Eastern Jeju in 2 Nights and 3 Days: A Seaside Walking Trip Through Gujwa and Seongsan

Example: 1 night in Gujwa + 1 night in Seongsan. For 2 nights at one place, rearrange the stops around where you're staying.

1. Day 1: Airport → Gimnyeong → Sehwa (optional) → overnight in Gujwa. If you arrive late, just one beach.
2. Day 2: Gwangchigi → Seopjikoji → overnight in Seongsan. Swap in or add the paid Seongsan Ilchulbong summit trail, adjusting for how much walking you want.
3. Day 3: Seongsan → short walk at Hamdeok (optional) → airport. Skip it if your flight is early.

Head east from the airport and begin your first walk at Gimnyeong Beach. Sand and lava rock appear side by side along this shore, so you can take in the scenery without walking far. Leave plenty of time for photos and for sitting down to rest. If you're staying near Sehwa and arrive early, you can carry on to Sehwa Beach. If you land in Jeju late in the afternoon, there's no need to fit in both beaches.

At Sehwa, the width of the sand changes a great deal with the tide. Even if the sea looks calm, don't climb down onto the rocks or wander far out; think of it as a stop for enjoying the view from the shore, following the on-site guidance. Official tourism information does not present Sehwa as a designated swimming beach that is formally opened and managed, so treat it separately from an ordinary swimming plan as well.

In the morning, look out at Seongsan Ilchulbong from Gwangchigi Beach. There's no need to be set on seeing the sunrise. If you focus on how the shoreline changes with the clouds and the tide, nobody has to be pushed into a pre-dawn start. Wet rocks and mossy patches are slippery, so don't force your way toward the water's edge for a photo.

After a meal and a rest, walk Seopjikoji's designated trail. You can see the coastline and grassland together, but some stretches take the wind head-on. Rather than feeling you must go all the way around, it's better to pick a turnaround point that suits how your companions are feeling. Admission to Seopjikoji is free, but parking has to be paid for separately.

If you'd like to stand on the summit of Seongsan Ilchulbong, you can choose the paid summit trail. Check the fee and whether it's open in the official information before you go. If a long walk at Seopjikoji after climbing the summit stairs feels like too much, cut back on one of the two. Even without going to the top, you can enjoy the view of the peak from Gwangchigi Beach.

On the day you head back to the airport, keep a beach walk at Hamdeok Beach as your last option. First set aside the time you need for a meal, returning the car and airport check-in, and stop by only if there's time to spare. If your flight is early, you're better off skipping sightseeing. Adding Aewol to an eastern route means detouring west, so this itinerary wraps up within Jocheon, Gujwa and Seongsan.

If you're staying in Gujwa, plan the first day as one beach followed by settling in at your accommodation. Rather than heading out again after dark to add Sehwa, you're better off getting ready for the next day's move to Seongsan. If you're spending two nights in Seongsan, you can also shorten the Gujwa walk on the first day and head to your accommodation.

Start by writing down the car pick-up, the car return and airport check-in, then plan your sightseeing in the time that's left. If you get a late start, don't cut every meal and rest; drop the optional beaches first. Even if a map shows a short estimated travel time, don't treat a schedule that includes parking and on-site walking as one that guarantees you'll make your flight.

If there's a closure notice on the coast, don't just move to another rocky beach nearby and keep walking. On a day you're based in Gujwa, you can consider the indoor exhibits at the Jeju Haenyeo Museum as an alternative. It isn't nature sightseeing, but it makes for time spent understanding Jeju's sea and the people who have lived by it. Check closing days and admission fees first, and on days when even getting around by road is risky, switch to resting at your accommodation.

This route is an example based on getting around by car. Travel times vary depending on where you stay, traffic and your flights. Even where there's no admission fee, parking, food and drink, and rental gear aren't necessarily free, so check the weather and facility operating notices again before you go.

• Which should I cut first, the Seongsan Ilchulbong summit or Seopjikoji? — If you want the stair climb, see how much energy you have left after the summit and shorten the Seopjikoji walk. If flat coastal scenery is what you're after, you can keep the view from Gwangchigi and drop the summit trail.
• Can I spend both nights at the same place? — It's a workable version of this example itinerary. Rearrange your Gujwa and Seongsan days based on the direction back to your accommodation, and don't make fitting in both beaches the goal.
• When should I give up the Hamdeok walk on departure day? — If you can't first secure the time you need for a meal, returning the car and check-in, skip it. Even if you're running later than expected, don't squeeze your airport schedule to protect sightseeing time.
• If I can't see the sunrise, is there any reason to go to Gwangchigi? — Even without making the sunrise a must, you can still look out at Seongsan Ilchulbong and the coast. During closures or high waves, though, don't approach the water's edge for the view.

If you need to coordinate a group vehicle, or your party's walking pace and number of diners, you can note your preferred dates and the area you want to stay in and talk it through with us. Corporate & Groups