What to do in Seogwipo: waterfalls, volcanoes, and hiking in south Jeju

Why choose Seogwipo as your base?

Seogwipo is located on the southern coast of Jeju and is the island’s second city. It’s smaller and quieter than Jeju City in the north, but it offers more than the smaller villages. The big advantage is that you’re close to many of south Jeju’s best attractions: the waterfalls, Seongsan Ilchulbong, and the Olle hiking trails.

Seogwipo is the city, but it’s actually a much larger area. The entire south of Jeju is Seogwipo. I am staying a little outside the city of Seogwipo and think it is a nice place. It is not overly touristy, but you will find plenty of restaurants and amenities. And if you have a car, you can be anywhere on the island within an hour.

Coming from the airport? It’s about an hour’s drive to the city of Seogwipo.

Renting a car in Seogwipo

To be honest, a car is the most convenient on Jeju. The island is larger than you think, and the bus connections are not always frequent. With a car, you are much more flexible. I rented a car myself through DiscoverCars .

One important note: Google Maps doesn’t work well in South Korea. Download Naver Maps — that’s the app everyone uses here, and it works perfectly. I still keep Google Maps open to look things up and save places, but for navigation while driving: Naver Maps!

I also took the bus from my accommodation to Seogwipo city a few times to avoid parking issues, and it worked just fine. But if you want to see a lot of the island, a car is just more practical. Note: you’ll need an international driver’s license!

What to do in Seogwipo?

Seogwipo is the entire southern part of Jeju, and there is plenty to do and see! Too much even for the short time I’ve been there. So I would like to give you inspiration for the to-dos so that you can make your own plan.

And don’t forget to look around as you walk the streets. In autumn, for example, you’ll spot Jeju’s famous mandarins and the beautiful plumes of local pampas grass everywhere.

Seongsan Ilchulbong: the must-see volcanic crater

If there’s one thing you absolutely have to see around Seogwipo, it’s Seongsan Ilchulbong. This volcanic crater, also known as Sunrise Peak, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The crater was formed over 5,000 years ago by an underwater eruption. It used to be a separate island, but it’s now connected to the mainland. From the top, you look down into an enormous crater that’s now covered in vegetation.

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Lunch and coffee near Seongsan

Just near the volcano, there’s a small gimbap restaurant where one woman takes orders and cooks everything herself. We order black pork and vegetable gimbap. It’s a great spot for lunch before or after the hike — simple but good.

Google Maps location

For coffee, we go to Walk In Coffee Bar. Coffee is made here with real care. Unfortunately, we’re a little rushed because we want to catch the haenyeo show (which, as mentioned, doesn’t happen), so the coffee goes down a bit too quickly. But the vibe is great, and you can tell they’re genuinely passionate about coffee.

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Jeongbang Waterfall: a waterfall that falls into the sea

Jeongbang is promoted as the only waterfall in South Korea that falls directly into the sea. And it’s true. You walk down a staircase to a rocky beach at the base of the 75-foot (23-meter) waterfall. The view of the waterfall as you descend is already beautiful, and standing on the rocks, you can feel the water crashing down. Even on a Monday morning, there are already quite a few people here — but if I climb a little further over the rocks and boulders, I manage to get a photo without anyone in it.

The waterfall is on the eastern side of Seogwipo, right on the coast. Entry is 2,000 won (about $1.50) for adults. There’s also a parking lot if you’re driving. Plan about half an hour for your visit.

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Onolun Green Tea House: the secret green tea cave

Jeju is known for its green tea, and at Onolun Green Tea House, you can experience that firsthand. There’s a shop where you can buy all kinds of matcha products, and a café where — of course — you can drink and eat green tea things. They also offer a green tea foot bath, but from the reviews I read, it sounds more like an intense instructional session than a relaxing experience. And when I peek inside, someone is indeed lecturing the group on what to do. So I’m happy to skip it.

What we do check out is the secret green tea cave. You walk a little way along the tea plantation and come across a photogenic cave. It’s not huge or incredibly dramatic, but it’s a nice little detour. And it’s free.

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Olle 7 trail: hiking along the coast

The Olle trails are hiking paths that run all across Jeju. They’re clearly marked with arrows and ribbons so you always know you’re on the right track. In theory, you could hike around the entire island — but that might be a bit ambitious. Check all the routes here. We walk part of the Olle Trail 7 from our accommodation toward Seogwipo city.

We start at 60 Beans, a coffee bar with a spacious sculpture garden. First, breakfast with a view over the sculptures and the sea — a solid start to the day.

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The trail first follows the coast and is fairly flat with great views. We pass a handful of other hikers and the occasional spot to grab a snack or drink.

But then we go towards the mountain… And then suddenly it’s a lot of climbing stairs. At the top is a small gazebo where you can take a breather. Then we go through a park where Korean pensioners play a kind of golf game. It is all well signposted, so you don’t get lost easily. The route continued towards the market of Seogwipo.

The part of the Olle 7 trail that we walked is therefore quite varied. Coast, forest and city.

Seogwipo city: the market and more

Besides all the nature, there’s also the city of Seogwipo itself. I don’t explore it super thoroughly, but I do visit the Seogwipo Maeil Olle Market.

The market is lively, and the food section is especially fun to explore. Stalls full of fresh fish, fruit, and Korean street food. Just take a chance and join the line at a popular stall — who knows what delicious (or surprising!) things you’ll discover!

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Want to do more in Seogwipo city? If you’re staying a bit longer, there are more things to see in the city itself:

• Saeseom Island: a small island you reach via a white sail bridge (Saeyeon Bridge). Great for a short walk with harbor views.
• Lee Joong Seop Street: a street with art galleries and cafés if you’re into art.
• Downtown Seogwipo: just stroll through the center. There are plenty of shops and restaurants, and in the evening there’s also a night market.

Damsoyo: a quiet garden with cake

Want to chill out in nature? My best friend and I do that at Damsoyo. This is a garden with a pond where you can walk around and then find a place to have a drink. Of course, we also take a cake and can heartily recommend the pumpkin pie.

It’s especially enjoyable on dry days. The coffee shop itself isn’t anything special on the inside, but the garden is lovely. There’s also a small gift shop if you want to pick up a souvenir.

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O’Reve Hot Spring & Spa: unwind after a day of sightseeing

After a day of waterfalls, volcanoes, and hiking, it’s nice to wind down. O’Reve Hot Spring & Spa is perfect for that. And if you come after 6 p.m., you pay half the regular price.

At the entrance, you get a shirt and pants that you’re required to wear in the sauna area. In the pool area, your hair must be covered. You can rent a swim cap for 3,000 won (about $2.20), but they also accept a regular hat you can tuck your hair under.

We start outside at the hot tubs. It’s already dark when we arrive, and because the complex is so large, it feels a little empty. Unfortunately, part of the facilities aren’t working, and the snack bar is closed. That’s a shame, because it could have been a lot cozier. But the hot tubs that do work are great.

Downstairs at the sauna is a large restaurant where you can choose from a menu priced at 30,000 won. You can also eat from the buffet. To be honest, we had had enough at the buffet alone.

There are different temperature saunas that you can go through, a room full of Himalayan salt, and also a room with massage beds. We can’t get those beds quite right, so it’s a rather intense experience haha.

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