This guide to hiking Hallasan in winter will help you with all you need to get ready for the tough, but rewarding hike to the peak. Featuring tips on what to wear, what to pack, how to prepare, and loads of other essential tips, you’ll be ready to go out and reach the peak after you read this.

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker, or ready for your first summit, there’s a lot to know and prepare to hike Hallasan in winter. Have you made a reservation? Do you know which bus to take there and back? What will you eat after the hike? Find out all that and more below.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Should You Hike Hallasan In Winter?

Winter in Korea is a great time to go hiking. Standing knee-deep in snow, catching your breath as the snow dazzles all around, sunbeams bouncing off the crystalline seas that surround Jeju – it’s a view not to be missed.

Hallasan Mountain is South Korea’s highest peak and offers breathtaking views that you won’t see from any other mountain in Korea. You get the chance to look out over the egg-white of Jeju Island’s lowlands as you stand atop its volcanic egg-yolk peak.

There are so many reasons why you should hike Hallasan in winter. Snowy landscapes, the chance to escape the city, a great workout, reconnecting with nature, or to see the whole of Jeju Island from atop South Korea’s highest mountain. Take your pick.

For me, the number 1 reason to hike Hallasan Mountain in winter is the fresh white snow. I’m a big kid at heart and there’s something uplifting and energising about pushing my feet along snowy pathways, having snowball fights, and seeing snow cover everything.

Whatever reason you choose, you won’t be disappointed by the end of it. The feeling from accomplishing a challenging hike like this is matched only by the contentment you get from devouring a delicious meal afterwards.

I would recommend trying out Jeju’s black pork samgyeopsal (Korean BBQ) and a bottle of the island’s own soju, aptly called Hallasan. It’s the perfect end to the day and guaranteed to help you into a long sleep that night.

Hiking Hallasan in winter is one of those South Korea bucket list activities that you should definitely attempt if you’re visiting Korea in winter. Whether you’re an accomplished hiker or novice, there’s a hiking route that will be right for you and allow you to see amazing sights.

In this guide I’ll tell you all you need to know to hike Hallasan in winter, including how to prepare for the hike (very important), what to expect, and tips for Jeju Island and hiking in Korea.

What To Prepare Before Hiking Hallasan

Hallasan is one of Korea’s most popular mountains for hiking, with winter being an especially busy time as everyone wants to go out and see the snow. To avoid disappointment on the day of your hike, there are a few simple things you can do to prepare.

The following 5 steps will help you plan and prepare your winter Hallasan hike. I’d recommend doing these things at least 1 week in advance, further ahead if you need to make a reservation for a hiking course.

1: Choose Your Hiking Trail

The first thing you’ll need to do is choose your trail. Do you want a short or long trail? Do you want to go up and down the same trail, or hike different trails?

There are technically 7 hiking trails on Hallasan Mountain, but I’ll only cover the 4 trails that go near the peak, broken down into pairs. These trails offer the best sights and the best snow hiking experience.

Gwaneumsa & Seongpanak
These trails take you to the highest point of Hallasan Mountain. They offer a longer, steeper, and more difficult hike. Recommended for intermediate-advanced hikers, but can be done by beginners with preparation.

Eorimok & Yeongsil
These trails take you to the back-side of the peak. They are shorter trails that are easier to hike. Recommended for beginner-intermediate hikers.

I’d recommend ascending one trail and then descending the opposite trail. This way you’ll get to see more of Hallasan and Jeju Island from different angles.

Here’s a brief overview of each course:

Gwaneumsa Trail

One of the most scenic courses, but also steep and difficult to climb. Starts in the north and easy to get to from Jeju City. I’d recommend descending this route after ascending the Seongpanak Trail.

Length: 8.7km (one way)
Time: 8-10 hours (return)
Difficulty: 4/5

How To Get To Gwaneumsa Trail

Take bus #281 from Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal (heading to Seogwipo) for 25 mins and get off at Jeju University. Then, take the bus #475 for 15 minutes. Get off at the entrance of the Gwaneumsa Trail.

Seongpanak Trail

A long and lovely course that rises gradually from the east. As you’re hiking east to west, the sun will be behind or above you most of the time, which is helpful. There’s a shelter half-way up where you can get ramyeon and rest.

Length: 9.6km (one way)
Time: 7-9 hours (return)
Difficulty: 4/5

How To Get To Seongpanak Trail

Take bus #281 or #181 from Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal (heading to Seogwipo) for 40 minutes. Get off at the entrance to the Seongpanak Trail.

Eorimok Trail

This trail offers a good trek that, although hard at first, isn’t that tough overall. After ascending quite quickly, the course levels out, revealing lovely views over the west coast and lots of oreums (volcanic cones). There’s a rest area at the top with toilets.

