Jeju-Si (제주시) is the northern district of Jeju island.

Understand

As the northernmost of the two districts on Jeju Island, Jeju-si holds the island capital of Jeju City.

Jeju-Si
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       50     10 4       138     10 5       88     14 8       52     18 12       87     23 16       65     24 20       289     28 23       460     27 24       94     26 21       93     22 16       100     17 12       47     10 5 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm 2014 Korea Meteorological Administration
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       2     50 38       5.4     50 41       3.5     57 46       2.1     64 53       3.4     73 60       2.6     76 67       11     82 73       18     81 74       3.7     79 70       3.7     72 61       3.9     62 53       1.9     49 40 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

Get in

Jeju city has both the main sea port and airport on the island.

See

The world's largest known lava column, in Manjanggul Lava-tube.

• Manjanggul Lava-tube (Jeju North Coast), ☏ +82 64 710-7908. A 7 km deep cave, of which only a 1 km part can be accessed by the public. The tube is up to 23 m high and has been created by lava streams running through. Bring a jacket, since it is fairly cold and water drops from the ceiling. The lava-tubes can be reached by taking the coastal bus from Jeju, then walking the 2.5 km from the bus station. It's possible to hitchhike as most cars on the road from the bus station will also be heading to the lava tubes. One of Jeju's three UNESCO World Natural Heritage rated attractions. ₩2,000. 
• Hallim Park. Take a stroll through a 27,000 m² botanical garden including 2 caves. The park's total area is divided into 16 gardens, including a tropical garden, garden of Washington palms, a garden of foliage plants, and a bonsai gardens with bonsai trees that are over 150 years old. Also has a Folk Village. 
• 1 Ihoteu Beach (about 7 km west of Jeju-City). A beach, whose main feature is two types of sand, one dark gray, one yellow which produces brilliant structural effects in the water. There is a variety of diving schools in town. Best seen during the late summer months, when the water is not too cold for swimming. 
• Bijarim Forest, 3164-1, Pyeingdae-ri, Gujwa-eup, ☏ +82 64 783-3857. If the purpose of your travel is to recharge your tired body, Bijarim will more than serve your needs. It is the first forest bathing park in Jeju Island, and the largest of one species of tree in the world. In the center of the forest stands a Japanese Torreya tree that is more than 800 years old, and known to be the oldest tree on Jeju. One can feel the energy of time this ancestral tree, which reaches 25 meters in height and has a perimeter of 6 meters. there are two walking paths in Bijarim : one takes two or three hours and a short trail takes about 30 minutes. if time allows, it is recommended that you slowly walk the longer course and enjoy the scenery. 
• Yongduam, Yongdam 1-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do (Yongdam-ro, Jeju-si), ☏ +82 64 728-2753. Yong Means "rock". Yongdam was thus named because it resembles a dragon's head. The best-known legend has it that an envoy that the Dragon King sent was looking for a medicinal plant on Mount Halla when the mountain god shot an arrow at him, and he fell and died. If you walk down to the shore, you can see the seafood that the haenyeo (female divers) have just caught, such as octopus, sea cucumbers and sea squirts. 
• Bangae Oreum, Sahn 45, Gyrae-ri, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si (Bijarim-ro, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si), ☏ +82 64 710-6072. Bangae Oreum, there are four peaks in the west and southeast while it is flat in the south. There is grassland in the crater of the oreum. 
• Gimnyeong Snake Cave, Sahn 7, Gimnyeong-ri, Gujwa-Eup, Jeju-si (Gimnteong-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si). The Gimnyeong Snake cave is a 700 meter-long S-shaped lava tube. It is also called snake cave for its internal shape. The entrance of the cave bulges like a head of a snake and it becomes thin as you go deeper into the cave. 
• Gold Cave (Hwanggeum Cave), 2487 Hyeopjae-ri, Hallim-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do(Hyeopjae biyangdo-gil, Hallim-eup, ☏ +82 64-796-0001-4. The gold cave is a rare lava tube that remains its original shape. It's blocked off from the public. 

