While many Singaporean travellers head straight for Busan when traveling to South Korea, the surrounding province of Gyeongsangnam-do (Gyeongnam) is a treasure trove of coastal drama, historical intrigue, and cultural surprises waiting to be discovered.
This simple guide, crafted from an earlier familiarisation trip, takes you on a journey through this captivating southern region, continuing from our travel adventures in Jeju. After a short domestic flight from Jeju to Busan’s Gimhae International Airport, we dived straight into a four-day itinerary that explores the artistic port city of Tongyeong, the breathtaking coastal cliffs and terraced farms of Namhae, the industrial and natural wonders of Geoje, and finally, the modern comforts of Gimhae. This is a journey for those who love the sea, fresh seafood, and paths less travelled.
Day 1: Tongyeong
Upon landing at Gimhae International Airport, we were greeted by our guide and transferred south to the picturesque port city of Tongyeong, often called the “Naples of Korea” for its stunning landscape of islands, hills, and sea.
Our first taste of the region is lunch at Ganggu Restaurant, where an assorted seafood platter showcases the incredible freshness of the surrounding waters. This is the first time we tried Korean marinated crabs and we love how it brings out the ocean flavours. An acquired taste, you will grow fond of it after a few bites.
The adventure begins with the Tongyeong Cable Car, one of the best ways to appreciate the city’s beauty.
Ascending Mireuksan Mountain in a modern Swiss-made gondola, we were treated to breathtaking aerial views of the endless archipelago, the vibrant city, and the iconic Cable Car Bridge. The journey to the upper station takes about nine minutes, and on a clear day, the panorama is breathtaking.
Back on solid ground, we engaged in a hands-on cultural experience at the Najconchilgi Experience Center. Tongyeong is famous for its mother-of-pearl lacquerware, a delicate and beautiful craft. Here, we get to create our own small piece of inlaid lacquerware, a unique and memorable souvenir.
The maritime theme continues with a relaxing yacht tour by Ocean Breeze Yacht. Sailing out into the calm, shimmering waters of Tongyeong Bay offers a completely different perspective of the city and its protective islands.
It is a serene and luxurious way to enjoy the sea breeze and take in the coastal scenery.
Dinner at Hanmaeum Restaurant features another local specialty: guigukbap, a hearty and comforting oyster rice soup.
The day concludes with a visit to DPIRANG, a modern digital theme park that tells the story of the famous murals from Tongyeong’s Dongpirang and Seopirang villages. This night time attraction is one of my faves in Gyeongnam and looks vastly different in the day.
Through fifteen themed trails illuminated by an array of lights over 1.3km, the park brings these stories to life in a vibrant, high-tech spectacle.
We then check into the Stanford Hotel Tongyeong, a comfortable beachfront property with sea-view rooms, perfectly positioned for a relaxing stay.
Day 2: Tongyeong and Namhae
Day two in Gyeongnam starts with a exploration of the very artistic roots that inspired DPIRANG in the same area. Dongpirang Village, meaning “east hill,” is a hillside community that was revitalised in 2007 when artists painted murals all along its winding streets.
Overlooking the port, the village is a vibrant, open-air gallery where every corner reveals a new splash of colour and creativity, offering fantastic photo opportunities and views.
Next, we dive into local life at Tongyeong Jungang Market, a bustling traditional market with nearly 400 years of history.
It is a sensory delight, famous for its incredibly fresh and dried seafood, but also offering local crafts, quilts, and rice cakes. It is the perfect place to feel the pulse of the city. Packed with fresh seafood, local crafts, and traditional treats, it’s a must-visit for food lovers.
A scenic drive then brought us to the serene county of Namhae, connected to the mainland by a series of bridges. Namhae is renowned for its dramatic coastal drives, terraced rice fields, and peaceful fishing villages.
Our first stop at Namhae was for lunch at Sanseong Restaurant, known for its suyuk (boiled) pork. We love this dish and would definitely order it again next time.