Length: 4.7km (one way)
Time: 3-4 hours (return)
Difficulty: 3/5

How To Get To Eorimok Trail

Take bus #240 from Jeju City Intercity Bus Terminal (heading to Jungmun) for 40 minutes. Get off at the entrance of the Eorimok Trail.

Yeongsil Trail

Although this course looks quite short, there’s a 2.5km walk from the bus stop to the course start. After that, this is a beautiful hike through snowy forests that turn into dramatic cliff-edges with scary-looking drops into the valley below. Don’t worry, the edge is fenced to protect hikers from falling down.

Length: 3.7km (one way)
Time: 2-3 hours (return)
Difficulty: 3/5

How To Get To Yeongsil Trail

Take bus #240 from Jeju City Intercity Bus Terminal (heading to Jungmun) for 50 minutes. Get off at the Yeongsil Ticket Office and walk to the trail entrance for 2.5km.

Which Course Should I Hike?

They’re all great courses, but I would recommend the following routes based on what you’ll see, the length of the course, and ease of public transport in either direction.

Long Hike – Start on the Seongpanak Trail, hike to the peak, then descend the Gwaneumsa Trail. It’s easier to get to the start point at Seongpanak and the Gwaneumsa Trail is closer to Jeju City, reducing travel time at the end. The Gwaneumsa Trail is steeper, so it’s best to go down this route.

Easier Hike – Start on the Eorimok Trail, hike to the back-side peak, then descend the Yeongsil Trail. It’s easier to get to the start point at Eorimok as it’s closer to Jeju City, meaning you can get a taxi if you miss the bus. The bus back to Jeju City passes Yeongsil before it gets to the Eorimok entrance, so you’ll have a much higher chance of getting on the bus back to Jeju City.

2: Make A Reservation

If you plan to hike the Gwaneumsa Trail or Seongpanak Trail, you need to make an online reservation, otherwise you will not be allowed access to the hiking trail. This is the same if you hike Hallasan in winter or any other season.

Online reservations can be made by the end of next month after opening on the 1st of every month. Here are some examples to show how that works.

February 1st:
Reservations can be made from February 1st to March 31st.

February 28th:
Reservations can be made between February 28th and March 31st

I’d recommend making a reservation as soon as possible. There are only 1,000 spots available each day and the available spots can go quickly, especially on weekends.

The button below will take you to the official Hallasan online reservation site.

You don’t need a reservation to hike the Eorimok Trail or Yeongsil Trail, so if you can’t make a reservation for the other courses, these will always be available. However, this also means that these courses have become more popular and therefore busier.

3: Check The Weather Forecast

Jeju Island is a semi-tropical island and subject to sudden weather changes. The first time I hiked Hallasan in winter, the weather changed from partially cloudy to a strong blizzard that forced me to abandon my hike.

Check the weather a few days before and on the day of your hike, considering these things:

1: Is it snowing on your hiking day? If so, be prepared to hike with snow blowing in your face and possibly low visibility.

2: Has it snowed in the 2 days before you plan to hike? If so, you should have lots of fresh snow to walk through – which is good.

3: How strong is the wind on Hallasan? Even if the temperature isn’t that low, the wind can make it feel a lot colder and really hurt.

4: What’s the temperature on Hallasan? As you ascend to the peak, it will get several degrees colder. Be prepared and bring heat packs.

If in doubt, go to Google and type in ‘Hallasan weather’. You’ll see the weather for Hallasan for the next week, including wind speed, temperature, and expected snowfall.

4: Plan Your Transportation

Whilst there are a lot of options for getting to and from Hallasan, the number of people hiking in winter means that you may have some unexpected transportation issues.

Here are some things to think about when working out transportation to avoid hassles on the day of your hike.

1: Buses are infrequent and busy. Buses to Hallasan run about once an hour. Which one will you take and when will you arrive / depart from the mountain?

2: Roads can be congested. If you’re driving, expect there to be traffic jams around the car parks as everyone tries to park there. The same goes for buses.

3: Take a taxi if you have to. The last time I hiked Hallasan, there wasn’t enough space on the bus, so I asked others at the bus station if they wanted to share a taxi. The taxi fee was about 20,000 won and well worth it!

4: The return buses will be busy. Work out when you will finish the hike and what buses will be available. Be prepared to queue for a long time before getting on a bus.

These are all especially true during the weekends, but might not be so bad during the week. Definitely hike mid-week if you can, it’ll make getting to and from Hallasan a lot easier.

5: Set Your Alarm Early

The biggest tip I can give if you plan to hike Hallasan in winter is to get up early. The hiking courses open around 6:00 am and that’s a good time to start your winter Hallasan hike.

Here are some reasons why you should try to rise with the sun:

1: There are time limits on when you can hike. You will be turned away from the hiking courses after a certain time as it’s too dangerous to start hiking then. You can see these times in the picture below.

