Udo Island Day Trip Tips from Seongsan Port

Udo (우도) is a small island just off Jeju's northeastern tip, a short ferry ride from Seongsan Port. It's flat, slow, and famous for a few simple things — peanut ice cream, a coral sand beach, a lighthouse, and a crater peak you can walk up in 15 minutes. Most people visit as a half-day side trip from wherever they're staying in eastern Jeju.

Getting there

Ferries leave from Seongsan Port (성산항) and take about 15 minutes to cross. They run from early morning until late afternoon, with the last return boat in the evening — confirm at the port, since schedules shift with the season. Tickets are sold on-site; walk-on passengers don't need to book ahead.

You can take your own car or motorcycle across for an additional fee, but Udo is small enough that renting on the island is usually more practical. Scooters, electric scooters, bicycles, and golf carts are all available at the Udo ferry terminals. The full loop of the island runs around 17 km.

What to see

• Seobin Baeksa (서빈백사) — The coral pebble beach on the west coast. Small but unlike anywhere else on Jeju, with water that turns a clear turquoise in good weather.
• Udo Peak (우도봉) — A short, steep walk to the island's highest point, with views over the whole island and back toward Seongsan Ilchulbong.
• Hagosudong Beach (하고수동해수욕장) — The main beach on the north shore; popular with families in summer.
• Udo Lighthouse — On the northeast tip. Worth the drive, though the setting is the point — the interior isn't always open.

Food on Udo

The local specialties are peanut ice cream (땅콩 아이스크림) and peanut makgeolli, both made with the peanuts Udo is known for. Beyond snacks, seafood restaurants near both ferry terminals serve raw fish, sea urchin, and abalone. Expect prices a notch higher than on the main island — that's just Udo. Bring water.

How long to plan

A focused half day — 3–4 hours on the island — covers the main spots by scooter or cart. A full day is the comfortable version: walk, eat, and sit by the water without checking the time. In peak season (July–August) the island gets busy, so take an early ferry.

From Seongsan to the port

Seongsan Port is about 5 minutes by car from Onpyeong, the village where Jeju Daily sits. There's parking at and near the port, though it fills up in peak season — arriving early and walking to the terminal is the smoothest way aboard.