Yeosu (여수,麗水, pronounced YUHsu) is a coastal city in South Jeolla province, South Korea. Yeosu is one of the country's most picturesque port cities especially at night. Famous for its seafood, beaches, flowers and marinas, it is developing as an international ocean resort and tourist destination and was selected as a host city for the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu Harbor.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
The city of Yeosu consists of the Yeosu peninsula and 317 islands (49 inhabited, 268 uninhabited) with a population of 300,000. Yeosu is a city of history and loyalty where the headquarters of South Jeolla Province Navy Base was located, and the Great Admiral Yi Sun Shin invented the Geobukseon or "a turtle ship" to save the country while serving as the Navy Commander when Japan invaded Korea in 16th century. Lying about midway along the southern coast of South Korea, Yeosu has cool summers and mild winters thanks to the sea wind and warm current.
The best way around the CBD is by taxi as the city is fairly small and taxi fare is quite cheap. Taxis are highly recommended against if crossing the bridge as Yeosu has some of the worst traffic jams in Korea at this bottleneck, despite its tiny size. Even by bus, it could be optimal to get off, walk the bridge and hop back on the previous bus at the other end. Ridiculous. The bus system is very convenient, but a little difficult to utilize. Each bus stop should have a posting of the buses that will arrive and their respective stops but most have been inexplicably vandalised.
1 Hyangiram Hermitage (향일암), 60 Hyangilam-ro, Dolsan-eup, ☏ +82 61 644 4742. A beautiful temple-like hermitage with views of the sea and the scattered islands that make up Yeosu Peninsula. The hermitage itself is located up the sides of a cliff and the entire complex is connected by a series of very thin trails winding their way through tight caves and under twisted evergreen foliage. Rather claustrophobic, but unique making it one of Yeosu's must-see attractions. The symbol of the hermitage is the turtle, after the distinctive natural hexagonal pattern on the rocks resembling a turtle's shell.
Ocean Cruise. Either leaving from Odongdo (오동도) or across Dolsan Bridge (돌산대교), there are dozens of different cruises hopping different islands in Hallyeo Ocean Park. 1 Mount Gubong (구봉산) (Located in yeoseodong (여서동)). 2 Paraocean Waterpark (디오션 리조트), ☏ 1588-0377Country code missing. Located in the latest and biggest resort in Yeosu, the Ocean Resort waterpark has dozens of indoor and outdoor pools and slides as well as spa, restaurants and shops. (updated Sep 2024)
Good restaurants can be found anywhere in Korea, but almost any seafood restaurant in Yeosu warrants merit. 1 Rotary Restaurant, 2-1, Seogyo 3-gil, Seogyo-dong, ☏ +82 061-642-2156. Monday to Sunday 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. ₩10,000, clean taste and side dishes can be refilled. (updated Dec 2022) Hoe (회, sashimi) is locally enjoyed with spicy and sour sauce (초장) and wrapped in lettuce along with garlic, similar to the way Koreans enjoy BBQ. Hoe restaurants (whaetjib 횟집) are very popular with locals and seafood restaurants in Jonghwa-dong, Soho-dong, atop the cliffs near Dolsan Bridge (overlooking the harbour) and down by the replica turtle ship on the other side, and in Manseongri offer you opp…
Main areas to go out: Yeosu Downtown (여수시내): The busiest area in the city with hundreds of shops, restaurants, bars and clubs. Ask for Chungang-ro (중앙로) or Chinnamkwan (진남관) to find the area. Yeoseo-dong (여서동): trendy and modern cafes, restaurants, clubs and bars Yeocheon downtown (여천시내): mainly behind the fire station, dozens of blocks for restaurants, bars and cafes linked to Soho-dong Soho-dong (소호동): dozens of cafes and seafood restaurants along the coast line near the yacht marina Dolsan Bridge (돌산대교): romantic cafes around the bridge to enjoy the nightview Lost Shepard Girl. A foreign style "free house" bar, with free pool, darts, and foosball.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
In Jul, Yeosu typically sees ~31°C daytime highs and 8 rainy days.
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