Sangumburi Crater

Sangumburi — Jeju's Maar Crater, a 40-minute Round Trip

Sangumburi has no peak. Unlike the surrounding oreums (volcanic cones) around Hallasan, this is a maar-type crater where the flat ground has sunken. Thus, there is no effort required to climb from the main entrance to the ridge; instead, you just need to walk along the observatory path that circles the outside of the crater. A leisurely 40 minutes is sufficient.

Plan Your Visit Time

The opening time is 9 AM year-round, but the closing time varies by season, and this is a common point of confusion.

Midsummer (Jul-Aug) actually has the same 17:40 closing time as winter. If you arrive at 5:30 PM thinking, "It's summer, so it'll be open late," you won't be able to buy a ticket. Closing times may be moved up if the weather is bad. Address: 768, Bijarim-ro, Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, Inquiries: 064-783-9900.

Admission Fees

Parking is free.

Walking Path

Past the ticket office, the observatory path branches into four routes — Gusamnamu-gil, Gyedan-gil, Eoksae-gil, Jeju Dol-gil. While most of it is gentle, there are stair sections, making it difficult for strollers or wheelchairs to comfortably navigate the entire path. The structure involves walking around the rim, not descending into the crater, so the key view is looking down at the crater floor spread below and the oreum ridges beyond.

This short route is why it's a good fit for a one-to-two-hour course on your Jeju itinerary, rather than a half-day one.

Eoksae (Silver Grass) from Mid-October

The most popular time to visit is during the silver grass season. The peak is from mid-October to early November. September is still too early, and after mid-November, the color fades. Even without the silver grass, the crater's unique topography itself is a sight to behold, so visiting in other seasons is not a wasted trip, but if you're going to see "Sangumburi silver grass," you should aim for this 3-week window.

Guided Tours Have Fixed Times

There's a significant difference between walking and observing alone and listening to a guided tour here. Without an explanation, it's easy to overlook why the crater sank without a peak, or why the vegetation inside differs from that outside.

Tour Times — 09:30 · 10:30 · 14:00 · 15:00 · 16:00 However, tours are closed every Tuesday and may be canceled in case of rain.

If you plan to take a guided tour, it's better to avoid Tuesdays.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How late is it open in summer? Jul-Aug closes at 17:40 (last admission 17:00). It's the same as winter, which can be confusing.
• How long does it take? Approximately 40 minutes for one round of the observatory path.
• When is the silver grass in bloom? Mid-October to early November is the peak.
• Are there guided tours every day? Tuesdays are off. Other days are 09:30, 10:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00.
• Is there a parking fee? No, it's free.

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