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Jeju Island Travel Guide
Buy Korean WonJeju at a glance
Jeju is South Korea's volcanic island: Hallasan, the country's highest peak, at its centre, lava caves and craters around it, and black and white sand beaches on most coasts. Three to five days by rental car is the usual shape, either as an add-on to Seoul and Busan or as a trip of its own.
Jeju has its own visa waiver, and India is eligible for it. The Korean government's list of 23 nationalities excluded from the scheme includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but not India. The conditions are strict: you must arrive on an international flight that lands directly in Jeju, with no stop at Seoul, Busan or any other Korean airport, and you may stay up to 30 days on Jeju only. There are no direct flights from India, so the usual route connects through a hub such as Singapore. Travelling on to the mainland under the waiver is illegal.
Eligible is not the same as guaranteed. In February 2026 an Indian travel creator and his wife were refused entry and reportedly held for around 38 hours before being sent back, and on 24 February the Embassy of India in Seoul issued an advisory: admission under the waiver is at the discretion of the immigration officer at Jeju International Airport. Carry printed copies of your return ticket, hotel bookings for the whole stay and proof of funds, with at least six months left on your passport. If you already hold a South Korean visa, none of this applies and you can fly in from Seoul or Busan.
The summit of Hallasan, via the Seongpanak or Gwaneumsa trails, needs a free advance reservation; the lower sections do not. Seongsan Ilchulbong, the sunrise crater on the east coast, costs KRW 5,000 and closes on the first Monday of each month. Manjanggul, a UNESCO-listed lava tube, reopened on 30 May 2026 after two and a half years of repairs and costs KRW 4,000. Hyeopjae and Iho Tewoo are the best-known beaches, and Dongmun Market in Jeju City is the place for black pork and hallabong citrus.
Where to stay
With a car, one base works for the whole island; it is compact enough to loop from either side.
Jeju City
Next to the airport with the widest choice of hotels and Dongmun Market on the doorstep. Easiest for arrival and departure.
Seogwipo
The quieter south coast, closer to the waterfalls and Hallasan's southern trailheads.
Jungmun
A resort strip near Seogwipo with beaches, larger hotels and the Jusangjeolli lava cliffs close by.
Paying in Jeju
For the won itself, the visa Indian travellers need, how much cash to carry, the VAT refund and the cash declaration limit, see the South Korea travel guide.
Before you fly it is worth reading which ATMs in South Korea take an Indian card, since many domestic machines do not.
Jeju is as card-friendly as the mainland in hotels, restaurants and larger shops. Cash still helps at Dongmun Market, small local restaurants and rural stops along the coast where terminals are less reliable.
What Jeju actually costs
Set the length and style of your trip to see what to budget, in Korean won and Indian rupees.
Indicative, excluding international flights and accommodation, per person per day. Converted at the verified mid-market rate on 28 September 2026, KRW 1,000 ≈ ₹70.70, not a Matrix board rate.
Budget roughly ₹4,240 to ₹20,500 per person per day on the ground, excluding flights and accommodation.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Seongsan Ilchulbong | KRW 5,000 |
| Manjanggul lava tube | KRW 4,000 |
| Hallasan summit reservation | Free |
| Market snacks at Dongmun | KRW 5,000-15,000 |
| Black pork restaurant meal, per person | KRW 20,000-45,000 |
Getting around
A rental car is how most people see Jeju, since buses reach the trailheads and far coasts slowly. To rent, you need your passport, your Indian driving licence and a physical International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, which you get from your RTO before leaving India. Digital copies are not accepted, and a permit cannot be issued in Korea.
Google Maps will not navigate you in Korea, so download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you land. Buses are workable if you stay in Jeju City and keep to the north coast.
Common mistakes in Jeju
Flying in via Seoul and expecting visa-free entry
The Jeju waiver only covers international flights that land directly in Jeju. Land anywhere else in Korea first and you need a full visa.
Leaving the paperwork on your phone
Carry printed copies of your return ticket, hotel bookings and proof of funds. Entry under the waiver is at the officer's discretion.
Arriving without a physical IDP
Rental counters want the paper International Driving Permit from India. It cannot be issued in Korea and digital copies are refused.
Turning up at Hallasan summit without a booking
The crater trails need a free advance reservation. Without one you are limited to the lower sections.
Planning Seongsan on the first Monday
It closes on the first Monday of every month, and Manjanggul on the first Wednesday. Check before you drive out east.
Jeju Island FAQs
Hallasan National Park, Seongsan Ilchulbong, Manjanggul lava tube, the Jusangjeolli cliffs and the beaches at Hyeopjae and Iho Tewoo cover the highlights in three to five days by car.
Not if you fly directly into Jeju from abroad. India is eligible for the Jeju visa waiver, which allows up to 30 days on the island only. Entry is at the officer's discretion, so carry printed bookings and proof of funds. Arriving via Seoul or Busan needs a full Korean visa.
By domestic flight, about an hour from Gimpo, one of the busiest air routes in the world. You will already need a Korean visa to be in Seoul.
For seeing more than Jeju City, effectively yes. Buses reach the trailheads and remote coasts slowly.
Your passport, your Indian driving licence and a physical International Driving Permit from your RTO. Digital copies are not accepted.
Yes. It reopened on 30 May 2026 after repairs that began in late 2023. Entry is KRW 4,000, and it closes on the first Wednesday of each month.
More guides in South Korea
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