Yeosu's Odongdo, Maritime Cable Car, Hyangiram and Bireong-gil: A 2-Day, 1-Night Route and Food Guide
From walkable sights near KTX Yeosu Expo Station to sunrise at Hyangiram on Dolsando, the Bireong-gil Trail on Geumodo and hamo shabu-shabu
Comparison table at a glance
| Yeosu area | Key sights | Getting around | Best time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expo and Odongdo area | Hallyeohaesang National Park (Odongdo), sea cable car | Walking, Camellia Train, cable car | Day 1, afternoon to sunset |
| Old downtown and Dolsan Bridge area | Yeosu Jinnamgwan Hall, Dolsan Bridge, Gat Butter Donuts | Walking or taxi | Day 1, dinner and a night walk |
| Southern tip of Dolsando (Hyangiram) | Hyangiram Hermitage, The Ark Resort coast | Car or bus | Day 2, early morning (sunrise) to late morning |
| Archipelago island trekking | Geumodo Bireong-gil Trail | Ferry + coastal trekking | Day 2, catch a morning ferry |
1. Day One, Afternoon to Sunset: A Walk on Odongdo, the Camellia Island, and the Yeosu Maritime Cable Car
A Yeosu trip begins at Odongdo Island in Hallyeohaesang National Park, which you can reach on foot even from KTX Yeosu Expo Station. Ride the Camellia Train along the 768 m breakwater or walk in with the sea breeze in your face, and the camellia trees covering the whole island, a tunnel of arrow bamboo, Yonggul Cave and coastal rock cliffs open up before you.
Board the Yeosu Maritime Cable Car at the Jasan Park station by the Odongdo entrance and you can cross over the sea straight to the Dolsan Park station. The most popular route is to ride around sunset to watch the archipelago glow, then look down from the Dolsan Park observatory on the night view of Dolsan Bridge as its colors shift moment by moment.
Odongdo Island · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip For the sea cable car, it's easiest to park at either Jasan Park (Odongdo side) or Dolsan Park and buy a round-trip ticket so you can get back to your car.
2. Day One, Evening: Yeosu Jinnamgwan Hall, a National Treasure, Plus Hamo Shabu-Shabu and Gat Butter Donuts
The Yi Sun-sin Square area in the old downtown, across from Dolsan Bridge, is the heart of Yeosu, where history and food come together. Follow in the footsteps of Admiral Yi Sun-sin as you tour Yi Sun-sin Square and Yeosu Jinnamgwan Hall, a National Treasure that served as the main headquarters of the Three-Province Naval Command during the Imjin War.
For dinner, try Yeosu's restorative seafood, such as the hamo shabu-shabu at Geobukseon Hoetjip, where thinly sliced pike conger is lightly blanched in a rich broth and eaten with chives and onions; then, for a snack near Yi Sun-sin Square, pick up Gat Butter Donuts, which pair Dolsan mustard greens with butter cream, and your evening is complete.
Jinnamgwan Hall · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip If you want to stay on the Dolsando coast listening to the waves, choose lodging in the Dolsan area such as The Ark Resort; if you want walking access to the night-sea pocha street, choose lodging near the old downtown and Marine Park.
3. Day Two, Morning: Hyangiram, a Seaside Temple on Rock Cliffs, vs. Geumodo's Bireong-gil Trail
On the morning of day two in Yeosu, choose one of two outstanding courses depending on your travel style. The first is Hyangiram Hermitage, perched on the cliffs of Geumosan at the tip of Dolsando. Squeeze through the gaps between giant boulders (the stone gates) and Daeungjeon Hall and Gwaneumjeon Hall appear, with the South Sea horizon opening up 180 degrees, a deeply moving spot for greeting the sunrise and making wishes.
The second is the Bireong-gil Trail on Geumodo, reached by boat from Yeosu Coastal Ferry Terminal or Singi Port. Course 3 (Jikpo–Hakdong), where camellia forests and archipelago panoramas continue along dizzying coastal cliffs ('bireong' is Yeosu dialect for cliff), is ranked among the best island treks in Korea.
Yeosu Hyangiram Hermitage · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip Stone steps and slopes continue from Hyangiram's Iljumun Gate to Daeungjeon Hall, so be sure to wear comfortable sneakers.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q. On the Yeosu Maritime Cable Car, which is better: a standard cabin or a crystal cabin?
If you want the thrill of seeing the sea right beneath your feet through a transparent tempered-glass floor, we recommend the crystal cabin; if you want shorter lines and a steadier view of the night scenery out the window, we recommend the standard cabin.
Q. Can beginners walk the Geumodo Bireong-gil Trail?
Rather than walking all of Courses 1–5 (18.5 km), beginners can easily manage it by choosing only Course 3 (3.5 km), which has the finest scenery.
Q. When do the camellias bloom on Yeosu's Odongdo?
Camellias begin blooming in late November, and the whole island turns red in full bloom between mid-February and mid-March; walks through dense evergreen forest and past coastal rock cliffs can be enjoyed all year round.
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