Seoul and Busan are usually the top picks for Singaporeans when it comes to holidaying in Korea, but if you’re stressed out by life and need a good mental reset, then the slower-paced Jeju Island - home to some of Korea’s most stunning nature spots - is where you’d wanna be.

Although Jeju isn’t part of the mainland, it’s not at all inaccessible; Skip the long 12-hour ferry ride, and hop onto a speedy 1-hour domestic flight from Busan like we did to get there! Here are 10 things to do in Jeju suitable for both first-timers and repeat visitors, including a Snoopy-themed attraction, scenic eateries, and of course, the best of the great outdoors.

Note: Prices stated are subject to prevailing exchange rates, and are correct at time of writing.

See also: 16 things to do in Busan including new attractions, scenic spots, charming villages & cafes.

Things to do in Jeju

#1: Dine at Mint Restaurant, a glasshouse restaurant on a seaside cliff

Photo from Klook

Jeju has its fair share of scenic eateries but one that offers an unrivalled experience is Mint Restaurant, set in a glasshouse on a cliff by the sea. With floor-to-ceiling windows, this Italian-fine dining establishment on Jeju's Phoenix Island comes with expansive views of the vast hilly area surrounding it. The restaurant is actually part of Phoenix Island Resort, but you don’t have to be a staying guest in order to be able to visit.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

A little buggy took us straight from the resort up to the glasshouse, where gorgeous sights of rolling hills, hydrangea bushes, and the seemingly endless sea in the distance awaited. We were even lucky enough to spot wild horses frolicking about despite the cloudy weather!

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Mint Restaurant’s menu includes everything from brunch to a la carte mains and desserts, but we opted for their value-for-money Lunch Set (KRW59,000, ~S$61.52) that came with 4 courses. Check out the orange mousse dessert shaped like a hallabong - a type of citrus fruit native to Jeju!

Photo from 임강섭 via Google Maps

Mint Restaurant Jeju
Address: 93-66 Seopjikoji-ro, 성산읍 Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: 10 am - 3 pm, 5pm - 9 pm daily
Telephone: +82 64 731 7773
Website 

#2: Be enthralled by the interactive Arte Museum Jeju

Photo from Arte Museum

Think of Arte Museum Jeju as Korea’s answer to the various TeamLab exhibitions in Japan; As Korea’s largest digital media art gallery, this attraction is housed in a former speaker manufacturing factory - so you can imagine just how massive it is.

Photo from Arte Museum

Inside are multiple zones all themed around the concept of “Eternal Nature”. Float through the starlit Milky Way, delve into a psychedelic jungle, witness the aurora borealis stretch above an endless beach, and even meet the mythical Moon Bunny - it’s almost as though you’re being transported to multiple fantastical worlds within a single space. 

Photo from Arte Museum

These aren’t simply a pretty sight to behold - special sound effects and even smells have also been utilised to fully draw you into each setting, all while the scenes shift based on your interactions with them. It’s the perfect indoor hideout for rainy weather or hot summer afternoons in Jeju!

Photo from Arte Museum

Tickets for adults cost KRW17,000 (~S$17.73), but it’s worth topping up just a little bit more to get the special  KRW20,000 (~S$20.85) package which includes a unique tea bar experience that incorporates the projection art in an interactive manner.

Photo from Arte Museum

Arte Museum Jeju
Address: (1503 Eoeum-ri) 478 Eorimbi-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju, Jeju-do
Opening hours: 10am - 8pm daily
Telephone: +82 64 1899 5008
Website

#3: Take an easy trek up Seongsan Ilchulbong, aka Sunrise Peak

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

No Jeju trip is complete without some form of hiking! Seongsan Ilchulbong is a relatively easy and non-intimidating climb that takes just 40 minutes to 1 hour both ways depending on your pace, so there’s nothing to fear even if you consider yourself a novice. In fact, you don’t even have to go all the way to the peak to enjoy the views it has to offer.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Also known as Sunrise Peak for how magnificent it looks after the break of dawn, Seongsan Ilchulbong is the result of volcanic eruptions harking back to more than 5,000 years ago. Though we didn’t manage to wake up in the wee hours to catch it in its full morning glory, the trip down was still very much worth our time. Standing by the side railing with the salty sea breeze tousling your hair, you’re sure to be washed with a wave of calmness as you soak it all in.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

You’ll be craving a cold refresher after all that walking, so it’s just nice that there’s a little kiosk near the carpark selling tangerine juice and soft serve.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Entry to Seongsan Ilchulbong costs a negligible KRW2,000 (~S$5.21) for adults.

