Geoje – An Escape From Busan
Geoje is a beautiful island located off the southwest coast of Busan. It’s roughly an hour drive from nearby Busan, making it an excellent day trip from the city. The easiest way to reach Geoje is by driving, though if that’s not an option Klook.com also offers a one-day bus tour to the island from Busan. Follow the link here to view the tour at Klook.com. DISCLAIMER – this is an affiliate link from which I’ll receive commission for any payment made.
Things to do in Geoje
Windy Hill
Windy Hill is a hill in the village of Dojangpo in Geoje. It features an old windmill and as the name suggests is very windy due to its location. Walking out to the windmill will offer great views of the village, surrounding hills and the sea. There are also lots of cafes and restaurants nearby where you can rest and enjoy the view. If you want to catch a ferry to Oedo Botania you can do so from the port in Dojangpo.
Oedo Botania
Oedo Botania is a botanical garden located on Oedo Island. It is only accessible by ferry tour. The ferry departs from Dojangpo, near Windy Hill, and first takes you round Haegeumgang to see the unique cliff and cave features. After that the ferry heads across the water to Oedo Botania.
On the ferry ride you can feed the seagulls that swarm around the boat. We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some dolphins in the beautiful blue waters.
Once you reach the island you are free to explore the European-style gardens hosting a huge variety of plant species. There are many plants and sculptures to enjoy, and it’s all surrounded by some of the bluest waters in South Korea. Also make sure to stop and try some of the fresh orange juice which comes in a unique Oedo Island bottle!
Beaches
There are many beaches to enjoy in Geoje, so it’s difficult to find the time to enjoy them all or just recommend one. When we drove to Geoje we stopped at Hakdong Black Pearl Mongdol Beach on the way to Windy Hill to have an early lunch nearby. This is a stone beach so not one for sunbathing on, but the view out over the sea is fantastic and there are nice restaurants nearby.
On our return trip we stopped at Deokpo Beach a little further north. This beach is a mix of sand and stones so is a bit better for sunbathing. There are also some restaurants and cafes nearby. We stopped here for dinner on our drive back to Busan.
