Daytrips From Seoul: Oido Island & Daebudo Island
There is more to Korea than Seoul and so often people just miss it. Did you know there are islands just off the west coast and some are even accessible via the Seoul subway system? We took a day trip down to Oido Island and Daebudo Island and it definitely reminded me that I need to get out that way more.
Want to take a trip outside of Seoul for the day or the whole weekend? There are awesome islands to visit like Yeongjongdo Island and Ganghwado Island to name a couple and here are two more spots to look into. You won’t be sorry.
From ocean blues and salty ocean air to glass museums and observatories, jump in the car and see what you can see on Oido Island and Daebudo Island.
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Oido Island
This “island” has really been incorporated into mainland Korea for all intents and purposes but walking along the boardwalk will still give you some of those island vibes. The “island” actually didn’t really even start out as an island. Separated from the mainland by a dike in the 20th century subsequently led to the area being given the name Oido (오이도), or “Crow’s Ear Island”.
About thirty kilometers southwest of Seoul, this island is actually connected to Seoul via the subway line number 4 which makes it an ideal getaway for the traveler that is looking to make last minute plans when buses and trains have all been sold out. While the island isn’t popular for the emerald blue waters and white sands that the east coast of Korea in spots like Gyeongpo is famous for, there are still plenty of fun reasons to head out of Seoul to visit and there are plenty of good eats to find too.
How To Get There
By Subway: The great thing about Seoul is that the subways are far reaching even going so far as islands. Take the subway out to Oido Station. From exit 1 or 2, take bus 30-2 to the Oido Boardwalk. It takes about 25 minutes on the bus and get off at the Oido Ocean Complex. You can walk all around and up to the hillside nearby to find the spots below. Remember to get your T-Money card for use on public transportation.
What To See & Do On Oido Island
Have Coffee At Oido Observatory Cafe
To get the best view of the boardwalk and waters, walk up some steps to find the very interesting Oido Observatory Cafe (오이도전망대카페) and don’t miss the rooftop.
This cafe is built in a circular shape with a large cut out in the center. Walk up the steps and walk around to find a wooden patio with great views and nice lounge chairs to enjoy. There are two paths up to this cafe. One is a set of stairs that comes up from the boardwalk side and the other is a sloping path coming up from the backside.
Funny story, we got there right on time… or the time listed as opening and walked right in. Only, there was no one there! Apparently the night staff had left one door unlocked. The owner came in about 10 minutes after us and was very surprised to find us wandering around looking for the aircon switch. He was happy to serve us after we explained we didn’t break in… Suffice to say, the cafe is cool and has the best views from above of the area. With the weather cooling off, take advantage of this awesome vantage point.
- Address: 97 Oido-ro, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 시흥시 오이도로 97)
- Hours: Every day: 11:00am ~ 10:00pm
Walk Along The Oido Boardwalk
The boardwalk is a great place to take a walk, feel the salty breezes coming off of the ocean and see some of the sites. The most popular stops on the boardwalk are the Red Lighthouse (빨간등대) and the beautiful Tree Of Life Observatory Deck. It was super hot the day we went, so we didn’t spend too much time on the boardwalk, but I would go back to spend more time walking along just enjoying the wind.
- Address: 175 Oido-ro, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 시흥시 오이도로 175 오이해양파출소)
Eat Shellfish & Noodles Near The Boardwalk
Local specialties consist of sliced raw fish (활어회), clamshell noodle soup (바지락칼국수) and grilled clams (조개구이) and there are quite a few restaurants along the boardwalk that are ready to fill those bellies when you visit. Be prepared as this is a ‘touristy’ area which means there are locals that stand outside of each restaurant hollering to get your attention in order to welcome you in. The restaurants all serve basically the same dishes, so stop into whichever one sparks your fancy.
- Address: 175 Oido-ro, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 시흥시 오이도로 175 오이해양파출소)
Daebudo Island
Called the 21st century’s greatest place for tourism and leisure in Korea as well as ‘the Hawaii of Ansan’, Daebudo Island (대부도) is connected to the mainland via the Sihwa Embankment. The shores of Daebudo are full of clams, sea snails, goby, flounder, black rockfish and more which make for fun adventures along the coastline.
