Manjanggul Cave Jeju Review 2026: Entrance Fees & Visitor Tips
Discover Jeju's incredible Manjanggul Lava Tube, a UNESCO World Heritage site! Find updated 2026 entrance fees, hours, parking, and tips for your visit.
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Discover Jeju's incredible Manjanggul Lava Tube, a UNESCO World Heritage site! Find updated 2026 entrance fees, hours, parking, and tips for your visit.
Jeju Manjanggul Cave
Entrance Fees & Operating Hours
Parking & Nearby Restaurants
A World Natural Heritage Site,
Jeju Island's Manjanggul Cave
underwent renovation work
at the end of 2023,
closing its doors for a long time,
before finally reopening on May 30, 2026!
Manjanggul Cave Entrance Fees
Adults (25-65 years old): ~$3
Youth/Military (13-24 years old): ~$1
Children (7-12 years old): ~$1
Free Admission: Ages 6 and under, Ages 65 and over
National Merit Recipients, Independence Patriots, etc. are free
Jeju Residents: Free admission with ID
During Culture Month (October 18-20),
all citizens can enter for free.
Address | 182 Manjanggul-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si |
Opening & Closing Hours | 9:00 AM ~ 6:00 PM Last admission/ticket sales: 5:10 PM |
Closed | First Wednesday of every month |
It was incredibly hot that day, which might be why
there were so many people!
The queue at the ticket booth
was long, and I waited for about 5 minutes,
but since it gets really crowded in the summer,
a good tip is to arrive early,
right when it opens
at 9 AM.
Manjanggul Cave Tour Course & Duration?
The section open to general tourists
is about 1km out of the total 7.4km,
and a round-trip tour
usually takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour.
At the end of the course,
you'll find the world's largest known
lava column, standing at 7.6m tall,
and reaching this point
is the main highlight of the tour.
As a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site
and a National Natural Monument,
even after its reopening,
its academic value
continues to be recognized without change.
The Discovery of Manjanggul Cave?
Manjanggul Cave was discovered in 1946
by Boo Jong-hyu (1926-1980), a teacher at Gimnyeong Elementary School
who was researching wild plants on Jeju Island.
He, along with his elementary school exploration team,
found an entrance to the cave near the parking lot of what is currently
Gimnyeong Maze Park, Gujwa-eup, South Jeju.
Subsequently, from 1946 to 1958,
Teacher Boo and an exploration team of about 30 children
descended into the tunnel with torches on four separate occasions,
surveyed the internal lava structures,
measured the cave's length with ropes,
and revealed its true nature to the world.
Today, the 1st and 2nd entrances and parts of the tunnel
that he pioneered have been developed into tourist attractions,
and a monument commemorating his achievements
was reportedly installed in 2016.
It's amazing that they explored with torches!
Jeju's Manjanggul Cave is
a lava tube cave formed by
the volcanic activity of Geomunoreum.
It's believed that lava flowed underground,
solidified to create its passages,
and the entrance later formed
due to a ceiling collapse.
Inside the cave,
traces left by flowing lava (like lava flow lines) and
geological formations created as the lava solidified (such as lava columns)
are incredibly well-preserved,
giving it immense academic and scenic value.
This solidified state
is called lava stalactites or lava drippings!
With a constant temperature of 15 degrees Celsius (59°F),
it's even cooler than air conditioning,
making it absolutely perfect for a stroll!
Visiting Manjanggul in the summer was absolutely the best decision!
It was incredibly refreshing, almost to the point of being chilly.
The cave interior is cool
and the floor can be slippery,
so sneakers
and an outer layer are absolute must-haves!
Sneakers are especially crucial!
Three years ago, the floor was quite uneven,
but they replaced it with large square tiles, which made walking
much more pleasant.
However, sometimes these floor tiles can shift,
perhaps not being perfectly balanced.
Good footwear is still a must.
Also, water occasionally drips from the ceiling,
so a hat would be a smart addition!
And here’s a tip: the first Wednesday of every month
is a regular closing day,
so be sure to double-check your dates!
To make your itinerary super efficient,
consider combining your visit with nearby attractions like
Woljeongri Beach, Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak), and Gimnyeong Maze Park.
This creates a perfect Jeju East Coast adventure!
You'll also find convenient luggage lockers,
and a comfortable resting area equipped with a water dispenser and air conditioning.
Restrooms
The restrooms are conveniently located right behind the ticket office.
With its recent reopening, Jeju Manjanggul now boasts
newly renovated safety facilities,
making for an even more pleasant and comfortable visit!
Keep all this information in mind to help you plan
an incredibly enriching Jeju East Coast adventure.
Parking
Parking Info:
A spacious parking lot is available right in front of the Manjanggul entrance,
and there is no separate parking fee!
With visitor numbers increasing since its reopening,
the lot can get full during peak season.
To enjoy a more relaxed visit,
I recommend arriving early in the morning.
The day I went was incredibly hot,
and the parking lot was already packed!
There was also a long line at the ticket booth,
so I waited for about 5 minutes.
Location
📍 Manjanggul Ticket Office
182 Manjanggul-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, Republic of Korea
If you're traveling by bus:
From Jeju-si,
take Road 1132 (Iljudong-ro).
Get off at the Manjanggul Bus Stop,
which is at the intersection right by the Manjanggul entrance.
Must-Try Eateries Nearby
Jeju Batdam Gogi Guksu Myeolchi Guksu (Pork Noodle Soup & Anchovy Noodle Soup) - just a 10-minute drive from Manjanggul.
Seul Seul Slow - serving up delicious Dombe Ramyeon and Dombe Ttengcho Ramyeon (spicy ramen) - about a 15-minute drive away.
And for even more options, Woljeongri Beach, also about 15 minutes away,
boasts a fantastic array of restaurants!
📍 Jeju Batdam Gogi Guksu Myeolchi Guksu
1st Floor, 55-87 Gimnyeongnam 8-gil, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, Republic of Korea
📍 Seul Seul Slow
1st Floor, 207 Deokhaeng-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, Republic of Korea
Manjanggul Lava Tube in Jeju closed for renovations in late 2023 and reopened on May 30, 2026, after being shut for a long time. Currently, new safety facilities have been installed to ensure a pleasant viewing experience.
The entrance fee for Manjanggul is ~$3 for adults and ~$1 for youths, soldiers, and children. Admission is free for those aged 6 and under, 65 and over, national merit awardees, and Jeju residents upon presentation of ID. Additionally, during Culture Month (October 18-20), admission is free for all citizens.
General tourists can explore approximately 1km of the total 7.4km length of Manjanggul Lava Tube. A round trip typically takes about 50 minutes to 1 hour. At the end of the course, the 7.6m-high lava pillar, known as the world's largest, is the key highlight.
The inside of Manjanggul Lava Tube is cool at 15 degrees Celsius, making it pleasant for walking even in summer. Since the floor can be slippery and water might drip from above, it's essential to bring athletic shoes and an outer garment. A hat is also recommended.
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