5 Awesome Things to Do on Hamdeok Beach on Jeju Island

Hamdeok Beach is absolutely one of the best beaches on Jeju Island. With turquoise seas, white sand, and tropical vibes, it even went a little way towards convincing me about the whole “Jeju is the Hawaii of Korea” claim.

Hamdeok Beach might convince you that Jeju is actually the “Hawaii of Korea”

I first visited Hamdeok Beach on a solo trip with my toddler, and again last year, and it turned out to be the perfect place, with calm water, a super long tide and tons of amenities.

Travellers without children would also be VERY happy there. Hamdeok is simply one of the best beaches to be found on Jeju Island.

Why choose Hamdeok Beach | 함덕 서우봉해변

When I think of the perfect beach, it always has crystal clear water and creamy sand, and Hamdeok Beach has that in spades. Add in the excellent amenities, beachfront hotels, many activities, and cafes and restaurants nearby, and it’s easy to see why this is a great place to go during summer in Korea.

Hamdeok Beach at sunset is also incredibly lovely © Cafe Delmoondo

Hamdeok is actually made up of 3 separate beaches, and all are shielded by Seoubong Mountain. This is a BIG bonus, because Jeju is notorious for strong winds, but because of the mountain’s protection, the water here is super calm. That’s always a good thing.

There’s nothing worse than sand blowing all over the place when you’re trying to enjoy a beach day.

Jeju is a perfect place to take a family vacay in Korea

I also chose Hamdeok Beach because it’s known as a great place for traveling with a baby in Korea. If you’re visiting with kids, Hamdeok Beach is the perfect toddler-friendly place to play, with soft sand, tidal pools to cool off in, and small sea life for wee ones to discover.

Things to do at Hamdeok Beach

You could happily spend all your time on Jeju just bobbing around in crystal clear seas, but it you need a change, here are some other worthy things to do near Hamdeok Beach.

Hamdeok Beach is simply perfect.

READ NEXT: Don’t want to travel all the way to Jeju Island? Check out these 5 beaches near Seoul!

Admire the disappearing sandbar

The disappearing sandbar is a totally unique feature of Hamdeok Beach. It vanishes at night and magically reappears every morning. And it’s absolutely massive.

You can park yourself on that incredible sandbar in the middle of the sea and spend practically the whole day there, before it gets covered by water again in the evening.

The disappearing sandbar is a unique feature of Hamdeok Beach

The sandbar is technically not part of Hamdeok’s 3 beaches per se, but at low tide, it’s totally possible to walk all the way over to one of the real beaches if you desire.

The tide was SO long, and the sand so clean and soft, that I could let my 22 month old, wander away for quite a distance exploring, before I had to go chasing after her.

Hamdeok is super safe for younger kids.

Best of all, the tide stayed out until long after we (and our little ones) were ready to call it a day.

Take in Hamdeok Beach Views at Cafe Delmoondo

Without a doubt, the place to see and be seen at Hamdeok Beach is Cafe Delmoondo. With good reason. It’s eminently instagram-worthy with several different patios from which to take in incredible views of crystalline blue seas, while munching on baked goods and sipping on iced coffee.

The view from Cafe Delmoondo is spectacular

They’re also one of the few (maybe only) places on Hamdeok Beach that has couple cabanas, and real sun beds available for rent. They start at 10,000 won per hour per person, and it’s something I’ll definitely be looking into next time I’m there.

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Stroll across a volcanic rock bridge

Head past Cafe Delmoondo and you’ll find a volcanic rock bridge to cross. It’s connected to a small island that you can explore.

Visit at sunset for an alternative view of Hamdeok Beach, and some fantastic light for pictures. Kids will love climbing on big boulders by the sea and throwing the little black rocks that litter the ground into the water.

Bubbles and black rocks.

Try some water sports

It’s possible to try a number of different water sports at Hamdeok Beach. You can rent motorboats, try waterskiing, ride a banana boat, or go sea-fishing. You’ll find various service providers all around the beach.

We stayed all day long!

Check out the mosaic tiled break wall

There’s a long break wall next to the sea that’s covered in a mosaic of colourful tiles. You can walk next to, or on top of it. Just be warned that it’s very hot, with little shade, so be sure to have a hat or some other form of sun protection.

She’s pooped after a full day at the beach

Where to Stay on Hamdeok Beach

I recommend booking something that’s walking distance to the sea. It’s really hot and humid in Jeju during summer and you want to be as close to all the amenities as possible. This is especially true if you’re on a family vacation.

Rooftop views from Aimi Hotel.

If you plan to travel during high season, or on weekends in the summer, reserve your hotel as early as possible. Beachfront hotels will undoubtedly be fully booked far in advance at these times.

During August in Korea, school kids are on summer vacation, so this is the busiest time by far.

It’s best to be walking distance to the beach with kids.

There are no hotels directly on Hamdeok Beach, but these well-rated hotels, pensions and resorts are right across the street.

Aimi Jeju Beach Hotel

We stayed at the Aimi Jeju Beach Hotel, in a double room with partial sea view, balcony, wifi, unlimited draft beer at happy hour and breakfast included. I was super happy with the view, the comfortable bed, amount of space and cleanliness of the room.

Utop Ubless Hotel Jeju

Utop Ubless Hotel Jeju is one of the most booked hotels near Hamdeok Beach, with AC, wifi and free parking. It’s just 400 metres away from the sand and surf.

Sono Belle Jeju

Sono Belle Jeju is part of a reliable hotel chain with locations all over Korea. It has options for large family style rooms with multiple bedrooms, and a perfect location just 200 metres away from the surf and sand.

I’ve stayed at various Sono Hotels around Korea, including at Vivaldi Park, and in Danyang.

How to Get to Hamdeok Beach

Address: Johamhaean-ro, Jocheon-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do | 제주특별자치도 제주시 조천읍 조함해안로 (조천읍)

If you plan on serious beach time, a metred taxi to Hamdeok Beach is a good choice if you’re less than 4 people and don’t have much luggage. This is what we did, and it took around 45 minutes and cost less than 25,000 won.

It’s not difficult to drive on Jeju Island.

If you plan on exploring a bit further afield, are more than 4 people, or have lots of luggage, renting a car, booking an airport transfer or hiring a private car charter is really the best option.

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Ready to plan the perfect beach vacay to Hamdeok Beach in Jeju? Let us know all about it in the comments. We’d love to hear from you!