Yeongjong Island

Yeongjong and Yongyu Islands (영종도, 永宗島, Yeongjong-do and 용유도, 龍游島, Yongyu-do), also spelled Yongjong are in Incheon, South Korea, just west of Seoul.

Understand
Formerly separate islands, Yeongjong and Yongyu have been joined together by Incheon's international airport, built between them on reclaimed land. Most visitors head straight from the airport to the city, but the beaches and seafood restaurants here are an interesting way to spend a layover or escape Seoul for a day.

By plane



 * Main article: Incheon International Airport

Futuristic Incheon International Airport (인천국제공항)  is South Korea's largest airport and the country's main international gateway.

For travel around the island, buses 223 and 203 connect the airport directly to Town, and there are limited services to Yeongjong Wharf and the west coast beaches. As distances are short, taxis are also a viable option.

By train
Yeongjong Island is served by the AREX line, which connects Incheon Airport to Gimpo Airport and further on to Seoul Station as well. Unseo (운서) station is located at Airport Town Square, near the transit hotels.

By bus
A local bus (Line 301, Kang-in ) trundles from Seoul's Yeongdeungpo Station (Line 1) through Gimpo and Incheon Airports to Muuido and Eulwang Beach. At only W5700 this is the cheapest option, but the trip takes one hour and thirty minutes. You can ride this buses at Dangsan station (Line 2), Balsan station (Line 5), Songjeong station (Line 5). From Dangsan Station take exit 1 and walk straight past the McDonald's. The bus stop is about a 3-5 minute walk down the street. There is another bus line from Dong-Incheon station (Line 306, Kang-in, W4100) in Incheon. Directions from Yeongdungpo Station: Walk out of exit 3 and down the escalators. You will see a street straight ahead that runs perpendicular to the road that the station is on. Walk down that street (same side as Holly's Coffee) about 2 minutes and you will see a bus stop and you can catch the 301 (a red bus) there.

By ferry
The most scenic option is to take a car ferry from Wolmido in Incheon to Yeongjong Pier at the southeast corner of the island. Ferries run every 20–30 minutes from 07:00 to 21:30, the trip takes 15 minutes and costs just ₩1,500.

There are also direct high-speed and regular ferries directly from Muuido to Incheon's Yeon-an Pier, but they only run three times a day (08:00, 10:30 and 17:00).

By car
The 300-meter Yeongjong Grand Bridge links the island to the mainland.

Get around
The AREX airport express line runs through the western half of Yeongjong, with Unseo station (6 min, ₩1000 from airport) serving the Airport Town Square district.

Bus 202 runs around the south and west coasts of the island hourly, connecting most points of interest including Yeongjong Pier, Jamjindo and the beaches (₩1200, hourly).

From Unseo Station, you can take buses and taxis to Sammok Pier. From Sammok Pier, you can visit the islands of Yeongjongdo, Sindo, Shido, and Jangbong Island by boat, and the islands are popular with anglers and hikers. The boat rides are inexpensive at around 3,000 won, and all arrive in around 30 minutes.

See
The primary attractions for most visitors are the beaches. Watch out for tides: at low tide, the waters pull back to reveal vast mud flats.



Eat
Seafood is the thing to eat here. You can buy your own at the Yeongjong Pier market and have it cooked up in any of the restaurants nearby.

The area around Unseo station has a number of restaurants and bars, and can be a good way to spend an evening. A particular reputation is the Japanese cuisine at Osaka opposite the Hotel Sevilla. The area also has a Lotte Mart for those travelling on a budget and requiring provisions.

Sleep
Airport Town Square has a series of hotels aimed squarely at overnighting travellers. Many offer free pick-up.

However, for adventurous travellers it can be worth attempting to find a 'love motel'. They range in quality and price, but almost always have rooms available, and are considerably cheaper than the hotels on Yeongjong island, and will have a good sized bed and be clean. Any subway station on the mainland, easy to reach via the Arex train line, will have motels. The word is the same in Korean, and any local will know of their location. Prices range from ₩40,000-70,000.

Splurge

 * Hotel Grand Incheon Airport.
 * Hotel Grand Incheon Airport.

Go next

 * Incheon
 * Seoul