Visiting South Korea? You must spend a weekend in Yeosu

Yeosu, which translates to ‘beautiful waters’, offers Instagram-worthy shots of the sea, sunsets, and nightlife.

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The Hamel Lighthouse and the illuminated cable cars (Express Photo)

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Visitors engage with 'The Beach' exhibit at the Arte Museum in Yeosu (Express Photo)

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At the Ramada Ziptrek, Yeosu

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A cultural performance at the Naganeupseong Folk Village in Suncheon

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Bibimpap, or mixed rice, a Korean dish

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The Netherlands-themed flower garden at the Suncheon Garden Expo 2023

Here are some things to do and places you must visit while in Yeosu:

Cable car: The maritime cable car, which transports travellers from Yeosu to Dolsan island, is a must-try even if you don’t plan on visiting the island. The ‘crystal’ cable cars have transparent floors and windows that offer passengers a panoramic view of the city, the sea, and the Dolsan bridge. You can soak in the resplendent views at daytime or sunset, or treat yourself to the city lights at night.

Arte Museum: Perhaps one of the best places to visit in Yeosu, this interactive digital art gallery offers an overwhelming experience that is bound to pique your childlike wonder. Visitors can immerse themselves, and get creative with their camera poses, in a hall full of cherry blossoms or a gushing waterfall or twinkling stars. At one of the exhibits, you can draw a fish and then watch it come alive in the digital tank. Inside the ‘Garden,’ viewers can dive deep into the artworks of maestros.

Visitors at the Garden exhibit of Arte Museum, Yeosu

Nangman Pocha: The name translates to ‘romantic street carts’. The nighttime view of the lit-up cable cars and the shiny-red Hamel lighthouse lends a romantic air to the seaside restaurants. The bars remain packed and promise a good time with soju, beer, and a variety of Korean dishes.

Ramada Ziptrek: For those with an adventurous streak, the zipline at Ramada Hotel lets you jump off the 24th floor and travel 1.2 km over the sea. While the initial push might be scary for some, the zipline offers a smooth glide over the water and a wonderful view of the city.

Aqua Planet: If you are travelling with children, Aqua Planet can provide a fun, learning experience as you encounter a variety of marine species. The aquarium boasts of a Beluga whale that even bounces around a ball in the presence of little kids. The main tank hosts giant sting rays and sea turtles. On the first floor of the complex, visitors can also take a walk through the Museum of Color, which with its variety of artwork offers Instagram-able photo ops.

Don’t miss

Yeosudang is a small bakery that usually sees queues outside. Their mugwort ice cream with its distinct green colour and a bitter-sweet flavour is worth the wait. The bakery is just down the street from Little India restaurant.

Mugwort icecream at Yeosudang (Express Photo)

How to get there?

With Korea’s high-speed trains, KTX, one can reach Yeosu from Seoul, covering over 380 km, in just three to four hours, depending on what time you board the train. From Busan, Yeosu is a bus ride away, which can be as short as two-and-a-half hours.

Also, visit…

If you have a few extra hours to spare or can make a stop on the way from Yeosu to Seoul, another Korean city, Suncheon, has much to offer. Put on your walking shoes (and sunscreen) and take a step into Korea’s past at the Naganeupseong Folk Village.

It’s one of the best-preserved walled towns from the Joseon Dynasty era. With hands-on activities like weaving, dyeing, block printing, will-writing, and more, visitors can experience life as it once was here, and take a sneak peek into traditional music and dance with cultural events. The fortress in the village, the stone wall that encloses it, and the plethora of government buildings and commoners’ huts, offer a glimpse at the architecture of the bygone era.

Visitors experience weaving at the Naganeupseong Folk Village in Suncheon.

On the other hand, the Suncheon Bay International Garden is a modern-day marvel. It’s currently hosting the Garden Expo 2023, which will last till October 31, and sees millions of visitors. Spread over 193 hectare, the garden boasts of at least 2.5 million flowers. Employing some of the best technology and design techniques, countries from across the world have themed gardens of their own.

Visitors can take a ferry that cruises along the Dongcheon Stream, covering the length of the garden. They can also treat themselves to a luxurious garden stay, that makes for a perfect glamping experience.

The writer was on a familiarisation trip to South Korea, sponsored by the Korea Tourism Organization, under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.