Bijindo Island is an island (actually two) just a short ferry ride off the coast of Tongyeong. Bijindo isn’t as famous as some of the other islands in Korea, but that just adds to the appeal. There aren’t any souvenir shops, no ridiculous traffic and honking horns, no sky-high apartment buildings, and best of all, there aren’t tons of tourists. Then again, maybe we were those tourists. But I digress…

Bijindo is the perfect spot for a quiet (or rowdy – no judgment here, I don’t know your life) weekend getaway. There are a few options for sleeping arrangements, and most of them are traditional-style (sleep on the floor) pensions.  When my friends and I visited Bijindo, we took the camping route. The campsite that we used is conveniently located close to the beach and under the shade of a group of pine trees.

Side note: The pine trees don’t shelter you or your tent from rain. Take note of how haggard everyone in the photos looks. That’s what two nights of rain exposure can do to a person. That’s also why a few of us paid for a pension on the second night. Adventurous, but not stupid.

The island offers two pretty great things: hiking and a beautiful beach. Hiking Bijindo is a bit strenuous, but the view from the top is worth it. The beach is perfectly beachy with lots of sea glass, shells, and white sand to bury your friends (or enemies) in! What more could you want?

Getting there:
First, take a bus from Sasang bus terminal (if you’re in Busan) to Tongyeong, which takes about an hour and 45 minutes. After that, take a short taxi ride to the ferry terminal, followed by a 40-minute ferry ride to Bijindo.