Seongsan Ilchulbong

• 2 Seongsan Ilchubong, Seongsan, ☏ +82 64 783-0959. This is the famous round almost-island you'll see pictures of everywhere in Jeju. A 180 m high tuff volcano, quite literally named "Sunrise Peak" because climbing to the top to view the sunrise is a popular activity (or, hoping to see it, due to most mornings being foggy!) About a 25 minute walk to the top, covering over 600 steps. Very imposing from a distance, but less so on approach and the very top would be somewhat anticlimactic to anyone but a rock-loving geologist. Still worth the visit though. As a bonus, on the cliffs off to the left as you ascend, there is a stairwell down that leads to a place where you can see regular performances of the Jeju Women Divers group. One of Jeju's three UNESCO World Natural Heritage rated attractions. ₩2,000 if the booth is actually active. 

• Jeju April 3rd Peace Park, Myeongrim-ro 430 (Bonggye-dong San 51-3), Jeju City, Jeju Do, ☏ +82 64 710-8461. 09:00-18:00. This museum is about the tragic incident of the 3rd of April, 1948. There were a series of events on Jeju island during the Korean War that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 30,000 Jeju islanders. Free. 
• Nexon Computer Museum, Jeju City. Apparently Korea's first dedicated computer museum, housing over 4,000 working examples of antique computers and video games. ₩8,000. 
• Jeju Folklore & Natural History Museum, 996-1, Ildo 2-dong, ☏ +82 64 710-7708. Displays cover the formation of Jeju Island, the ecology of its natural resources and its unique culture, to help visitors to understand the island and people better. 
• Loveland, 680-26, Yeon-dong, Jeju (On the road between Jeju City and Seogwipo. ₩1,500 by intercity bus, about ₩10,000 by taxi.). Jeju's most eccentric and internationally infamous attraction and almost a reason in itself to visit Jeju, this bizarre sculpture park was created by graduates of Seoul's Hongik University. Few of the (over 140) exhibits are generally shocking, and it makes for some interesting holiday snaps that you won't want to show your parents. Although you will likely see some Korean families in the park, this is one where you should definitely leave the children at home or in the attached playground. Has a sex shop attached, naturally. Elsewhere on Jeju you will find phallic representations are an ancient symbol of the island. Amusingly, the Chinese government recently prevented the opening of an imitation loveland in Chongqing. ₩7,000. 
• Haenyeo Museum, 3204-1 Hado-ri Gujwa-eup. Museum dedicated to the Haenyeo (female divers). ₩1,100. 
• 3 Hangpaduri Hangmong (Anti-Mongolian) Historical Site (제주 항파두리 항몽 유적), 50, Hangpaduri-ro, Aewol-eup 제주특별자치도 제주시 애월읍 항파두리로 50 (애월읍), ☏ +82-2-1330. A special defence unit of the Goryeo kingdom rebelled against the invading Mongolian army in 1270, and eventually retreated to Jeju Island for a last stand. They held off the Mongolian forces here for 2 years before they were all killed at a fortress built here Free. (updated Feb 2016)

Do

• Kimyoung Maze, San16 Gimyong-ri Ggujwa-up (About 500 m down the road from the Manjanggul lava-tube cave.). A Jeju-shaped hedge maze which is interestingly complex and fun to walk through. The hedges are evergreen so it runs all year round. The maze claims fewer than 5% of visitors complete it in under 5 minutes, and the layout tends not to favor blind-luck too heavily so try timing yourself. ₩3,300 discounts off-peak. 
• Glass Castle (Yuri wi seong(유리의성)), 3135-1 Jeoji-ri, Hangyeong-myeon (Inner western portion of the island. Take an inter-city bus to Hallim and a taxi from there.). One of Jeju's two theme parks specialising in glass sculptures. Also offers an optional hands-on studio experience where visitors can craft their own works. ₩9,000 plus studio fees. 

Obanggaksi chum (오방각시춤, literally "the dance of maidens from the five directions," as Obang traditionally refers to east, west, north, south and center), a traditional dance of Jeju.

• Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival, Saebyeol Oreum area on Route 95, Bongseong-ri, Aewol-eup, Bukjeju-gun, Jeju-do (Take a 50 minute bus ride from Jeju City Bus Terminal.). The Jeongwol Daeboreum Fire Festival originates from the traditional harvesting of the grasses found in the local domestic farm animal pastures, which were annually set in fire each winter by the villagers as a way to exterminate harmful insects. It has been held annually since 1997. It is held during the holiday of Daeboreum (which is the 15th day of the first lunar month of the year, typically February). It gets extremely busy directly after the festival finishes (7-8PM), so it's sometimes worth staying around for a beer or a meal for an hour or two until the worst of the traffic has gone. 

Drink

Try Hallasan Soju the local brand of Korean rice wine, soju. Expect to pay ₩3,000 a bottle in a restaurant or ₩1,000 in a shop. Very strong.

Sleep

Budget

Jjimjilbangs are fairly common across Jeju city. With all of them, expect to pay under ₩10,000 for sauna access, a locker in which to put your stuff, cotton pyjamas or a robe and a patch of heated floor to pass out on. Most are listed below:

• JeJu Joyland, Jeju-si, Aewol-eup, Aewol-ri, 82 (Take the bus 37at Jeju airport and get off at last station Hagwi then transfer to bus going Aewol (5mins from Aewonro bus station)), ☏ +82 10-3131-5270. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. log cabin pension, Family/Group rooms available, kitchen, washing facilities, WiFi. 

• Jeju Burim Jimjilbang, Sin-jeju (Between Jeju Grand Hotel and Marchen House Apartments in Shin-Jeju). Jjimjilbang on the west side of town. 

• 1 Hani Guesthouse, Jeju-si, Hallim-eup, Geumneung-ri, 1258 (Take a bus from the Jeju-si local bus terminal gate No.11, get off at Guemnueung-ri (금능리) bus stop (1 stop after Hallimpark)), ☏ +82 64-796-5000. Check-in: 14.00, check-out: 12.00. Aimed at younger travellers. A hotel like atmosphere with all the usual amenities like a communual kitchen/lounge area, washing facilities, PCs, WiFi. Dorm: from ₩18,000- Private standard/deluxe room available. 

• Yeha Guesthouse (cheap & clean), 561-17, Samdo 1-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea, ☏ +82 64 713-5505. Beautiful guesthouse (hostel) located near the Jeju Bus Terminal. English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean are spoken. Domitory, double, Double+1 single and Double+2 single rooms are available. Shared room ₩19,000. 

• Tap Changito, Tapdong (From Jungangno, walk down to the harbour and turn left. It's behind the E-Mart near a Dunkin' Donuts). Despite having ocean views, this jjimjilbang on the north side of town mysteriously lacks any windows on the inside. Three main spas, with the largest in the men's being myseteriously garlic scented. Sleeping mats are eschewed in favour of a great big foam thingy across the entire floor. Headrest cubes still in short supply, so use towel bundles. More open plan than most so can get noisy. Also has a cinema and comic book library. ₩8000. 

• Yongduam Sea Water and Sauna Club, Yongdam (On the coast road near the Leisure and Sports Park). Another jjimjilbang on the north side of town. Convient to pop into after visiting Yongduam Rock to see the illumination at night. 

• Ilchul Bulgama, Gu-jeju (Opposite the Culture and Arts Center near Samseonghyeol). 

• Dong-cheon, Jungangno (Down a little alley on the south side of the road, near the stream at the east end of the underground shopping mall.). Jjimjilbang downtown. 

Mid-range

• Hotel Impress. Great seaview with large comfy beds, a PC, TV and a couch. Bar upstairs. Large windows give it plenty of sunshine. ₩50,000 for seaview rooms, ₩40,000 for others. 

• CF's Motel. A nice, if slightly tacky motel near the seafront. Some rooms have round or heart-shaped beds (ask at the front desk). Some rooms have a small bath. ₩40,000 per room. ₩5,000 extra for rooms with a PC.