2: The roads get busier and busier. After 8:00 am, there are many people travelling to Hallasan or on the roads around Hallasan. Also, buses will be full of people and you might not be able to get on one (this happened to me last time).

3: You’ll have more time to enjoy the hike. You can pack a picnic and spend an extra hour or two taking in the incredible views.

4: Getting back will be easier. Return buses from Hallasan are also very busy. The sooner you finish the hike, the better your chance of getting on a bus back to the city.

You certainly don’t have to start hiking at the crack of dawn, but it will make it a lot easier. Try to aim to start the hike at 8:00 am if possible.

What To Wear To Hike Hallasan In Winter

Wearing the right clothes is essential when hiking in the snow during winter. However, that doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune on the latest hiking gear.

Here are some essentials that you should definitely wear:

Hiking Boots
A sturdy pair of hiking boots are a must for this hike. You will be crossing rocky, snowy, and icy terrain and you can sprain your ankle or slip over easily if you wear the wrong shoes. Also, hiking boots are usually waterproof and will keep your feet safe.

Here’s some Example Hiking Boots.

Thick Socks
Woollen hiking socks are good, but a couple of pairs of regular socks will do, too. These will stop your boots slipping and also stop your toes from getting too cold.

Here’s some Example Hiking Socks.

Thermal Inner Wear
If it’s windy, the cold will seep into your legs and arms very easily. Thermal inner wear (t-shirt and leggings) will keep your body warm and protected. Not essential, but very useful.

Here’s some Example Thermal Inner Wear.

Wind-resistant Hiking Jacket
You can wear as many fleeces, t-shirts, or jumpers as you need, but a good jacket is the key to staying warm and safe. Ideally water and wind-resistant, a hiking jacket should keep you warm without being too heavy. Try to avoid overly large puffer jackets as they’ll weigh you down and make your life harder.

Here’s an Example Hiking Jacket.

Hat, Gloves, and Neck-warmer
I wouldn’t travel in winter without these anyway, but they’re essential while hiking Hallasan in winter. The temperature will be below zero and you should cover up as much as possible.

As for other clothes such as trousers, jumpers, etc., I’d recommend warm and comfortable clothing. Wearing too many layers isn’t a good idea as you’ll get hot as you hike up and you’ll take them off anyway. A lightweight padded inner-jacket is a good alternative.

Personally, I wear the items I mentioned above with my hiking trousers, one t-shirt, and a fleece. The thermal inner wear and jacket keep me warm enough.

If you’re in Korea, I would recommend visiting Uniqlo for cheap and effective thermal clothes. For other items such as shoes and socks, visit a specialist hiking store.

What To Pack To Hike Hallasan In Winter 2024

Staying warm and safe is more than just dressing correctly, there are also some other items you’ll need to pack. Here’s a quick rundown of some essential items to put in your backpack.

Hiking Poles
These adjustable hiking sticks will give you extra balance and help you get up and down rocky paths more easily. They’re also really useful for checking how deep the snow is. Not essential (I don’t use them), but definitely useful.

Here’s some Example Hiking Poles.

Crampons (Ice Cleats)
Crampons are metal spikes that go on the bottom of your shoes and stop you falling over on ice or snow. You basically can’t hike Hallasan in winter without them and you’ll have a hard time without a pair of these. These are called aijen (아이젠) in Korean.

Here’s some Example Crampons.

Heat Packs
These come in two forms – ones you stick to your body/in your shoes, or ones you put in your pocket to keep your hands warm. If you’re not used to the cold weather, I’d recommend both.

Here’s some Example Heat Packs.

Snow Gaiters
These will stop snow getting into your shoes and stop your toes from getting wet and frosty. They’re very useful in thick snow.

Here’s some Example Snow Gaiters.

Tissues
In the cold weather, your nose is likely to run a lot. A pack of tissues is really handy and you’ll need them for a whole load of things.

Food & Water
You probably won’t have a chance to buy food or water on the way, so make sure you stock up before leaving the city. Bring food for lunch, snacks, and at least 1 litre of water. I’d also recommend packing a bottle of Powerade, it really helps when hiking.

Although there is a rest station on the Seongpanak Trail that sells food and drinks, as well as a convenience store at the start of the Gwaneumsa Trail, don’t rely on them in case they’re closed.

I wouldn’t bring much else with you as any extra weight will make the hike more difficult. If you want to bring more, think about whether or not you really need it.

Winter Weather On Jeju Island 2024

Whilst mainland Korea has generally dry and sunny weather during winter, Jeju Island has much less predictable weather that can change suddenly. Here’s some details about winter weather on Jeju Island.

Temperature
Average daily temperatures are between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius, but can go below zero degrees. Hallasan is high above the sea-level, so will be considerably colder than the coast.

