10 Best Things to Do This Winter on Jeju Island

Mountain trekking on Hallasan Mountain is a natural choice if you want to see the unique and beautiful volcanic topography and nature of Jeju in one place. There are 5 trails in total, which can be completed in 3 to 5 hours. Before your visit, it is recommended to check the time it takes to complete the trail and the difficulty of your chosen trail.

Hallasan Mountain blooms with royal azalea in spring and lush forests in summer, but fall, when the entire mountain is awash in crimson, is a period that one must see in person. All this, however, paves the way for winter's snowscape, a time when the entire mountain is clad in pure white. Eorimok Trail is the best place to see the snow flowers of Hallasan Mountain. Note that all visits to Hallasan Mountain must be reserved in advance for preservation purposes.

Camellia Hill is a garden that is even more beautiful in winter, thanks to camellia flowers in full bloom from December to February. It is home to nearly 500 species of camellia flowers, represented by more than 6,000 camellia trees. The gardens are organized in nearly 20 themes, and they are in fact beautiful across the four seasons. However, they are especially romantic in winter, when camellia flowers are in bloom.

There are plenty of props located throughout the garden, which serve as perfect backdrops for your photoshoots. Make use of garlands with quirky inscriptions, or take pictures next to Dol Hareubang (stone statues) dotting the area. It takes about 40 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes to circle Camellia Hill, but one can easily get lost when taking pictures, so make sure to leave enough time for your visit.

The steam train at Eco Land Theme Park, patterned after the British Baldwin train of the 1800s, runs along a 4.5 km-long road through the Gotjawal forest on Jeju. Gotjawal is a type of forest unique to Jeju, formed on ground made up of shattered high-viscosity lava from a volcanic eruption. This mystical and primordial forest is a place where plants from different climate zones coexist. To see such a mysterious site on a steam engine train, which is quite difficult to find these days, is certainly a unique experience.

The train stations at Eco Land Theme Park is divided along themes: Main Station is home to various amenities, Ecobridge Station is situated next to a large lake and wooden decks and Lakeside Station is home to a pastoral scene of a windmill and pasture. In winter, one can see the snow-covered landscape from a comfortably heated rail truck. Don't miss it!

Mandarin picking is a great experience for any children traveling with you. Not to worry, mandarin orange-picking is accessible for everyone. These little fruits, sweet and sour like the summer sun, can be enjoyed as they are, but if you want to get closer to them, you can visit one of the many orchards across the island that allow you to experience mandarin picking and sample mandarin orange products.

The orchards start to open from October, when mandarin oranges begin to appear on branches, until mid-December, when the season ends. The actual business of picking isn't terribly difficult, as you only have to listen to the instructions and know how to use pruning shears to pick the oranges. One can even sample fresh and sweet mandarin oranges just after picking. After picking the oranges, one can take part in jam-making, preserve-making, and candle-making programs. Sweeten the winter on Jeju with this fun and interesting orange-picking experience.

Jeju Aerospace Museum is a great place to visit if you're looking for an indoor space on wintry or rainy days. This museum is a monument to the dream of humanity to go to space through various experience and exhibition programs. The exhibitions in Jeju Aerospace Museum are designed to be interactive, so that one can learn the principles through touch, hearing and sight.

If you are interested in the field of aerospace engineering, check out Aviation Hall located on the first floor. Below the actual airplanes hung from the ceiling of the exhibition hall, you will find aviation simulators and drone gaming devices that you can try out yourself. Space Hall located on the second floor is where you can find your star signs on the planetarium or take a wonderous voyage to different planets. Theme Hall, also located on the second floor, is where you can get a 5D circle view of space.

Yakcheonsa Temple is known for three things: its location overlooking the Seogwipo sea, the ever-flowing mineral water, and beautiful architecture. It is, understandably, a popular destination for many tourists in all the four seasons. We particularly recommend visiting the temple in winter.

Daejeokgwangjeon Hall, the most famous building in Yakcheonsa Temple, is a massive hall standing as tall as a 10-storey building. Its three-tiered hall has an impressive, almost domineering atmosphere that is unlike other Buddhist temples in Korea. The temple also offers a temple stay program, where one can experience both the unique lifestyle of Buddhist monks and the unique culture of Jeju Island. For a stay that warms your heart, check out the temple stay program.

Cafe Aewol Monsant is a beautiful cafe with a view of the expansive winter sea. Even in other seasons, the cafe remains as one of the best places to enjoy the views of the sea. The wonderful views have been made known far and wide through TV shows and media.

One important aspect of the charm of this place is its windowed wall, which shows the beauty of Jeju's skies and the sea in its entirety. On clear days, one can get a unique shot of the beautiful scenery reflected on the glass window. Another thing that must not be missed is the view of the sunset. There are outdoor seats allowing you to get even closer to the sea. On a cold winter day, how about settling inside the warm cafe with a cup of coffee and spending some time in front of the glittering Jeju sea?

In Yeomiji Botanical Garden, even the winter chill takes a backseat to warmth. The botanical garden is home to gardens decorated in Korean, Japanese, Italian, and French styles, offering both the gardens of the East and the West in a single space. The area can be divided into a massive outdoor garden and an indoor botanical garden, with most spaces being situated in glass greenhouses. As such, it is a perfect place to visit on a cold winter day or in inclement weather.

The indoor spaces feature a variety of thematic gardens, and at the center stands a 38 metre-high observation tower. The Mystery Garden, for example, is composed of vertical gardens and large ferns that create an otherworldly air. The Flower Garden, on the other hand, is home to tropical and subtropical plants. The Cactus Garden is home to a baobab tree, which appears famously in The Little Prince, while the outdoor garden is home to Endangered Species and the Native Plants Garden in addition to the gardens of the East and the West. If you desire to see rare plants in indoor and outdoor spaces, don't miss out on Yeomiji Botanical Garden.

Jeju Rail Bike at Yongnunioreum Parasitic Cone is an activity where one can ride a four-wheel bicycle along a rail. Propelled by electric motors, riding does not demand strenuous physical activity. The windshield at the front of the bike makes the rail bike an ideal activity for winter. No reservations are required.

On the rail bike, one has wonderful views of the volcanic cones (oreum), Udo Island, and Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone, as well as the peaceful view of the cows grazing nearby. It is certainly a pastoral view that is rare to find in Korea. Enjoy a ride through Jeju's nature against the view of Yongnunioreum Parasitic Cone.

The sledding program at Jeju Leports Land is available throughout the four seasons, but it is especially fun in the winter snow. Everyone can enjoy this thrilling ride, but young folks will probably get the best out of it. Sledding here is done on a round tube ring. Unlike your usual plastic sled, you hold on to the handles while spinning with the tube.

A thrilling ride from a height of 12 meters above sea level automatically brings laughter out of you. For more fun, go for multi-seater sleds. Note that Jeju Leports Land also offers a zipline, go-karts, and paintball shooting games. It is a great place to spend a thrilling day.