Jeju Island is the perfect vacation getaway. It’s a tiny, picturesque island off the southern coast of the Korean peninsula that offers hiking trails, volcanic caves, museums, beaches, shopping, and many other tourist attractions. Jeju Island offers something for everyone.
1. Rent a bicycle or a scooter
The island is beautiful, and not all the good stuff will be on every map or in every tour book you find, so you should go exploring. Many scooter rental places require an international driver’s license. Rumor has it that you can rent a scooter without a license from Mr Lee . Otherwise, a bicycle is also a great way to go off the beaten path, and dirt cheap at 21,000 won for 3 days.
2. Hike Mount Hallasan
It’s easy to spend a day or two hiking Hallasan. Decide which trail or trails you want to do before you get there, because they can get pretty rough. Start early in the day so you don’t wind up trapped in the woods at night, and bring plenty of water and a camera. You’ll need both. In case of any problems on the trails, there are phone numbers posted on the trails which you can call for an emergency rescue.
3.-4. Visit the Lava Tubes/ Try the Hedge Maze
These two tourist traps are right next door to one another, and are about two or three hours worth of entertainment. First get to the lava tubes, pay 2,000 won to explore the immense lava caves, bask in the cool temperatures, admire rock formations, and take photos. Then mosey on down the road to the hedge maze (you’ll see signs for it). You get a discount for walking. They hand you a map and tell you not to look at it, so have a blast with your friends racing to the finish line or working as a team. The added bonus is getting to people watch all the other visitors to the hedge maze trye their methods of solving the maze: strict orienteering, yelling, cell phones, etc. At the end, ring the bell and feel good about yourself.
5. Visit the World Sex Culture Museum in the World Cup Soccer Stadium
Hidden away on the third floor of the World Cup Soccer Stadium, this museum is a collection of various artworks, artifacts, clothes and *ahem* functional objects from all over the world and history, united under the common theme of sex. It’ll make you think, it’ll make you giggle, it may make you excited. It’s definitely worth a visit.
6-8. Mysterious Road, Love Land, and the Jeju Art Museum
Since these attractions are 100m apart on the same road, a taxi ride to and from these places should keep you entertained for about three to five hours. Loveland amusement park, with a 7,000 won admission fee, is a whimsical waste of time. Mysterious Road is arguably a tourist trap; It is a small section of hilly road where objects appear to move uphill. It’s worth a chuckle. Most interesting, in my opinion, is the Jeju art museum. Admission is free, but I wanted to pay once I saw the exhibits. The focus seems to be on modern art with the occasional featured traditional artist. I was very happy to spend my morning at this museum.
9. Beaches
From the simple Iho beach to the therepeutic black sands of Samyang beach, a trip to Jeju is not complete without a trip to the beach. Buy a beer, rent a tube, or just fall asleep in the sand. It’s a beach. Bring a tent and you can have inexpensive (free!) acomodations.
10. Foreign Food
Got a craving for some Mexican? A couple blocks from City Hall is “El Paso”, to find it, just ask friendly-looking locals “El Paso oh-desey-yo?” or “El Paso is where?”. The cheesey dishes are not the best, but the drinks are good. The Bagdad Cafe, in Jeju city is a fairly authentic-tasting Indian restaraunt with a Nepalese chef and an English-speaking staff.
Well, those are my recommendations for a fun time in an island paradise. Bon voyage!