Seongsan Ilchulbong
Address: 78 Seongsan-ri, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: March to October: 7.30am - 7pm | November to December: 7am - 5.50pm | Closed on the first Monday of every month.
Telephone: +82 64 783 0959

#4: Try gravity racing & a 360-degree swing at 9.81 Park Jeju

Photo from 9.81 Park Jeju

Sure, you can always do go-karting back home, but zipping down the race tracks of Jeju is a whole different ball game since it looks this good. Plus, at 9.81 Park, it’s completely motorless and eco-friendly - all thanks to their modern gravity racer vehicles that zoom downhill at the speed of gravity (9.81m/s², and power their way uphill via a special auto-recovery technology.

Photo from 9.81 Park Jeju

For added thrill, hop onto their 360-degree Heal Swing that spins round and round solely from the recoil of your body!

Photo from 9.81 Park Jeju

9.81 Park Jeju
Address: 880-24 Cheondeok-ro, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
Opening hours: 9am - 6.20pm daily
Telephone: +82 064 1833 9810
Website

#5: Check out life-sized Peanuts installations & a themed cafe at the Snoopy Garden

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Enter the world of the Peanuts gang at Jeju’s Snoopy Garden, a relaxing nature park with 11 themed outdoor zones full of life-sized installations and artwork! In various settings such as the Beagle Scout Camp, Linus’ Blanket Forest, and The Great Pumpkin Patch, the sculptures of Snoopy and Friends are specially designed for photo opportunities that allow you to immerse yourself in the scenes with the characters - all while being surrounded by flowers and greenery.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Here’s us at the Warm Puppy Lake, posing at a Snoopy photo spot that was made even more popular by Jimin from BTS thanks to his own social media snaps. This particular space was so highly sought-after that a queue had formed just for photo-taking, but everyone was kind enough to line up so that each person could have their turn.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

There's also an indoor Garden House with murals and comics revolving around various themes such as Happiness, Relaxation, and Relationships. While you're there, pop by the themed cafe and gift shop within the same building to grab some cute Peanuts merchandise such as apparel, stationery, and home items.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Read our article on Snoopy Garden Jeju.

#6: Cycle along the scenic coast of Jeju on an e-bike

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Wide paths, pretty scenery, and a low volume of traffic make Jeju the perfect location for a laidback cycling excursion - and you can do just that on an electric bicycle with BY100, a bicycle school and tour company. You’ll first be given a safety briefing, followed by a practice run in an open area so you can get the hang of manoeuvring the bike before setting off for the roads.

Photo from BY100 Jeju

Now, this isn’t your average cycling tour, as it comes with the additional green aspect of a beach clean-up. Along with the accompanying staff, you’ll be zipping along the island coast, stopping midway to help pick up litter. No, you’re not being used as “free labour” - this is all part of BY100’s mission to foster eco-consciousness. Think of this as a means of giving back to the earth, especially since you’ve been enjoying 

Photo from BY100

We cycled past Jongdal-ri Hydrangea Road in full bloom as part of our journey, and even came across a sunflower field behind a cafe that we made a rest stop at (more on that in the next point!). Some of these cheery yellow flowers were so tall that they peaked way above our heads!

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Each bike+clean session, as they call it, starts from KRW30,000 (~S$31.28) and there are different routes to choose from that usually take 2 to 3 hours to complete. Drop BY100 a DM via Instagram to make your booking.

#7: Stop by a cosy beachfront cafe for croffles & grapefruit drinks

Photo from @jo__ongdali__jeju via Instagram

Korea’s cafe scene is lit, and that doesn’t just apply to its cities. Jeju also has its fair share of cosy little joints for coffee and bakes, and one of them is the beachfront Jo Ongdali (조옹달리), which boasts a homely cottage-like vibe on its first floor and an open deck on the second.

Photo from @jo__ongdali__jeju via Instagram

Coffee-lovers can give the signature lattes, such as the Jong-dal Ice Latte (KRW8,000, ~S$8.34) a shot. Non-coffee options include their Handmade Grapefruit Tea (KRW7,000, ~S$7.30) - which we absolutely loved for its refreshing citrusy flavour - along with Handmade Dongyuja Ade (KRW8,000, ~S$8.34) and Hot Chocolate (KRW6,000, ~S$6.26). Get the Jong-dal Croffle (KRW9,000, ~S$9.38) to munch on while you’re at it!

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Tip: Look out for the row of multi-coloured pinwheels - the cafe is right across the road!

