6 Days in Jeju: A Family-Friendly Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Jeju Island is South Korea’s most popular holiday escape, often called the “Hawaii of Korea.”

With its volcanic coastlines, waterfalls, green tea fields, and relaxed island pace, Jeju is a destination that works just as well for adventurous hikers as it does for families or travellers looking for something easy and scenic.

I spent six days here with my parents, and it turned out to be the perfect family trip - not too intense, easy to navigate with public transport or taxis, and packed with natural beauty and incredible food.

Things to Know Before You Go

Currency‍

South Korea uses the Korean Won (KRW). Credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere, even in cafés and smaller restaurants, but it’s smart to carry some cash for buses, markets, or countryside stops.

Getting Around

• Buses: Cheap, clean, and efficient. Most routes run on time, though sometimes with longer intervals, so plan ahead.
• Taxis: Easy to flag in towns but pricier for long distances (e.g. Jeju Airport to Seogwipo takes ~1 hour by car).
• Driving: Renting a car is common for flexibility, but we chose buses + taxis and found it very manageable.

Local Apps to Download

• Naver Map: The go-to navigation app in Korea (Google Maps doesn’t work well here). Provides accurate bus routes and walking directions.
• Kakao T: Essential for hailing taxis quickly and paying cashless.
• Papago: Translation app for menus, signs, and conversations - very handy outside the main tourist spots.

Food to Try in Jeju

• Jeju Black Pork BBQ: Smoky, tender pork unique to the island - don’t miss it.
• Fresh Seafood: From raw fish to abalone porridge, seafood here is exceptional.
• Green Tea Desserts: Jeju’s volcanic soil produces rich green tea, featured in cakes, ice cream, and lattes.

My 6-Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival & Seogwipo Coast

Afternoon

Once we landed at Jeju Airport, we hopped on the local bus south to Seogwipo (~1 hour)

You can also call a taxi to take you straight to your hotel but the bus was easy and way cheaper than the taxis on this island.

Where We Stayed

For the first 3 nights on Jeju, we stayed at the Grand Sumorum Hotel right by the coast, a little outside of Seogwipo City.

The hotel resort offers coastal views, easy walking paths, and peaceful surroundings and modern facilities like a few pools and steam room that my parents really enjoyed.

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There were many families and couples also enjoying their stay there and they also have a convenience store on-site which was great as otherwise the nearest convenience store was about a 10 min walk from the hotel.

Only thing I didn't love was that the breakfast wasn't included so you had to pay extra, but the food was very good at the breakfast buffet.

Evening

In the evening, we took a bus that drove us right into the centre of Seogwipo City.

After wandering around the main market in Seogwipo, we chose to have our first black pork BBQ dinner at Nammaene Black Pork Seogwipo.

My parents absolutely loved the BBQ black pork and all the different banchans that came with it.

Would also highly recommend getting their bibim

We left the restaurant stuffed and it was the perfect first dinner.

Day 2 – Waterfalls, Cafés and Braised Pork Belly

Morning

Instead of hotel breakfast today, we stopped at RUDDY’S which was nearby for some light breakfast.

The cafe had excellent sea views and I really liked my salted caramel cold foam coffee.

Afternoon

One of the most popular spots to explore in the South is the Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff (Pillar Coast) with its volcanic rock formations.

This is where we ran into the most amount of tourists as everywhere else was quiet and peaceful.

You can either drive there or get a bus and walk to the site entrance and purchase a ticket to go inside.

Would highly advise wearing appropriate sun protection as the area is uncovered and can be super hot on a sunny day.

Afterwards we took a taxi to Seogwipo market in the city tp grab a few bites to eat.

The market was buzzing in the afternoon and I was tempted by the queues to try the popular tangerine mochi wrapped in red bean paste.

The tangerine was sweet and the mochi was fresh and it made a great afternoon snack before our visit to Jeongbang Waterfall, one of the few in Asia that falls directly into the ocean.

Dinner

Instead of having another night of KBBQ, we stumbled upon a popular local spot called CheonJitGol for another take on Jeju’s signature dish.

You know the place is bound to be good when there are only locals eating there... it's how I pick a place to eat and it's never failed me.

This place braises their pork belly instead of grilling them, and the meat is tender and succulent, and you can choose from normal pork or Jeju black pork.

The owner was super friendly and she comes round to talk you through how to enjoy with different banchan pairings. This really made it feel like a tasting experience.

Day 3 – Tea, Skincare & Hidden Towns

Morning

As much as we wanted to explore more in the morning on our third day, we opted for a slow morning at the hotel.

My parents really wanted to make use of the spa and sauna and pools before we check out so the morning was spent lingering on site, which was great for me as taking parents on holiday is another level of work and...

Since breakfast was light, for lunch we went to Black Ranch for another must-try black pork BBQ feast.

The place had a really good deal on getting extra dishes for free (something my Asian parents find hard to resist) so we ate good that day.

