Source: Unsplash

Is Jeju Island worth visiting? 

Put it this way. There's a reason the Gimpo–Jeju route is one of the busiest flight paths on the planet. The island has UNESCO World Heritage Sites, beaches that look like they belong in Southeast Asia, volcanic hiking trails, a Netflix filming location boom, and street food markets that'll ruin you for airport snacks forever. 

And new spots keep popping up every year.

The catch is that Jeju's best attractions are spread all over the island. Buses exist, but they're slow and don't connect well. A rental car is basically the only way to see all of this without wasting half your trip waiting at stops. 

So grab your keys, open Naver Map, and let's go.

Jeju's Hottest Spots Right Now 

Meochewat Forest Trail 

A cypress and cedar forest walk in Seogwipo with free admission, foot baths, and one of the few Jeju attractions that works on a rainy day.

Meochewat Forest Trail (머체왓숲길) was newly selected for the 2025–2026 Korea Tourism Top 100 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. It's one of only six Jeju locations on the entire list. 

And yet almost zero English-language travel blogs mention it. You'd be among the first foreign tourists to visit.

The main trail runs about 6.7 km through dense forest and takes roughly two and a half hours. Walking the trail is free. 

The paid extras are worth considering, though: a cypress foot bath (₩7,000 - $4.64) that uses eight herbal ingredients, guided forest healing treks (₩100,000 - $66.23 flat for up to 10 people), and a picnic program (₩25,000 - $16.56, including food and foot bath). 

All programs need advance booking through the official site.

The forest canopy is thick enough that light rain barely reaches you. It won't save you in a downpour, but for a drizzly Jeju morning, it's one of the better options.

Saebyeol Oreum and Barime Oreum 

Two volcanic cones with easy-to-moderate hikes, massive views, and the kind of golden-hour light that makes every photo look professional.

Jeju has over 360 oreums (volcanic cones), but these two are trending right now for different reasons.

☑️Saebyeol Oreum sits on the west side of the island near Aewol. The summit hike takes about 30 minutes, and the reward is one of Jeju's best sunset views, with Hallasan, the western coastline, and Biyangdo Island all visible from the top. 

Free admission, open year-round, and it's the site of Jeju's annual Fire Festival, where the hillside is ceremonially set alight. In autumn, the slopes are covered in silver grass.

☑️Barime Oreum is higher (763 m) and steeper, with a crater that looks like a giant rice bowl. The hike takes 20 to 40 minutes. Bring proper shoes.

Both oreums require a car to reach. No practical bus connections.

Netflix Filming Locations: When Life Gives You Tangerines 

The 2025 Netflix K-drama that hit the Top 10 in over 40 countries was filmed across Jeju, and the real locations are all still visitable.

Source: Unsplash

When Life Gives You Tangerines (폭싹 속았수다) stars IU and Park Bo-gum and became the highest-rated Korean show in IMDb history. It's set in 1950s–70s Jeju and the island's landscapes play a huge role in every episode.

The key Jeju filming spots include Seongsan Ilchulbong (the dramatic sunrise peak where Ae-sun performs 3,000 bows), Gimnyeong Beach (haenyeo diving scenes with emerald water), Seopjikoji (lighthouse walks), Hyeopjae Beach (couple scenes at sunset), and Jeju-mok Government Office (traditional writing contest scenes). Songaksan and Hallim Port also appear.

One thing to know: the main village set was actually built in Andong on the mainland and has since been taken down. 

But every natural Jeju location from the show is real, open to the public, and free to visit. Seongsan Ilchulbong alone is worth a full morning. It's a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, and the sunrise from the crater rim is probably the single most iconic image of Jeju.

Hamdeok and Hyeopjae: Jeju's Two Best Beaches 

Hamdeok for turquoise shallows and beachfront cafés, Hyeopjae for white shell-sand sunsets with Biyangdo Island on the horizon.

Source: Unsplash

Both regularly top "best beaches in Jeju" lists, and it's easy to see why. Foreign visitors tend to agree.

☑️Hamdeok is on the northeast coast, about 40 minutes from Jeju Airport. The water is shallow and absurdly clear. A cloud bridge stretches over the water, and the streets behind the beach are packed with cafés and bakeries. Go in the morning to beat the crowds.

