National park · South Korea
Muuido무의도
Day trip from Incheon Airport: bus 222 to Jamjinnaru, 5-minute ferry (about ₩3,000 return on foot), then the island bus to Hanagae Beach; climb Guksabong (236 m, free) before 10:00 and be back at the ferry by 18:00 — the last crossing leaves at 19:45.Day trip from Incheon Airport: bus 222 to Jamjinnaru, 5-minute ferry (about ₩3,000 return on foot), then the island bus to Hanagae Beach; climb Guksabong (236 m, free) before 10:00 AM and be back at the ferry by 6:00 PM — the last crossing leaves at 7:45 PM.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
15 km²6 sq mi
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
May, Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- South Korea ↗Check K-ETA and visa status on the official sites before you fly; the list of nationalities exempted from registering online changes year by year.
- South Korea ↗Google Maps gives poor walking and driving directions in Korea; use Naver Map or Kakao Map for routes.
- South Korea ↗Buy a T-money card (or use a phone-based transit pass) for subway and buses; it also pays at convenience stores and many taxis.
- Gyeonggi ↗A T-money card taps on Seoul subway lines, Gyeonggi city buses and most regional rail; top up at any convenience store.
- Gyeonggi ↗DMZ tours from the Gyeonggi side require your passport at booking and on the day; check current access rules before you pay.
At a glance
- Country
- South Korea
- Area
- 15 km²6 sq mi
- Land area is often quoted around 15 km²; figures vary by source (check).
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- May, Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Incheon
Muuido is a small island off Yeongjongdo, five minutes by car ferry from the Jamjinnaru terminal and close enough to Incheon International Airport that planes pass overhead. It has two sandy beaches — Hanagae in the south-west and quieter Silmi in the north — pine-covered hills, tidal flats that open toward the uninhabited Silmido, and one free summit, Guksabong (236 m). There is no island entry fee: you pay the ferry, a small gate fee at Hanagae, and the loop bus. Most visitors come as a day trip from the airport or Incheon; an overnight in a stilted beach hut is the alternative.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2000.
Size and age
15 km²6 sq mi · national park since 2000
Land area is often quoted around 15 km²; figures vary by source (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Incheon.
Why go
- A 5-minute car ferry from Yeongjongdo puts you on an island of pine hills, two sandy beaches and tidal flats, all reachable by one loop bus.
- Guksabong peak (236 m) is a free, short climb with views over the Goeam cliffs and back toward Incheon International Airport.
- At low tide you can walk the flats toward uninhabited Silmido — the island's military history is the reason it stayed empty.
- Hanagae Beach has huts on stilts, outdoor barbecue spots and a convenience store, so an overnight needs almost no planning.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunGo
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecCaution
- JanCold, windy; beaches unusable, most restaurants shut
- FebCold and windy; few services open
- MarMild but bare; check bus times
- AprMild, quiet; good walking weather
- MayWarm, dry, before the crowds
- JunWarm; rain starts late in the month
- JulMonsoon rain; muddy trails
- AugHot, humid, busiest; book huts ahead
- SepWarm, clearing; typhoon tails possible
- OctClear, mild; best hiking and sunsets
- NovCool, dry, quiet
- DecCold; sea breeze cuts in
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shellfish, small snails and hermit crabs on the flatsApr–Oct · Look, don't take — foraging is limited or banned in managed areas. | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
| Egrets and wetland birdsMar–May, Sep–Nov | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no |
| Gulls and coastal birdsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Incheon International Airport
Bus 222 from the departure terminal (3rd floor, gate 5) to Jamjinnaru ferry terminal, then the car ferry; T-money works on the bus.
40–60 min
Open the page →
From Incheon city
Bus or taxi to Jamjinnaru on Yeongjongdo, then the ferry; bus 306 also reaches the port area with a 10-minute walk to the terminal.
1–1.5 h
Open the page →
From Seoul
Airport bus or AREX to Incheon Airport, then bus 222 and the ferry.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
From Gyeonggi region plan
Where Muuido sits among the province's islands and day trips.
