A jungle of molten lava tubes. Waterfalls and hiking trails. A crater lake. Stunning beaches…
You must be heading to Jeju Island, South Korea.
For many western backpackers, Jeju Island has flown over the radar. That said, Jeju Island is very popular with people in Asia for obvious reasons. It is bloody gorgeous. In fact Jeju Island is a fantastic place to go backpacking.
Now to the important question for travelers: How does one find the best hostels in Jeju Island?
Well, Jeju Island is such an awesome place, I decided to write this guide to the best hostels in Jeju Island!
By the end of this hostel guide you will be fully prepared to crush your travels and take Jeju Island by storm. As every backpacker knows, it is much better to spend time planning your awesome adventure rather than researching hostels.
Booking the right hostel for yourself with your own preferences in mind is easy when you have the right options in front of you.
This stress-free guide has done all the tough digging, so you can quickly score the information you need to have an awesome time backpacking Jeju Island.
Let’s dive right in…
Quick Answer: The Best Hostels in Jeju Island
- Overall Best Hostel in Jeju Island – Kim’s Cabin
- Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Jeju Island – Yesjun Guest House
- Best Cheap Hostel in Jeju Island – SUM Guest House Jeju Airport
- Best Party Hostel in Jeju Island – Backpacker’s Hostel
- Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Jeju Island – MIDO Hostel
The 10 Best Hostels in Jeju Island
Backpackers to South Korea love Jeju Islan and we are sure you will too. These are the BEST hostels on Jeju Island.
Kim’s Cabin – Overall Best Hostel in Jeju Island
There’s not a lot in the prices of hostels on Jeju, but relative to others Kim’s Cabin is at the priciest end. So don’t be put off by the triple-dollar sign. It’s relative. But then again, being the overall best hostel in Jeju Island, Kim’s Cabin is probably in a position to charge a little more. It’s SO NICE! It’s really homely, got a cozy common area, decent dorms, and a great atmosphere.
This top hostel in South Korea is also located very near to the famed Jeju Olle Trail, the footpath winding round the island, on Jeju’s east side, making it very convenient if you’re dropping in mid-hike. Or bike. Very nice place.
Yesjun Guest House – Best Hostel for Solo Travellers in Jeju Island
Good times await at the relatively pricey but very-homely-indeed Yesjun Guest House; the friendly atmosphere is great – people sit around the table, cook dinner together, BBQ together. And everyone knows that food is a great way to make friends. The place itself is pretty cool, set like all in a ski-lodge-esque cabin sort of thing – everything is wood. It’s cool. That, combined with the social aspect, easily makes this the best hostel for solo travellers in Jeju Island. Plus, part of your booking at Yesjun goes towards a B’friend – a ‘non-profit organization that provides food and nutrition to underprivileged children’. We like that.
SUM Guest House Jeju Airport – Best Cheap Hostel in Jeju Island #1
Usually we’d be put off by something that has ‘Airport’ in its name, but with SUM it’s a totally different story. Not only is it convenient for Jeju Island’s airport (5 mins by bus – duh), but it’s actually a really nice hostel. Easily the best cheap hostel in Jeju Island – EASILY. It’s better priced than other hostels on the island, and though it’s possibly a little more basic, the rooms are still well decorated, uniform, bright and colourful. There’s a great little cafe attached (downstairs), doubling as the common room. AND the breakfast is free. The island bus terminal is nearby, too.
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View on Osprey View on REIBackpacker’s Hostel – Best Party Hostel in Jeju Island
It’s the BBQ nights at this Jeju Island backpackers hostel that make it the perfect place for a good time – the fun moves downstairs to a bar with live music after a certain point in the night. That point. When you’ve moved from beer to soju. We know all about it. But yeah, this is probably the best party hostel in Jeju Island, due to the super social atmosphere of the place. Despite this, it’s pretty quiet at night – we have no idea how they manage that. But if you’re looking for fun times, book yourself in at the aptly named Backpacker’s Home. You won’t regret it.
MIDO Hostel – Best Hostel for Digital Nomads in Jeju Island
Located in Seogwipo City, MIDO (‘beautiful island’ in Korean) is a great place to stay in Jeju Island if you’re not necessarily ALL about the hiking or cycling or any of those active outdoorsy things. Being in an urban area means you’re well located to explore what urban areas have to offer, i.e. things to eat, places to chill, bars – all the good stuff. That’s great if you want to see what’s on offer – or find places to work with a little WiFi. That’s not discounting MIDO though: easily the best hostel for digital nomads in Jeju Island, the dorms are minimal-industrial cool, it’s super spacious for laptop working, and it’s budget-friendly. Easy choice!
U & I Guesthouse – Best Cheap Hostel in Jeju Island #2
The dorm rooms at U & I Guesthouse are, hm, shall we say cosy? So bear that in mind if you have a problem with cramped spaces. Not cramped! Cosy. That said this budget hostel in Jeju Island is a right bargain, being up there (down there?) with some of the cheapest places to stay on the island. But the close-quarters living at this Jeju Island backpackers hostel make it really easy to make friends since you’ll be sitting with them in the little common area a lot of the time. The staff are really friendly too!