Rainfall
Winter is the driest season for Jeju Island and Korea and there is an average of 9-10 days of rain per month. However, as it’s so cold, this can fall as snow.

Wind
There can be strong winds on Jeju Island during winter that will make you very cold. Wrap up when walking along the coast and certainly if you hike Hallasan in winter.

Clouds
The weather on Jeju Island changes quickly and there can be cloudy skies one minute and then clear skies the next. You’ll often see clouds forming around the peak of Hallasan and I’ve noticed they tend to hang around the west coast more than the east coast.

Overall, the weather during winter on Jeju Island is generally cold, but not as cold as the rest of Korea. It’s also mostly dry with a few showers or snow. There are plenty of sunny days, but it’s not guaranteed and you’ll see big changes in the weather on some days.

Tips For Hiking In Korea In 2024

Whatever time of year you go hiking, here are some crucial tips that will make your hiking experience much more enjoyable, safer, and comfortable.

1: Pack light, pack right, and pack bright. Remove unnecessary items from your backpack and only bring the essentials (water, snacks, raincoat, sunglasses, suncream, etc.). And to fit in with the other hikers, and for safety, get a bright backpack and hiking clothes.

2: Plan your hike. Check your transportation options, check for route closures, and figure out when you will start and finish your hike. Be prepared for the time and energy you’re going to invest in your hike.

3: Prepare for the weather. Mountains have a climate of their own, and clouds, wind, rain, and snow can all appear from nowhere and change the conditions of your hike severely. Depending on the season you are hiking in, be prepared for the worst (but hope for the best).

4: Look after your body. Hiking can be tough and work a lot of muscles you’re not used to using. Stretch before and after the hike (and a bit at the peak, too). Go slow and steady if you need to. And make use of the toilets when you see them as you might not see another one for hours.

5: Have fun on the way. Hiking is a fun experience and the goal is to enjoy the journey, not the destination. Stop, look around your surroundings, and take in the unique sights, sounds, and smells on the way. It’s not a race.

For a full list of my best hiking tips, check out my article with 21 Top Korean Hiking Tips.

What To Do On Jeju Island

Jeju Island is one of my favourite places to travel in Korea and has so many unique things to offer. There’s always something to do.

You can ride a horse, trek around the island, experience a range of unique Jeju Island dishes, explore hundreds of cafes and bars, stroll through flowery fields, see inside a lava tube, learn in dozens of museums, shop till you drop, journey under the sea in a submarine, scuba dive, visit a traditional village, and so much more on Jeju Island!

Here’s a great Jeju Island Winter Itinerary to help you plan what to do for the rest of your time in winter. Although it could also be used any other time of year, too.

As there’s so much to do on Jeju Island, it features several times on my South Korea Bucket List, which has 50 of the most unmissable activities to do when you’re in Korea.

How To Hike Hallasan In Winter FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about hiking Hallasan in winter, in case you need more help planning.

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There’s many good reasons to visit Jeju Island in winter, and for me there was a bucket item list that I’ve been waiting more than 5 years to do that I finally achieved. I wanted to hike the snowy slopes of Hallasan Mountain in winter and see the island below while knee-deep in snow up above.

I got to do that, and a lot more, including visiting Udo Island, eating loads of delicious Korean dishes, shopping at the traditional markets, playing in the snow, seeing Jeju’s winter flowers, eating winter fruits, and lots more.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Tips For 1 Week On Jeju Island In Winter

Please feel free to use this Jeju Island winter itinerary as a guide to planning your own 1 week on Jeju Island in winter. This itinerary shows what I did each day, and I’ve also included extra activities that you can do on Jeju Island in winter. There’s loads of extra tips for getting the most out of Jeju Island in winter. I hope you can get lots of inspiration for future travels.

For those of you looking to spend 1 week on Jeju Island in winter, here’s some important info that will help you plan your trip.

Weather On Jeju Island In Winter

Jeju Island is far south of Seoul and closer to the equator, meaning that it’s warmer than the capital. However, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t cold. You can see snow on Jeju Island in winter and the weather can be quite random.

Temperatures can fall below zero, or be above 15 degrees. When I visited Jeju in winter, the lowest temperature was -5 and the highest was 18 degrees. I saw snow, rain, clouds, and sun. Generally winter is quite dry and clear, but be prepared for anything.

Transportation On Jeju Island

Jeju Island is definitely a lot easier to visit if you Rent A Car as many attractions are spread out across the island. However, it’s not impossible to get around by public transport and on foot, especially if you stay in the two main cities.

I didn’t use a car when I visited Jeju Island in winter, but that didn’t stop me doing what I wanted to. With planning and a little Korean to read the bus timetables, you can get just about anywhere.

Booking day tours is also a good option for getting around Jeju Island in winter, as these tours can take you to several places more conveniently than a public bus would do.

