A Little Day Trip to Udo, Jeju 🌊

I finally made a day trip to 우도 (Udo), the tiny island off Jeju, and honestly my heart is still there. If you are planning a Jeju trip and wondering whether Udo is worth the extra boat ride, here is my very personal, feelings-only answer: yes, a thousand times yes. 💛

This is me on the beach, hiding behind a rabbit emoji 🐰 and celebrating with my arms in the air.

Woman standing on a white sand beach on Udo island with her arms raised, her face covered by a yellow rabbit emoji, with turquoise sea behind her

Turquoise water and white sand

The water around Udo is that unreal turquoise I always thought only existed in photos. Near the shore it is crystal clear, and further out it turns a deep sapphire blue. The sand is pale and the sky was perfectly clear, so I could have stayed on that beach all day.

A rest at the seaside café

When we needed a break, we found a café terrace right by the water: a stone table under a bright yellow parasol, a low wall of dark volcanic stones, and that turquoise sea just beyond the fence. Simple, sunny and exactly what I wanted.

Seaside café terrace on Udo with a stone table under a yellow parasol, a low black stone wall and turquoise sea beyond

Haenyeo culture and a blue-roofed guesthouse

Udo is also known for its haenyeo, the women divers of Jeju who gather seafood from the sea.

The haenyeo mural

I came across a guesthouse with a bright blue roof and white walls. On its wall there is a black-and-white mural of two haenyeo walking along the coast, next to a sign titled 우도(소섬) 해녀의 삶, “The Life of Udo (Soseom) Haenyeo”. Below you can see the whole building and a close-up of the mural. I love that the island’s story is right there on the wall.

Blue-roofed guesthouse in Udo with a black-and-white haenyeo mural on its wall, and a close-up of the mural showing two women divers

Wanting to go back

Slow, simple and so happy. Turquoise water, a sunny café break and a little bit of culture: I already want to go back to 우도.

Have you been to Udo, or anywhere else in Jeju? Tell me your favourite spot in the comments, I would love some ideas for my next trip! 🌅

우도, 또 만나자!