Greenday Guest House – Best Cheap Hostel in Jeju Island #3
Another great location, and amongst the cheapest hostels on Jeju Island, Greenday Guest House is about a 5 min walk from the Dongmun Market – the biggest, most buzzing market on Jeju Island. And that is a pretty fun, interesting thing to do, let’s be honest. Aside from location, this cosy place has a friendly atmosphere, the staff are great, all the toiletries you could need are provided for, and there’s a substantial free breakfast on offer – just don’t turn up late to breakfast! Easy to see why this bargain is a highly recommended hostel in Jeju Island.
Rainbow in Jeju – Best Hostel for Couples in Jeju Island
Cute cute cuuuuute! We love the sweet decor at Rainbow, arguably the best hostel for couples in Jeju Island. The private rooms are done in such a clean, minimalist style, as is the whole rest of the hostel, including the modern-feeling dorms, the plastered corridor, the wood and clean lines of the common room. Ah, it’s just… lovely. Perfect for a slice of your own space if you’ve stayed in one too many dorm rooms on your trip. Even then, this is a great option even for singles, too. But couples love privacy, and this is CUTE privacy. And even the kitchen is like something from a design magazine. Love it.
Island Guesthouse – Best Hostel with a Private Room in Jeju Island
Bright, cosy and colourful, Island Guesthouse is offered up as a chance to escape city life, with its nice non-urban location and quiet, relaxed atmosphere. This is not the best hostel in Jeju Island, but it is cute and the people that run it are super friendly and helpful, going above and beyond to help order taxis and things like that (if you can’t speak Korean, which you probably can’t). That makes all the difference. So, sure, it’s not in town, and you need to get buses everywhere, and it’s a bit more than other hostels, but what it lacks it makes up for with a really warm and welcoming atmosphere. The private rooms are definitely the highlight of this laid back hostel.
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Hide Yo’ Money!More Best Hostels in Jeju Island
Backpackers in Jeju City Center
The not-very-imaginatively named Backpackers in Jeju City Center is a pretty decent option when it comes to a budget hostel in Jeju Island. There’s a free breakfast, the staff are really friendly, the location is pretty decent (especially if you like exploring towns and cities), and everything is nice and clean. It is also close to the nightlife scene in Jeju Island. The downside is that being in the city centre, it can get pretty noisy but – eh. It’s ok, right? Earplugs all the way. The rooms are also pretty small, but we’re talking youth hostel in Jeju Island – not the Ritz. Overall, a solid choice for convenience.
What to Pack for your Jeju Island Hostel
Pants, socks, underwear, soap?! Take it from me, packing for a hostel stay is not always quite as straightforward as it seems. Working out what to bring and what to leave at home is an art I have perfected over many years.
Ear Plugs
Snoring dorm-mates can ruin your nights rest and seriously damage the hostel experience. This is why I always travel with a pack of decent ear plugs.
Hanging Laundry Bag
Trust us, this is an absolute game changer. Super compact, a hanging mesh laundry bag stops your dirty clothes from stinking, you don’t know how much you need one of these… so just get it, thank us later.
Sea To Summit Micro Towel
Hostel towels are scummy and take forever to dry. Microfibre towels dry quickly, are compact, lightweight, and can be used as a blanket or yoga mat if need be.
Monopoly Deal
Forget about Poker! Monopoly Deal is the single best travel card game that we have ever played. Works with 2-5 players and guarantees happy days.
Grayl Geopress Water Bottle
Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator. Boom!
Check out our definitive Hostel Packing list for our top packing tips!
Why you should travel to Jeju Island
Well guys, that’s all I got; my guide to the best hostels in Jeju Island is complete at last.
I know that now you are fully prepared to book an awesome hostel that works for your own needs and budget.
There are so many damn fun things to do in Jeju Island, you’ll certainly need to get some solid rest to keep up with all the activities the island has on offer.
If there is still any doubt in your mind about which hostel to go with, I’ll make it easy for you — Just go with my top pick for best overall hostel in Jeju Island: Kim’s Cabin — you certainly will not be disappointed. Happy backpacking!
FAQ about Hostels in Jeju Island
Here are some questions backpackers ask about hostels in Jeju Island.
How much does a hostel cost in Jeju Island?
The average price for a hostel dorm in Jeju Island is $15 USD. Private rooms start from $23 USD.
What are the best hostels in Jeju Island for couples?
SUM Guesthouse Jeju Airport is a top-rated hostel for couples in Jeju. It’s close to the bus stop and the location is great.
What is the best hostel in Jeju Island near the airport?
The island bus terminal is just across the street from the SUM Guesthouse Jeju Airport, while the airport is just 5 minutes by bus.
Travel Safety Tips for Jeju Island
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Over to you
By now I hope our epic guide to the best hostels in Jeju Island has helped you choose the perfect hostel for your adventure!
If you think we’ve missed anything or have any further thoughts, hit us up in the comments!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in South Korea for a wealth of info!
- Check out the best places to stay in Jeju before you arrive.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links. That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!
