Muuido

6 am on the beach, just after sunrise.

A beach trip slipped in before the cool autumn weather is pretty irresistible. So despite a gloomy weather forecast, the boyfriend and I decide to go along with our plans to head out to Muuido over Chuseok.

Muuido is an island located just off Incheon Island. In fact, it is just minutes away by bus and ferry from Incheon International Airport. We left the concrete jungle and about 2 hours later, we found ourselves in a local bus winding through the hilly island's bumpy roads. Along the coast boats lay on mud flats, waiting for the tide to come in. Nestled in the hills are small vineyards growing table grapes. Accommodations on the beach consist of three rows of beach bungalows available for 40,000 W a night. There are several bathrooms and a shower room as well. 

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The food out on the island isn't fantastic, but there is a barbecue restaurant at one end of the beach and a convenience store near the entrance to the beach. The convenience store sells ice cream, beer, ramen, various chips and cookies, and hats. It does not sell sunblock lotion, however, so don't forget it!

Outdoor seating at the barbecue.

This beach is popular with Koreans for clam digging. When the tide is out, groups armed with buckets and trowels head out onto the mud flats to dig up their dinner. Quite a few came back with full buckets. We didn't head out ourselves, but we did find some pretty neat things along the shore.

At this time of year, the tide comes in at 5am and 5pm so swimming didn't really happen. Still, the weather was perfect for laying out with a good book and some frisbee tossing.

Low tide.

Getting there:

Airport buses from all over Seoul deliver you right to Incheon International Airport for around 10,000 W. The newly opened subway line to ICN is another good option. It stops at Seoul Station and Hongik Station, and costs 3,700 W.  Once in ICN, head over to Exit 2 on the 3rd floor and get on Bus 306. Get off at the first stop, where you'll see signs for Muuido. Follow the signs until you see a bus stop for Bus 222. This will take you to the ferry terminal. A roundtrip ticket costs 3,000 W per person. Once you land on the other side (a 3 minute ride), jump on the local green bus and get off at the second stop.