quick seaside stop
• Grab a coffee in one of the many cafés in Jeju City before your flight

Tip: make sure you leave enough time to return your rental car and get to the airport without stress.

Final Thoughts: Is Jeju Island Worth Visiting?

Jeju Island was one of the most unique destinations of my trip to South Korea. The mix of nature, good food and a slower pace makes it very different from cities like Seoul or Busan.

If I would plan this trip again, I would try to book an earlier flight to Jeju and a later return flight to Seoul, to make the most of your time on the island. I actually wanted to do this, but the best flights tend to sell out very quickly, so booking early is really important.

If I would go back, I would definitely add a few extra experiences to my itinerary. I would love to visit Wonang Falls in good weather so I could actually swim there, which unfortunately was not possible this time. I would also try orange picking at Gamttanam, as this was something we were really looking forward to but it was closed when we visited.

In addition, I would include more time to explore Jeju’s beaches, especially if you visit in summer, since they looked perfect to relax for a few hours. If I had more time, I would also consider hiking Hallasan, the highest mountain in South Korea, and exploring some of the lava caves on the island, which are known for their unique volcanic formations.

Even with bad weather and missing a few things we had planned, I really enjoyed Jeju and would definitely come back.

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