Ultimate Port Day on Jeju Island, South Korea (Jeju City vs. Seogwipo)

Jeju Island (often called "Jeju-do") is one of my personal favorite places to visit in South Korea. With beautiful coast lines and a slower, quieter pace than Seoul - there's plenty to do that you just can't find in other parts of the country. If you're stopping on a cruise, then you'll want to make the absolute most of your trip to Jeju Island, all while making sure you don't miss the top attractions on the island. This guide includes my best tips on what to expect on your port day, in addition to my favorite recommendations for both of the main cruise ports on Jeju Island.

​*If you have any questions that aren't answered in this post, please leave them in the comments section where I do my best to answer all Korea related questions directly!

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
​There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. After traveling to South Korea over a dozen times, these are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform and tend to focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

To keep cell phone service, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

What to Expect When Porting on Jeju Island

There are two main ports in Jeju Island, South Korea. The most popular is on the Northern end of the island, in Jeju City. Here, on the Northern end of Jeju-do, you'll find the largest and most populated city on the island. There's plenty of cafes, lots of restaurants to try Jeju's famous "black pork" (Korean BBQ style), and many fun activities to head towards that are right out of town.

If you're porting here, chances are you'll have to take a short bus ride into the city center (much shorter than the bus ride you'll have to take from Jeju's southern port), however it's not quite as walkable as Seogwipo area. So, if you're looking to visit some of the top attractions, you'll either have to take the public bus system or organize a tour.

The port on the Southern end of the island, at Seogwipo (also called Seogwipo Gangjeong), is personally my favorite of the two. On this end of the island, the views and coastlines are much more accessible, and you can easily make your way to one of the many waterfalls on the island via the public bus system.

Once you arrive at the port in Seogwipo, you'll be guided through the gigantic cruise terminal. We had to have our passports "stamped" with a one day tourism visa sticker that they put on the outside of our passports, and the greeters were absolutely adorable with traditional paper fans for everyone! They also had a few photo opportunities with local women dressed up in their hanboks. Although it depends which cruise company you're coming in on, my cruise with MSC bused us into town, conveniently right next to the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market - so even if you just want to walk around and explore it's perfect.

My Favorite Tours on Jeju Island : 
- Folk Village & Women Divers Full Day Tour
- Luxury Sailing Tour

Top Attractions Not to Miss - Jeju City

If you're porting at the Northern end of the island, at Jeju City, there's still lots to do, just make sure to read up on the best ways to get around on Jeju Island.

​1. Jeju Stone Park
Located about 1.5 hours from Jeju City, you'll either need to organize a tour to get here or take the public bus system. Entrance to the Stone Park is 5,000 Won (about $4 USD), and you can choose to add on a shuttle ticket to explore the park or choose to walk. Personally, this is one of my favorite attractions on Jeju Island. You can learn all about the "Dol Hareubanag", traditional stories about how they were created, a traditional village, and even see these real stone statues up close. In recent years, they've even added on an entire museum where you can learn even more about the area & local myths.

2. Jeju Love Land
If you're looking for something unique and quirky, then Jeju's viral sensation of "Love Land" is the spot for you. Considered a "modern art exhibit" this theme park celebrates the art of doing the deed...let's just say you might want to leave any littles that are traveling with you out of this one.

3. Dongmun Traditional Market
If you have time during your port day, then I highly recommend visiting one of the local markets! Dongmun Traditional Market is a tourist friendly (meaning some English signs & conversational skills) to explore. There's plenty of fun foods, and lots of quirky shops that have been viral on social media - including raw octopus. Don't worry, if that's not up your alley there's plenty of other things to try as well - like some of Jeju Island's famous oranges! This is also an excellent spot to do some souvenir shopping!

Top Attractions Not to Miss - Seogwipo

And if by chance you're lucky enough to port on the Southern end of Jeju, then you'll be able to experience first hand some of my favorite things to do on the island! Depending on how many hours you have, you'll be able to choose 2-3 of these activities to include in your port day.

1. Waterfalls
Jeju Island is known for their waterfalls, and luckily there's multiple to explore near Seogwipo. Each waterfall costs a small admission fee, and have bus stops within walking distance. Cheonjiyeon Waterfall is a set of 3, and the most popular of the ones on the island - so expect lots of tour buses and groups. If you want, you can choose to only visit the first, but in my personal opinion the best one is the 2nd one along the trail. There's also a beautiful bridge you can cross for some epic views!

Jeongbang Waterfall is another popular one for cruise guests, and there can sometimes be a line to the base of the falls. If you head out on the rocks though you can get some more unobstructed views of the falls, just be prepared for all the steps on the way back up! Sojeongbang Waterfall is the most hidden on this short list, and you'll have to follow a back roads trail to the falls - on the way it might feel like you're in people's backyards - but it's another one that's 100% worth it and it has the shortest hike of the 3!

2. Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market
This is one of my "must stops" while is Seogwipo. Although booths and storefronts can change fairly quickly in these traditional markets, on my last visit I found my favorites were Shwinmeongga (the one with the giant orange out front) for their orange juice & coffee drink and Beodeul Restaurant (a traditional, sit-on-the-floor restaurant). If you aren't able to find these, you'll still be able to find plenty of souvenirs and yummy foods to try!

3. Hallasan National Park
If you're wanting to spend your port day exploring the outdoors of Jeju, then Hallasan is your best bet. With incredible views and plenty of hiking, you'll need to budget for at least 1 hour of travel time to and from the park. 

4. Hello Kitty Island
This unique cafe is perfect for anyone who's ever fallen head over heels for the adorable Sanrio characters. Although it's geared towards a younger audience, there's still plenty to do and enjoy if you're visiting for the day. My personal favorite is the Hello Kitty Cafe upstairs, where you can purchase Hello Kitty Lattes and Chocolate Mousse Cakes!

5. Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff
One of the most beautiful views in Jeju are right outside of Seogwipo. These stone pillars are made from volcanic rock, and bear an incredible resemblance to the coastlines of Hawaii - the best part is they're only about 20 minutes from the Seogwipo City Center.

6. Jeju World Cup Stadium
Although there isn't much to do at the stadium itself, you can at least check off seeing the Jeju World Cup Stadium as you drive by, a stadium that held the 2002 World Championships. If you're lucky enough to port on a day when there's a game in town, you might even want to get tickets and enjoy the atmosphere of the home of Jeju United (they're super cheap)!

Watch my Jeju Port Day Adventures here!

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Other Korea Blog Posts you might be interested in : 
-> Lotte World Full Guide
-> Seoul's Best Cherry Blossoms
-> Seoul Capsule Hotel

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