Old Yeosu, Odongdo and the night sea

[From Yeosu Expo Station] The old town around Yi Sun-sin Square is about 2 km from the station, around 7 minutes by taxi or 30 minutes on foot. The double-decker tour bus from the station also stops at Yi Sun-sin Square, but it doesn't run on the first and third Mondays of the month. City buses are said to take transport cards only, so bring one, and ask your hotel whether they'll hold your bags before check-in. [Yi Sun-sin Square] You can go inside the turtle ship on the square. Jinnamgwan is about 100 m up the hill behind it, and its opening hours aren't on the official site yet, so check before you go. [Mural village] People live in these lanes, so keep it quiet. There are a lot of stairs, and the easy way is up to the Angel Observatory at the top, then down toward Jongpo. [Samhakjip] Seodae-hoe is raw sole dressed in a tangy sauce, so it's easy going even if you don't usually eat raw fish. It's on the city's list of places that welcome solo diners, but braised hairtail is for two or more. [Odongdo] The breakwater path is 768 m, about 15 minutes on foot, or you can take the little camellia train. Loop the island, then climb Jasan Park at the entrance, where the cable car station is. [Cable car] Board at Jasan Park and ride one way over to Dolsan. Ride about an hour before sunset to catch both the sunset and the lights, and expect the line to grow from then on. Tickets bought on booking apps by the day before are a little cheaper. It stops in strong wind, and then the Sky Tower observatory in the Expo park makes a good backup. [Back to town] From Dolsan Park back to the old town, take bus 111 or 111-1, or a taxi for about 10 minutes. Buses come every 30 to 50 minutes, so a taxi saves the wait. Traffic on the bridge can back up. [Nangman Pocha] Eighteen tent bars line up under Geobukseon Bridge. You have to order at least one main dish and it's sized for two, so if you're alone, go next door to Dolmuneo Sanghoe for a bowl of octopus ramyeon. Pay by card. The seafood samhap comes with pork belly. It's closed on the first Wednesday of each month, except from April to June, from August to October and on holidays. [If it rains] The cable car runs in the rain. Skip Odongdo and head to Aqua Planet or ARTE MUSEUM in the Expo park by the station to stay dry. [Seasons] Odongdo's camellias bloom from mid-January to March, most of all in early March. July is the wettest month, and typhoons pass through in August and September. The turtle ship festival in early May crowds the square and Jongpo, and the fireworks festival, usually on a Saturday in late October or early November, packs the Expo park and the station area.

A-CHA is a free app for exchange students in Korea. Swap stops, plan your day and find people to go with.

Photos: ⓒ한국관광공사 · suksim · CC BY 2.0 · 변경함 · Mobius6 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · 변경함 · Choi2451 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 변경함 · Moses81(Inchang Moses Sye) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 변경함 · William Anderson · CC BY-SA 3.0 · 변경함