A Day Trip From Seoul to Jeju
Roxy
3 days ago
Jeju is one of the most popular destinations in Korea, especially among people who have already visited Seoul and want to experience a completely different side of the country. As much as I love Seoul, there is something special about escaping the city for a day and being surrounded by nature instead.
I decided to take a one-day trip to Jeju during my stay in Korea. I was a bit nervous about doing it alone… It was my first domestic flight in Korea, hence I decided to only go for one day and not sleep there.
I flew with Eastar Jet from Gimpo Airport to Jeju Airport, and the trip already started in the best way possible - at the time, Eastar Jet was running a Peanuts collaboration, so there were Snoopy characters everywhere. The boarding passes, advertisements, and decorations all featured Peanuts designs! Since one of the main reasons I wanted to visit Jeju was Snoopy Garden, it just had me extremely hyped and overjoyed 🐶
Getting to Gimpo Airport was much easier than I expected. I simply took a bus from near my hotel, and it dropped me right at my terminal. As someone who tends to stress about transportation, this was a huge relief.
The airport process itself also went smoothly. Whenever I was unsure about something, there was always somebody willing to help and I had no issues communicating in English!
The flight only takes around an hour which is great, since you barely get comfortable in your seat and it’s already landing time :)
As we approached Jeju, I looked out of the window and the excitement overwhelmed me. The scenery felt completely different from Seoul. There was so much greenery, and even the airport surroundings looked more tropical than what I was used to seeing in the capital. Jeju was truly an exotic, one of a kind island.
After landing, I spent a few minutes taking photos around the airport because they actually had some really cute photo spots! There was a queue to the main one with Jeju symbols, so if you love those sort of spots, you’ll be thrilled upon getting off!
Then I spotted something that completely distracted me from leaving - Snoopy store. It was a Peanuts-themed pop-up with a giant Snoopy statue standing outside!
The shop was called Snoopy’s Vacation in Jeju, and as a Snoopy lover, I had to investigate it properly. It was a pop-up advertising the Snoopy Garden, which I was actually heading to! They were selling plushies, stationery, snacks, keychains - the exclusive Jeju-themed merchandise filled the shelves. I somehow managed not to buy the entire store (probably the only thing that stopped me was the luggage limit) and left with a set of stickers instead :)
Only after my little shopping detour did I finally make my way outside - my next destination was Snoopy Garden, which was actually very easy to reach from the airport. I simply took a direct bus that dropped me near the entrance about 40 minutes later.
Snoopy Garden ended up being one of my favorite experiences in Jeju, but I already wrote a separate blog post about it, so I will not go into too much detail here.
What I will say is that it absolutely lived up to my expectations. The indoor museum had interactive exhibits, cute displays, and lots of information about the Peanuts characters, while the outdoor area was filled with beautiful nature and adorable character statues. The whole experience was topped with delicious and cute food they offer. If you’re interested, please read about it in my previous blog!
Unfortunately, the easiest part of my Jeju trip (if we exclude the heavy rain that accompanied me majority of my Snoopy Garden experience) ended there.
After leaving Snoopy Garden, I wanted to visit the beach before returning to Seoul. That sounded simple in theory, but Jeju’s public transportation had other plans.
The buses are very infrequent and I spent quite a while trying to figure out how to get where I wanted to go. Eventually, I had to walk through forest roads completely alone for around 30 minutes to a bus stop (since the one by the Snoopy’s Garden did not have any bus coming anytime soon)
Normally that might sound scary, and honestly, it was a little bit. But at the same time, the scenery was beautiful. Everywhere I looked there were trees, fields, and views that felt completely different from Seoul! A true nature lover’s dream.
Eventually, Naver Maps led me to what seemed like a random bus stop next to a cafe in the middle of nowhere.
Thankfully, a bus actually showed up briefly after I arrived.
After a transfer, another walk, and a lot of checking Naver Maps every few minutes, I finally reached the beach! The downside was that all of those transportation adventures left me with only about an hour to enjoy it :(
I decided to take advantage of a cafe located right by the beach to try a drink with Jeju’s signature - Hallabong. I chose Hallabong Ice Tea. Honestly, I didn’t love it too much.. The flavor was much stronger than I expected, and it had a slightly bitter taste.
Nevertheless, I am glad I tried it. It was something extremely unique and one of a kind, so it almost felt like a must to try it. After all, how can you visit Jeju and not try Hallabong? 🍊
The beach itself was absolutely worth the effort. I spent about an hour lying down, watching the sunset and enjoying the peaceful, unique atmosphere. It felt completely different from Seoul. Everything seemed slower, quieter, and more peaceful. There were fewer crowds, fewer tall buildings, and more opportunities to simply sit and appreciate the view. I could say, it made me feel like a local, instead of a foreigner.
It must have been one of my favorite moments of the entire day.
Eventually, reality returned in the form of my flight home…
Naver Maps showed me a bus stop nearby that was supposed to take me back to the airport, and I spent the next hour silently hoping it would actually arrive on time - or arrive at all. Missing my flight because of Jeju buses would have been a very unfortunate ending to the day.
Luckily, everything worked out!
I made it back to the airport, checked in without any problems, and soon found myself on a plane heading back to Seoul. By the time I arrived, I was exhausted but incredibly happy that I had decided to go.
If I could give one piece of advice to future Jeju visitors, it would definitely be to rent a car if possible.
Unfortunately, I do not have a driver’s license, so that was not an option for me. After spending a day relying on public transportation, I completely understand why so many people highly recommend driving around the island instead…
Taxis and Uber are also available, although as a solo female traveler, I personally felt more comfortable and safe sticking to buses.
Despite the transportation challenges, my Jeju day trip became one of my favorite memories from Korea.
The island feels completely different from Seoul. Some areas, with their very old shop banners even felt like stepping back to 2010s compared to the modern atmosphere of the capital. Everywhere I went, people were kind and patient, despite me being a tourist.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. Hopefully next time with a rental car :)
