Jeju Island is South Korea’s largest island. It’s a popular honeymoon destination for Koreans and has even made the list of one of the world’s 7 Natural Wonders. If you're going to head all the way to the far East nation of Korea, you'd be a fool to skip out on Jeju. You'll be met with dramatic coastal cliff sides, milky blue waters, unique rock formations, and cuisine that can't be found on the mainland. When you’re planning a visit to Jeju, make sure to read these tips before you arrive at this beautiful remote Korean island.

10 Fly From Seoul (For As Low As $22 On Jeju Air)

Jeju from the Air
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A bird's eye view from the plae arriving into Jeju Island from Seoul International Airport.

If you’re going to trek all the way to South Korea, you’re likely to have a stopover in Seoul. If so, it’s worth spending a few days in the capital before venturing off to one of the natural wonders of the world. Seoul is a vibrant city with some of the best street food in the world, energetic nightlife, animal cafés galore, stylish shopping, and more. Despite the incentive of what a fun city Seoul is, direct flights from Seoul to Jeju are often as low as $22 on Jeju Air.

9 Rent A Car

When you arrive at Jeju Airport, you will have three options for transportation: a bus that circulates the entire island, a taxi, or a car rental. Every Jeju guide out there will suggest renting a car, and this one is no different, for a good reason. Though at the airport, the bus frequently runs, for the rest of the island, the schedule is inconsistent, often leaving passengers waiting for upward of 30-45 minutes for a bus to arrive. Taxis, though slightly affordable, still require you to both rely on someone else and wait for them to arrive. Despite the island being very small, major attractions are spread out, and without a vehicle, you will have to severely limit what you’re able to see. Car rentals are available for as low as $88/day. The roads in Jeju are well-paved and easy to navigate. There are only a few main roads in total on the island, making for straightforward directions, the majority of road signs are in English, and traffic is seldom an issue. Get the most out of your Jeju experience by getting around via your own vehicle.

8 If You Plan To Hike Hallasan, Get There Early

Standing at 6,388 feet, Hallasan is the highest point in South Korea and the second highest point in Korea overall. To hike it is not for the faint of heart. On average, hiking Hallasan takes between 7 and 8 hours. To hike Hallasan, a reservation is required, and you must pass a checkpoint before 12:30 PM, which is why it’s recommended to get there as early as possible. The latest recommended time to arrive is 8 AM. Other Hallasan tips: bring at least 3L of water due to elevation and oxygen decrease, wear good shoes, and bring a hiking stick if you have access to one. It can be slippery, muddy, and quite rocky!

7 Bring A Friend … Or Two

Oedolgae on Jeju Island, South Korea
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Dramatic cliffsides of Oedolgae, Jeju, South Korea

Solo travel is getting more and more popular these days. More folks are getting sick of waiting on friends, family, and lovers alike to travel, so they’re just going off and doing it on their own. Recommending bringing a friend to Jeju is not to deter anyone from traveling solo, and it’s not because South Korea is unsafe. In fact, South Korea, in general, is typically and statistically safe, so to speak. It’s recommended to bring a friend to both Jeju and South Korea in general because of the culture. South Korea is extremely social, so much so that some restaurants won’t even serve you if you’re a party of one. Portions are meant for at least two people at almost every dining establishment. Some restaurants even have burners in the middle of the table, meant for you to cook your food with your party. Restaurants aside, South Korea has a vibrant nightlife that you’ll likely feel more comfortable partaking in if you’re with a buddy. Traveling solo to Jeju can make for a lonely and at times, awkward trip.

