Korea’s best islands — 7 best islands in Korea & most famous island in South Korea

February 3, 2023

South Korea has quite a lot of islands with gorgeous landscapes in its name with over 3,000 different large and small islands, which create a beautiful landscape that attracts thousands of tourists every year. The dreamy visuals of the island have sure grabbed a lot of eyes. So, are you finding best islands in South Korea for your next vacation? Let’s check out our top rated 7 Korea’s best islands (best islands in Korea) and most famous island in south Korea to find out the answer!

Island-hopping in South Korea | best islands in south korea

Eulwangri Beach Incheon | best islands in south korea

Muuido Island | best islands in south korea

Sunset on Jeju island | best islands in south korea

Here are the seven most sought-after island destinations in South Korea that will make for a perfect island getaway.

Muuido (#best islands in korea)

This island is just off the coast of Incheon, west of Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the 3 most popular islands in Incheon with its location near the largest international airport in the district.

Silmi is less crowded than Hanagae but it will be romantic for couples | best islands in south korea

Muuido is a perfect place for people to relax, breathe in the fresh air and immerse in the sea. Here, you can comfortably play on the sandy beaches or enjoy delicious and attractive seafood dishes. Muuido is also renowned for its fruit-laden vineyards and two beaches such as Silmi and Hanagae, where you can gaze at the rising tide. People can walk on Silmido Island at low tide. Hiking up Horyonggoksan Mountain and Guksabong Peak is also available from Hanagae Beach.

Location: 310-11, Daemuui-Ro, Jung-Gu, Incheon, South Korea

How to get to Muuido? (#best islands in south korea)

From Incheon Station or Dong-Incheon Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), take bus number 306 to Eurwang-Ri and get off at Geojampo. Then walk 10 minutes to the Jamjinnaru ferry terminal at Yeongjongdo Island. Take a ferry to Muuido Island, which takes about 12 minutes.

Where to stay on Muuido? (#best islands in korea)

At Hanagae Beach, you can enjoy plenty of activities, seafood restaurants, and cute beach huts if you want to stay overnight | best islands in south korea

Your last stop is Hanagae beach, which is where people choose to stay on the island. There are very retro beach bungalows, they’re literally on the beach. There are also many locals, who open their houses to tourists looking for Homestays.

Jindo (#best islands in south korea)

Hundreds of thousands of locals and foreign tourists gather at the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula every year for the Miracle’s Jindo Sea-Parting Festival | best islands in south korea

Jindo Island is the third largest island in South Korea, and it is especially famous for the Jindo, a gorgeous canine breed celebrated for its unsurpassed loyalty and incredible homing instincts. Jindo is also known for the Jindo Arirang, the most famous Korean folk song.

The plethora of cultural performances accompanying the event on Jindo island | best islands in korea

However, the Miracle Sea festival is undoubtedly the most renowned island attraction in Jeollanam province. Coming to this festival, if you are lucky, you will be able to hike on the trail in just one hour. In addition, visitors can also experience many interesting activities to attract tourists such as spectacular parades, ethnic dances, and Jindogae dog performances. The most special thing is to enjoy the local specialty which is Jindo Hongju wine.

Jindo dogs can be trained to do all sorts of tricks such as jump through fire rings | best islands in korea

Even, Jindo dog can paint a portrait | best islands in korea

Location: Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, South Korea

How to get to Jindo? (#most famous island in south korea)

Jindo is quite easy to get to, you can take a bus or train from any major city in South Korea.

A bus stop on Jindo island | best islands in korea

Where to stay in Jindo?

With more than 300,000 tourists annually, Jindo has many beautiful hotels and motels to stop by.

Inside homestay on Jindo island | best islands in korea

Geoje (#most famous island in south korea)

Lies on the southern tip of South Korea having unique small islands and lovely little beaches covered in forest cliffs, George is the second largest island in Korea (second only to Jejudo), while smack at the center of the beaten track, is remarkably clean and well preserved. Geoje island also has a rich biosphere with an abundance of flora and fauna.

