Recently we had a long weekend, so we packed our bags and flew down to Jeju Island. Real talk, my husband is super boujee when it comes to booking the places we stay in, but this time around he found the cutest Air BnB designed for families with small kids and booked that for our trip. It was a dream house for our kids and even had a little slide that went from the room our son stayed in down to the playroom. He was obsessed. Not to mention all the toys, books, and crafts they had there as well.

*A plethora of children’s books in both English and Korean*

*The hydrangeas were in bloom all over the island in a variety of vibrant colors*

We really enjoyed staying on the eastern side, it seemed a bit quieter than the other areas on the island which we tend to prefer, but it is a long drive to the other side of island when you are venturing out. If you decide to stay on the eastern side of Jeju or just want to see what is on that side of the island, here are some of the things to do on the East Coast of Jeju!

1) Hike Seongsan Ilchubong (Sunrise Peak)

*Views from the top of Seongsan Ilchubong*

This was the first thing we did on Jeju since it was only about eight minutes away from where were staying. We didn’t go right at sunrise, but many people opt to do so since the views are stunning from the top. It took us about 16 minutes to get to the top and we were taking our time without breaks (minus a few very short photo stops for myself). They say to allot an hour to the hike and the walk around the trail.

Cost: 2,000 won for adults, kids 6 and under free

Address: 284-12, Ilchul-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

Naver: 제주특별자치도 서귀포시 성산읍 일출로 284-12

2) Watch a haenyeo show (women divers)

*Two haenyeo’s coming out of the water with their tewak’s and flippers*

Seeing the Jeju haenyeo was at the top of my list for our trip to Jeju. I did see some out in the water from afar, but we also went to the 2 PM show at Seongsan Ilchubong so I could see them in person. The show is pretty basic, they sing a song to music then wade out into the water to showcase how they dive.

Location: The show is at Seongsan Ilchubong and you just take the free path on your left when you walk in and walk down the steps to the water.

Time: 2 PM is the only show time as of our visit in June 2023 (times will vary depending on the season and weather)

3) Explore the Jeju Haenyeo Museum

Address: 26, Haenyeobangmulgwan-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Hours: 9 AM-6 PM

Phone: (+82) 064-710-7771

4) Check out Café Hallasan

This was my favorite cafe that we visited on our weekend trip to Jeju. I ordered the Hallasan Tea which was so delicious, and Derik ordered the carrot juice which he really enjoyed. They have two buildings and a nice outdoor area with views of the water, you can’t go wrong sitting in or outside.

Address: 48 Myeonsu 1-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

5) Visit the Manjanggul Lave Tube

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the largest lava tubes in the world and a huge draw for visitors.

Address: 182, Manjanggul-gil, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

Naver: 제주특별자치도 제주시 구좌읍 만장굴길 182 (구좌읍)

Cost: 4,000 won for adults, 2,000 for children

Parking: Parking on site

6) Indulge in seafood stew at Seongsan Ojo Miya성산오조미야

We were actually on a hunt for tacos the evening we ended up at Oja Miya. We walked up to the restaurant next door and before we even placed a foot at the entrance, a woman ran out and said we were not allowed inside with children because someone had recently complained about children in there. I will keep my mouth shut about that, but SERIOUSLY?

Anyways, we ended up next door and the staff at Ojo Miya graciously accepted us. The food was spectacular and priced very reasonably. The dumplings were enormous and we ordered two bowls of the seafood stew- based on the photo on the menu it looked much smaller than the massive bowl that actually arrived at our table. So, thank you to the restaurant next door for turning us away, we had a very lovely meal next door and would return if we are ever down that way in Jeju again.

Phone: 0507-1444-2930

Naver: 성산오조미야

I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by Jeju, I really wasn't sure what to expect before we went down there. I really enjoyed the lush island and am already planning to take advantage of my Delta Skymiles to fly back down later this year!

Things to Do on the East Coast of Jeju