Quick Guide to Sweet Escape in Oido Island, Siheung!
In this article, we will share the quick guide for your weekend sweet short escape with your loved ones from Seoul. It’s short and sweet because you can reach this place within less than an hour, so you can spent it during the weekend escape to Oido Island, for those who loves beach and island.
Anyway, Oido Island is not the only closest island from Seoul, there is actually some close island as well located in Incheon such as Yeongjongdo Island, Modo, Sido and Sindo Island as well. But this time we will talk about Oido and Daebudo Island that located in Gyeonggi-do region areas in South Korea.
Alright, let’s dive right to it.
Oido Island History
Oido is an island on the West Coast region of South Korea’s Gyeonggi region. It is an area of Siheung stretching from north to south with low hills under 72.9 m (239 ft).
Oido (오이도) was known previously as “Crow’s Ear Island”. This island is lined with shell mounds, the largest of their kind on the western coast. These relics of the past provide great insight into the exchanges between the northern and southern populations that inhabited the peninsula and larger continent, and how the coastal environment along the west coast changed during the Neolithic Ages.
Best Things to do in Oido Island
Oido Observatory Cafe
The cafes in Oido offers two types of scenes: sea view and bird view. You can found sea cafe easily all around this area. However, if you plan to have a bird view, then you might need to walk away about 10 minutes from the sea.
You will find the Oido Observatory Cafe (오이도전망대카페) interconnected to a Buddhist Remains Park, Seonsa Yoojok Park(오이도선사유적공원) in Oido Island.
To get here, you need to hike on a long stairs before you can see their entrance door. As the cafe is interconnected to the park, it can also be reached from the backside of the cafe through another path as well.
Address: 97, Oido-ro | Jeongwang-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi-do 15015, South Korea
Seonsa Yoojok Park(오이도선사유적공원)
Exactly as what I said earlier, Seonsa Yoojok Park is interconnected with Oido Observatory Cafe. So, after satisfying our eyes with beautiful bird view of Oido Island, let’s walk up to this park.
Seonsa Yoojok park was quite huge, with many guide boards pointing the direction to each part of the park you need to know before you start your walk. This one is worth it especially if you plan to go to Oido Observatory Cafe, as it’s interconnected and free.
Oido Boardwalk / Oido Lighthouse
Credit to koeun
The boardwalk is a really great place to take a walk and just feels ZEN like feeling. We can walk and meditate on all we’ve been going through, flow with the nature of the wind, hearing the sounds of the ocean waves and let our chi energy to flow all of our body.
As you walk on this boardwalk, you will find some beautiful place to stop by, in which the most popular are the Red Lighthouse (빨간등대) and the beautiful Tree Of Life Observatory Deck. You will understand why they’re really popular, you can take a lot of picture there. The sensation of ZEN and meditation will gone after you start looking at the Tree of life observatory deck. When we have Tree of life in front of us, why need to meditate anymore. lol.
When you are at Oido Boardwalk, you also can have their specialty food, Raw Fish / Grilled Clams / Clamshell Noodle Soup. It’s delicious and good for spent time together with family and love ones.
Address: 175, Oido-ro | Jeongwang-dong, Siheung, Gyeonggi-do 15015, South Korea
Useful Informations:
- Other Activity Information
[Mud Flat Activities]
Availability varies depending on mud flat and weather conditions / Inquiries: +82-31-319-0205– Clam digging (Basket and hoe provided / one each per person)
Fees: Children 5,000 won / Adults 7,000 won– Mud flat sledding (limited to elementary students and younger)
Fee: 1,000 won[Hamsang Observatory Deck Activities]
– Location: Oido Hamsang Observatory Deck
– Operating hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00 (closed Mondays)
– Fee: 2,000~5,000 won per person
– Activities: Arts and crafts
– Inquiries: +82-10-9666-6865 - Phone: +82-31-310-2332
- Address: 175, Oido-ro, Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 시흥시 오이도로 175 (정왕동) - Website: Siheung
How to get here:
- By [Subway]
Oido Station (Seoul Subway Line 4, Suin Line), Exit 1 or 2.
Walk straight for approx. 70 m and then turn right at the intersection.
Walk straight for approx. 70 m and then take Bus No. 30-2 and get off at Oido Ocean Complex/Okteo Elementary School Bus Stop.
