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Voykit pocket guide · South Korea
Namhae
Spend 1–2 days in Namhae for beaches, mountain trails and the bridge view; longer only if you want extensive hiking or camping.
Namhae is a coastal county of islands, famous for garlic farms, beaches and Geum Mountain. The main island is linked to the mainland by the 660 m Namhae Bridge. Bus from Busan takes ~2.5 h; car via Namhae Expressway is convenient. A day or two covers the key sights; extra time is needed for multiple hikes or beach camping.
- Country
- South Korea
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep–Oct for hiking and mild weather; Jul–Aug for beach (crowded).
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, limited services).
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- KRW
- Money
- Cards work almost everywhere, including taxis, convenience stores and many market stalls; carry ₩30,000–50,000 in cash for street food, small markets and temple donations.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₩35,000–55,000 excl. bed · Mid ₩55,000–80,000 excl. bed · High ₩80,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at airport arrivals; a passport is required, and data-only plans are cheapest.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 119 · Travel helpline 1330
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 220 V · 60 Hz · Round two-pin European plugs fit; US and UK plugs need an adapter, and US-only appliances need a converter.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and cafés: No tip; a service charge appears only in top hotels.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Hotel porter: Not expected; ₩1,000–2,000 in luxury hotels if you want.; Private guide or driver: Not expected; ₩10,000–20,000 or a meal is a thank-you.
- Water
- Officially safe from the tap; most people drink filtered water, and restaurants serve it free. Bottles cost ₩800–1,500 at convenience stores.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in every subway station; paper goes in the toilet in new buildings, in the bin where a sign asks. Bidets are common.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Garlic (local market) | ₩2,000–3,000 per kg |
| Coffee at café | ₩3,000–4,500 |
| Meal (seafood restaurant) | ₩10,000–18,000 |
| Taxi (first 2 km (1.2 mi))Taxi (first 1.2 mi (2 km)) | ₩8,000–10,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PUS · Gimhae International Airport
- Main gateway for Busan region; bus to Namhae about 2.5 h (check)
Typical fares
- Busan → Namhae (intercity bus)
- about ₩15,000, 2.5 h (check)
- Taxi within Namhae (10 km)
- ≈ ₩10,000–12,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxi is available but limited; rental car via Namhae Expressway gives best flexibility. Local buses run infrequently.
See and do
Known for
- Namhae Bridge
- Geum Mountain and Boriam Temple
- Sangju Beach
- Garlic farming
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Busan | Intercity bus from Namhae bus terminal | About 2.5 h |
| Tongyeong | Car or taxi via Namhae Expressway and local roads | About 1.5 h |
| Geoje | Car via Namhae Expressway and Geoje Bridge | About 1.5 h |
| Jinju | Intercity bus or car via Namhae Expressway | About 1.5 h |
Sleep
- Camping sites
- Designated spots at Dumo village and near Sangju Beach; basic facilities, bring own gear.
- Namhae town
- Limited accommodation options; check availability in advance.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | 죄송합니다joesonghamnida |
| Thank you | 감사합니다kamsahamnida |
| How much is it? | 얼마예요?eolmayeyo? |
| Where is the beach? | 해변이 어디에 있나요?haebyeoni eodie innayo? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A slight bow with a 'annyeonghaseyo'; handshake with the right hand, left hand touching the right forearm; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
- Age and rank: Expect to be asked your age; it sets how people speak to you. Let the eldest sit and start first; avoid: Calling older people by their given name
- Handing things: Two hands for money, cards, gifts and drinks; avoid: Passing things with one hand to older people
- Subway: Quiet voices, bags off seats, queue at the marked lines; avoid: Priority and pink pregnancy seats, even when empty
- Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit or a boxed gift; refuse once before accepting; avoid: Writing names in red ink — it is used for the dead
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees; bow at the main hall; avoid: Stepping on thresholds; loud talk; pointing at Buddha statues
- Numbers: Know that 4 is unlucky; buildings may show F instead of a fourth floor; avoid: Giving gifts in sets of four
- Sensitive topics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Comparing Korea with Japan or China casually; jokes about the North, the Japanese colonial era, or plastic surgery
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxi fares can be high on the island; confirm price before boarding.
- Summer beaches get crowded; arrive early for parking.
Generally safe; watch for strong summer sun on beaches and occasional slippery trails.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Namhae yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Namhae Bridge
- Geum Mountain and Boriam Temple
- Sangju Beach
- Garlic farming
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Namhae: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Namhae, revision 4921289 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4921289
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/namhae). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.