Exploring the various Beaches on Jeju Island
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Jeju Island could possibly be Korea’s favourite holiday destination with everything from beaches, caves and even a volcano. It’s located south of the Korean mainland in the East China Sea.
Jeju is a tropical island that attracts Korean residents and foreigners every year to enjoy its beaches and hiking opportunities.
Let’s face it, Korea is not the first country you’ll likely think of when discussing beaches but there are plenty of beautiful ones that deserve recognition. If you enjoy surfing, Surfyy Beach in the northwest of the country is
Want to spend more than 90 days in Korea? Apply for an H1 working holiday visa allowing you to stay for 1 year, and I can show you how to get set up as an expat.
| Country: | South Korea (Republic of Korea) |
| Currency: | South Korean Won / KRW |
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Rent a car on Jeju Island
The best way to reach many of these beaches in Jeju Island is to drive. You can rent a car easily as a foreigner on the Island and it’s much more convenient than trying to navigate the public bus system.
Jeju is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country so car rentals can often get snapped up really quickly. This means you should try to plan your trip as far in advance as possible to avoid disappointment.
When renting a car you have a few different places to find rentals that suit your needs. My two go-to companies are below. I have suggested two as it’s always worth having a backup place if one company is sold out.
Can’t drive? Make sure you have your T Money card and that it’s topped up to use on the bus.
Iho Teu Beach
Location: IhoIl-dong Jeju-si Jeju-do ( 제주 제주시 이호일동 )
This is one of the first great beaches you’ll reach on Jeju Island after leaving the airport when heading west. It’s a soft sandy beach that doesn’t get too crowded – even in the busy season. It does have a few features that make it a little different to other beaches on our list.
You’ll notice when you look out to see that there are two interesting structures at the end of the pier. Animal-shaped lighthouses – one red and one white. Whether they are supposed to be llamas, horses or something different, I’m not completely sure, but they’re an attraction in their own right!
There is a small car park close to the beach that holds up to 20 cars or so and there are public restrooms nearby too.
Hamdan Haebyeon
Location: Aewol-ri Aewol-eup Jeju-si Jeju-do ( 제주 제주시 애월읍 )
This is one of the beaches on Jeju Island that doesn’t actually have much sand, It’s mostly made up of rocks and can be slippery depending on the conditions. There is a small “hidden” beach tucked away between the small cliffs but this can fill up quickly if you’re too late to arrive.
One of the most popular activities people like to do here is go kayaking in glass-bottom boats and due to the extremely clear water, you might get lucky and see some fish.
There is not much in the way of car parking nearby, so you’ll likely be competing with others for a space but you will luckily find a small cafe and a little shop in the area when you want to grab something to eat.
Gwakji Beach
Location: Gwakji-rk Aewol-eup Jeju-si Jeju-do ( 제주 제주시 애월읍 )
Of all the beaches on Jeju Island, this is easily one of my personal favourites. It’s in a relatively built-up area so along the stretch of the beach you’ll find cafes, stores and even a small restaurant where you can enjoy the views of the coast.
There is white sand and the beach itself covers a lot of ground so even when it’s busy, you’ll have no problem finding your own spot to sunbathe in. Parts of the beach have been recently landscaped to have even more sand than before so you might see some of the sandbags just poking through near the stairs by the back pathway.
The water is clear, and the incline into the water is extremely gradual so you can walk in the waves and paddle without having to jump straight into swimming. A truly beautiful beach.
Hyeopjae Beach
Location: 2497-1 Hyeopjae-ri Hallim-eup Jeju-si Jeju-do ( 제주 제주시 한림읍 )
This beach has a little bit of everything. You’ll find a local campsite that backs onto the sand so if you wanted to stay nearby, you’re in luck. There are some remnants of volcanic rock surrounding the coast in this area where you’ll find many people looking for small crabs and creatures hiding in their rock pools.
If you head left or right of the black volcanic formations you’ll find the typical sandy parts of the beach you’re probably looking for, but honestly, all areas of Hyeopjae get busy.
The water is refreshing and there is only one area with a slight drop-off into the sea, everywhere else along this beach is a steady ramp into the water. Be careful though, there are many smaller rocks scattered along the shallows that you could easily cut your feet on.
Geumneung Beach
Location: Geumneung-ri Hallim-eup Jeju-si Jeju-do ( 제주 제주시 한림읍 )
Of all the beaches on Jeju Island, this might be one of the ones that look the most tropical. The sand is white, the water is consistently shallow and there are palm trees located at 3 points along the shoreline. With grassy areas and picnic benches in the area, you’ll have the perfect backdrop to lunch in the sun.
Along the water, you’ll see small pockets of rocks that can be sharp but they’re small enough to step over. There’s a large car park bout 5 minutes walk from the shore and it’s one of the longest beaches on Jeju Island. You’ll find people swimming, paddling, windsurfing and kayaking in this area so you can easily get involved here too.