☑️Hyeopjae is on the west coast near Hallim. The sand is white and made of crushed shells, the water averages about 1.2 meters deep (great for families), and because the beach faces west, it's one of the best sunset spots on the island. 

Biyangdo Island sits just offshore. Combine it with Hallim Park and the Aewol coastal café strip for a full west-coast day.

Three Jeju Drive Courses Worth Planning Around 

The best way to see the island is by coast. Pick a direction, line up four or five stops, and drive.

🌊West Coast 

Iho Teu Beach (the one with the horse-shaped lighthouses) 

→ Aewol coastal café street 

→ Hyeopjae Beach 

→ Ikkisup Sogil (이끼숲소길, a moss-themed forest café and walking path) 

→ Hallim Park (₩12,000 - $7.95 admission, includes lava caves).

Start mid-afternoon and finish with sunset at Hyeopjae.

🌊East Coast 

Songdang Fairy Tale Village (a free, sprawling eco-park with themed gardens and a Ghibli-licensed Totoro shop) 

→ Hamdeok Beach 

→ Changkkom Rock (a volcanic rock with a hole through its center, like a natural window) 

→ Byeolbangjin Fortress (a Joseon-era coastal fortress with ocean views from the walls). 

In spring, canola flower fields line the roads between stops.

🌊South Coast 

Meochewat Forest Trail (start with a morning walk) 

→ Jeongbang Waterfall (Korea's only waterfall that drops directly into the sea, ₩2,000 - $1.32 admission) 

→ Cheonjiyeon Waterfall (illuminated at night, walking distance from Seogwipo harbor). 

The south coast is quieter and greener than the north. Feels like a different island.

What to Buy: Dongmun Market and Jeju Souvenirs 

Dongmun Market is Jeju's biggest and most popular traditional market, and the night market alone is worth rearranging your evening plans for.

The daytime market runs from about 8 AM to 9 PM. The night market opens at 6 or 7 PM and goes until midnight. 

You'll find fresh hallabong tangerines, tangerine chocolate, black pork everything (grilled, blow-torched, as jerky), abalone gimbap, and gangjeong fried chicken. It's 15 minutes from the airport, so it works as a first-stop or last-stop.

For souvenirs, the classic picks are Dol Hareubang statues (Jeju's iconic stone grandfather figures, available as miniatures, keychains, and even chocolate molds) and haenyeo-themed goods like figurines and eco-bags. 

Jeju's haenyeo (women free-divers) are listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, so anything haenyeo-related carries real cultural weight as a gift.

And don't skip O'Sulloc Tea Museum if you're on the West Coast. Free admission, two million visitors a year, and their green tea milk spread is the souvenir that everyone asks you to bring back.

You Can't Hit These Spots Without a Car 

Meochewat is in Seogwipo. Songdang Fairy Tale Village is in Gujwa. Hamdeok is in Jocheon. Trying to connect these by bus would eat up your entire day.

That's the reality of Jeju. The island is small enough to drive around in four hours, but the attractions are scattered across every coast and the interior. A car turns a frustrating logistics puzzle into a relaxed road trip.

🚗Why Lotte Rent-A-Car 

Korea's No. 1 rental brand, Lotte Rent-A-Car runs Jeju's largest fleet with over 3,500 vehicles — from compacts to SUVs, new Toyota models, and Teslas. Every car goes through regular maintenance checks, so what you pick up is clean, reliable, and ready to drive.

Getting on the road is fast, too. The airport desk, free shuttle, and self-service kiosks mean you can be on the road within 30 minutes of landing. Comprehensive insurance coverage keeps things worry-free, and Super CDW lets you return the car without an inspection. And every Jeju rental comes with a Welcome Pack offering discounts at attractions, restaurants, and cafés across the island.

If something goes wrong, the 24-hour customer center (1588-1230) dispatches staff on-site and arranges a replacement vehicle. English and Chinese-speaking staff are always available.

Book your Jeju adventure with Lotte Rent-A-Car, pick a coastal road, and see where the island takes you.

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