Northern Jeju : North Jeju Island Travel Guide🏖️

Northern Jeju 🏖️

” 🌿 Wishing you a day full of happiness. _ J “

Where urban charm meets natural beauty, Northern Jeju stands as the gateway to Jeju Island and the most accessible region beloved by countless travelers.

Centered around Jeju City, Northern Jeju travel offers a unique charm where you can simultaneously experience the distinctive coastal terrain created by basalt formations and the convenience of urban life.

Essential Reading: We recommend checking more detailed information before your trip, and please use this content for reference purposes.

1. Top Tourist Attractions in Northern Jeju 🏖️

1-1. Yongduam Rock – Symbol of Jeju City

Yongduam Rock is the iconic landmark of Jeju City, located on the seaside near Jeju Airport.

Over countless years, waves and wind have sculpted it into a shape resembling a dragon’s head, hence the name Yongduam.

Advantages ✨

• Excellent accessibility being close to Jeju Airport
• Perfect spot for both sunrise and sunset viewing
• Free admission makes it budget-friendly
• Cultural value connected to Jeju legends

Disadvantages ⚠️

• Crowded with tourists, causing wait times for photos
• Limited visibility depending on weather conditions
• Small parking area makes parking difficult during peak season
  
  
  

1-2. Hamdeok Beach – Emerald Paradise

Hamdeok Beach is an essential destination you absolutely cannot miss during your Northern Jeju travel.

In 2025, Hamdeok Beach operates from June 24th to August 31st, and this beach creates an exotic scenery with palm trees and the clear, transparent emerald waters.

Advantages 🏊‍♀️

• Most beautiful emerald waters in Jeju Island
• Shallow depth perfect for family travel
• Night opening allows enjoying the night sea
• Well-developed surrounding cafes and restaurants

Disadvantages 🌊

• Extremely crowded during peak season, difficult to secure spots
• Water activities restricted on days with high waves
• Burden of parking fees and various facility usage fees
  
  
  

1-3. Gimnyeong Seongsegi Beach – White Sand of Seashells

Gimnyeong Seongsegi Beach is a uniquely charming beach located in Gujwa-eup, Jeju City.

It’s a hidden gem of Northern Jeju travel, featuring distinctive white sand beaches made from seashells.

Advantages 🐚

• Unique white sand beach composed of seashells
• Relatively quiet with a private atmosphere
• Suitable for snorkeling and marine sports
• Instagram-worthy photo spot

Disadvantages 📷

• Public transportation access somewhat inconvenient
• Fewer amenities compared to other beaches
• Many windy days resulting in lower perceived temperatures
  
  
  

2. Jeju Port and Urban Beaches 🚢

2-1. Jeju Port – Gateway to Jeju Island

Jeju Port serves as the important gateway to Jeju Island, featuring the coastal passenger terminal and a beautiful lighthouse.

It’s a meaningful place that serves as both the starting and ending point of Northern Jeju travel.

Advantages ⛵

• Symbolic meaning as the entrance to Jeju Island
• Romantic atmosphere unique to ports
• Concentrated area of surrounding restaurants and cafes
• Beautiful night scenery walking course

Disadvantages 🚗

• Heavy vehicle traffic requiring caution while walking
• Severe weather changes due to wind and salt spray
• Serious traffic congestion during peak season
  
  
  

2-2. Iho Tewoo Beach – Jeju City’s Representative Beach

Perfect for enjoying leisure among greenery, Iho Tewoo Beach is the closest beach to the city center and Jeju City’s representative beach, famous for its horse lighthouses.

Advantages 🐎

• Best accessibility from Jeju City center
• Unique scenery with horse lighthouses
• Various water sports experiences available
• Rich surrounding accommodation and restaurants

Disadvantages 🏙️

• Somewhat lacking in naturalness due to proximity to city center
• Extreme crowds on weekends and holidays
• Difficult to secure parking spaces
  
  
  

2-3. Samyang Beach – Special Black Sand

Samyang Beach is a unique black sand beach located in Samyang-dong, Jeju City.

It’s a special place in Northern Jeju travel that offers the unique experience of enjoying hot springs alongside beach activities.

Advantages ♨️

• Unique experience of black sand
• Enjoying hot springs and sea bathing simultaneously
• Mineral-rich sand bathing experience
• Relatively quiet atmosphere

Disadvantages 🖤

• Caution needed regarding clothing stains from black sand
• Additional fees for hot spring use
• Limited winter use
  
  
  

3. Jeju Coastal Road Drive 🚗

3-1. Fantastic Driving Course

The Jeju coastal road is one of the highlights of Northern Jeju travel, offering a fantastic driving course along the basalt coastline.

You can enjoy magnificent scenery driving from Yongduam to Hyeopjae Beach.