Layout Of Jeju Island

Jeju Island is a tale of two cities. Quite literally, with the island being split horizontally into Jeju City area in the north and Seogwipo City area in the south. These two cities are great places to base yourself to get around the island more easily.

In the centre of Jeju Island is Hallasan – a volcano that dominates (and created) the island. On the lower slopes of Hallasan are a lot of forests, oreums (small hills), and lots of the non-coastal attractions (museums, theme parks, etc.).

Around the edge of Jeju Island there are loads of beautiful beaches to visit, as well as other sea-front attractions, nearby islands, and cosy cafes to sit in and watch the sunrise / sunset.

During my 1 week on Jeju Island in winter I was able to visit all these different areas. Read on to find out what I did and what to expect in each place.

Day 1: Jeju City Sights, Traditional Market, & Local Beers

Flying into Jeju Island on a sunny day is an incredible experience – passing islands & fishing boats, and seeing Jeju ‘the fried egg’ Island from above. If you’re arriving on Jeju Island in winter, you might even see snowy slopes on South Korea’s tallest mountain – Hallasan.

I’d planned to spend a busy 1 week on Jeju Island, so I didn’t want a tough first day. I flew in early, dropped my bags at the hotel, and walked to the sprawling Dongmun Traditional Market. This market is packed with Delicious Korean Street Foods to try, including local specialities such as abalone-wrapped gimbap and dol hareubang bread (shaped like the island’s famous statues).

The traditional markets are best explored at night, so after a quick snack I hopped on a bus to the Magpie Brewery & Taproom. Here you can experience Korean-inspired beers, such as the Kimchi Ghost, and indulge in pizza & fried chicken (a perfect combo). After this, I visited the nearby beach in Samyang – but it wasn’t very active during winter so I took the bus back to Jeju City.

Night was approaching, the perfect time to explore Korean cities. It gets dark early on Jeju Island in winter. Jeju City has a lot of pretty areas to explore in the evening in the Ildoil-dong area, such as the Black Pork Street, Arario museums, Dongmun Traditional Market, streets painted with murals, and plenty of seafood restaurants.

After exploring the night markets and getting my fill of Korean street food, I decided to have an early night. Tomorrow was going to be the toughest day during my 1 week on Jeju Island!

Day 2: Hiking Hallasan’s Snowy Slopes & Korean BBQ

Today was the day I achieved one of my top Korean bucket list items – Hiking Hallasan Mountain In The Snow. I’ve hiked it in September, and been rewarded with sunny views over the whole island, but now I really wanted to scale the slopes whilst draped in deep, fluffy snow.

After a quick breakfast I headed to the Jeju City Bus Terminal to take the bus to the start of the Yeongsil Course. My plan was to start on the south-western side of Hallasan, hike up to Witse-Oreum Shelter near the peak, and head back down the Eorimok Course on the northern slope. Two courses in one day and some incredibly snowy sights on the way.

The snow started to show whilst riding the bus to the start, and was ankle-deep even at the start of the course, rising to knee-deep as I made my way up the snowy slopes. I stopped to play in the snow a lot, taking loads of pictures, and enjoying the breathtaking sights. They truly were awesome and I’m so happy that I got to see these sights at last.

Unfortunately, due to a blizzard at the top (not meant to be there according to my weather app), I had to turn back just before the Witse-Oreum Shelter. It would have taken too long to make it to the end of the course before it got dark. Fortunately, I was able to lie back and slide some of the way to the bottom as the thick snow, trodden down, makes for a great human bobsleigh track!

Even if you don’t plan to hike far, you can still enjoy playing in the snow at the start of the hiking courses. There are ropes and flags to keep you on course and plenty of pristine snow to play in if it’s been snowing recently.

Exhausted, but really happy with all I’d seen, it was time to take the bus back to Jeju City, warm up with a hot shower, and spend the night indulging in one of my favourite Korean dishes – Korean BBQ. No trip to Jeju Island in winter would be complete without trying out Korean BBQ and washing it all down with some of the local soju, aptly named Hallasan Soju.

Day 3: Udo Island, Seongsan Ilchulbong, & Jeju Gogi-Guksu

The sun was shining brightly, blue skies met bluer seas, and today was the perfect time to jump on a ferry and head over to Udo Island on Jeju’s north-eastern coast. The ferry departs from Seongsan, home to another of Jeju’s incredible sights which I’ll return to later.

I arrived mid-morning and headed for a walk from the ferry terminal (Haumok-dong) to the other side of the island. Udo is only 1km wide and mostly made up of farms, beaches, small buildings, and one hill on the southern tip topped with a famous lighthouse (Udo-deungdae), which makes it quite easy to walk around.