After lunch, we visited the picturesque Gacheon Daraengi Village. This village is famed for its 108-step terraced rice paddies carved into the slopes of Seolheulsan Mountain. Great views, fresh spring greens, and even a festival where you can try traditional farming. Open all year. This is the place to go to slow down and relax.
The geometric patterns of the paddies against the backdrop of the sea create a stunning landscape, particularly during the green planting season or the golden harvest period.
Thereafter, we stopped by Baengnyeon Yuja, known for its citrusy desserts to learn about the craft of making cocktail and yoghurt from their handmade citrus concentrate.
Dinner was then served at Hongdeokjeong, where we enjoyed haemul kalguksu (seafood noodle soup) and haemul pajeon (seafood pancake). Warm and nourishing, this is the ultimate comfort food after a long day.
After dinner, we checked in at Lapis Hotel Namhae for the night.
Day 3: Namhae and Geoje
Our day started with a visit to the Namhae German Village. The German Village has a unique history, built to house Korean nurses and miners who worked in Germany in the 1960s and 70s and later returned home. The European-style architecture and neat streets perched on the hillside create a surreal and photogenic contrast with the surrounding Korean landscape.
Featuring German-style houses, cosy guesthouses, and nearby scenic spots like the Windbreak Forest and Mulmi Coastal Road, there are also gift shops and restaurants plying German souvenir, food and beer.
Next, we visited the Seolli Skywalk, a thrilling glass-bottomed walkway that extends out over the cliffs, offering heart-stopping views of the jagged coastline and the deep blue sea below. Stunning views and a Bali-themed swing at the end made it a fun attraction to get picture perfect shots.
This is Korea’s first asymmetrical cantilever bridge, standing at 36 metres high and 79 metres in length. It is also the longest suspension bridge in Korea at 43 metres.
Lunch was served at Mijo Restaurant, known for its grilled whole cutlassfish, myeoichi ssambap (anchovy rice wrap) and myeolchi twigim (fried anchovy). It is not as spicy as it looks and tastes delicious, even if you are not a fan of the fishy anchovy.
After lunch, we headed to Dumo Village where we tried our hands on making yuja rice cracker or citrus fruit rice crackers with an over-the-top funny instructor who had everyone in stitches.
The village is famed for its beautiful canola flower fields. In spring, stroll a 2km path of golden blooms with sea views, and in autumn, enjoy the charm of buckwheat fields.
Next, we hiked up Geumsan Mountain in Namhae, to Boriam Hermitage, one of Korea’s top three prayer sites and a top attraction in Namhae.
The mountain was once called Bogwangsan Mountain as it was home to Bogwangsa Temple, founded by Monk Wonhyo. The name Geumsan was bestowed upon the mountain by King Taejo after he founded the Joseon dynasty.
The site is rich in history with breathtaking panoramic views, plus hike is not too difficult.
We then transferred to Geoje, where dinner was served at Palgakdo, a Korean chain restaurant specialising in sutbuldakgalbi (charcoal grilled chicken).
After a day of exploration, we checked into the Geoje Samsung Hotel, a comfortable accommodation with excellent amenities, including a casino, to relax and recharge.
Day 4: Geoje, Gimhae
Day four takes us to Geoje Island, Korea’s second-largest island, known for its rich shipbuilding history and stunning natural parks.
The day begins at the Oedo-Botania Marine Botanical Garden, a true miracle of horticulture.
Located on the small island of Oedo, this garden was single-handedly created by a couple who transformed a barren rock into a lush, European-style paradise over decades.
Accessible only by ferry, the garden is a cascade of flowers, sculptures, and themed gardens overlooking the sea. It is a romantic and awe-inspiring place that feels like a hidden world.
Lunch is served at Myeongseung Restaurant where we enjoyed their signature meongge bibimbap (sea pineapple mied vegetable rice), alongside a rich pot of seafood stew, filled to the brim with goodies from the sea.
Next, we visited Windy Hill in Dojangpo fishing village in Geoje, famous for its windmill, stunning sea views, and breezy charm. With cosy cafés and restaurants nearby, it is the perfect scenic stop.
