Itinerary · South Korea
Yeosu in 2 days: Gimpo flight or KTX?
KTX or a flight from Gimpo? Yeosu is about 3 hr to 3 hr 20 min by KTX from Seoul. How the two compare, a 2-day route, food and budget.
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Two days in Yeosu along the sea
Yeosu is a port city on Korea's south coast with Odongdo, a camellia island, a cable car over the sea, Hyangiram, a hermitage known for sunrise, and Jinnamgwan Hall, a National Treasure. The guide suggests 2 days or more.
For 2 days, see Odongdo, the cable car and the night sea on Day 1, then climb to Hyangiram early on Day 2 and tour the old town before you leave. First, decide whether to fly from Gimpo or take the KTX from Seoul.
- Day 1: arrive, Odongdo camellia forest, cable car to Dolsan Park, night sea at Yi Sun-sin Square and Jongpo Marine Park
- Day 2: bus 111 or 111-1 to Hyangiram, Dolsan, Jinnamgwan Hall (check it's open) and Goso-dong Mural Village, then leave
Gimpo flight or KTX: how they differ
Check flight times and the number of flights with the airlines. A city bus from the airport takes about 20 minutes to Yeocheon Station, a KTX stop, and about 1 hour to the area near Yeosu EXPO Station. Bus routes and times change by season; check the Yeosu traffic information centre (its.yeosu.go.kr).
KTX trains run several times a day from Seoul and Yongsan stations to Yeosu EXPO Station, about 3 hr to 3 hr 20 min from Seoul Station. ITX-Saemaeul, ITX-Maeum and Mugunghwa trains also run. Yeosu EXPO Station is where Day 1 starts and has a stop for buses 111 and 111-1 to Hyangiram, so you can set off right away.
For fares on both, check official info: search flights, and check Korail for the KTX. For the flight, add the bus time from the airport when you compare; the KTX drops you at Yeosu EXPO Station.
- Gimpo to Yeosu Airport: check flight times and frequency with the airlines, then about 20 min by bus to Yeocheon Station or about 1 hr to the Yeosu EXPO Station area; check fares officially
- KTX Seoul Station to Yeosu EXPO Station: about 3 hr to 3 hr 20 min, several trains a day; check fares with Korail
Day 1 afternoon: Odongdo, then the cable car to Dolsan Park
Odongdo is an island in Hallyeohaesang National Park with about 3,000 camellia trees. A forest-tunnel trail of about 2.5 km circles it, with a lighthouse and a musical fountain. Free and open 24 hours. The camellias start blooming in February and peak in March.
From the Odongdo entrance, the island is about a 15-minute walk along the 768 m breakwater. The Dongbaek Train (KRW 1,000; free for ages 6 and under and 65 and over) runs 09:30–17:00 with a break 12:00–13:00.
From Jasan Park (Haeya Platform) on the Odongdo entrance side, the maritime cable car crosses the sea to Dolsan Park (Nora Platform) in about 13 minutes one way. Tickets are sold on the day only, and suitcases, strollers and wheelchairs are restricted in crystal cabins. Leave your bags at your hotel first.
- Odongdo: free, open 24 hours, about a 15-minute walk along the breakwater
- Dongbaek Train: KRW 1,000, 09:30–17:00 (break 12:00–13:00)
- Cable car: 09:30–21:30 (last tickets 21:00); standard cabin adults KRW 17,000 round trip / 14,000 one way, crystal cabin adults KRW 24,000 / 19,000
Day 1 evening: Dolsan Bridge at night and the sea at Yi Sun-sin Square
From Dolsan Park you look down on Dolsan Bridge, Janggundo and the harbour at night. Dolsan Bridge is a 450 m cable-stayed bridge that changes through about 50 colours of light every night.
In the evening, head to the old town. Watch the sunset over Janggundo from Yi Sun-sin Square, then walk about 1.5 km along the sea under Geobukseon Bridge to Jongpo Marine Park, with Hamel Lighthouse, the cable car, Dolsan Bridge and Geobukseon Bridge all in view. This area is the heart of Yeosu, full of sights and local food, so it is a good place for dinner.
