This Is The Ultimate Muslim-Friendly Guide To Explore Jeju

Jeju Island is Korea’s most popular island for tourists from all over the world. The island is an epitome of nature’s incredible display of beauty along the beaches and coastlines. Are you ready for our next Jeju adventure? Here's our list of the must-go places that you cannot miss!!

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P.S. If you're also travelling to Seoul, don't forget to download the HHWT Travel Planner app, now available on both Apple App Store and Google Play store for Android ?

1. Hyeopjae Beach

One of the most pristine white sand beaches that Jeju Islan has to offer is none other than the Hyeopjae Beach! Hyeopjae Beach is so magical, you can see the changing colors of the water distinctly from different shades of turquoise to blue, it is absolutely breath-taking! The beach is lined with volcanic sea rocks along side the sandy beach. Take a lon stroll along the shores and enjoy the therapeutic calmness the little sea waves bring to you.

Admission Fees: Free

Opening hours: 9:00am - Sunset, early July to late August

How to get there:

Bus - From Jeju Airport, take bus No. 100/200 or taxi (about 2000won) → Get off at Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal. → Transfer to an intercity bus that runs on Il-ju Road to the west → Get off at Hanrim Park (first bus 5:40, last bus 9:00 / 20 min interval / travel time: 45mins.)

Taxi - Take a taxi at Jeju Cross-country Bus Terminal (travel time: 35-40 mins.)

[Check out 5 Must Try Muslim-Friendly Korean Eateries in Jeju!]

2. Hallim Park

The privately owned park houses rare collections of plants, trees, birds and animals. It’s like an organized forest ? There are caves inside the park too! And love-bird cages where you can go inside and take photos with the birds ?

Admission Fees: Adults 10,000₩, Teenagers 7,000₩, Children 6,000₩, Seniors 9,000₩

Opening Hours: (Last admission is one hour before closing time)

March-September: 8:30am - 7:00pm

Peak season (July 15-August 20): 8:30am - 7:30pm

October: 8:30am - 6:30pm

November-February: 8:30am - 6:00pm

How to get there: 

1. Take a west-bound express bus from the Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal and get off at Hallim Park (Travel time 50 min).
2. Take a west-bound express bus from the Seogwipo Intercity Bus Terminal and get off at Hallim Park (Travel time 80 min).
3. Take a west-bound express bus at the Jungmun Bus Stop and get off at Hallim Park (Travel time 60 min).

3. Yonduam Dragon Rock

The Dragon rock seen in the background

The Yongduam Dragon Rock Beach, unlike Hyeopjae beach which is a sandy beach, is crusted with rocks of volcanic formation. The marvelous Dragon Rock looks like the head of a dragon and has been around for hundreds of years. The water here is spectacularly all deep sea blue, no changes in shade ? There are Sea Ajhummas selling their fresh catch of shell fish and live octopus which you can snack on right there ?

Admission Fees: Free

Opening Hours: N.A.

How to get there: 

Bus - From Jeju International Airport, take bus bound for jeju-si Jungang-ro. Get off at Yongdam Rotary. Walk toward the beach for 5-10 minutes.

Taxi - It takes 10min by taxi from Jeju International Airport to Yongduam Rock.

4. Seongsan Illchulbong Peak

If you visit Jeju Island, you can never leave without going to this place if you want to know what Jeju Island is all about. This huge volcanic crater rose from the depths of the sea some thousand years ago during an eruption, and now stands like a prehistoric monument beside the crashing blue waves of the ocean. The first thing you will notice from the entrance to Seongsan is a giant green hill leading towards the crater. The path is a steady incline uphill walk, so as you slowly climb towards the crater a spectacular view emerges from every direction you look. No wonder this marvel of Mother Nature is categorized under one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Being here is a once in a life time experience!