After 30 minutes of gentle walking past short walls made from volcanic rocks, green fields, and even a few haenyeo (diving women), I made it to peaceful Hagosudong Beach. There are a few really nice cafes here, so I stayed (at Cafe U.D.O.1) to read, watch the waves, and indulge in coffee and a brownie. After some seafood pasta in a nearby restaurant (Seom Sonai), it was off to explore the coast and make my way along the eastern shore towards the lighthouse.

The sun was up and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was cold, but in a good way. Exploring Jeju Island in winter is actually much nicer than in summer, when it gets really hot. The shore holds many delights and if you don’t want to walk it, you can rent a small electric scooter-car (most people were) to drive around and stop where you want to.

Udo Island is famous for several things, including peanut ice cream, beautiful beaches, and being shaped like a cow (the name U-do literally means ‘cow-island’). Once I’d finished walking to the lighthouse (not difficult), I made my way to Sanho Beach on the western coast to try out the famous peanut ice cream. It was ok, but nothing amazing.

Finally it was time to head back to Seongsan to see the Seongsan Ilchulbong, also known as Sunrise Peak. This is the best place in Korea to watch the New Year sunrise. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and definitely a must see during any 1 week on Jeju Island trip. Unfortunately, I arrived a too late to climb up. It was still awesome to see Seongsan Ilchulbong though.

After watching the sun go down, I headed back to Jeju City to explore another famous food street – Guksu Geori (Noodle Street). This is home to several places serving Jeju’s famous gogi-guksu, which is basically a big bowl of noodles and sliced pork in a salty broth. Perfect after a long day walking. Once that was finished off, I walked it all off exploring more of central Jeju City at night.

Day 4: Hamdeok Beach, Manjanggul Lava Tube, & Fresh Seafood

I’ve visited Jeju a few times before, and couldn’t imagine 1 week on Jeju Island without visiting Hamdeok Beach. It’s one of the best beaches on Jeju Island and seeing it in winter is just as good as seeing it in any other season. The sand is golden, which contrasts perfectly with the black volcanic rocks that seem to have been thrown along the coast, while the sea is almost turquoise.

There are plenty of amazing cafes, restaurants (including gourmet burger places), and places to sit down and absorb the beautiful coastal views. My favourite place is Cafe Del Mundo, situated closest to the water’s edge and with yummy freshly baked goods inside. A morning spent chilling here definitely is a morning well spent. If I didn’t have other plans, I would have stayed all day.

The desire to see more pushed me on, and after filling up on a second chocolate croissant, I headed to the bus stop to visit the Manjanggul Lava Tube. This is one of the world’s longest lava tubes and gives you an interesting insight into the history of Jeju Island, which was borne from the ocean by the wild eruptions of Hallasan – an active volcano. You can walk about 1km along the lava tube and see the world’s highest lava column.

The Manjanggul Lava Tube was nice, but only took about an hour, so I decided to get a bus to another beach – Gimnyeong Beach. It was a nice place to walk around, but the weather had started to get bad after an hour so I packed up and headed back to Jeju City.

My time in Jeju City was at an end, but I wasn’t going to leave without checking out a really good sushi place I’d heard about (there are many) – Sushi Tomodachi. 10+ plates of sushi later, I was full and ready to take the bus to Seogwipo City to start part 2 of my fun 1 week on Jeju Island in winter.

Day 5: Jeju Folk Village, Cosy Cafes, & Black Pork BBQ

I awoke early grabbed a quick coffee and egg tart at a Hong Kong-style cafe (Blue Haus) and went off to the Jeju Folk Village in Pyoseon. It had started raining a bit, which isn’t common on Jeju Island in winter (or other parts of Korea). The Jeju Folk Village is a sprawling collection of traditional buildings showing how people used to live before modernity came to Jeju.

There are lots of different houses to explore, games to play, and Korean culture to learn about. You can see scenes from some famous Korean dramas there were filmed here, see a real traditional market, feed some local animals, and lots more. One of the highlights was seeing the camellias in bloom. These are one of the famous sights of Jeu Island in winter and I was planning to go to Camellia Hill to see them, but I didn’t need to after seeing them here.

I was actually quite surprised with how much there was to see and do. Walking around the Jeju Folk Village took about 3-4 hours and, despite the rain, I enjoyed my time here. I learnt some interesting facts, including about the old-style toilets that fed into the pig’s feeding troughs! The place was family friendly and ideal for anyone interested in Korea’s history.

Once I’d seen all there was to see, I headed out to the coast for lunch and a rest in a beachside cafe (Cafe Cocotiere), looking out over Pyoseon’s very wide beach. When the rain finished, I headed back to Seogwipo to clean up and prepare for the meal I’d most been looking forward to – a Korean BBQ with Jeju’s legendary black pork.

