How to Visit Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve
One of the reasons I was pretty excited about moving back to Korea was that it meant I’d now be pretty close to the Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve. I first visited ages ago back in the summer of 2015, and I never made it back for a second visit!
Now that I live here, I can easily hop on a local bus and head over, even if wanted to stop by in between classes. It’s easily the most popular attraction for Suncheon, and with good reason. Here are some tips and things to expect if you want to visit Suncheon Bay as well.
ALSO AROUND SUNCHEON
Visiting the Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve
Suncheon Bay is a protected saltwater wetland, which in basic terms is the area where the sea meets land. It’s pretty much a dream for anyone interested in environmental science, bird watching (around 140 species in total), and, if you’re like me, beautiful scenery. If you want to know more about the science of the bay, there’s a great museum (and observatory).
Once you walk through the parking lot and get your ticket, you’ll see a huge field of reeds. They’re really beautiful in autumn when they’re tan, and in the summer when they’re completely green.
Walk along the pathways and then head towards the observation deck. It’s about a 20-minute hike up to the deck. For a Korean hike, it’s very easy, but it definitely gets steep at a few parts (aka I died)! The view is totally worth it, and if you want to work on your sunset photography, this is where you want to do it.
A Quick Guide to Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve
If you’d like to visit Suncheon Bay but don’t want to necessarily stay in Suncheon or Jeollanamdo, there are a few different tours it’s included in:
- Western Korea Tour (3D2N) – It looks like you’ll have an hour or so on this tour packed between a visit to the Boseong Tea Fields and the Yeosu Fish Market on Day 2.
- All Around Korea (5D4N) – This is similar timing — at 3:30 on Day 2 with about an hour to explore.
These tours are great if you want a quick taste, but I’d give myself at least another half hour or more at the bay to really enjoy it!
Information
- Korean Name: 순천만습지 (Sometimes you might still see: 순천만자연생태공원)
- Address: 전라남도 순천시 순천만길 513-25 (대대동)
- English Address: 513-25, Suncheonman-gil, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do
- Cost: 8,000 KRW (Residents – 2,000 KRW)
- Open: 8:00 – Sunset (Observatory open til 11:00 p.m.)
HOW TO GET THERE
- By Taxi – Simply tell your taxi driver “Suncheon-man.” It’s popular, so they’ll know what to do. It’s pretty far out, so the ride from the bus terminal is about 15 minutes.
- By Local Bus – From the terminal, head to the nearest local bus stop. It’s a little tricky to find but if you leave from the Dunkin Donut’s side, make a left on the main road and look for the Paris Baguette on the corner. It’s near there. Take Bus 67 or 66 to the Suncheon Bay bus stop (순천만습지). Bus rides in Suncheon are 1,250 KRW flat at the moment, and it should be 30-40 minutes.
- By Bike – Suncheon does have a bike share program, so if you want, you can bike there! It’s a 9 km ride and will take you around 40 minutes.
** I highly recommend downloading either Naver Map or KakaoMap if you’re comfortable with Hangul! Google Maps is unreliable in Korea, and these are what Koreans use to navigate. I’m partial to KakaoMap on my phone but Naver on my laptop.
And there you have it! Between Suncheon Bay and going to college near the Chesapeake Bay, I’m starting to think bays are going to have important roles in my life. Have you been?
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Hello, we are planning to visit Korea end of May. Suncheon Bay is one of our itineraries. Is it worth it to stay 2 nights in this Bay? If so, what could we do during these two days besides walking in the Wetland? Also, where would you recommend for our stay that would have beautiful vista. We don’t mind paying more for comfort and beautiful view. Thank you. Annie
Hi Annie, have you seen my post on what to do in Suncheon? (https://thereshegoesagain.org/what-to-do-in-suncheon-korea/) There’s a TON to do and you’ll easily be able to fill 2 nights. Things are a bit spread out too, so I wouldn’t necessarily recommend staying right near the bay. Instead I’d stay in the city since you’ll be able to access public transportation really easily and get around to all the different landmarks.