Exploring North Jeju in a Day, Jeju, South Korea

Jeju (Cheju) is, perhaps, the most popular tourist destination in South Korea. With cheap flights connecting all major cities, in the mainland, to Jeju; it makes for an excellent weekend getaway. Exploring the whole island itself, will take longer than a week and yet, it might not be possible to cover everything. Jeju is one of “The New 7 Wonders of Nature“ and has an enviable wealth of natural diversity in the form of lengthy coastlines, quaint fishing villages, oreums, lush forests, arboretums, and Korea’s pride, Mt. Hallasan. It also has a fair share of museums, amusement parks, recreational areas, shopping markets, and casinos. Take your pick!

For simplicity, the island can be divided into 5 zones (corresponding to the geographical orientation) namely: north, south, east, west, and centre. We started our 10 day trip in the north, travelled to the east, back to the north again, and ended the trip in the south combining it with the central region (Mt. Hallasan). The best way to get around would be to rent a car, scooter, or if you’re adventerous — a bicycle. Local bus connectivity is a test of your patience and is pretty scarce after 7 pm. Tour buses run with a similar frequency, but have an added advantage of connecting tourist places of interest with popular hotels. If you have a T-Money Card (Seoul), it will be valid across public modes of transport in Jeju. Cabs may turn out to be expensive and it’s probably best to avoid them for longer distances. Although,walking is the least popular mode of transport for many, it’s the simplest and most enjoyable way to get around. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).