Most visitors come here for adventure, there are countless hiking trails with the best views in and around the Haegeumgang rock formations. The best way to experience the island is to rent a car or motorbike and drive around the beautiful sea-view roads.

The coastline of Geojedo island | best islands in korea

Visit Windy Hill, a beautiful grassy hill overlooking a clear blue ocean | best islands in korea

In addition, the island is connected to the mainland by a fixed bridge and tunnel Busan-Geoje. When you come to Geoje you can visit some other picturesque attractions including the grassy green hill by the sea called the Windy Hill and Hakdong Black Pearl Mongdol Beach, where the beach is composed of round, black pebbles that make muted jangling noises when the waves splash against the shore.

At Hakdong, there are thousands of soft, nearly perfectly polished pebbles in place of the sand | best islands in korea

Location: Geoje-si, Gohyeon-dong, South Korea

How to get to Geoje?

You can rent a car in Busan or take a bus from Busan, Seoul has a bus to the island every hour.

Where to stay in Geoje?

Sangsang hotel on Geoje island | best islands in korea

You are spoiled for choice of accommodation. You can stay in Jimjilbangs where there are unique bedrooms and beautiful, comfortable saunas. In addition, there will be a few luxury hotels, and motels can also be found here for those who want a luxurious stay.

Jeju

The most popular honeymoon travel destination in South Korea, Jeju is located in the Korea Strait. This is also a paradise of Korea, where visitors can immerse themselves in nature in the vast space of the sea. It is adopted as one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature with a length of 41km and a width of 73km.

Hallasan is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve containing a crater lake

To Jeju, you can visit Udo island the place to welcome the beautiful sunrise, experience a tour of a volcanic Hallasan, or admire the Cheonjiyeon waterfall seen from Chilsimni Seogwipo Park. Jeju also features the Manjanggul cave, Jusangjeolli cliff, Jisatgae disc rapids, and Jungmun coast. Especially the Hyeopjae beach, the first place on the island where you can see the whole beautiful sunset.

Visit Hyeopjae beach, clear waters and white sands are combined with broken shells, this long and beautiful shoreline offers a mesmerizing view of low tide, with Biyangdo Island floating in the distance | best islands in korea

Cheonjeyeon Falls is one of the most attractive, hence, popular destinations not only among locals, but foreign holiday-makers and travelers | best islands in korea

Besides, Jeju cuisine is also quite attractive with dishes made from fresh seafood. Moreover, if visitors want to learn about the life of the people here, they can participate in activities such as picking tangerines and harvesting hawk ferns. These are all famous specialties of Jeju.

Grilled black pork specialty | most famous island in south korea

Location: Jeju, Jeju-do, South Korea

How to get to Jeju?

Take daily ferried from Seoul and Busan to Jeju Island. There are three ferry terminals including Jeju Domestic Ferry Terminal, Jeju International Ferry Terminal, and Seongsanpo Ferry Terminal.

Where to stay in Jeju?

Being the largest island in Korea, motels, hotels, and Homestays in Jeju are quite diverse and rich. Ensure to satisfy the needs of all visitors.

Co-op City Hotel Jeju Beach | most famous island in south korea

Hongdo (#most famous island in south korea)

Named for the crimson light that envelops the entire island at sunset (Hong is Korean for “crimson”), Hongdo Island is located just off the southwest coast of the Korean Peninsula and is part of Dadohaehaesang National Park.

Hongdo’s 6.47 square kilometers are home to about 270 subspecies of evergreen and about 170 species of animals. Therefore, it becomes a tower on the blue ocean of Korea. The rocky, diminutive (6.47 square kilometers) Hongdo, with its killer sunrises and wealth of peculiar rock formations, has been likened to a flower floating on the water.

A fisherman is working hard on the peaceful island | most famous island in south korea

In addition, the island includes a population of about 800 people, of which most of them are fishing. This is also the reason that you will not be surprised when you step off the ferry you will be offered fresh fish by many locals.

Location: Hongdo, Mokpo, Dadohaehaesang, South Korea

How to get to Hongdo?

