Hallasan National Park
한라산국립공원The country's highest point (1,950 m), a dormant UNESCO-listed volcano with a crater lake at the summit. Four trails, two of which reach the top.
Taxi from Jeju for Gwaneumsa (~30,000 ₩), bus for Seongpanak · Maps ↗
Around the country
The cities, one by one
Pick a city: you get what makes it special, how to get there from Seoul, and the places genuinely worth the trip.
Jeju
제주도The volcanic island in the south, an hour by plane. A distinctly separate climate, dialect and culture, with the haenyeo — free-diving women who bring up shellfish and abalone without tanks — and the dol hareubang, basalt statues known as the stone grandfathers.
Getting thereBy plane from Gimpo (Seoul) or Gimhae (Busan), the most frequent routes. Budget 80,000-120,000 ₩ return. By boat: 12 h from Busan, 4 to 5 h 30 from Mokpo.
Seongsan Ilchulbong
성산일출봉A crater risen from the sea, shaped like a crown. The climb takes 25 minutes and the sunrise is famous — hence its name, sunrise peak.
Bus from Jeju, east coast · Maps ↗
Jeju Olle Trails
제주올레26 hiking routes from 5 to 23 km, mostly along the coast. You can buy a passport and stamp it along the way.
Trailheads all around the island · Maps ↗
Manjanggul Lava Tube
만장굴One of the world's longest lava tubes, UNESCO-listed. A kilometre is open to the public, ending at an impressive lava column.
Bus from Jeju, ~1 h · Maps ↗
Haenyeo Museum
해녀박물관Devoted to the diving women who are the island's pride, covering their techniques and their community organisation.
Northeast coast, bus from Jeju · Maps ↗