Eongal Haean Beach
Location: Gosan-ri Hangyeong-myeon Jeju-si Jeju-do ( 제주 제주시 한경면 )
This is another rocky beach with some charming walking paths along the cliffside. You’ll notice there are not many places to lay your towel down and enjoy a “typical” beach day but you can certainly take a dip from here.
This beach is rather secluded too so it’s not as close to amenities such as stores and cafes if you get hungry. So if you do happen to visit this beach and plan on staying a while, consider bringing everything you need, or be prepared to drive a short distance.
Sagye Haean
Location: Sagye-ri Andeok-myeon Seogwipo-si Jeju-do ( 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 )
The weather doesn’t do my photo justice but this is a wonderful beach. With the recognisable mount in the background, this is a popular spot for families.
With regard to parking there are a few small car park on the opposite side of the road that hold a few cars each and there is a larger car park reserved for those using the restaurants along the street.
With unique orange-coloured sand, this is one of the most well-known beaches on Jeju Island! You’ll see people paddling in the water, cooking bbqs and eating picnics here so it’s the perfect location for the entire family.
Yongmeori Haean
Location: 112-3 Sagye-ri Andeok-myeon Seogwipo-si Jeju-do ( 제주 서귀포시 안덕면 )
This is one of the more interesting beaches In Jeju and is just one of a few beaches with black sand! Only a few places in the world are lucky enough to have these.
Theres a grassy bank behind the beach so you’ll find families with small gazebos and people having picnics here while their kids play in the sand.
This is another beach that has both sand and rock formations so you should maintain care when walking around as to not cut your feet.
Take care: Black sand absorbs the heat and will burn your feet much quicker than other colours.
Hahyo Soesokkak Bathing Area
Location: Hahyo-dong Seogwipo-si Jeju-do ( 제주 서귀포시 하효동 )
This beach is one of the most famous in Jeju Island because of the colour of the sand. It’s also a large beach in a somewhat built-up area so it’s easy to spend an entire day here with places to order food and drinks really close by.
There are also fewer dangers such as clusters of rocks in the sand here compared to some others we’ve seen which makes this a hit with families. You can spend more time enjoying yourself instead of needing to be cautious.
It’s relatively flat the entire length of the beach too which means you can relax on almost any part without climbing up and down banks.
Pyoseon Bathing Resort
Location: Pyoseon-ri Pyoseon-myeon Seogwipo-si Jeju-do ( 제주 서귀포시 표선면 )
Now, this was one of my favourite beaches overall as it takes a long time to reach the water from the road, but that meant there were practically no tourists. Not to mention there is only one place to eat nearby.
The white sand is soft and stone free but can be deep in places (sometimes it would reach my knee) so it gives the illusion of quicksand. But don’t worry it’s perfectly safe.
Due to how far the tide retreats here you’ll find a few “streams” of water like the one pictured before you reach the sea itself. The water is crystal clear and perfect for a quiet dip if you want to avoid bustling crowds!
Hado Bathing Resort
Location: Hado-ri Gujwa-eup Jeju-si Jeju-do ( 제주 제주시 구좌읍 )
As you can see, this is a beautiful place to enjoy the sunset. As far as beaches in Jeju Island go, this is another great option that people like to swim in. When the waves are big enough you’ll see people practising their surfing skills here and oftentimes you’ll see large stalks walking along the grass.
There’s a lot of parking available and lots of green space for people to put up their tents and canopies which gives off the perfect atmosphere for small BBQs. This is also a dog-friendly beach so if you’re an animal lover this could be the perfect place to relax while getting to enjoy dogs on their walks.
Woljeongni Bathing Resort
Location: 33-3 Woljeong-ni Gujwa-eup Jeju-si Jeju-do ( 제주 제주시 구좌읍 )
This is another fantastic choice to choose when looking for a beach to enjoy in a built-up area. This beach runs along a busy street so you’ll find countless bars, restaurants, cafes and convenience stores with everything you could need. It’s one of our list’s longest beaches which means there’s more shoreline to enjoy.
You’ll also never struggle to find parking nearby as this is one of the easiest beaches in Jeju Island to park near as the entire main street has multiple parking options available. You can enjoy the calm waters here with minimal waves and from time to time you’ll see people with inflatables floating in the sea.
Where to stay on Jeju Island
Jeju Island has two main cities to stay in, Seogwipo and Jeju City. If you’re trying to visit more than one of the beaches on our list it is likely you will be travelling around lots of the Island. If you need accommodation during your stay you have a few different options to choose from.
HostelWorld – This is a great place to find Hostels and shared accommodation. It’s one of the best choices for solo or budget travellers looking to meet other people also exploring the island.
Booking.com – This is one of the best websites to find different types of accommodation such as hotels, guesthouses, apartments and more.