- Dolsan Park: night view of Dolsan Bridge, Janggundo and the harbour
- Yi Sun-sin Square: sunset
- Yi Sun-sin Square to Jongpo Marine Park: about 1.5 km seaside walk
Day 2: Hyangiram, Jinnamgwan and Goso-dong Mural Village, then home
In the morning, take bus 111 or 111-1 to Hyangiram. They run from the Yeosu EXPO Station stop and the intercity bus terminal stop to the Impo (Hyangiram) stop, and bus 116 also runs from the terminal. Each route has a fixed number of runs a day, so check departure times first.
Hyangiram is a hermitage on the cliffs of Geumosan at the tip of Dolsan Island, named for its beautiful sunrise. You climb steep stone steps and pass through rock gates. Check official info for any admission fee. On the way back, try Dolsan mustard leaf kimchi, and from November to February, grilled oysters on the Dolsan coast.
In the afternoon, visit Jinnamgwan Hall and Goso-dong Mural Village in the old town. Jinnamgwan is a government guesthouse built on the site of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's naval headquarters and the largest surviving local government building of its kind. Visits have been limited during repair works, so check official info first. Then head to Yeosu EXPO Station or Yeosu Airport.
- Morning: bus 111 or 111-1 to Hyangiram (check the number of runs)
- Around lunch: Dolsan mustard leaf kimchi, grilled oysters (November–February)
- Afternoon: Jinnamgwan Hall (check it's open) and Goso-dong Mural Village
- Leave: Yeosu EXPO Station or Yeosu Airport
What to eat in Yeosu, and the budget
Seafood meals are Yeosu's strength. Try Dolsan gat kimchi made with sea-breeze-grown mustard leaves, gejang baekban with seasoned and soy-marinated crab, and seodae-hoe muchim, raw sole tossed with makgeolli vinegar. Hairtail is mostly caught from July to November, so galchi jorim is a good choice, and grilled eel and eel soup are Yeosu specialities too.
City buses cost KRW 1,700 per ride (KRW 1,600 by card). Odongdo is free and the Dongbaek Train is KRW 1,000. The cable car's standard cabin is KRW 17,000 round trip for adults. Accommodation is most of the budget, so compare prices for your dates on booking sites.
- Dolsan gat kimchi: less sharp, with tender leaves
- Gejang baekban: seasoned, soy and doenjang-marinated crab
- Seodae-hoe muchim: mix it into warm rice
- Galchi jorim: hairtail season July–November
- Grilled oysters: November–February, on the Dolsan coast
Checklist before you go
If you fly, flight schedules and airport bus times change by season, so check the Yeosu traffic information centre in advance. For the KTX, check fares and seats with Korail.
The tourist interpretation helpline is 1330. Entry rules for Korea depend on your nationality, so check official Korean government information before you travel.
- Flight and airport bus times: check the Yeosu traffic information centre (its.yeosu.go.kr)
- KTX fares and seats: check official info (Korail)
- Check the timetable for buses 111 and 111-1 to Hyangiram first
- Cable car tickets on the day only; suitcases restricted in crystal cabins
- Jinnamgwan Hall opening: check official info
Plan your Yeosu trip
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FAQ
How long do the Gimpo flight and the KTX take?
For the flight, check flight times with the airlines, then add about 20 minutes by city bus from Yeosu Airport to Yeocheon Station or about 1 hour to the Yeosu EXPO Station area. The KTX takes about 3 hr to 3 hr 20 min from Seoul Station to Yeosu EXPO Station. Check fares for both officially.
Are 2 days enough for Yeosu?
The guide suggests 2 days or more. Korea Tourism Organization also suggests a one-day course in the city centre.
Do I need to book the cable car?
No reservations; tickets are sold on the day only. Wheelchairs, strollers and suitcases are restricted in crystal cabins, and food and drinks are not allowed on board.
How do I get to Hyangiram?
Take bus 111 or 111-1 from the Yeosu EXPO Station stop or the intercity bus terminal stop to the Impo (Hyangiram) stop; bus 116 also runs from the terminal. Each route has a fixed number of runs a day, so check the timetable first.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Gamcheon Culture Village · Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Seongsan Ilchulbong · Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0
- Airport rail platform (Hong Kong Airport Station) · MNXANL / CC BY-SA 4.0