Related: How to Plan a Vacation on South Korea's Stunning Volcanic Island of Jeju

6 Stay In Seogwipo

Oadolgae, Jeju
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Exploring the unique rock formations of Jeju's dramatic Oadolgae

Seogwipo is Jeju’s second-largest city after Jeju City. It is on the southern end of the island, almost a two-hour ride from the airport. If you’re coming to Jeju to experience some natural wonders, considering it is indeed a natural wonder of the world, Seogwipo will situate you closely to some of the island’s most breathtaking views. Head to Oedolgae, about a twenty-minute walk or five-minute drive from central Seogwipo. Oedolgae translates to “lonely rock,” and once you arrive, you will understand why this sight has been given such a name. Once you arrive, you will hike down toward the water and be greeted with large gray rock formations perfectly contrasted against milky blue waters. Look out from the cliffside and take in Jeju and all of its beauty, or if there during the warm season, go in for a swim!

5 Learn Korean History At Jeju Stone Park

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Entrance sign at Jeju Stone Park

Is this Easter Island or South Korea? At least, that’s what you’ll be asking yourself when you arrive at Jeju Stone Park, a large outdoor ecological museum lined with cultural volcanic stones filled with monstrous rock formations. Jeju island is known as the “land of the stones,” and despite their jutting beauty, you’re in for a history lesson when you visit Jeju Stone Park. Learn about the myth of Seoulmundae Halmang. She was a giant goddess whose body was alleged to be as large as Jeju itself. Legend has it that one day while her sons were out hunting, Seoulmundae prepared a cauldron of hot soup but accidentally fell in it. The sons returned from hunting and ate the soup, not knowing their mother was the main ingredient, until they reached the bottom of the bowl and saw her bones. It’s said that from there on out, due to having just consumed their mother in soup form, the sons turned into stones of sadness.

Related: 10 Etiquette Tips to Know Before Traveling to South Korea

4 Eat Black Pork

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A black pig pancake from a street market in Seogwipo, Jeju Island

The Jeju black pig is home to Jeju Island. The pig or meat itself is not black, just the fur. The flavor is more like that of steak, without losing the fattiness of typical pork. In Jeju, there are endless options to eat black pork in many forms. Head to the street markets of Seogwipo and get a black pig pancake. Many small shops serve black pig dumplings. There are even fine-dining establishments that serve large portions of black pig, but be going back to tip number 4 in this article; many of them will only seat you if you have at least two people in your party.

3 Drink Tangerine Juice

Jeju Market
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Fresh produce at a market in Jeju, Korea

Need something sweet to wash down that salty pork? You’d be missing out if you went all the way to Jeju and opted not to try a cup of fresh tangerine juice. Jeju tangerines grow in rich volcanic ash soils, producing a super sweet optimal tangerine. Jeju’s landscape provides the ideal climate for producing tangerines with low acidity. Tangerines are so greatly appreciated in Jeju that the government has regulated under which conditions they can grow, assuring that you’ll always get a quality treat.

2 Explore Some Unique Attractions

In typical Korean fashion, Jeju Island has no limit on unique museums and attractions. Head to the Hello Kitty museum in Seogwipo, a fairly small museum that will take about 2 hours of your time, and you’ll be guaranteed to leave with some good pics for the ‘gram. Feeling sexy? Head to Jeju’s Love Museum, a museum with 140 large statues featuring humans in various sexual positions. Back in the 1970s, Jeju became a popular honeymoon destination and consequently became the land of Korean sex education. Jeju Love Land is dedicated solely to sex, educating its visitors while doing so. If you’re looking for something a little more family-friendly, head to the Teddy Bear Museum, also located in Seogwipo. There, you can learn all about teddy bears, and see hundreds of them in different costumes, including a section dedicated to parodies, where you’ll see a replica Michelangelo statue with a teddy bear head.

1 Chase Waterfalls

Jeju Island is home to several waterfalls. Crank your favorite TLC jam and head to the most famous, Cheonjiyeon Falls, at 72 feet (22 meters) tall. It requires a little bit of a hike to get there, but it’s well worth the views. It’s located slightly outside of the city of Seogwipo. For a more unique experience, take a visit to Jeongbang Falls, the only waterfall in Korea that falls directly into the sea. The options of waterfalls to visit in Jeju are seemingly endless, and each and every one is worth the trek to go watch them in all their majestic beauty.