Major city · South Korea
Tongyeong통영
Give Tongyeong 2 nights: one day for the cable car and Dongpirang, one for a ferry island. Skip it on a 5-night Korea trip.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- KRW
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (rain and heat), late Jul–mid Aug typhoon risk
- Airports
- PUS · HIN
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 5
- 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.
Tongyeong is a south-coast port of about 121,000 people, built around a harbour and 190-plus islands. It is a 90-minute bus from Busan, so it works as a 2-night add-on to Busan or Geoje, not as a first-trip stop. The centre is walkable; the islands need a ferry and your passport.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Tongyeong, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cards work almost everywhere, including taxis, convenience stores and many market stalls; carry ₩30,000–50,000 (≈ US$25–40) in cash for street food…South Korea-wide
- SIM or eSIMSK Telecom, KT and LG U+ sell tourist SIMs and eSIMs at airport arrivals; a passport is required, and data-only plans are cheapest.South Korea-wide
- Tap waterOfficially safe from the tap; most people drink filtered water, and restaurants serve it free.South Korea-wide
- TippingRestaurants and cafés: No tip; a service charge appears only in top hotels.South Korea-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.South Korea-wide
- SafetyTongyeong is a low-crime provincial city; the real risks are ferry and cable-car weather cancellations, slippery harbour steps, and summer heat.
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in every subway station; paper goes in the toilet in new buildings, in the bin where a sign asks.South Korea-wide
- Emergency numbers112 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 1330 (≈ under US$1) Tourism helpline (24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysPalaces close one weekday (Gyeongbokgung Tuesday, others mostly Monday); national museums open daily but close on 1 Jan, Seollal and Chuseok days.South Korea-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportPUS Gimhae International (Busan) (Closest big airport, about 60 min by road; bus or taxi to Tongyeong.).
- Getting aroundLocal buses cost ₩1,500 (≈ US$2) cash or ₩1,450 (≈ US$2) with a T-money-style card, with one free transfer within 30 minutes of tapping off (2026 estimate).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealUjja noodles₩8,000–12,000 (≈ US$6–9)
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi, base fare₩4,000 (≈ US$3)
- Metro or bus rideLocal bus ride₩1,450–1,500 (≈ US$2)
- Budget bedSeaside pension (up to 4), a night, per room₩80,000 (≈ US$60)
- Mid-range bedHotel or motel double room, a night, per room₩110,000 (≈ US$80)
- High-end bedHotel or motel double room, a night, per room₩200,000 (≈ US$150)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₩70,000 (≈ US$55) · Mid ₩120,000 (≈ US$90) · High ₩220,000 (≈ US$160)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- PUS Gimhae International (Busan) (Closest big airport, about 60 min by road; bus or taxi to Tongyeong.) · HIN Sacheon (Jinju) (About 44 min by road; domestic flights to Gimpo and Jeju only.)
Weather and climate
Tongyeong: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
8°C46°F
−1°C30°F
5 rd
Feb
10°C50°F
1°C34°F
6 rd
Mar
13°C55°F
5°C41°F
8 rd
Apr
18°C64°F
9°C48°F
9 rd
May
22°C72°F
14°C57°F
9 rd
Jun
25°C77°F
18°C64°F
10 rd
Jul
28°C82°F
22°C72°F
14 rd
Aug
30°C86°F
23°C73°F
13 rd
Sep
27°C81°F
19°C66°F
9 rd
Oct
22°C72°F
14°C57°F
6 rd
Nov
16°C61°F
7°C45°F
6 rd
Dec
10°C50°F
1°C34°F
5 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Local buses cost ₩1,500 cash or ₩1,450 with a T-money-style card, with one free transfer within 30 minutes of tapping off (2026 estimate). Taxis start at about ₩4,000. The harbour, Dongpirang and the markets are walkable; use a bus or taxi for the cable car and Donam-dong.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Hansando Island
goDoor to door: About 2–3 h each way with waiting
Ferry from Tongyeong passenger terminal, then local transport on the island
Admiral Yi's base and the Hansan battle site; take your passport and check the return sailing.
