Hotels near Taejongdae Park

Taejongdae occupies the southern tip of Yeongdo Island, where pine forest ends in cliffs dropping about 100 m to the sea. The park takes its name from King Taejong Muyeol of Silla, who is said to have practised archery here. A paved 4.3 km loop road runs past the observatory, the lighthouse and Sinseon Rock, a flat shelf at the base of the cliffs reached by a steep staircase.

The Danubi road train circles the loop with four stops, costs 4,000 KRW for adults and 2,000 KRW for children, and departs roughly every 20 minutes. Walking the same loop takes about 90 minutes. Near the lighthouse, a line of tented stalls sells grilled shellfish and sea squirt with soju, run by the local haenyeo divers. On clear days the observatory deck gives a view across to Tsushima Island in Japan.

Pro Tip: Buy the Danubi ticket, ride up to the lighthouse stop, then walk the second half downhill. You get the same views without the climb, and the queue for the train is shortest before 10:00.