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.
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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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Korea Travel Essentials
Don’t board that plane to Seoul until you’ve sorted out accommodation, transport from the airport, and your data on the ground.
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.
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.
LOCAL TIP | If you want to see the highlights of Jeju Island, it’s best to divide the island geographically, because distances are very long. It’s literally impossible to see everything in one day. These UNESCO tours makes it easy by dividing everything up for you. Check details here.
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.
NEED A BEACH BREAK? | Aqua Planet Jeju is the largest aquarium in Asia, with marine life from all 5 oceans of the world on display, special performances, and a special area just for kids! Get discounted tickets to Aqua Planet Jeju here.Seeing Nanta is another great option. This non-verbal culinary performance is Korea’s longest running show for a reason. I laughed until I cried watching it! Grab discounted tickets here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hamdeok Beach: Essential Info and FAQs
1. When is the beach open?
You can access Hamdeok Beach in every season, but the swimming season is usually from late June to the end of August. Hours vary in summer time, but usually the beach opens at 10AM and closes between 7 – 9PM. For me, the fact that there are even “hours” at the beach has always been a strange quirk of Korea.
2. What facilities are available at Hamdeok Beach?
You can find pretty much everything you need at Hamdeok Beach. There are toilets, dressing and shower rooms, restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores onsite. You can buy or rent almost anything you need for the beach there, including sand toys, floaties, and boards. You’ll also find hotels, motels, and even a campsite nearby.
3. Are there sunbeds and umbrellas available?
It’s only possible to rent plastic tables and chairs on the beach. They do have umbrellas though and offer shade if that’s what you’re after. Cost: 20,000 won per table.
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!
You made traveling solo with kid sounds so easy and definitely manageable. Your daughter seems to be from the same cloth as yours anyways, eh? 😀 Your images make me want to fly, or take a dip. 😀
Haha really? Cuz it was manageable but definitely not easy. Toddlers are super exhausting, always running away from you and poking their fingers where they don’t belong. 😉 Jeju is super close to Japan no? Next summer maybe? 🙂
You made traveling solo with kid sounds so easy and definitely manageable. Your daughter seems to be from the same cloth as yours anyways, eh? 😀 Your images make me want to fly, or take a dip. 😀
Haha really? Cuz it was manageable but definitely not easy. Toddlers are super exhausting, always running away from you and poking their fingers where they don’t belong. 😉 Jeju is super close to Japan no? Next summer maybe? 🙂
Wow..you did it. hats off to you. To be honest I am scared even now to take a solo trip with mine although she has turned 3 now. Now, you are really inspiring me to…
You can totally do it Neha! And technically I wasn’t solo…I went with a girlfriend and her daughter, and that might be a good way to start. It was perfect actually cuz one of us could watch both, while the other went to do what they needed to you. I’m not entirely sure how it would’ve been if I’d truly been solo – but I guess I’ll find out next week when I take the little monster to Thailand by myself. Gulp.
Wow..you did it. hats off to you. To be honest I am scared even now to take a solo trip with mine although she has turned 3 now. Now, you are really inspiring me to…
You can totally do it Neha! And technically I wasn’t solo…I went with a girlfriend and her daughter, and that might be a good way to start. It was perfect actually cuz one of us could watch both, while the other went to do what they needed to you. I’m not entirely sure how it would’ve been if I’d truly been solo – but I guess I’ll find out next week when I take the little monster to Thailand by myself. Gulp.
There’s a lot to be said for hanging out in just one place when your time is limited! If I had a hotel room view like that, I’d be at the beach or on the balcony 24/7!! Except when I was eating, of course – those monster burgers look like enough food for all day, haha!
I really wished I had more time there to enjoy just sitting on the balcony, writing and drinking in that view, but alas, with a little one, those days are over for at least a little while…
There’s a lot to be said for hanging out in just one place when your time is limited! If I had a hotel room view like that, I’d be at the beach or on the balcony 24/7!! Except when I was eating, of course – those monster burgers look like enough food for all day, haha!
