Jeju Island at a glance
Jeju is an island in South Korea built around a volcano. Hallasan, at 1,950 m, is the highest mountain in the country. In 2007 UNESCO listed "Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes" as a natural World Heritage site. It combines the Hallasan Natural Reserve, Seongsan Ilchulbong and the Geomunoreum lava tube system. Not every beach or landscape on the island belongs to it.
This guide covers the sights and the practical side: day tours, the Hallasan hike with its reservation rules, Seongsan Ilchulbong, Udo, Manjanggul Cave, three waterfalls, beaches, the Olle trails, the haenyeo divers, food, buses and rental cars, how to get to the island, the weather and where to stay. Prices are in Korean won (KRW) for 2026, and they change.
Our picks: Jeju Island
Our take: the east tour covers Seongsan and the haenyeo; the west and south tour covers the other coast; the Udo tour adds the island by ferry with hotel pick-up.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Udo Island tour with hotel pick-up
- Hotel pick-up in Jeju City
- Return ferry to Udo
- English-speaking guide
Hotel pick-up in Jeju City, an English-speaking guide and the return ferry to Udo with entry. The Seongsan trail and Sangumburi are extra.
Check availability →
East Jeju UNESCO tour with Seongsan and haenyeo
- Entry fees
- English-speaking guide
- Vehicle, tolls and parking
An English-speaking guide, the vehicle, tolls and entry fees, including a tangerine farm visit; picking and lunch are extra.
Check availability →
West and south Jeju sightseeing day tour
- Return transport
- Entry fees
- English-speaking guide
Return transport, entry fees and an English-speaking guide for the west and south coast.
Check availability →Jeju tours and day trips
East and southwest day trips, Hallasan hikes and island experiences, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip to Jeju
Start with the sights or the tours, then open the pages you need.
Things to do in Jeju
Volcanoes, caves, waterfalls, beaches and markets in one overview.
Jeju day tours
East and southwest day trips from Jeju City, with what is and is not included.
Hallasan hike
Trails, reservation, start times, cut-off times and parking.
Seongsan Ilchulbong
Admission, opening hours and the haenyeo performance nearby.
Udo Island
The ferry from Seongsan, fares and the vehicle rules.
Manjanggul Cave
The lava tube is open again: tickets and hours.
Jeju waterfalls
Cheonjiyeon, Jeongbang and Cheonjeyeon: three sites, three tickets.
Jeju beaches
The 2026 swimming season and the beaches it covers.
Olle trail
27 routes, 437 km and a mobile stamp pass.
The haenyeo
The women divers, the museum and the performance.
What to eat on Jeju
Black pork, seafood, tangerines and the markets.
Car rental and buses
Licence rules for rental cars and bus lines to the main sights.
How to get to Jeju
Flights, ferries and the K-ETA exemption.
Jeju itinerary
East, south and west routes with time budgets.
Weather
Monthly temperatures and rain for Jeju City.
Best time to visit
Blossoms, beaches and autumn hiking.
Where to stay
Jeju City, Seogwipo, Jungmun or Aewol: which area fits your plans.
A few things to know before you go
Rules that matter for your planning in 2026.
Hallasan: only the upper sections need a reservation
The reservation applies to the summit sections to Baengnokdam. Trails such as Eorimok, Yeongsil and Donnaeko, and the lower parts of the two summit trails, need no summit booking.
Hallasan hike →Manjanggul is open
The lava tube reopened in May 2026. About 1 km of the roughly 7.4 km tunnel is open to visitors.
Manjanggul Cave →Udo has vehicle rules
Vehicles from outside the island are restricted from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2029. Exceptions exist, for example low-emission class 1 rental vehicles with electric or hydrogen drive, vehicles for people with limited mobility and rental vehicles of overnight guests.
Udo Island →The swimming season is longer than July and August
In 2026 it ran from 24 June to 6 September at 12 named beaches, with regular bathing hours of 10:00 to 19:00.
Beaches →K-ETA exemption
Citizens of Germany, Austria, the United States and the United Kingdom are exempt from the K-ETA travel authorisation from 1 January to 31 December 2026. The exemption covers the authorisation, not every other entry requirement.
Getting there →The haenyeo performance has no fixed daily time
It takes place at Umutgae beach near Seongsan Ilchulbong. Times depend on the season and the weather.
The haenyeo →Entry prices at the main sights
Adult prices in 2026. Group rates and ID rules differ.
| Place | Adult price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hallasan trails | Free | Upper summit sections need a reservation |
| Seongsan Ilchulbong | KRW 5,000 | Youths and children KRW 2,500 |
| Manjanggul Cave | KRW 4,000 | Youths and children KRW 2,000 |
| Cheonjiyeon Falls | KRW 2,000 | Open 09:00 to 22:00 |
| Jeongbang Falls | KRW 2,000 | Open 09:00 to 17:50 |
| Cheonjeyeon Falls | KRW 2,500 | Open 09:00 to 17:50 |
| Haenyeo Museum | KRW 1,100 | Adults aged 25 to 64 from outside Jeju |
| Udo ferry, round trip | KRW 10,500 | Includes the island fees |
For most visitors, a day in the east with Seongsan Ilchulbong and Manjanggul adds up to KRW 9,000 in admissions per adult, before transport and food. The three waterfalls have separate tickets.
Jeju Island: frequently asked questions
What is the best way to see Jeju?
The main sights are spread across the island. A day tour from Jeju City covers a route in about 8.5 hours, while a rental car gives you freedom but needs an original International Driving Permit. Buses reach trailheads and waterfalls. See the day tours and the car rental and bus page.
Do I need a reservation for Hallasan?
Only for the upper sections to Baengnokdam, on the Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa trails. Other trails and the lower parts need no summit booking. Read the Hallasan page for time windows and quotas.
Do I need a K-ETA for Jeju?
Citizens of Germany, Austria, the United States and the United Kingdom are exempt from 1 January to 31 December 2026. Other nationalities should check their own entry rules. A special rule for Jeju exists for eligible travellers from visa-required countries and needs direct entry from abroad. Details are on the getting there page.
How do I get to Jeju?
By flight from Seoul or by direct international flights, for example from Shanghai, Osaka, Taipei, Hong Kong and Singapore. Ferries run from Mokpo and Wando. Do not plan on a Busan ferry.
When can I swim?
The 2026 season ran from 24 June to 6 September. Swim only in designated zones with lifeguards present, and adjust plans for strong wind, swell and heavy rain. See the beaches page.
Is jeju-island.org an official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not the website of the Jeju provincial government, Visit Jeju or the Korea Tourism Organization, and it has no link to any tour operator or hotel.