Driving Course Advantages 🌅

• Open ocean views and basalt cliff scenery
• Photo zones and observation decks located throughout
• Flexible schedule adjustment possible
• Rest time at coastal cafes

Precautions ⚠️

• Caution needed for strong winds characteristic of coastal roads
• Increased travel time due to traffic congestion during peak season
• Need to identify parking-available points in advance
  
  
  

4. Geological Features and Cultural Background 🌋

4-1. Unique Terrain of Volcanic Island Jeju

The greatest characteristic of the Northern Jeju travel region is the unique coastal terrain composed of basalt.

This basalt coastline, created by Jeju Island’s volcanic activity, presents special scenery found nowhere else in the world.

Geological Features 🗿

• Development of basalt columnar joints and sea caves
• Unique terrain formed where lava met the sea
• Various rock formations created by coastal erosion
• Contrast between black basalt and blue ocean
  
  
  

4-2. Jeju Legends and Folklore

Northern Jeju travel destinations, including Yongduam Rock, are imbued with various legends and folklore.

Stories passed down in Jeju dialect give special meaning to each location.

Cultural Value 📚

• Legend of the dragon and Hallasan mountain spirit at Yongduam
• Haenyeo culture and sea beliefs
• Oral tales passed down in Jeju dialect
• Cultural spaces where modern and traditional harmonize
  
  
  

5. Seasonal Charms and Characteristics 🌸❄️

5-1. Spring and Summer Northern Jeju

Spring Northern Jeju travel presents beautiful scenery where canola flowers and cherry blossoms harmonize.

In summer, water activities in emerald waters become the ultimate joy.

Spring-Summer Highlights 🌺

• Peak season for canola flowers and cherry blossoms in April-May
• Beach and water sports season from June-August
• Night sea walks possible with night operations
• Cool beverages and rest at coastal cafes
  
  
  

5-2. Different Charms of Fall and Winter

Fall and winter Jeju Island travel offer different attractions. Dynamic scenery created by rough waves and basalt, plus warm relaxation at hot springs await.

Fall-Winter Special Features 🍂

• Dynamic harmony of rough waves and basalt
• Warm relaxation at Samyang Hot Springs
• Contemplation and leisure on quiet beaches
• Majestic winter sea scenery
  
  
  

6. Transportation and Access Methods 🚌

6-1. Using Public Transportation

Enjoying Northern Jeju travel via public transportation is quite feasible. Bus routes centered around Jeju City are well-developed.

Bus Information 🚍

• Yongduam: Take city buses 17, 38 (get off at Yongdam Rotary)
• Hamdeok Beach: Take express buses 101, 102
• Iho Tewoo Beach: Take city buses 38, 39
• Jeju Port: Walking or multiple city bus routes
  
  
  

6-2. Why We Recommend Rental Cars

For more freedom in your Northern Jeju travel, we strongly recommend using rental cars. You can truly feel the charm of coastal road driving.

Rental Car Advantages 🚗

• Flexible schedule adjustment possible
• Complete coastal drive course experience
• Convenience of luggage storage and movement
• Opportunities to discover hidden gems
  
  
  

7. Special Experiences and Activities 🎯

7-1. Unique Experiences in Northern Jeju Travel

Special experiences available only during Northern Jeju travel await you. Enjoy attractive activities unique to this region where city and nature harmonize.

Recommended Activities 🏄‍♂️

• SUP (surfing) experience at Hamdeok Beach
• Sunrise photography at Yongduam Rock
• Cafe hopping along coastal roads
• Sand bathing experience at Samyang Hot Springs
• Snorkeling at Gimnyeong Seongsegi Beach
  
  
  

7-2. Food and Shopping

Another joy of Northern Jeju travel is food and shopping. Various restaurants and shopping destinations centered around Jeju City add to travel enjoyment.

Restaurant and Shopping Points 🍽️

• Seafood restaurants around Hamdeok Beach
• Traditional and night markets near Jeju Port
• Iho Tewoo Beach horse lighthouse cafe street
• Jeju specialty shopping malls near Yongduam
  
  
  

8. Budget-Friendly Northern Jeju 💰

8-1. Cost-Saving Tips

Here are ways to enjoy Northern Jeju travel economically.
Create a fulfilling trip while saving budget through smart travel planning.

Money-Saving Tips 💡

• Actively utilize free attractions like Yongduam and Iho Tewoo Beach
• Use surrounding cafes instead of beach facilities
• Plan travel in May or September to avoid peak season
• Early rental car reservations for discount benefits
• Utilize tourist product discount coupons like Jeju Pass
  
  
  

8-2. Package Deals and Discount Information

Using various discount products and packages related to Northern Jeju travel makes more economical trips possible.

Discount Information 🎫

• Jeju tourist attraction integrated tickets
• Rental car + accommodation package deals
• Early booking and consecutive night discounts
• Group travel discount benefits
• Online booking site coupon utilization

Search for Jeju Pass!

Northern Jeju travel is the perfect course to feel the essence of Jeju Island. The grandeur of basalt coastlines, beauty of emerald waters, and urban convenience – it will be a special trip where you can experience it all! 🌊✨

Next episode will be about my personal Jeju travel experiences that I visited and experienced myself!!!

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