Almost every visitor to Korea lands on Yeongjongdo and immediately leaves it behind, racing across the bridge into Seoul. A widely shared video from Korean travel channel 직방탈플러스 (Jikbangtal Plus) argues that’s a mistake — and we agree. In this review we break down that Yeongjongdo travel guide, share what it gets right, and rebuild the itinerary in our own words for first-time international travelers.
This is an independent review and route guide. We don’t reproduce the creator’s script — instead we embed the original video (so views go to them), credit the channel, and add our own context, tips, and honest take.
▶ Original video by 직방탈플러스 (Jikbangtal Plus) on YouTube (Oct 15, 2024). All footage and the original itinerary belong to the creator — please watch and subscribe on their channel to support them. The commentary and route notes below are Unboxing Korea’s own.
In This Guide
- Our take: is this itinerary worth following?
- How to get around (you’ll need a car)
- Where to stay on the island
- Day 1 — the West Coast route
- Day 2 — the East side & the Wolmido ferry
- Yeongjongdo travel FAQ
Our Take: Is This Yeongjongdo Itinerary Worth Following?
Short answer: yes, with a few tweaks. The video’s core insight is genuinely useful — Yeongjongdo is treated as a place you pass through, when it’s actually a relaxed two-day escape with beaches, sea-view cafés, fresh seafood, and one of the best sunsets near Seoul. The host’s instinct to split the island into a west day and an east day is exactly right.
What the video gets right
The sequencing is smart: hit the busy Inspire Resort attraction early, work down the west coast through the beaches and food stops, and end at Wangsan Marina for sunset. That “save the marina for last” logic is the kind of local knowledge you don’t get from a generic listicle, and the food picks (the dried-pollack kalguksu, the eel buffet) are specific rather than vague.
What we’d add for international travelers
The video assumes you can read Korean signage and improvise — fine for locals, harder for first-timers. So we’ve added the transport reality (you really do need a car), realistic budget-stay guidance, tide and timing warnings for the beach walks, and English place names you can drop into a map app. We’d also flag that some highlights (the “briquette bread,” certain seafood stalls) sell out or move, so treat the food stops as a menu, not a mandate.
Who it’s for
This route suits travelers with an extra day on arrival or before departure who want a calm, scenic introduction to Korea before the pace of Seoul — especially couples, small groups of friends, and families who don’t mind driving.
How to Get Around Yeongjongdo
Be honest with yourself about transport: Yeongjongdo is very difficult without a car. Local buses are limited and taxis are scarce, so plan to drive. The easy formula even if you don’t bring a car — take an airport limousine bus (they run from cities all over Korea) to Incheon Airport, then pick up a car-share like Socar (쏘카) right at the airport, and return it there when you leave. Everything below assumes you’re driving.
Where to Stay on the Island
For a budget-friendly base, look at the smaller hotels and serviced residences on the east side, near the Yeongjong Riviera and Seaside Park areas, where rooms often run about ₩60,000–80,000 — ideal for couples or groups. For a splurge, the Inspire Resort and Paradise City sit on the island itself, though they’re considerably pricier.
Day 1: The West Coast Route
The west side has the most to see, so give it your full first day. Here’s the order that actually works — for crowds and for the sunset finale.
1. Start early at Inspire Resort & the Aurora show
Even if you’re staying elsewhere, begin at Inspire Entertainment Resort. Its headline attraction is a vast LED ceiling that runs a show — whales gliding overhead, scenes of space and Earth — on the hour and again at the half-hour, near the Aurora plaza. Paying for parking effectively gets you in, so go as early as you can: weekends get packed, and you’ll want it before the crowds.
2. Masian Beach & the kalguksu worth the drive
Drive down to Masian Beach (마시안 해변), lined with cafés. The standout is the local knife-cut noodle soup (kalguksu) made with dried pollack flakes in the broth — a regional twist that’s hard to find in Seoul. There’s a cluster of similar-looking shops, so it’s worth picking the busiest one.
3. Or splurge on the eel buffet — plus Silmido & a sea-view café
Prefer something heartier? There’s an all-you-can-eat freshwater eel restaurant (around ₩38,000 per person) that even includes beef — better value than a tourist-trap fish meal nearby. This stretch is also linked to the film Silmido, and the local Hollys Coffee has a fantastic ocean view if you can grab parking.
