Namhae travel info

Namhae is a big island off the southern tip of Gyeongnam, made up of Namhae-do, Changseon-do and a scatter of smaller islets. You arrive by bridge: the red suspension Namhae Bridge from Hadong, or the five-span Changseon–Samcheonpo Bridge from Sacheon. About 40,000 people live on 357 square kilometres, so this is not a place to cover on foot. Plan on a car, a taxi or a patient bus schedule.

The sights hang on the seaward hillsides. From Boriam Temple near the top of Geumsan you look over sea and islands; at Garicheon's Daraengi Village the rice paddies step down in terraces almost to the water. German Village is a hill of orange-roofed houses, and the Mulgeon coastal windbreak forest, planted about 300 years ago, runs along the shore. The food is anchovy. Jukbang-caught anchovies are the prized ones, and restaurants simmer them in spicy sauce to wrap in lettuce. Garlic, yuja citron and winter spinach are local products too.

From Seoul it is a bit over four hours by express bus, so one night is enough to get a taste. Busan and Jinju are close enough to fold into a Gyeongnam loop. The Garlic and Hanwoo Festival runs in June and the German Village beer festival in early October.

From Seoul (BUS)

From Busan and Jinju (BUS)

By car over the bridges (CAR)