8 Things To Do In Jeju Island in 2023 For Filipinos For A Visa-Free, DIY South Korea Trip

Things to do in Jeju Island

South Korea – particularly its capital city, Seoul – is a dream destination for many Filipinos. But these days, getting a slot to apply for a Korean visa can be difficult, and so is getting approved.

Thankfully, Filipinos can enter Jeju Island in South Korea visa-free without having to be part of a tour group. To help you DIY your trip, here are things to do in Jeju Island –  from cafe-hopping to pasalubong shopping.

1. Go cafe-hopping across the island

Cafe Gyulkkot Darak.
Image credit: @cafe_gyulkkot_darak

Like Seoul, Jeju Island has plenty of cute cafes for IG-worthy food photos.

Cafe the Container.
Image credit: @0a01998

Since the island is famous for its sweet tangerines, check out cafes that offer tangerine-flavored drinks and desserts. Cafe Gyulkkot Darak is a rustic-style cafe tucked inside a tangerine farm. Meanwhile, Cafe the Container is a cafe that can be found in a cute, basket-shaped building.

Slowboat Atelier.
Image credit: @somewhere.library

You should also visit cafes by Jeju’s scenic beaches such as the artful Slowboat Atelier.

Cafe Gyulkkot Darak
Address: 34Ieodo-ro, 1027beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: 11am-6.40pm, Daily
Cafe Gyulkkot Darak’s Instagram

Cafe the Container
Address: 851, Wasan-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: Thu-Mon 10.30am-6pm (Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Cafe the Container’s Instagram

Slowboat Atelier
Address: Hagwi 1-ri 330, Aewol-eup,, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 10am-7pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Slowboat Atelier’s Instagram

2. Take your inner child on a date at Snoopy Garden

Image credit: @look_hee_bboy

Snoopy Garden is a Peanuts comics-themed indoor and outdoor park in Jeju Island.

You’ll find plenty of installations featuring the comic book’s characters such as Snoopy and Charlie Brown peppered around the park.

Lucy’s Lemonade Cafe.
Image credit: @dal_ggum

Besides taking pictures with these childhood figures, you’ll have fun collecting stamps from different locations. There’s also a Peanuts-themed cafe and a souvenir store within the premises.

Admission fee costs KRW18,000 (~P756.96) for adults.

Address: 930 Geumbaekjo-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: 9am-6pm, Daily
Contact: +82 64-903-1111
Snoopy Garden’s Facebook | Instagram

3. Admire Jeju’s natural attractions

Mount Hallasan.
Image credit: @crystalhwang

Jeju Island has many nature attractions so be sure to check out a couple of them during your trip.

For an adventure, hike Mount Hallasan, a now-dormant shield volcano. It takes 6 to 9 hours to hike, depending on which trail you choose.

Jeongbang Falls.
Image credit: @denise_5.19

There are also several waterfalls in Jeju. Cheonjeyeon Falls has 3 waterfalls and other beautiful views, including unique rock formations. Meanwhile, Jeongbang Falls is the only waterfall in the country that goes directly into the ocean.

Mount Hallasan
Address: Jangso-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Cheonjeyeon Falls
Admission fee: KRW2,500 (~P105.13)
Address: 2232, Jungmun-dong, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Jeongbang Falls
Admission fee: KRW2,000 (~P84.11)
Address: 37 Chilsimni-ro, 214beon-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

4. Try black pork barbecue and abalone

Black pork barbecue from Jung Jong Jeju Black Pork Restaurant.
Image credit: 테린이smilehush

You should also take the opportunity to taste local delicacies when in Jeju.

K-BBQ restaurants here pride themselves for black pork barbecue. It uses meat from black-haired pigs that are native to the island and is said to be comparable to steak.

You can find many restaurants offering this at Black Pork Street in Jeju City. The highly rated restaurant Jung Jong Jeju Black Pork Restaurant has a set meal for 2 for KRW52,000 (~P2,186.78).

Grilled abalone from Myeongjin Jeonbok Abalone.
Image credit: @wooooooooodong

And don’t miss out on the island’s seafood offerings, including abalone. You can enjoy it raw, grilled, in porridge, or with clay pot rice (from KRW15,000, ~P630.80) at Myeongjin Jeonbok Abalone in Jeju City.

