Jeju Island in 5 Days

The Seoul flight uses Gimpo Airport, a separate airport from Incheon. An international arrival at Incheon adds the journey across to Gimpo before the domestic flight; the connection involves two airports and a separate flight check-in. A morning landing on Jeju leaves the afternoon for the city. Rental collection follows a shuttle ride to the company’s depot. At LOTTE, the airport desk is near Gate 2 and the shuttle boards in the rental area; the car itself is collected off site. The hotel bag drop comes after that paperwork and drive. Yongduam brings the first look at the volcanic north shore. Later, Dongmun Market supplies a lively change of scene, with seafood, produce and places to eat around the old town. A black-pork barbecue makes a substantial dinner; a smaller meal and a short walk suit a later arrival just as well.

• The Gimpo flight and off-airport car collection
• Volcanic rock beside the northern sea
• Dinner around Dongmun’s old-town streets

Base: Jeju City

A summit day takes the whole day. Seongpanak climbs 9.6 km one way towards Baengnokdam; the park lists about four and a half hours for the ascent. An early start leaves the return walk its own afternoon. The forest gives way to higher volcanic ground, with Baengnokdam’s crater as the goal. The upper summit sections of Seongpanak and Gwaneumsa use the reservation system. This plan takes Seongpanak out and back, so the car stays at one trailhead. Return to Jeju City for dinner. The alternative starts at Hyeopjae’s pale sand, with Biyangdo offshore. Lunch near the beach leaves the afternoon for Osulloc’s tea fields and café. These are two outings in western Jeju, followed by the drive back north.

• A full Seongpanak walking day, with reserved summit access
• Hyeopjae and Osulloc as the western alternative
• The second night in the same Jeju City hotel

Base: Jeju City

Leave Jeju City for the northeast, with Manjanggul before the Seongsan hotel. The visitor passage extends roughly a kilometre into the lava tube, ending near its striking lava column. The route returns along the same passage, so the kilometre describes one direction. The cave reopened on 30 May 2026 after repairs and upgraded lighting. Its regular hours are 09:00–18:00, with admission ending at 17:00 and closure on the first Wednesday of the month. On that closure day, the drive can continue to Seongsan earlier, leaving a longer lunch and coastal afternoon. The tube is part of the Geomunoreum system in Jeju’s World Heritage property. After the cave, continue east for lunch and the hotel bag drop. Seopjikoji makes an afternoon headland walk among grass, volcanic rock and views towards the sea. The car journey between the village and headland keeps the outing distinct from a long roadside walk. Dinner stays in Seongsan before tomorrow’s crater climb.

• The lava tube on the northeast side of the island
• A Seopjikoji headland walk
• One night close to Ilchulbong

Base: Seongsan

Begin at Ilchulbong with a ticket for this morning’s paid summit path. The stairs take about 30–40 minutes uphill, then the view opens across the grassy crater and out to sea. Breakfast in the village follows the descent. Seasonal opening sets the start: 05:00 in March–April and September–October, 04:30 in May–August, and 06:00 in November–February. The first Monday is the regular closure, moved to the next day when that Monday is a public holiday. A dawn view from the coast gives the early morning a different shape when the climb is left until later. Drive towards Seogwipo after breakfast. The afternoon suits one waterfall: Jeongbang has stairs down towards its seaside rock shelves, while Cheonjiyeon has a gentler approach through greenery. Pick one for a proper visit, then settle over dinner near Maeil Olle Market. Oedolgae lies west of town and belongs to tomorrow’s short coastal outing.

• A morning climb above the grassy crater
• The move along the island’s southern side
• A waterfall visit and dinner in Seogwipo

Base: Seogwipo

A short morning outing at Oedolgae makes a satisfying last sea view. The sea stack rises about 20 metres beside the coast west of central Seogwipo. Follow a small part of the cliff walk and return to the car; this is a taste of the Olle coast, with the airport journey still ahead. The route now crosses the island towards Jeju City. The drive, refuelling, depot return and shuttle are separate parts of getting back to the terminal. LOTTE returns vehicles at Jeju Auto House, with its shuttle carrying passengers onwards to the airport. Airline check-in follows the ground journey. An afternoon or evening flight leaves room for the coastal morning. For an early flight, replace the Seogwipo night with a night in Jeju City: visit the south coast on day four, then continue north that afternoon. Day five becomes the short hotel-to-depot-and-airport journey, with Oedolgae omitted.

• A short walk beside Oedolgae’s sea stack
• The cross-island drive and rental-depot return
• An afternoon or evening departure from Jeju

Base: Seogwipo