Jeju’s black pigs are said to produce the best meat for Korean BBQ and the best place to try them is obviously on Jeju Island. On a cold night on Jeju Island in winter, I couldn’t really think of anything better to eat. The meal was great, and left me stuffed. I needed to walk it off, so I explored some of the streets around central Seogwipo, including the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market, Myeongdong Street, Arang Joeul Food Street, and Lee Jung-Seop Art Street.

I finished the night with a couple of beers from the Jeju Beer Fountain – home to beers from the best Jeju craft beer brewers (including Magpie & Jeju Beer). I’d really recommend this place as they let you sample three beers before trying them and they’re all really good. I grabbed a couple of bottles and some snacks and had a peaceful night back at the hotel.

Day 6: Yakcheonsa Temple, Olle Trail 8, & Jungmun Saekdal Beach

I had an early night at the end of day 4 so that I could wake up and enjoy the early morning sunrise. I wasn’t disappointed. I sat and watched it from my hotel window whilst munching a few oranges. The sun was out after yesterday’s rain and it felt divine to be basking in the light, so I decided to visit one of the most intriguing Korean Buddhist temples I’ve been to – and I’ve been to many.

Yakcheonsa Temple, bedecked with palm trees, tiny elephant statues, and looking out over the southern shore below, felt like it should be in Bali or Thailand, not on Jeju Island. Visiting this place during my 1 week on Jeju Island in winter felt surreal. I was transported to SE Asia, with fresh fruit hanging on the trees, palm trees everywhere, and the sun, sky, and sea all dazzling. The weather was also around 15 degrees (up from -5 a week ago!), which added to the illusion.

This temple is a must-visit place on Jeju Island for 2 reasons. Firstly, it’s awesome – beautiful architecture, massive 3-layered roof, a hidden cave-temple, juicy oranges waiting to be picked, and you can even do a temple-stay here! Secondly, it’s the start of the Jeju Olle Trail Course 8, which is what I was about to start now.

The Jeju Olle Trail goes all the way around the island and is meant to be trekked over 3 or 4 weeks. It takes you to all the best sites and provides a ready-made course to follow, with lots of signposts and stamps that you can collect as you go. Course 8 is one of the best, leading you along the coast, past fishing villages, Jusangjeolli Cliffs (unique hexagonal rocks), all the way to the Jungmun Saekdal Beach area.

It was a really peaceful way to spend the day and with the perfect weather I was in heaven. It’s not difficult and only took a few hours to reach the Jungmun Saekdal Beach – a really popular place for locals and tourists who want to stay at the luxurious hotels, see one of Jeju’s other incredible beaches, and watch the sunset from the cliffside bar (my plan).

Whilst walking along the beach, I saw some local kids practicing ssireum (Korean wrestling – like sumo), loads of people surfing, and dropped onto the sand to read for a while. In the late afternoon, I headed to The Cliff – a cocktail bar / lounge with incredible views over the beach and the perfect place to watch the sunset.

A couple of beers and a sunset later, I headed back to Seogwipo to explore more of the city and grab some more craft beer from the Jeju Beer Fountain. Sadly the end of my 1 week on Jeju Island was coming to an end, so I walked until quite late, exploring the harbour and watching the squid-fishing boats head out to sea at night.

Day 7: Seogwipo Sights, Walks & Waterfalls, & Maeil Olle Market

I couldn’t believe 1 week on Jeju Island was nearly at an end. There was so much that I still wanted to see, but there’s never enough time to see it all. I decided to spend my last day exploring Seogwipo and the surrounding area. I’d only been here at night and many attractions had been closed then.

Seogwipo has a surprising number of attractions to enjoy for art lovers, nature enthusiasts, or shopping addicts. I started off visiting the Lee Jung-Seop Art Street, which includes the famous Korean artist’s house and a museum. This is a great place to pick up some cute Jeju souvenirs, and to check out the various art and murals along the street as you walk.

This led me down to Yudong Coffee, run by one of Korea’s most awarded baristas – Cho Yu Dong. If you like coffee, I’d highly recommend this place. For lunch I had some delicious black pork tacos from b.pork bistro – they were so good and I could have eaten half a dozen!

From here I walked east towards the sea and the mighty Jeongbang Waterfall. This 75 foot waterfall over black cliffs offers a fun spot to take waterfall selfies as you can walk down to the beach and get close to the falls. One waterfall wasn’t enough, though, so I walked back along the coast and headed to the Cheonjiyeon Falls – a smaller but still impressive scene hidden away in thick forests and a strangely large number of ducks.

The Cheonjiyeon Falls are on the way to Oedolgae Rock on the Olle Trail 7 course (another popular section of the Jeju Olle Trail). I followed the Olle Trail 7 from the falls to the viewing area around Oedolgae rock, which was only 30 minutes by foot. The Oedolgae rock stands alone like a tall sentinel in the rocky surf away from the cliff.

