VISIT JEJU

We start this article at Arte Museum—an immersive multimedia art museum that uses video, sound, and light to draw visitors into its exhibits. The museum contains 11 large-scale works, each based on the theme Eternal Nature. The Waterfall exhibit is a great example of how engrossing the effect can be. It’s an 8-meter high waterfall of light that drops from the roof and appears to splash around your feet. This light is reflected via angled mirrors, so the space stretches out into the distance infinitely. The Beach exhibit is another highlight. Here you stand in front of the sea as water seems to lap around your feet. The sound of waves completes the effect. Once you finish exploring the exhibits, stop off at the Arte Teabar to enjoy tea-based mocktails.

Aewol Coastal Road takes visitors along 10 kilometers of the west coast. The road is known for its seafront scenery—dramatic cliffs and black volcanic rock beaches make way for rural village harbors on the north side of the road, while the opposite side is home to various coffee shops and restaurants. You can drive down the road to experience it quickly while stopping off whenever the view takes your fancy. Or take advantage of the cycle path that stretches along the route. If you’d rather go slow, then Olle Trail 16 is a walking path that runs along this part of the coast. The views are just as spectacular whichever method you choose.

Continue further down the coast, and you’ll end up at Hyeopjae Beach—one of Jeju’s most popular beaches. It’s known for its colors: pure white sand, clear turquoise water, green sections of grass, and black volcanic rock combine brilliantly. The view is completed by Biyangdo Island, a small island around a kilometer off the Jeju coast that acts as the perfect backdrop to your beach photos. The water at Hyeopjae Beach is relatively shallow, and lifeguards are on hand in summer, making it a good place to take a dip. You can rent sun umbrellas and chairs if you want to spend time relaxing on the sand. When you get hungry, there are plenty of places to eat and drink nearby. The street behind the beach is home to restaurants selling everything from Korean favorites to pizza. Or you can visit one of the local coffee shops for drinks with a view. The beach has a large car park, but it still gets busy in summer. 

Hallim Park is located just a few hundred meters up the street from Hyeopjae Beach. It opened in 1971, making it one of the island’s longest-standing tourist attractions. But it’s still hugely popular. The park is split into nine themed areas, including a recreated Jeju Folk Village, a cave formed by lava flow, and a bird garden. Different plants and flowers are showcased in each season—you can look forward to gardens full of hydrangea if you visit in June or lotus flowers in July and August. The park has plenty of space for parking, making it an excellent spot for large tour groups. 

Our last stop on this coastal journey is Sinchang Windmill Coastal Road. This is a stretch of road notable for its offshore wind farm and rocky landscape. The area is open to the elements and on windy days the waves crash into the black rocks that line the coast. A drive along the seafront will let you view the windmills in comfort. Or you can get up close by exploring the walking course promenade that takes you out over the water. The area’s westerly-facing location means it is a great spot to watch the sunset over the Jeju sea. There are coffee shops nearby that you can stop in to rest your legs after the walk. Be aware that the area can get very windy at times.