Which month is best for Yeosu? By the climate normals

Short answer: May–July and September–October for mild days, February–March for camellias, November–February for oysters

The Yeosu guide sets out what to see and eat through the year. Odongdo's camellias start blooming in February and peak in March (per Yeosu City). Many people climb to Hyangiram for the New Year sunrise. For seasonal food, oysters are in season November–February, hairtail is mostly caught July–November, and pike eel is available from mid-April to late October.

By Korea Meteorological Administration normals (Yeosu station, 1991–2020), average highs are about 18–27°C in May–July and September–October. Of these months, October gets the least rain, about 67 mm, and July gets the most of the whole year, about 277 mm. If you plan to explore on foot, look at October first.

• Average highs about 18–27°C: May–July, September–October (of these, October has the least rain, about 67 mm)
• Odongdo camellias: start blooming in February, peak in March (per Yeosu City)
• In season: oysters November–February, hairtail July–November, pike eel mid-April to late October
• New Year: sunrise at Hyangiram
• Wettest month: July (about 277 mm)
• Hottest month: August (average high about 29°C)

• Yeosu travel guide →
• Yeosu night sea in 2 days →
• Yeosu in 2 days: Gimpo flight or KTX? →

Which numbers we used

The temperatures and rainfall here are the Korea Meteorological Administration 30-year normals for 1991–2020 at Yeosu station: average high, average low and monthly rainfall for each month, rounded to whole numbers. Temperatures are in °C and rainfall in mm.

Normals are long-term averages, so they don't tell you this year's weather. Before you go, check the forecast, and check the bus timetable to Hyangiram and island ferry sailings with official information.

January–June normals

Korea Meteorological Administration, 1991–2020, Yeosu station. Each line shows average high / average low / rainfall. January is the coldest month, with an average low of about 0°C, and the driest, with about 25 mm.

• January: high about 7°C / low about 0°C / about 25 mm
• February: high about 9°C / low about 1°C / about 45 mm
• March: high about 12°C / low about 5°C / about 84 mm
• April: high about 17°C / low about 10°C / about 125 mm
• May: high about 22°C / low about 15°C / about 144 mm
• June: high about 24°C / low about 19°C / about 194 mm

July–December normals

Same source and period. August is the hottest month, with an average high of about 29°C, and July is the wettest, with about 277 mm.

• July: high about 27°C / low about 23°C / about 277 mm
• August: high about 29°C / low about 24°C / about 265 mm
• September: high about 26°C / low about 20°C / about 152 mm
• October: high about 21°C / low about 15°C / about 67 mm
• November: high about 15°C / low about 8°C / about 47 mm
• December: high about 9°C / low about 2°C / about 26 mm

February–May: Odongdo camellias, pike eel from mid-April

Odongdo is an island in Hallyeohaesang National Park, home to about 3,000 camellia trees. The camellias start blooming in February and peak in March (per Yeosu City), and a forest-tunnel trail of about 2.5 km circles the island. It is free and open 24 hours. From the Odongdo entrance it is about a 15-minute walk along the 768 m breakwater, and the Dongbaek Train (KRW 1,000, free for ages 6 and under and 65 and over) runs 09:30–17:00 (break 12:00–13:00).

February and March have average highs of about 9°C and about 12°C and average lows of about 1°C and about 5°C. In April and May average highs rise to about 17°C and about 22°C, and pike eel is available from mid-April. Rainfall rises from about 45 mm in February to about 144 mm in May.

• February: high about 9°C / low about 1°C / about 45 mm
• March: high about 12°C / low about 5°C / about 84 mm
• Odongdo: free, open 24 hours, about 3,000 camellia trees
• Dongbaek Train: KRW 1,000, 09:30–17:00 (break 12:00–13:00)

Summer (June–August): hot and wet, hairtail and pike eel season

June–August average highs are about 24°C, about 27°C and about 29°C, with about 194 mm, about 277 mm and about 265 mm of rain. July is the wettest month and August the hottest.

This is when hairtail is mostly caught in Yeosu (July–November), and pike eel is also available (mid-April to late October). Galchi jorim is hairtail simmered over radish with a spicy sauce. After sunset you can walk about 1.5 km along the sea from Yi Sun-sin Square under Geobukseon Bridge to Jongpo Marine Park, and the maritime cable car runs 09:30–21:30 (last tickets 21:00).

• July: high about 27°C / low about 23°C / about 277 mm
• August: high about 29°C / low about 24°C / about 265 mm
• In season: hairtail July–November, pike eel mid-April to late October
• Maritime cable car: 09:30–21:30 (last tickets 21:00), standard cabin adults KRW 17,000 round trip / 14,000 one way

Autumn (September–November) and winter (December–February): October walks, winter oysters and the Hyangiram sunrise

September and October have average highs of about 26°C and about 21°C, inside the guide's range of about 18–27°C. Rainfall falls from about 152 mm in September to about 67 mm in October and about 47 mm in November, and hairtail is caught until November.

December–February get little rain, about 26 mm, about 25 mm and about 45 mm, with average lows of about 2°C, about 0°C and about 1°C. Oysters are in season November–February, and many grilled-oyster restaurants line the Dolsan coast. Many people climb to Hyangiram, on the cliffs of Geumosan at the tip of Dolsan Island, for the New Year sunrise. Buses 111 and 111-1 to Hyangiram leave from the Yeosu EXPO Station stop and the intercity bus terminal stop, and each route has a fixed number of runs a day, so check the timetable first.

• October: high about 21°C / low about 15°C / about 67 mm
• January: high about 7°C / low about 0°C / about 25 mm
• Oysters: in season November–February, grilled oysters on the Dolsan coast
• Buses to Hyangiram: 111 and 111-1, a fixed number of runs a day

• Full Yeosu travel guide →

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