Admission Fees: Adults 2,000₩, Teenagers & Children 1,000₩

Operating Hours: 1 hour before sunrise till sunset. (Do note that it may also be closed during bad weather)

How to get there:

Bus: From Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal, take a direct bus (Dongilju bus bound for Seongsan) and get off at Seongsalliipgu Bus Stop. (Travel time: about 2hr) From Seongsalliipgu Bus Stop, you will see Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak. Walk in the direction towards the peak (about 1km).

5. Seongup Land: Horse Riding!!

Jeju Island is known for its horses and ponies since ancient times. To date, horses are an integral part of Jeju’s rural scene and horse riding is considered a prime leisure activity. Here in Seongup Land, there are horse ranches with special arrangements where you can wear a cowboy uniform and pose to take a photo before you embark on a ride with on your horse. Even if it's your first time, you wont have much problem because the guide will be right beside you riding on another horse. Just relax and enjoy the ride!

Admission Fees: The cost for a ride will depend on the amount of time you choose. It ranges from 11,000₩ (5-mins) to 120,000₩ (1 hour)

How to get there: 

1. From Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal take an Intercity Bus to Beonnyeong-ro. Get off at ’Seongeup 1(il)-ri' (성읍리) samuso. Go around the corner and walk along the road for about 200m. Bus - travel time: 1hr, 40min
2. From Seogwipo Intercity Bus Terminal take the Dongilju bus. Get off at ‘Pyoseon-ri samuso.' Go straight and turn left at the intersection. Walk straight until you get to the bus stop. Take Beonnyeong-ro bus. Get off at ‘Seupeup 1-ri.’ Bus - travel time: 45 min.

6. Seongup Folk Village

Known as one of Korea cultural heritage folk villages, this place has been treasured for its unique residential houses, Confucian shrines and schools, ancient government offices, stone statues, fortress ruins, and stone monuments. Among the cultural gems of the folk village are intangible cultural assets such as folk plays, native foods, local folk craftsmanship, and local dialect. Even the trees are an important part of the area’s heritage. We took our dinner at a local restaurant here which specializes in seafood. The menu included two kinds of soup, grilled fish, bibimbap, and seven to eight different kinds of side dished comprising of kimchi, vegetables and fish.

Operating Hours : 24 hrs

Note: The restaurant is open from 10AM-10PM and does not have halal certification.

Directions:

1. From Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal take an Intercity Bus to Beonnyeong-ro. Get off at ’Seongeup 1(il)-ri' (성읍리) samuso. Go around the corner and walk along the road for about 200m. Bus - travel time: 1hr, 40min
2. From Seogwipo Intercity Bus Terminal take the Dongilju bus. Get off at ‘Pyoseon-ri samuso.' Go straight and turn left at the intersection. Walk straight until you get to the bus stop. Take Beonnyeong-ro bus. Get off at ‘Seupeup 1-ri.’ Bus - travel time: 45 min.

7. Jungmun Daepo Coast Jusangjeolli Cliff

Every beach and coastline in Jeju is unique and has something mysterious and magical in store for you. Behold the marvels of volcanic rock formations when you visit the Jungmun Daepo Coastline.

The hexagonal columnar rock formations along the edges of the sea will take your breath away! The beach has a heavenly palm tree garden beside it, from where you can see the silhouettes of mountain ranges inland. Being cradled in the midst of so much beauty, you might wonder, if you are still on planet Earth!

Contact number: +82-64-710-6616

Operating Hours: 8:00am - 6:00pm (Subject to changes depending on time of sunset)

Admission Fees: Adults 2,000₩, Teenagers & Children 1,000₩

How to get there: 

1. Take Airport Limousine Bus No. 600 and get off at International Convention Center Bus Stop. (Travel time: about 50-min)
2. Take the Jungmun Express Bus from Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal to Jungmun Tourist Complex. (Travel time: about 60-min). Take a taxi to Jusangjeolli Cliff.