After walking back to the centre, via the Geolmae Eco Park, I decided to do some last minute shopping at the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market. This large traditional market is great for tourists to get some souvenirs, try the local delicacies (loved the black pork croquettes), and witness the many sides of traditional Korean markets. If you live in Korea, you can order food from the market sent to your house wherever you are in Korea.

I stocked up on a few sweet treats and bought another bag of oranges as they’re in season on Jeju Island in winter (and also really sweet). My flight home was at sunset, which seemed an appropriate end for my 1 week on Jeju Island in winter. I soared away from Jeju Airport (only an hour from Seogwipo) as the sun set on my winter adventures on Jeju.

I’ll definitely be back soon as there’s so much to do on Jeju Island in winter (and any season).

Where To Visit On Jeju Island In Winter

If you plan to spend 1 week on Jeju Island in winter, then hopefully my 7 day itinerary has given you some food for thought. However, not everyone wants to go hiking, or you might be travelling with children, or want to visit different attractions.

Here’s some of the other places I’d recommend to visit on Jeju Island in winter. There’s bound to be something to suit your own personal itinerary:

• Dodu-dong Rainbow Coast Road
• Saryeoni Forest Path
• Hyeopjae Beach
• Joeun Horse Riding
• O’sulloc Green Tea Plantation
• Jeju Haenyeo Museum
• Camellia Hill
• Jeju Love Land
• Jeju Light Garden
• Chocolate Museum
• Jeju Toy Park
• Aqua Planet Jeju (Aquarium)
• Marado Island
• Aewol Coastal Road

There are dozens of museums, scenic spots, coastal walks, and cosy cafes – too many for me to mention them all. If you want some extra ideas, I’d recommend visiting the Visit Jeju Website.

And here’s a list of 20 of the Best Things To Do On Jeju Island any time of year.

Where To Stay For 1 Week On Jeju Island

I split my 1 week on Jeju Island between Jeju City and Seogwipo City. These are great cities to explore and work perfectly as a base to travel out to other attractions on the island.

I stayed at The Jade Hotel in Jeju City. It’s a small but comfortable hotel in central Jeju City that is close to the traditional market, hiking routes, and coast. It features an open rooftop with bar, perfect for looking at the sunrise or sunset.

In Seogwipo I stayed at the Ocean Palace Hotel. This was a budget hotel and is an older building, but has been recently renovated to offer an apartment-like stay. The room was massive and included a kitchen and dining area, which was perfect for cooking and late night snacks.

These were both really nice hotels, with central locations and reasonable prices. I was close to the markets in both cities and the hotel in Seogwipo had incredible views of the coast.

Of course, these aren’t the only options available. If you prefer to be closer to nature and want to experience beach life, I’d recommend staying in Hamdeok on the north coast or at the hotels in the Jungmun Saekdal Beach area (but these are more expensive).

Advice For Visiting Jeju Island In Winter

For those who want to spend 1 week on Jeju Island in winter, here’s a few tips to help

1: Check the weather before and as you travel. Make sure you know what to expect, but be careful as the weather can change quickly.

2: Plan a flexible schedule. Sometimes rain will arrive when you’d planned to go to the beach. Try to include a few activities that are indoors and not weather-sensitive.

3: Learn how to read Korean city names. You don’t need to master Korean, but knowing the location you want to go to will help a lot on public transport.

4: Jeju Island in winter can be both cold and hot. The temperatures ranged from a freezing cold blizzard on Hallasan to warm, sunny weather where I didn’t need a jacket. Pack appropriately.

5: Take care of your skin. Winter in Korea is very dry and your skin needs care. Pack some hand cream and moisturiser.

6: Enjoy the seasonal delights. Jeju Island in winter is the best time to enjoy fresh citrus, especially red-hyang and hallabong.

7: Check the closing dates of attractions. Many places in Korea, such as museums and galleries, close on Mondays.

8: Use Naver or Kakao map apps to help you get around, but use Google Maps for restaurants and cafes. For some reason, Korean map apps only show me western food options, but Google covers them all.

If you’re travelling to Korea in winter, you should definitely check out my guide to the most delicious Korean winter dishes. You’ll find lots of inspiration for authentic, heart warming Korean meals and snacks you can try out across Jeju. Also, my article about the best places to see snow in Korea will give you lots more itinerary ideas for your winter travels in Korea.

Jeju Island has a visa-free entry system that isn’t available on the mainland, so even if you would normally have to apply for a tourist visa for Korea, you can still travel to Jeju Island. This is great for people who are unable to apply for a Korean travel visa or get denied a Korean visa for whatever reason. Unfortunately, it doesn’t allow access to the mainland.

1 Week On Jeju Island In Winter FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about spending 1 week on Jeju Island in winter, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

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