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Photo from @jo__ongdali__jeju via Instagram

They don’t seem to have a website and you probably won’t be able to successfully Google them via English phonetics, but you can check out their Instagram page to find out more.

#8: Hike up Donggeomeuni Oreum for unreal views 

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Up for a gratifying challenge? Test your strength and willpower by scaling Donggeomeuni Oreum (동검은이오름) one of the many oreums aka volcanic cones in Jeju. Warning: This hike is probably going to prove gruelling for you if you’re not particularly fit. Case in point? My travel mates were suffering, some almost to the point of tears on their way up.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

As someone who exercises 3 times a week, I still found this climb to be quite the toughie - not because of its length, but because of how steep it was at certain points, coupled with the lack of a proper path. At times, the safety rope only existed on one side of the dirt road, and we also had to watch out for thorny leaves that could’ve hurted us. Put your vanity aside - proper sports shoes or hiking boots are a must here if you don’t wish to slip and fall.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

All said and done, our labour was not without reward, and I’m glad to have had the chance to embark on this adventure. Looking back halfway to see how far we’d come was motivation in itself, and our local guide even passed me some wild berries that she plucked from a shrub to eat along the way - a true “back to nature” experience for us city folk.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Sounds cliched, but you’ll really gain greater appreciation for Mother Nature once you reach the peak and gaze out at the seemingly endless stretch of land dotted with mountains. Talk about being on top of the world!

Donggeomeuni Oreum (동검은이오름)
Address: 산320 Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea

#9: Feast on Jeju’s famous black pork at a BBQ restaurant

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

One of Jeju’s must-tries is their top local specialty, Black Pork, which comes from the Black Pig that’s native to the island. Jeju Black Pork has a slightly darker red appearance, more premium marbling, and significantly chewier texture compared to regular pork. Some even describe it as having a “steak-like” flavour, minus a certain gaminess.

There are multiple BBQ restaurants across Jeju that serve this delicacy, so just walk into a random one and give it a try! Our hotel, Grand Hyatt Jeju, also served some solid Black Pork at their in-house restaurant Noknamu, along with premium beef, bibimbap, and some of the tastiest makgeolli.

#10: Unwind with nature & enjoy an outdoor foot bath at Seogwipo Healing Forest

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

To truly connect with nature, make a mini pilgrimage to Seogwipo Healing Forest, where there’s over 15km worth of forest trails. Of course, you don’t have to cover the entire area, as you can choose one or more of your preferred interconnecting routes ranging from as short as 0.7km to a maximum of 2.1km each.

Have a free and easy stroll on your own, or sign up for one of the various guided programmes like we did to enjoy a 3-hour curated experience with a forest recreation instructor.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Our session first started off with a tea appreciation session at a little hut, where we were also tasked to weave friendship bracelets in pairs, and affirm each other with words of encouragement written on dried leaves. Feeling extra uplifted despite the rain, we then set off on our trek, which involved facilitated moments of self-reflection along the way.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Although the ground was undulating and unpaved at some points, it wasn’t exactly an arduous trail, and was in fact more on the calming side. Along the way, the forest instructor will point out unique forest elements and share the stories behind them, and you’ll also spot wooden deck chairs where you can just lay out in the open and breathe in the scent of the trees.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

Our reward at the end of this excursion was an outdoor foot bath, where we got to relax by soaking our tired feet in naturally toasty waters. Visitors can also make a reservation for a special Charong Healing Lunchbox - a woven basket of nourishing homecooked food prepared by the villagers of Hoguendong.

Seogwipo Forest of Healing
Address: 2271 Sanroknam-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do (Hogeun-dong San 4)
Opening hours: 8am - 5pm daily
Telephone: +82 64 760 3067
Website

Where to stay in Jeju: Grand Hyatt Jeju

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

All the physical activity you’ll likely be partaking in at Jeju means that you’re gonna want somewhere cushier to retreat to at the end of the day - and Grand Hyatt Jeju, located not too far from Jeju International Airport, is the perfect package. Our spacious King Room with city views already felt like a luxury suite with its double vanity sinks, an island bathtub, and *gasp* Balmain toiletries.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

For such an established hotel chain, rates are surprisingly reasonable, starting from around KRW268,000 for a 65-sqm King Room - which works out to around $280/night, or $140 per person if you’re splitting with your partner or friend.

Photo from GirlStyle Singapore

There are over 10 in-house eateries too, for days where you’re too lazy to drive out in search of food. We thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast sets - and the expansive views - at Pocha, perched high on the 38th floor of the hotel.

This post is brought to you in collaboration with Korea Tourism Organization (Singapore). All opinions are our own.

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