Jung Jong Jeju Black Pork Restaurant
Address: 39 Yeono-ro, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, 5pm-10.30pm | Sat-Sun 12pm-3pm, 5pm-10.30pm
Contact: 064-745-8688
Jung Jong Jeju Black Pork Restaurant’s website | Facebook | Instagram

Myeongjin Jeonbok Abalone
Address: 1282 Haemajihaean-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: Wed-Mon 9.30am-9.30pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Contact: +82 64-782-9944
Myeongjin Jeonbok Abalone’s Facebook

5. Visit the largest immersive media art exhibit in South Korea

Sand exhibition.
Image credit: 아르떼뮤지엄 Arte Museum

Arte Museum in Jeju is the largest immersive media art exhibit in South Korea with 10 different nature-inspired projector art. There are also different scents and sounds in each space for a truly immersive experience.

Visiting this museum is a 2-hour indoor activity which makes the place perfect if you’re looking for something to do during a very hot or rainy day in Jeju.

Flower exhibition.
Image credit: 아르떼뮤지엄 Arte Museum

They change the exhibit every quarter so there’s always something new to check out no matter how many times you’ve visited Jeju.

Admission into the museum costs KRW17,000 (~P714.91) for adult guests.

Address: (1503 Eoeum-ri) 478 Eorimbi-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju, Jeju-do
Opening hours: 10am-8pm, Daily
Contact: 064-799-9009
Arte Museum’s website | Facebook | Instagram

6. Go on a Korean street food trip

Grilled octopus tentacles.
Image credit: @tanesther

If taste-testing Korean street food is on your bucket list, Jeju’s markets have many of the street food you can find in Seoul. These include walnut cakes, hotteok (filled, sweet pancakes), and the addictive mayak gimbap (seaweed rice roll).

You’ll also find plenty of grilled seafood such as shrimp, lobster, and even octopus tentacles. Of course, don’t forget to bring home some locally harvested tangerines.

Tangerines.
Image credit: @valeriekyy

There are many markets across Jeju Island, but Dongmun Traditional Market in Jeju City is among the ones that are open 7 days a week.

Dongmun Traditional Market
Address: 20 Gwandeong-ro 14-gil, Ido 1-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: 8am-11pm, Daily

7. Admire Jeju Island’s beaches

Hyeopjae Beach.
Image credit: dongkulee74

Hyeopjae Beach is one of the best places to admire Jeju’s emerald waters, white sand beach, and black basalt rocks.

But for water activities, check out Woljeongri and Gwakji Gwamul beaches in the north of the island. Surfing, paddleboarding, and transparent kayaking are only some of the things you can do at these beaches.

Paddleboarding at Gwakji Gwamul Beach.
Image credit: @zhjunhao

Don’t worry about bringing equipment for these water activities. There are shops by these beaches where you can rent them for an affordable fee.

Hyeopjae Beach
Address: 329-10 Hallim-ro, Hallim-eub, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

Woljeongri Beach
Address: Woljeong-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-do, South Korea

Gwakji Gwamul
Address:Gwakji-ri, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

8. Buy Jeju Island souvenirs

Hondiju.
Image credit: @orangebottles_ilsan

Don’t forget to buy souvenirs for yourself, friends, and family before you fly back home.

For a taste of Jeju, instant black pork ramen packs are available at convenience stores. If you drink alcohol, grab your hands on some Hondiju, a traditional Jeju wine made with tangerines.

Souvenirs at The Islander.
Image credit: @ikkoi

You’ll also find many cute, tangerine-themed items such as candles and knitted hats from various souvenir shops such as The Islander.

The Islander
Address: 7 Gwandeong-ro 4(sa)-gil, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: 10.30am-7pm, Daily
Contact: +82 70-8811-9562
The Islander’s website | Facebook | Instagram

Jeju Island for Filipinos

As of now, there are no direct flights from the Philippines to Jeju. But you can take a connecting flight via Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, or Hong Kong.

If you’re taking the visa-free route via Jeju, also note that you cannot travel outside the island to other places in South Korea such as Seoul. Thankfully, there are plenty of things to do in Jeju!

Also check out:

• Affordable things to do in Bangkok
• Hong Kong tourists spots for the whole barkada
• Things to do in Bohol

Cover image adapted from: @_oii_jin, @0a01998, 테린이smilehush, 아르떼뮤지엄 Arte Museum