After the windmill, it was off to Geoje Botanic Garden, a Gardens by the Bay look-a-like attraction, Geoje Botanical Garden is Korea’s largest garden, with a 30m-high dome housing 10,000 tropical trees from 300 species.
Explore colourful flower gardens, cactus zones, and magical light caves, with lots of recommended photo spots along the way. Open year-round, it’s a lush escape for nature, learning, and biodiversity.
Our final stop was at Maemiseong Fortess, built by an ordinary Korean farmer, Baek Soon-sam after losing his land to Typhoon Maemi in 2003.
Made from stones and cement without blueprints, the Ghibli look-a-like structure is a remarkable medieval-style fortress born from resilience and is now an attraction on its own.
Dinner was at Bareumi Shabu Shabu & Kaiguksu, an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant in Gimhae where we gorged ourselves silly on our last night in South Korea before doing some last minute shopping.
We then checked into the Lotte City Hotel Gimhae, a modern and convenient base located right next to Gimhae International Airport, perfect for our final night.
This concluded our adventures in Gyeongnam – something different from the usual attractions at Busan.
List of All Gyeongnam Attractions, Meals & Hotels with Details:
Attractions:
Tongyeong Cable Car (통영케이블카): 205 Balgae-ro, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. +82 55-649-3808.
Najconchilgi Experience Center (나전칠기체험관): 194 Gwonyul-ro, Jangheung-myeon, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do.
Ocean Breeze Yacht (오션브리즈요트): 오션브리즈 요트 선착장, South Gyeongsang Province, Tongyeong-si, 53085, South Korea.
DPIRANG (디프랑): 29 Nammanggongwon-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 통영시 남망공원길 29
Dongpirang Village (동피랑마을): 6-18 Dongpirang-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.
Tongyeong Jungang Market (통영중앙시장): 14-16, Jungangsijang 1-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 통영시 중앙시장1길 14-16
Gacheon Daraengi Village (가천 다랭이마을): 21 Nammyeon-ro 679beon-gil, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 남해군 남면 홍현리 남면로 679번길 21
Namhae German Village (독일마을): 89-7 , Dogil-ro, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 남해군 독일로 89-7
Seolli Skywalk (해상스카이워크): 176, Misong-ro 303beon-gil, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 남해군 미조면 미송로303번길 176
Oedo-Botania Marine Botanical Garden (외도 보타니아): 17, Oedo-gil, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 거제시 일운면 외도길 17
Windy Hill (바람의 언덕): San 14-47, Galgot-ri, Nambu-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 거제시 남부면 도장포마을
Geoje Botanic Garden (거제식물원(거제정글돔)): 3595 , Geojenamseo-ro, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 거제시 거제면 거제남서로 3595
Maemiseong Fortress (매미성): Bokhang-gil, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 거제시 장목면 복항길 29
Meals:
Ganggu Restaurant (강구식당): 15-12 Hangnam 1-gil, Jungang-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do.
Hanmaeum Restaurant (한마음식당): 6 Haesongjeong 1-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 통영시 해송정1길 6
Mijo Restaurant (미조식당): 232 Mijo-ro, Mijo-myeon, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 남해군 미조면 미조로 232
Palgakdo Geoje: Aju 1-ro 2-gil, 1st Floor, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Myeongseung Restaurant: 124 Haegeumgang-ro, Nambu-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 경상남도 거제시 남부면 해금강로 124-1, 1층
Bareumi Shabu Shabu & Kaiguksu: 2342 Gimhae-daero, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.
Hotels:
Stanford Hotel Tongyeong: 333 Tonghaero, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, 53063.
Lapis Hotel Namhae: 1503-16 Seoburo, Changseon-myeon, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do.
Geoje Samsung Hotel: 80-37, Jangpyeong, 3Ro, Geoje-Si, Gyeongsangnam-Do, 656-927
Lotte Hotel & Resort Gimhae: 505 Jangyu-ro, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