Next door, there was also a really aesthetic cafe which offered a discount if you were dining at Black Ranch.

This was one of many beautiful cafes that we visited during our time on Jeju.

Afternoon

For a quieter experience, we found ourselves at this serene temple called Yak Chun Sa.

It was not only beautiful in its architecture, but also offers a calming atmosphere that's perfect for reflection and quiet walks after lunch.

Shortly after, we hopped on the bus again and arrived at the Osulloc Tea Museum for green tea desserts and shopping.

The green tea plantations outside are great for getting some cute aesthetic photos, especially at golden hour in the afternoon.

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Right next door is the Innisfree House, a lovely spot for skincare shopping and DIY soap-making activities if you have time.

They also had some exclusive discounts for their products and it was definitely the biggest range of Innisfree I've ever seen (no surprises there tbh)

Evening

I'm always one to want to explore the neighbourhoods nearby and wander into local restaurants and shops for a more authentic Jeju vibe.

I found that using the NAVER map app was really helpful as it gives you bus information in real-time, so took a risk and brought my parents to this random fishing town called Hamo-ri

The reviews for it on Google Maps were amazing so I had to visit for myself... and as always, there were no other foreingers apart from us. Great sign!

The place is known for mackerel sashimi, which was new to me...

I know it sounds quite random but strange but mackerel sashimi is a thing, and I can't believe it took me 31 years to learn about it.

I've never had mackerel SO fresh. It was so tender and the restaurant cooked it a variety of ways so it was an amazing tasting experience.

The grilled mackerel was one the most incredible, it was juicy and fatty and mind-blowingly delicious.

Day 4 – Hallim

Morning

We checked out from the Grand Sumorum Resort Hotel in Seogwipo and hopped on a taxi to Hallim.

The ride took about an hour and soon enough we were checked into our hotel (wasn't that good so I won't mention it lol)

The beach strip along Hyeopjae Beach has lots of restaurants and shops so it was perfect.

Afternoon

The must visit in Hallim is of couse their stunning Hyeopjae Beach.

The water is shallow and the waves are calm so you could spend ages there.

There are also lots of deck chairs and changing room and shower facilities around so it was really easy to find a place to get changes and freshen up after going in for a dip.

If chasing sunsets if something you also love, the sunset here was absolutely stunning and lots of people gather along the beach to appreciate the view.

The water on Hyeopjae Beach is shallow so you can also strong along the water as you watch the sunset.

Evening

Given the wide variety of restaurants there are in Hallim, it's easy to find another delicious spot for food.

As expected, we settled on another night of KBBQ. When in Rome, right?

Actually, aside from the highlight of another delicious meal of juicy Jeju black pork, this cold noodle dish was also super tasty.

I loved how every restaurant offers their own take on a cold noodle that balances out with the fatty pork that's grilling on the hot plates.

Day 5 – Hallim > Jeju City

Morning

The biggest decision for the morning was what to have for breakfast as there were so many cafes and bakeries around in Hallim.

Afternoon

My mother loves plants and birds so it was a must for us to visit Hallim Park, which is a botanical garden with a variety of scenic gardens and some caves.

I didn't expect to like it so much but my parents loved it as there were so many things to see, and the plant variety there was incredible.

Personally, I wanted to go there to see the wild peacocks roaming around, but then we also spotted other bird animals like ostriches and turkeys.

You can easily spent 2-3 hours in there strolling around the gardens and exploring the cave systems as an escape from the sun if you visit in the summer.

Dinner

Instead of KBBQ, there are also tons of other interesting Korean places to try in Hallim.

We opted for this homey looking place with some home-cooked style food.

Day 6 – Jeju City & Departure

Morning

We spent our last morning checking out of the hotel and headed straight to the airport to store our luggage.

The rest of the monring was spent at Dongmun Traditional Market in Jeju City, looking for souvenirs.

This is a great place to look for Jeju specialties like hallabong (tangerine) chocolate, green tea snacks, or handmade soaps.

Afternoon

If you have time, there are tons of duty free shops in Jeju City.

Lotte was the one that we visited and you can get cashback credit right there on your purchases to spend in store as you kill time before your flight.

Don't forget to save enough time for heading back to Jeju Airport! Any duty free goods can then be picked up at the designated spots in the airport once you're in the terminal.

Why This Trip Works Well for Families

This six-day itinerary was perfect for travelling with my parents because....

• Flexible pace: There were lots of sights that are short walks or an easy bus ride away. They loved to coastal strolls at their own leisure.
• Mix of nature and comfort: Waterfalls, coastal paths, and lava tubes balanced with cafés, museums, and shopping.
• Easy dining: From Korean BBQ to convenience-store snacks, it’s simple to self-cater when needed.
• Low stress: With Naver Map and Kakao T, we never felt lost or stuck.

Whether you’re planning your first trip to Jeju or returning for a slower, more scenic escape.

This itinerary strikes the balance between exploration and relaxation - with plenty of room for Jeju’s signature black pork BBQ along the way.

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