Dubbed the island of the Gods, Jeju Island (locally called Jejudo) is a premier vacation destination not only for Koreans but for international tourists. In many ways, Jeju has been groomed to be a tourism hub so it offers something for everyone, families, honeymooners, and outdoor enthusiasts.
There are two major cities on Jeju that lie on the central northern and southern region of the island respectively; and these are the capital Jeju City and Seogwipo. Most visitors land at the airport in Jeju City. As expected, it has a plethora of accommodation options, bars, shops, restaurants and other commercial establishments. But it is interesting to note that the most prominent attractions on the island are outside Jeju City. From here you have options to either book tours to the attractions or rent transport and drive yourself. Seogwipo is an excellent alternative base for people exploring the island. This is the home of many attractions including the Jungmun Tourist Resort Complex and the Jeju World Cup Stadium.
However, if you do not like staying in the urban areas, you can also opt to stay in one of the smaller yet charming villages, situated along the island’s coastline or in the island’s interior. Some of the most popular villages include Gimyeong, Seongsan, Daecheong and Hallim. While there are many 4-5 star hotels on the island, staying at more affordable locally-own lodgings in villages supports the community.
Beaches like Iho, Hamdeok, Hyeopjae, and Geumneung are some of the main attractions on the island. In the sandy stretches, you can swim, sunbathe, play watersports and watch the dramatic setting of the sun. Hiking is one of the perfect adventure-seeking activities you can do on Jeju. A must-conquer hiking landmark is the Halla-san, the highest mountain in South Korea. The island also boasts a system of hiking routes called Olle-gil, which leads you to many very scenic places. The most popular sites that you to consider visiting on Jeju include the Cheonjaeyeon Waterfall, the Seongsan Ilchubong and Manjangul Lava-tube in the northern coast.
Families are attracted to Jeju because of its quirky theme parks like the Jeju Glass Castle and bizarre themed museums like the Jeju Trick Art and the Teddy Bear Museum. Besides the commercial tourism success of Jeju Island, its local traditional culture has been maintained and is quite fascinating. This island is traditionally matriarchal, which is quite opposite to what is practiced on the mainland. The local women here have played a significant role, including the gathering of seafood as a way of living. Women divers are called haenyo, and you can usually see them on the coastline. Everywhere on the island, you will notice the iconic grandfather statues made of volcanic rock called Hareubang.