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Jamjinnaru landing and island interior | Ferry pier, pensions and the loop road; the green bus starts here. | Open; bus fare or walk. |
| Hanagae Beach | The main sandy beach on the southwest coast, with huts, showers, shops and barbecue areas. | Small entrance fee at the gate. |
| Silmi Beach | Quieter northern beach facing the mudflats and Silmido. | Open; reachable by island bus. |
| Guksabong and the Goeam cliffs | The island's high point and the rock formations below it. | Free; walk up from the trailhead. |
| Silmido | Uninhabited island off the northwest coast, once a military site. | On foot at low tide only; the route floods quickly. |
Sketch map
- 1Jamjinnaru ferry terminal · Ranger station≈37.426, 126.428Approximate; on Yeongjongdo.Map ↗
- 2Muuido ferry landing · Gate≈37.409, 126.423Approximate.Map ↗
- 3Guksabong peak · Summit≈37.383, 126.416Map ↗
- 4Hanagae Beach · Beach≈37.385, 126.409Map ↗
- 5Silmi Beach · Beach≈37.403, 126.402Map ↗
- 6Silmido · Viewpoint≈37.401, 126.392Uninhabited; low-tide access only.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamjinnaru–Muuido car ferry, adult on foot | KRW 3,000 (≈ US$3) | person | Return included in the fare; 2026 estimate. |
| Hanagae Beach entrance | KRW 1,000–2,000 (≈ US$1–2) | person | The beach is run as a managed recreation area; the exact 2026 rate is posted at the gate. |
| Island bus (green bus) | KRW 1,200–1,500 (≈ US$1–2) | person | T-money accepted on the green bus; the small late-night vans take cash only. |
| Beach hut on Hanagae Beach | KRW 30,000 (≈ US$25) | hut | Per night, plus a ₩10,000 key deposit refunded at check-out; sleeps up to four on floor mats. |
| ATV rental near the beaches | KRW 25,000 (≈ US$18) | 30 minutes | Seasonal; horse rides on Hanagae have been about ₩10,000. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Ferry ticket permit or guide
Hanagae Beach entry permit or guide
Silmido crossing no permit
Park rules
- Camping and fires
- Camping is possible near the port area, but bonfires are not permitted on Hanagae Beach.
- Tidal flats
- Do not walk out toward Silmido except around low tide; the route floods quickly and there is no bridge.
- Silmido access
- The island is uninhabited and was long closed for military use; do not enter any remaining structures.
- Beach huts
- Check-out is at noon; a key deposit is refunded when you hand back the key.
- Litter
- Carry out everything you bring; bins are scarce outside the beach gates.
Where to stay
In the park
Beach huts on Hanagae Beach
Small stilted huts with heated floors, about 2 m², sleeping up to four on mats; about ₩30,000 a night plus a key deposit.
In the park
Pensions near the ferry landing
Family-run pensions and camping grounds along the main island road; rates run from roughly ₩70,000 to ₩220,000 depending on the property.
Near the park
Incheon Airport hotels
The fallback if the island is full: a short bus ride back to Yeongjongdo.
Safety
Tides on the Silmido crossing high
Slippery trails after rain medium
Limited services off-season medium
Last ferry medium
Accessibility
- The ferry, the arrival pier and the island bus are step-free for foot passengers.
- Hanagae Beach has a paved approach and facilities near the gate; the tidal flats and Guksabong trail are not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked paths on Guksabong; the slopes erode quickly.
- Leave shellfish and marine life on the flats — take photos, not buckets.
- Use the island bus instead of bringing a car onto the ferry in peak season.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Muuido?
There is no island entry fee. You pay the Jamjinnaru–Muuido car ferry, about ₩3,000 per adult on foot with the return included (2026 estimate), plus a small gate fee at Hanagae Beach, roughly ₩1,000–2,000. Guksabong peak and the other beaches are free.
What are the best hikes in Muuido?
Guksabong is the main one: 236 m, free, 1.5–2 hours return, with views over the Goeam cliffs. The other option is the low-tide walk toward Silmido, which is only safe around low tide. The island's informal hill paths are short and can be muddy after rain.
When is the best time to visit Muuido?
May and October: warm or mild, drier, and quieter than midsummer. July and August are hot, humid and the busiest, with monsoon rain; winter is cold and windy and many restaurants close. Autumn stays mild into October but feels chilly when the sea breeze picks up.
How do I get to Muuido from Incheon Airport?
Take bus 222 from the departure terminal (3rd floor, gate 5) to the Jamjinnaru ferry terminal — T-money works — then the car ferry, which takes about five minutes and runs every 15–30 minutes through the day. Bus 306 also reaches the port area but leaves you a 10-minute walk from the terminal.
Can I visit Muuido without a car?
Yes. The ferry takes foot passengers, and a green bus loops from the landing to Hanagae Beach, Silmi Beach and back. It accepts T-money; late-night services may be small vans that take cash only. Taxis on the island are few.
Can I walk to Silmido?
Only at low tide, and only if you check the tide table that day. The crossing floods quickly and Silmido is uninhabited with no facilities, so turn back well before the tide turns.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go