8 Best Road Trips Near Incheon

Oido, named after its shape that resembles a crow's ear, is located at the western tip of the beach in Siheung City. What makes it a popular family weekend getaway and date destination is its high accessibility that allows capital area residents to easily get to the sea. The iconic landmark that comes to mind when thinking of Oido is the Red Lighthouse. It is a place where you can take impressive photos. Going up to the observatory, you can appreciate the panoramic view of the sea and the sunset. You can also visit the tidal flat experiential learning centre nearby, where children can learn about the ecosystem of tidal flats through various activities.

Relishing fresh seafood dishes is one of the things you shouldn't miss on Oido Island. At the Oido Traditional Fish Market in front of the Red Lighthouse, you can buy fresh seafood at reasonable prices. You can also enjoy tasty meals at restaurants serving various sliced raw fish and grilled clam dishes and cafes near the seawall, which will be a memorable ending to your trip.

Daebudo Island, situated in the vicinity of several cities in the capital area, is a popular destination for a short weekend trip. The largest island on the west coast, it boasts beautiful natural scenery, often dubbed as the “Hawaii of Gyeonggi-do” providing various attractions and activities. Enjoy a cool coastal drive watching the open sea along the 12.7 km-long Sihwa Seawall that connects Oido and Daebudo.

Daebudo features a romantic atmosphere unique to the island. Take a walk along Daebu Haesol-gil Trail, which connects the sea roads and the paths to nearby villages, and explore the nature of Daebu Island. At Nueseom Lighthouse Observatory, admire the stunning views of the surrounding islands and the sea that await you. Don't forget to visit Daebu Bada Hyanggi Park, where you can see seasonal flowers such as cosmos and sunflowers. Daebudo is a travel destination where the entire family can spend quality time together. Participate in a tidal flat experiential program and visit Daebudo Glass Island Museum, where you can see delicate glass crafts, to provide a good learning opportunity to your children. Lastly, taste local delicacies such as grilled clams and kalguksu with clams on Daebudo Bangameori Food Street, to bring a perfect ending to a perfect day.

Wolmido Island is Incheon's representative tourist destination located in Bukseong-dong. Since its opening as an amusement park during the Japanese colonial period, the island still remains a popular tourist spot that cannot be thought of separately from the amusement park. The amusement park still attracts many students, families, and couples who look for nostalgic rides such as “Disco Pang Pang” and “Pirate Ship.” Wolmi Culture Street, as the venue of various events, festivals, and performances, provides a variety of cultural experiences.

Wolmido Island is also a historic place that was at the centre of the Russo-Japanese War, Operation Chromite, and many other historical events. Visit the Museum of Korea Emigration History, which provides a glimpse into the history of emigration of Koreans, and the Wolmi Cultural Centre, where you can experience traditional Korean culture. At dusk, climb atop Wolmi Observatory and watch the setting sun over Incheon Port. If you have more time, take a cruise ship and appreciate the beauty of the sea of Incheon at a more leisurely pace.

Sorae Wetland Ecological Park is the only marine ecology park in the capital area. The park area was where salt was produced from the Japanese colonial period to the 1990s. With a park construction project completed in 2009, it has turned into an ecological park consisting of an ecology exhibition hall, bird observation decks, a tidal flat experience centre, and trails. It is also a place that provides a unique experiential learning opportunity to learn the process of producing salt using a now-defunct abandoned salt farm as a learning centre. There is also a seawater foot bath, which can be enjoyed by adults and children alike.

Another reason people visit this park is a vast wetland reed field and windmills standing in the field. You can't help but take a picture when you see the exotic view of these windmills in the reed field. The park is actually a popular sunrise spot for many photographers. Near the park entrance is a traditional fish market that sells seasonal seafood and serves dishes using the fresh seafood. Visit Sorae Wetland Ecological Park this weekend to have a new and unique experience and taste fresh seafood.

Jeondeungsa Temple, with a history of 1700 years, is the oldest existing temple in Korea. As a representative cultural relic that symbolizes Ganghwado Island, this temple is one of the must-visit destinations on the island. Surrounded by lush forest, the temple presents the beauty of nature that changes with the seasons. The access road to the temple is lined with thick tall trees, attracting not only temple visitors but also many hikers.

Jeondeungsa Temple houses important cultural relics of Korea including Daeungbojeon Hall, Yaksajeon Hall, and Buddhist bell. Take a leisurely tour of the temple and appreciate the ornate decorations and architectural styles of the halls and the elaborate and colourful sculptures surrounding Daeungbojeon Hall. It is highly recommended to visit the temple during the Lotus Lantern Festival in April and May, where you can see the temple decorated with colourful paper lanterns.

Eurwangni Beach is a popular crescent-shaped white sandy beach, located in Eurwang-dong, Incheon. Its biggest advantage is high accessibility even for people without a car, thanks to its proximity to the capital area and nearby airport bus stops. This vast beach stretches over a total length of 700 metres but becomes filled with vacationers who enjoy sea bathing every summer. On both sides of the sandy beach, you can appreciate a superb view of dense pine forests and rocks. As a famous sunset viewing spot, the beach presents an overwhelmingly beautiful view of the sunset.

Since the water is shallow at the beach, even children can play safely and the entire family can engage in active leisure time, enjoying various water sports such as banana boating and jet skiing. While the beach is an ideal destination for a one-day trip, it also provides a wide array of accommodations. Enjoy a leisurely trip with your family or friends and build happy memories together.

Dongmak Beach, located at the southern tip of Manisan Mountain, is the only beach on the main island of Ganghwa County. This is a 200-metre-long white sandy beach surrounded by a dense pine forest, and boasts the largest sandy part in Ganghwa County. The tidal flat of Dongmak Beach is one of the world's top 5 mudflats. You can find various sea creatures such as different species of shells, Japanese ghost crabs, conches, and corb shells in the endless tidal flat exposed when the sea water recedes.

If you want to admire a clear seascape, climb up to Bunori Dondae Fort standing next to Dongmak Beach. A “dondae” is an ancient defence facility built to defend and observe invasion and scouting activities of foreign enemies in advance. Appreciate the panoramic view of the tidal flat and sea of Ganghwado Island and the beautiful sunset from top of this historic site.

Ganghwado Island, the fifth largest island in Korea, is an ideal one-day trip destination for residents of the capital area. This island, which provides a variety of attractions and activities, has several white sandy beaches surrounded by dense pine forests, where you can enjoy sea bathing at high tide and tidal flat experience at low tide. In Dolmen Park, which has been designated as a World Heritage Site, you can visit Ganghwa History Museum. Exhibiting prehistoric sites and cultural assets excavated from the royal tombs of the Goryeo Dynasty, this museum provides a good grasp of the culture and history of Ganghwado Island.

At Ganghwa Peace Observatory located in the northern part of the Civilian Control Line in Cheolsan-ri, you can buy specialties of North Korean regions. This observatory enables visitors to see the scenery of North Korea, which makes the other part of the Korean peninsula feel much closer. You can also see Yeonbaek Plains in North Korea across the sea from Gyodongdo Island, a forefront island facing Yeonbaek County in Hwanghae Province, North Korea. Tasting fresh seafood dishes at Ganghwa Pungmul Market near Ganghwa Bus Terminal would be a great way to complete your Ganghwado trip.