4. Photo cafés: Masian Bakery & Dongyang Salt Farm
Along the Masian shoreline, look for Masian Bakery (마시안 제빵소) and its famous “briquette bread” (연탄빵), which sells out fast. Then head to the Dongyang Salt Farm Café (동양염전), a huge café themed on the old salt flats — arguably the island’s largest.
5. Eurwangni Beach & the walk to the dock
Eurwangni Beach (을왕리 해수욕장) is the big one, lined with clam-grill spots. Park in the public lot, then take the walk along the water to the small dock (나루터) — a perfect post-meal stroll. Check the tide first, because the path floods and closes when the water comes in. For a quick local bite, find the stall selling tteokbokki and shrimp tempura instead of the pricier grills.
6. Sunset finale at Wangsan Marina
Save Wangsan Marina (왕산마리나) for last — this is where you watch the sunset. It’s a real yacht harbor, and if you arrive around 4–5 p.m. you can often book a short boat ride on the spot (roughly ₩30,000–60,000 per person). Don’t miss the “ramen library,” a wall of instant ramen you cook and eat by the water. Then settle in on the breakwater for sunset over the yachts.
Bonus: plane-spotting at the airport observation deck
If you love aircraft — you did just fly into Incheon — the airport observation deck is built specifically for watching planes take off and land. Great for kids and an easy add-on before heading back.
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Day 2: The East Side & the Wolmido Ferry
Day two covers the east side. There’s less here than on the west, but a few stops are worth your morning before the highlight — a ferry across to Wolmido.
Sky City & the BMW Driving Center
The eastern new town (often called “Sky City,” 하늘도시) is mostly residential, so don’t expect much sightseeing. Do detour to the BMW Driving Center: book ahead and you can drive a car on the track (paid); even without a booking it’s fun to browse the BMW and MINI models on display.
Plane-spotting at the Sky 77 Clubhouse
For a quieter aviation view, the Sky 77 CC clubhouse sits on a golf-course hill where, right from the parking lot, you can watch cargo and passenger jets come in to land. It’s not a formal observation deck, but it’s a great, little-known photo stop.
Gueup Baetteo & the ferry to Wolmido
The main event on the west-facing east coast is Gueup Baetteo (구읍뱃터): a rail bike, big parking lots, shrimp-tempura stalls, and cafés. The fun twist is the ferry — from the dock here you can cross to Wolmido (월미도), wander its famous waterfront, then catch the ferry back (mind the schedule) and return to your accommodation, rounding out a complete two-day loop.
Yeongjongdo Travel FAQ
Is Yeongjongdo worth visiting, or should I go straight to Seoul?
It’s well worth a stop. Because Incheon Airport is here, most travelers skip the island — which is exactly why its beaches, cafés, and seafood stay relatively uncrowded. With an extra day on arrival or departure, a one-night, two-day loop is a relaxed introduction to Korea.
Do I need a car on Yeongjongdo?
Practically, yes. Public buses are limited and taxis are scarce, so renting a car or using a car-share like Socar at Incheon Airport is the easiest option. You can reach the island by airport limousine bus from cities across Korea and pick up the car there.
How many days do I need for Yeongjongdo?
Two days is ideal: Day 1 on the west coast (Inspire Resort, Masian and Eurwangni beaches, Wangsan Marina at sunset) and Day 2 on the east side (BMW Driving Center, Gueup Baetteo, the ferry to Wolmido). A single day only scratches the surface.
Where should I stay on a budget?
Look at the smaller hotels and serviced residences on the east side, near the Yeongjong Riviera and Seaside Park areas, where rooms often run about ₩60,000–80,000. For a splurge, the Inspire Resort and Paradise City sit on the island itself.
What’s the one dish I shouldn’t miss?
The kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) at Masian Beach, made with dried pollack flakes in the broth. The all-you-can-eat eel buffet is a great heartier alternative.
Plan a Smoother Korea Trip
Yeongjongdo is the perfect, low-stress first chapter of a Korea trip. If you find your bags are bursting before the journey home, order a brand-new carrier from Unboxing Korea and have it delivered fast, anywhere in Korea. While you’re planning, sort out your Korea eSIM or SIM card, skim our things to know before visiting Korea, and browse more unique things to do in Korea. For official details, see VisitKorea and the Incheon Airport site.
Credit: itinerary and footage by 직방탈플러스 (Jikbangtal Plus). This article is an independent review and original route guide; no part of the video’s narration is reproduced. If you’re the creator and would like the embed adjusted or removed, please contact us.