8. Play KPOP: The KPop Museum in Jeju

Right when you thought Jeju was all about nature only, the Play KPOP museum will bring you back to what Korea is also known for, top notch technology. Sit with your very own favorite Kpop star in a hologram photo shoot! Dress like Psy on hologram and sing with G-dragon! Dance to Big Bang’s “Fantastic Baby” and you will be appearing on a holographic stage with the band! And finally take part as audience in a holographic concert; you won’t be able to tell its sooooo real!!!

There is even the history museum of K-Pop if you are interested and many of G-dragon’s and Psy’s costumes are on display.

Operating Hours: 9:00am - 7:00pm

Admission Fees: Adults (ages 18 and above) 15,000₩, Teenagers (age 13-18) 13,000₩, Children (ages3-12) 12,000₩

How to get there: From Jeju International Airport, take Airport Bus No. 600 and get off at the Korea Tourism Organisation, Jeju Branch

Muslim-Friendly Restaurants

 1. Baghdad Restaurant

One of Jeju’s few Muslim-friendly restaurants; Baghdad Café Restaurant serves Indian dishes prepared with halal meat. The menu includes Spicy Chicken Tandoori, All kinds of spicy curry and Naan bread.

Note: The restaurant is not Halal-certified though, which means like all other restaurants they serve alcohol too.

Price: Around 10,000₩ to 15,000₩

Operating Hours: 11:00am - 11:00pm, closed on Lunar New Year and Korea's Thanksgiving Day

Contact: +82-64-757-8182

How to get there: From Jeju International Airport, take Bus 36, 37, or 500 to Jeju City Hall. Go straight 40m and turn right onto Gwangyang 14-gil. Continue 100m and turn left down the second sidestreet. Bagdad is 40m ahead on the right.

Address: 38, Seogwang-ro 32-gil, Jeju-si, Jeju-do

2. Cheon Hye Cheon Shabu Shabu Restaurant

Shabu Shabu is basically a Japanse soup dish where you are the chef, i.e. you choose from an array of fresh green vegetables, mushrooms and seafood like octopus, squid, clams, and shell fish like prawn, lobster, and crab and of course the most important part of the soup is the thin slices of beef that you put into it.

This restaurant is another one of Jeju’s hidden gems, it a Muslim-Friendly restaurant. All the meat they serve is Halal meat imported from Australia.

Besides your own table of Shabu Shabu, there is a buffet for salad, side menus, dessert items, coffee and Haagen Dazs ice cream. You have so many side dishes to choose from some of which are so delicious you may forget about the Shabu Shabu at one point Hehe. The lunch Buffet is priced 34,000₩ but there are variety of ways you can order so prices may vary.

Opening Hours: Lunch time: 11:00am - 5:00pm, Dinner: 5:00pm - 9:30pm, Late Night: 9:30pm - 11:30pm Contact Number: Reservation required, call +82-64-742-1101

Prices: Lunch/Dinner Buffet 34,000₩ per person; Children 50% off, Preschooler 70% off.

Address: Jeju-si, Halla Daehak-ro, Nohyong-dong 3813 Bon-ji, below Halla University Main gate, Opposite Neulpheom HeokTwaeji.

More Information:http://seaskys.co.kr/

Bonus!

Jeju Golden Bus City Tour

One of the great services Jeju has for tourists is the Jeju Golden Bus City Tour service. You buy the golden ticket for 12,000₩ and then you can use it the whole day. The bus round trip is across 22 stops and there is a bus every 1 hour.

For more details, check out: http://goo.gl/buOk38

This list focuses more on the nature side of Jeju Island. But just for your information, there are more than 80 different museums and touristic places in Jeju which include the Trick-Eye Museum; Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum, the Teddy Bear Museum and more. So if you have some spare time after visiting all the pristine beaches we have listed here, please go ahead and explore Jeju a bit on your own!

P.S. If you're also travelling to Seoul, don't forget to download the HHWT Travel Planner app, now available on both Apple App Store and Google Play store for Android ?