Three nights is enough to circle the island. The hard part is where to start. Get the order wrong and you burn the trip on the west and abandon the east.
Book the car first
City buses have reasonable routes but take two to three times longer than driving. Over four days that is half the trip spent moving.
- A compact runs 40,000-60,000 won a day — over 1.5x in peak season
- Book at least two weeks ahead
- A domestic licence is enough, and companies near the airport run a shuttle to collect you
Day 1 — east
Start at Seongsan Ilchulbong, then Bijarim forest (entry 3,000 won, about an hour). Allow roughly an hour round trip for Seongsan Ilchulbong; its fees and hours shift by season, so check those separately.
Stay in Pyoseon or Sehwa.
Day 2 — north
Hamdeok Seowoobong Beach for paddleboarding (15,000-20,000 won an hour), then up to the 1100 Highland wetland — free, a Ramsar site, and high enough that a light jacket is essential.
Day 3 — west
The Chagwido cruise is 16,500 won return, about 90 minutes, and cancels in bad weather — check on 064-738-5355 before you drive out. Then the Osulloc Tea Museum (free; green-tea ice cream 5,500 won).
Day 4 — south
Begin at the Jusangjeolli cliffs in Jungmun, pass through Seogwipo, and return to the airport. The south is the part a two-night trip drops entirely, so this is where the extra day pays.
Why this order
East, north, west, south leaves the airport in the north, travels one way round, and closes back at the airport. Nothing is retraced, so no driving is wasted.
Leg-by-leg routes are on the WeBring blog.