Yeosu's Hyangiram by bus, plus Geomundo by boat

The short answer: buses 111 and 111-1 to Hyangiram, a boat to Geomundo

Hyangiram is a hermitage on the cliffs of Geumosan at the tip of Dolsan Island, a well-known sunrise spot in Yeosu. Take bus 111 or 111-1 from the Yeosu EXPO Station stop or the intercity bus terminal stop to the Impo (Hyangiram) stop. Each route has a fixed number of runs a day, so check departure times first.

With more time, you can add a separate trip to Geomundo and Baekdo in Dadohaehaesang National Park. They are reached by boat, so check ferry booking and sailings with official info in advance. For getting to Yeosu and a basic 2-day plan, see our separate post.

• Hyangiram: buses 111 and 111-1 (Yeosu EXPO Station and intercity bus terminal stops), 116 (terminal) → Impo (Hyangiram) stop
• City bus fare: KRW 1,700 in cash, KRW 1,600 by transit card
• Geomundo and Baekdo: by boat; check ferry booking and sailings with official info

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

What Hyangiram is, and why people go for the sunrise

Hyangiram sits on the cliffs of Geumosan at the tip of Dolsan Island and is one of Korea's four main prayer sites for the Bodhisattva of Compassion. It was named Hyangiram in 1715 for its beautiful sunrise, and many people climb up for the New Year sunrise. Dolsan is an island linked to the mainland by Dolsan Bridge.

This post does not give sunrise times. Check the sunrise time for your date with official info, and check the timetable for a bus that gets you there in time.

If you climb at dawn, check the temperature too. By Korea Meteorological Administration normals (Yeosu station, 1991–2020), the average lows for December to February are about 2°C, 0°C and 1°C. These are Yeosu station figures, so the tip of Dolsan or islands such as Geomundo can differ; check the forecast before you go.

• December: average high about 9°C / average low about 2°C
• January: average high about 7°C / average low about 0°C
• February: average high about 9°C / average low about 1°C

Buses to Hyangiram: 111, 111-1 and 116

Buses 111 and 111-1 run from the Yeosu EXPO Station stop and the intercity bus terminal stop to the Impo (Hyangiram) stop. Bus 116 also runs from the intercity bus terminal. If you arrive by KTX at Yeosu EXPO Station, board at the station stop.

Each route has a fixed number of runs a day. For the sunrise, what matters is whether there is an early enough bus, so check routes and timetables first at the Yeosu traffic information centre (its.yeosu.go.kr). Adult fares are KRW 1,700 in cash or KRW 1,600 by transit card.

If the bus times don't suit you, the city tour bus 'Yeosu Romantic Bus' also has a Hyangiram course. Check days, fares and booking on the Yeosu City tourism site.

• Board at: Yeosu EXPO Station stop, intercity bus terminal stop (111 and 111-1)
• Bus 116 also runs from the terminal
• Get off at: Impo (Hyangiram) stop
• Fare: KRW 1,700 cash / KRW 1,600 by transit card
• Timetables: Yeosu traffic information centre (its.yeosu.go.kr)
• Yeosu Romantic Bus Hyangiram course: check days, fares and booking officially

The walk up, then a taste of Dolsan

You climb steep stone steps and pass through rock gates to reach Hyangiram. Because the hermitage sits on a cliff, the way up is part of the visit. At dawn, use the normal lows above as a guide and bring a layer. Check official info for any admission fee.

On the way down, try Dolsan's flavours. Dolsan gat kimchi is made with sea-breeze-grown Dolsan mustard leaves; it is less sharp than other mustard leaf, with tender leaves. From November to February, grilled oysters, in season then and grilled fresh, are a good choice. Many grilled-oyster restaurants line the Dolsan coast.

A good Yeosu plan puts Hyangiram on the morning of Day 2 and returns to the old town in the afternoon. That day's route is laid out in our Yeosu 2-day post.

• The way up: steep stone steps, rock gates
• Admission: check official info
• Dolsan gat kimchi: less sharp, with tender leaves
• Grilled oysters: November–February, Dolsan coast

Optional extra trip: Geomundo and Baekdo by boat

Geomundo and Baekdo are islands in Dadohaehaesang National Park. Geomundo has the Geomundo Lighthouse, the first lit on the south coast.

Baekdo is a scenic site of 39 uninhabited islets. It is seen on a roughly 40-minute boat tour from Geomundo, and landing is not allowed. So Baekdo means getting to Geomundo first, then joining the boat tour.

This post does not cover the departure port, sailing times or fares. Check ferry booking and sailings with official info. If you add Geomundo and Baekdo to your plan, check the boat times first and fit the rest of your plan around them. Island weather can differ from the Yeosu station normals.

• Geomundo: Dadohaehaesang National Park, Geomundo Lighthouse
• Baekdo (scenic site): 39 uninhabited islets, about 40 minutes by tour boat from Geomundo, no landing
• Ferry booking and sailings: check official info

Checklist before you go

The tourist interpretation helpline is 1330. Entry rules for Korea depend on your nationality; check official Korean government information before you travel.

For Yeosu's month-by-month normals, an evening by the sea on your first night, or a comparison with Tongyeong, see the posts below.

• Hyangiram buses 111, 111-1 and 116 timetables: its.yeosu.go.kr
• Sunrise time: check official info
• Hyangiram admission: check official info
• Dawn temperature: December–February average lows about 0–2°C (Yeosu station; islands can differ)
• Geomundo and Baekdo ferry booking and sailings: check official info

• Full Yeosu travel guide →
• Which month is best for Yeosu? By the climate normals →
• Yeosu night sea in 2 days: where and how? →
• Yeosu vs Tongyeong: Which Should You Choose for a First Trip? →

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