I really wished I had more time there to enjoy just sitting on the balcony, writing and drinking in that view, but alas, with a little one, those days are over for at least a little while…
Our kids were huge beach babies in their early years although I don’t think I ever took them solo (3 kids born every other year would have made that completely insane!). This looks like the perfect mother-daughter x 2 trip – I would have loved to do this with a girlfriend way back then!
Haha yeah, 3 kids solo would’ve been insane. We had a great trip, but I was pretty exhausted by the end, that’s for sure. Honestly, I can’t wait till Naia’s just a little older and we can go on a REAL mother-daughter solo trip…or better yet, a daddy-daughter solo trip. 😉
Our kids were huge beach babies in their early years although I don’t think I ever took them solo (3 kids born every other year would have made that completely insane!). This looks like the perfect mother-daughter x 2 trip – I would have loved to do this with a girlfriend way back then!
Haha yeah, 3 kids solo would’ve been insane. We had a great trip, but I was pretty exhausted by the end, that’s for sure. Honestly, I can’t wait till Naia’s just a little older and we can go on a REAL mother-daughter solo trip…or better yet, a daddy-daughter solo trip. 😉
Keep it up, Shelley! You can do everything you want to, even with kids! And Jeju sounds like a really nice destination. Actually, I wanted to go there last year. However, due to non-availability of flights from Hong Kong, we ended up in Okinawa. I heard that the Chinese tourists are avoiding Korea and Jeju at the moment, so, did you feel it was too crowded? Perhaps I’ll explore it next year for a beach getaway, then. Cheers! Dennis
When we visited, it was definitely busy – but mostly with Koreans because there was a 2 week break with all the after school programs. LOTS of families on vacation…but I still didn’t feel overwhelmed and it was easy to find our own little space next to that sandbar. I’m told the best time to visit in terms of warm water, less crowds and cost is early September, so maybe keep that in mind for your visit. (And I so want to get to Okinawa!!)
Keep it up, Shelley! You can do everything you want to, even with kids! And Jeju sounds like a really nice destination. Actually, I wanted to go there last year. However, due to non-availability of flights from Hong Kong, we ended up in Okinawa. I heard that the Chinese tourists are avoiding Korea and Jeju at the moment, so, did you feel it was too crowded? Perhaps I’ll explore it next year for a beach getaway, then. Cheers! Dennis
When we visited, it was definitely busy – but mostly with Koreans because there was a 2 week break with all the after school programs. LOTS of families on vacation…but I still didn’t feel overwhelmed and it was easy to find our own little space next to that sandbar. I’m told the best time to visit in terms of warm water, less crowds and cost is early September, so maybe keep that in mind for your visit. (And I so want to get to Okinawa!!)
the water looks awesome! great location
Even I was surprised by how gorgeous and clear that water was…
the water looks awesome! great location
Even I was surprised by how gorgeous and clear that water was…
Good tips! I’m planning to get to Jeju next March…but I’ve not started any research yet so I shall keep all these in mind, is it still cold in March you think?…:)
Yeah, I think it’s pretty cold in March still – maybe even raining, but there’s tons to do there even if you’re not beachin it. I’ve been told by locals that September is actually the best month for swimming – the water’s still warm, but it’s not as crowded and much cheaper!
Will have to think of other places to visit instead then if the weather is like that…Hallasan maybe??? Hehehehehe
Good tips! I’m planning to get to Jeju next March…but I’ve not started any research yet so I shall keep all these in mind, is it still cold in March you think?…:)
Yeah, I think it’s pretty cold in March still – maybe even raining, but there’s tons to do there even if you’re not beachin it. I’ve been told by locals that September is actually the best month for swimming – the water’s still warm, but it’s not as crowded and much cheaper!
Will have to think of other places to visit instead then if the weather is like that…Hallasan maybe??? Hehehehehe