While spots like Jeju and beaches on the east coast of Korea are often touted as the must see, I can vouch for those seaside feels over here on the west. The water is still salty and the sky blue until the horizon. Since we went for a daytrip, we managed to get just an inkling of what there is to see and do here, but I’ll definitely be back.
How To Get There
By Car: This island has a few buses but they are infrequent. To really explore, it is best to see the island by car. If you don’t have a car, this is definitely the time to rent a car in Korea. This is just the best way and the most convenient way to do it.
By Subway/By Bus: Take the subway to Choji Subway Station. Go out exit 1 and cross the street to the bus stop and take bus 123 out to the island. If you use your T-Money card, you can easily transfer from the subway to the bus and save on the transfer.
Join a tour: If you don’t want to handle the transportatio yourself, join a Daebudo tour on kkday.
Where To Stay
You could have a great weekend away on Daebudo Island rather than heading out for just one day. Don’t discount a good night outside of the city. If you want to make a weekend of it, here are a couple great options for spots to stay for the night. One is luxury and one is budget. What kind of weekend are you looking to have?
Paper Art Museum Kyowoldang Hanok
If you like unique Airbnb stays, check this beautiful option out. This four bedroom Hanok house is not only the perfect traditional stay in the area, but it sits near the Paper Art Museum a great stop on the island or families and fun. Walk in the garden and enjoy the local quiet atmosphere here.
Book your stay here on Airbnb or check out the other unique stays on the island.
What To See & Do On Daebudo Island
Sihwa Embankment Moon Observatory Centre (대부도 달전망대)
Crossing over the embankment from the mainland to Daebudo, do NOT miss a stop at the rest stop and then do NOT just see the rest stop. This rest stop features a great park with seaside views and an observatory with a glass floor, too. Head into the rest stop, but on the way just look up and you’ll see the observatory. Head up if its views that you want. There is a glass floor and if that’s not your thing, just stop to the side.
- Address: 1927 Daebuhwanggeum-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 안산시 단원구 대부황금로 1927)
Daebudo Glass Island (유리공예박물관)
Known as the Murano of Korea, products made here are exported all around the world. Visitors can see an indoor museum that showcases just a stunning amount of blown glass pieces that have been shaped into animals, cartoon characters, and natural artifacts.
Head outside to find a garden that has special glass installations hidden in the tall reeds. There are experience programs for visitors to make glass cups, accessories, key holders, and lamps as well as special times to watch glass blowers make pieces right in front of you. The complex is large and there wasn’t a ton of staff directing us so we didn’t even notice the experiential areas until we were on the way out. Be sure to walk around and get a good look at everything.
Daebudo Glass Island is a comprehensive tourist, recreational, and cultural facility. Learn about the history of glass an how to make glass and then visit the experiential spaces before going out into the reeds. The hunt for glassworks out in the reeds was probably the best part for us because the reeds were really tall so it was like a hunt to find all of them.
- Address: 254 Buheung-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 안산시 단원구 부흥로 254)
- Days: Closed Mondays
- Hours: April ~ October: 9:00am – 7:00pm; November ~ March: 9:30am – 6:30pm
- Admission: Adults: W10,000; Teenagers: W9,000; Children: W8,000; Children under 7 are FREE.
- Website: Glass Island Website
Windmill Park (바다향기풍차공원)
Located across from Bangameori Beach, this expansive piece of land features various blooming flowers throughout the year. See sunflowers in the summer and cosmos in the autumn. Aside from the flowers, there are beautiful light houses, a reed wetland, and natural waterways and ponds. Don’t miss the insect hotel, Sotdae Hill, Pinwheel Hill, and colorful windmills. The entire walk is about 4.3 kilometers long.
- Address: 1841-10 Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 안산시 단원구 대부북동 1841-10)
Daebudo Grape Festival (대부도포도축제)
Each autumn, Daebudo hosts the island’s grape festival and it just so happens that this year (2019), it is this upcoming weekend from September 7th to September 8th. I personally love smaller local festivals like the Nonsan Strawberry Festival for example and any fest that is centered around fruit is sure to be good. Expect to see lots of grape related products for sales, experiences and photo zones. There will also be a kid’s zone and prizes as well as performances. Want to see the island? Head there this weekend for a festival bonus!
- Address: Windmill Park (바다향기풍차공원): 1841-10 Daebubuk-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기도 안산시 단원구 대부북동 1841-10)
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