10 Best Things to Do in Boryeong, South Korea

Boryeong, South Korea, is located on the Western coast - dotted with incredible coast lines and adorable fishing villages. Located only about 3 hours from Seoul via public transportation, it's the perfect spot for an easy day trip or weekend getaway - most popularly known for their annual Mud Festival and their delicious seafood! Just next door, and considered to be in the same area, is the beachside town of Daecheon.

​​My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
​There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. After traveling to South Korea over a dozen times, these are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform and tend to focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

To keep cell phone service, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

Getting to Boryeong & What to Expect

Luckily for visitors, there are a few ways to get to Boryeong. If you have access to a car (don't forget your International Drivers Permit!) then it's really quite simple, and you'll just drive the few hours from the Seoul city center. I highly encourage you to stop at one of the fun rest stops along the way as well, most of them have robotic baristas if you're in the mood for some coffee!

If you don't have access to a car, then you can also take public transportation. If you take the train from Seoul Station, you'll have to go via Cheonan and it'll take about 3 hours, and if you go from Seoul Station to Osong to Iksan you'll get to Daecheon (the Boryeong area) in about 3-4 hours.

You could also hire a KakaoT or Taxi, but it'll be quite spendy and I don't recommend. If you're looking for a place to stay, I recommend the CL Hotel. It's not in walking distance, but it's an excellent hotel for a reasonable price plus they have ample parking space, they even have an entire wall dedicated to photo of celebrities that have stayed at this hotel!

My Favorite Tours in Seoul :
- Full Day DMZ Tour from Seoul
- Lotte World Tower at Seoul Sky

Best Things to Do in Boryeong

1. Daecheon Beach
Daecheon Beach is the highlight of most visitors trips to Boryeong. This is where the annual mud festival is held, and also where you can walk the shores to find all kinds of sea shells, starfish, and sea glass!

2. Muryangsa Temple
The Muryangsa Temple is one of my favorite temples I've visited in South Korea. It's located a little ways outside of town, but it'll be worth the drive. When I visited there was no one at the gate so we entered for free, but you might have to pay a few thousand Won if you visit during peak season.

Inside, you'll find various buildings housing Buddha - and what they're most known for - their 5 story pagoda. The grounds are beautiful, and not as busy as other temples, so it's important to be respectful during your visit and keep your voice level at a quieter level.

3. Gaehwa Art Park
This is definitely one of the most unique things to do in Boryeong. Located on the drive to Muryangsa Temple, the Gaehwa Art Park could take all day to explore. They house an artist residency program, have a museum, beautiful cafe (Riris Cafe - filled with amazing amounts of flowers), indoor botanical garden, outdoor sculpture garden, and even a petting zoo area. You'll have to pay a fee for each person to enter the park.

4. Daecheon Skybike
Another very popular attraction in the Boryeong area is the Daecheon Skybike, conveniently located in town right on the coast. If you want to experience the beautiful coastlines in South Korea this is one of the best ways to do it. Because it can be difficult to book in advance, I recommend going right when they open to get in line for tickets. I arrived 10 minutes after they opened for the day, and there was already a long line and we heard they were almost sold out until the afternoon rides.

If you're worried about biking, quite a bit of it is automatic and we had no issues. It is a little freaky looking down as the ocean is literally right below you, but it ended up being one of my favorite things in the area! There are 4 people that can fit in each car, and it's worth noting when I last visited it seemed like their zip line was closed.

5. Daecheon Undersea Tunnel
This 6.9 Kilometer underwater tunnel took 11 years to complete, and is said to be the 5th longest underwater tunnel in the entire world. I'll be honest when I heard the hype around the tunnel I thought there were portions of the tunnel where you could see outside, but that's not quite the case. However there are some fun sounds and light shows inside showcasing different marine animals, making it a unique stop.

6. Try the Local Cuisine
Daecheon (and Boryeong) are known for their amazing seafood dishes - makes sense since they're right on the coast. If you walk the beach you'll see restaurant after restaurant serving essentially the same thing, fresh seafood. Let me be clear, VERY fresh seafood (see my video below...lol). I was a little nervous at first but truthfully it was all very tasty, and similar to hot pot experiences I've had. I highly encourage you to try at least one dinner while you're in the area, and recommend choosing a place that looks busy for the best meal.

7. Boryeong Mud Festival & Mud Plaza
Boryeong is most known for their annual Mud Festival typically held every July. During the few days of the Mud Festival, tourists and Koreans from out of town flock to the Mud Plaza in Boryeong to enjoy one of the most unique experiences in the world. Make sure to purchase an entry ticket ahead of time otherwise you won't be allowed in, however once inside you'll get to enjoy all sorts of unique attractions like their giant mud pit and spa!

8. Visit a Cute Cafe
Depending on how long you've been in South Korea, you'll notice plenty of cute cafes everywhere - let's just say this country takes their cafe culture very seriously. Even in Boryeong, you have quite a few options - my personal favorite being Riris Cafe at the Gaehwa Art Village. They have beautiful desserts and it's completely covered in fresh flowers.

​If you want something a little closer to the beach, you can walk the main street. I found that Caffe Bene, right on the round about at the Mud Plaza, had an excellent patbingsu! (Traditional Korean dessert with sweet red bean paste and shaved ice.)

9. Boryeong Chungcheong Suyeongseon Fortress
The name is long, but the hike is not. ;) This fortress is perched right on the hill side overlooking a beautiful bay full of fishing boats, and in my opinion is the most perfect date or picnic spot. Although you can walk onto the fortress platform, it's essential that you take your shoes off and please treat the building with respect as you enjoy.

10. Yeongmokhang Port
If you end up driving through the Daecheon Undersea Tunnel, continue driving and go past one more bridge, you'll come out near the Yeongmokhang Port. This sleepy fishing village is one of the best areas to explore if you want to experience the "countryside" of South Korea. There isn't much to do, but the views are beautiful.

Watch my Adventures in Daecheon here!

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