Maemuldo
goDoor to door: About 1 h by boat each way
Ferry from Tongyeong port, daily
Three small islands; busy in summer, so book the sailing you want.
Jangsado Sea Park
cautionDoor to door: Half a day
Ferry from Tongyeong, then the island garden
Garden island with seasonal camellia and hydrangea; check sailings before you commit.
Geoje
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus from Tongyeong terminal
Easy onward leg; the Busan–Geoje expressway link made this route faster.
Busan
goDoor to door: About 1 h 30 min
Express bus from Tongyeong terminal
Direct bus; the simplest way in or out.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Gangguan / Jungang-dong
Harbour front, fish market, Dongpirang on foot. Best for a short stay with no car.
Donam-dong (Mireukdo)
Cable car, luge and marina area; resort hotels and pensions, 10–15 min by bus from the centre.
Misu-dong
Canal and Chungmugyo bridge views, cafés; quieter, still bus-reachable.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₩70,000–110,000 (≈ US$55–80) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₩110,000–180,000 (≈ US$80–130) excl. bed
- High
- ₩180,000 (≈ US$130)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Hotel or motel double room1 × 2 nights × ₩110,000 | ₩220,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × ₩120,000 | ₩480,000 |
| Cable car, adult round trip2 × ₩14,000 | ₩28,000 |
| Local bus day of riding2 × ₩4,500 | ₩9,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₩25,000 | ₩50,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₩78,700 |
| Trip total≈ ₩216,400 per person per day, bed included | ₩865,700≈ US$650 |
2026 estimate in won; flights and long-distance buses excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Chungmu gimbap | ₩5,000–8,000 (≈ US$4–6) |
| Kkullbbang (honey donut), each | ₩1,500–2,500 (≈ US$2) |
| Ujja noodles | ₩8,000–12,000 (≈ US$6–9) |
| Oyster set mealAbout USD 15–22. | ₩20,000–30,000 (≈ US$15–25) |
| Local bus ride | ₩1,450–1,500 (≈ US$2) |
| Taxi, base fare | ₩4,000 (≈ US$3) |
| Cable car, adult round trip | ₩14,000 (≈ US$11) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Ferries to the islands leave from different terminals: check which one your boat uses before you set out.
- Take your passport for any island ferry.
- Summer brings heavy rain and typhoon-season cancellations; ferry and cable car can stop at short notice.
- Not all pensions and guesthouses take foreign cards: carry some cash.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Tourism helpline (24 h, English)
- 1330
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Tongyeong통영
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
이 주소로 가 주세요To this address, please
Emergency
- Police112
- Fire and ambulance119
- Tourism helpline (24 h, English)1330
Embassy
No embassies in Tongyeong; most are in Seoul, with consulates in Busan.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Busan → Tongyeong express bus: about 1 h 30 min
- Seoul Nambu → Tongyeong, nonstop: about ₩24,600 (≈ US$18), 4 h 10 min
- Cable car, adult round trip: ₩14,000 (≈ US$11)
Say or show
- 안녕하세요 — Hello (annyeonghaseyo)
- 감사합니다 — Thank you (gamsahamnida)
- 이거 주세요 — This one, please (igeo juseyo)
- 얼마예요? — How much is it? (eolmayeyo)
- 카드 돼요? — Can I pay by card? (kadeu dwaeyo)
- 여객선 터미널이 어디예요? — Where is the ferry terminal? (yeogaekseon teomineori eodiyeyo)
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Tongyeong. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (rain and heat), late Jul–mid Aug typhoon risk · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for PUS and HIN: last bus times, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Gangguan and the fish market, Dongpirang and Seopirang, Donam-dong cable car, Misu-dong canal.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (cable car, luge, Dpirang night walk, Yonghwasa, Miraesa) and eat pages with last orders.
- Ferry-board fixtures for Hansando, Maemuldo and Jangsado so gates A–D can go green.