Jeju Island, also known as the "Island of the Gods," is a popular vacation spot for Koreans and foreigners. It remains the top honeymoon destination for Korean newlyweds, and is also regarded as one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world. The island offers visitors a wide range of activities: hiking on Halla-san (South Korea's highest peak), catching the sunrise on the aptly-named Seongsan Ilchubong (literally Sunrise Peak), visiting the quirky Jeju Teddy Bear Museum, touring all the locales from a favorite television K-drama, or just lying around on the sandy beaches.

Before the invention of modern means of transportation, travel to and from the mainland was often a difficult and dangerous journey that few attempted. Since the island was cut off from the mainland in this way, the people on the island developed their own unique culture and dialect. Every visitor to Jeju is sure to see their fair share of Dolhareubang (‘old grandfather stone statues’). Sometimes serious-looking, sometimes almost comical, these statues dot the landscape and have become one of the most widely-recognized symbols of the island.

As an island known for its Haenyeo (female divers) back when the island was a fishing village, Jeju is known for dishes made with fresh and savory seafood. Various seafood dishes use mackerel, hairtail fish, abalone, and tilefish caught right from the waters surrounding Jejudo Island. The chewy taste of the famed black pork is also a known trademark of island.

Get In: Jeju international airport has a total of 23 airlines providing domestic flights to Seoul (Gimpo) and Busan, as well as regional flights to Tokyo (Narita), Nagoya, Fukuoka, Beijing, and Shanghai among others. Ferry access from the mainland is also available, but are comparatively infrequent and slow. Ferries depart daily from Incheon (13 hours), Busan (11 hours overnight) and Mokpo (5 hours).

Get Around: There are four major bus networks on the island, all of which utilise Seoul's T-money transportation cards. When the weather is adequate, you can rent a bicycle to travel around Jeju. There is less traffic and wider roads than the rest of Korea and it is possible to travel the island entirely by bicycle.