From Mokpo Station, take Bus No. 1 and get off at Mokpo Ferry Terminal Bus Stop. Take a ferry to Hongdo Island for about 2 hours. However, there will only be two ferries per day, one departing at 7:00 am and the other at 1:00 pm.

Mokpo Ferry Terminal Bus Stop | most famous island in south korea

Ferry to Hongdo island | most famous island in south korea

Where to stay in Hongdo?

Most people visit Hongdo for their one-day tour only. They take the morning ferry and go back by the last one to the mainland. Here has also a few comfortable hotels and motels for whom to explore the evening view.

Ulleungdo

Situated 120 kilometers off the eastern coast of South Korea, Ulleungdo is known as an island formed from the collisions and eruptions of volcanoes from its peaceful blue waves revitalizing mountain scenery, and breathtaking sunsets.

Visitors will be surprised and delighted to admire the towering Rocky Mountains, surrounded by green beaches. In particular, if you come here in winter, you will be able to gaze at the misty mist surrounding the mountains, creating an extremely romantic scene.

The Naesujeon Mongdol beach is on the east side of Ulleungdo, it’s easy to spend several hours enjoying the warm water and marine life | most famous island in south korea

Walking on the coastal path | best islands in south korea

The path is extremely well maintained and has many bridges over the crystal blue water in which to truly experience the wild coast and rock formations | best islands in south korea

However, the highlight is the hiking experience on the craggy bridges next to the towering cliffs along the Haengnam Coastal Walking Path. From a height of tens to hundreds of meters, you can see the sparkling pebbles under the clear blue sea-like jade. This place is an ideal destination to help you escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Location: Ulleungdo, Buk-Myeon, Ulleung-gun, South Korea

How to get to Ulleungdo?

There will be a ferry trip from the capital Seoul to Pohang apart about 4.5 hours. Then you get on the ferry and go to the island for about 2-3 hours.

Where to stay in Ulleungdo?

Motels and hotels lie along the coast for your rest in a quiet and peaceful space.

The island is full of tiny guest houses and a few resorts, but the recently opened KOSMOS Healing Stay is by far the most visually striking

Nami

A popular getaway destination for travelers, Nami island saw a surge in its popularity, courtesy of the South Korean TV drama Winter Sonata, you probably still remember the romantic golden-leaf forest scene used a lot in the movie.

An ideal holiday destination throughout the year, the island offers a variation of gorgeous views based on the current season. In the spring, cherry blossoms adorn the island with a beautiful color of pink, while the winter turns to cover the island with a stunning blanket of white snow. It looks like a small leaf emerging in the middle of the river and is covered by extremely rich vegetation.

The famous statue of Bae Yong Joon and Choi Ji Woo in the South Korean TV drama Winter Sonata

Nami in the summer | best islands in south korea

While visiting Nami in the winter, it makes visitors frequently spotted recreating scenes of the series of K-drama-love films

In particular, at the end of August and the beginning of September, when leaves in the forests on the island begin to change, Nami will be dressed in a characteristic yellow and red color throughout the roads. It is also because of this beautiful scenery that whenever one mentions the Korean autumn, one cannot help but mention Nami Island.

Location: Nami, Chuncheon, South Korea

How to get to Nami?

From Seoul, you can take the ITX-Cheongchun tram to Gapyeong station and then take the ferry to the island.

Where to stay in Nami?

You can enjoy beautiful and romantic scenery in any season of the year. You can stay at local Homestays or luxury hotels.

korea nami island blog,nami island guide,nami island one day tour,nami island travel blog (1) — Cycling around Nami

With the stunning islands in South Korea above, you will not hesitate to take your back bag to visit them. There are many reasons South Korea attracts your visit. However, the highlights in this post are your journey to these islands without any trouble for seasons or transportation means. Hope you have some effective information through this guide about the islands for your next trips to South Korea.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Seoul you can refer to

Are you looking for more Seoul travel guide and top things to do in Seoul: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Seoul itinerary 5 days — How to spend 5 days in Seoul & what to do in Seoul for 5 days perfectly?