Yeosu with Kids: Aqua Planet, the Sea Cable Car & Odongdo Island in 2 Days

Want a seaside trip with children in November? Yeosu, on Korea's south coast, puts an indoor aquarium, a cable car over the sea and a little island walk all close together. It is about 3 hours from Seoul by KTX, which makes it a perfect 2-day trip with an easy pace for small legs.

Quick facts

• From Seoul: KTX to Yeosu-EXPO Station, about 3 hours; check times on the Korail website or app
• Best for: families with toddlers to early primary kids
• Rainy or windy day? Start indoors at Aqua Planet, right next to the station

1. Aqua Planet Yeosu: the weather-proof first stop

Weather is the big unknown on a family trip, so on a cold or windy day head here first. It sits beside the Expo site, a short walk from Yeosu-EXPO Station, so you can go straight from the train.

• Tickets: adults 37,900 won, teens 34,900 won, children 32,900 won, under 36 months free
• Hours: 09:30–19:00 (tickets until 18:00), open every day
• Parking: 400 won per 10 minutes
• Strollers: no rental, so bring your own · nursing room

2. Odongdo Island: ride the camellia train

Odongdo is a small island joined to the mainland by a breakwater, and entry is free. The walk in and back is long for little ones, so take the Dongbaek (camellia) train.

• Train fare: 1,000 won one way, free for age 6 and under
• Nov–Feb schedule: trains in 09:30–17:00, trains out 09:15–16:45, every 30 minutes; no trains 12:00–13:00
• Parking: 30 minutes free, then 500 won per 30 minutes, up to 5,000 won a day
• Strollers:

The last train back is early, so aim to go in before 4 PM.

3. Yeosu Sea Cable Car

This cable car crosses the water, and kids love it. The Crystal cabin has a glass floor; if your child is nervous, the standard cabin is the safer choice.

• Round trip (adult / child): standard 17,000 / 12,000 won, Crystal 24,000 / 19,000 won
• Hours: 09:30–21:30 (tickets until 21:00)
• Parking: Dolsan Park or Odongdo entrance lots, 1 hour free, then 200 won per 10 minutes

4. Rainy-day backups

• Yeosu Art Land (trick art and media art): adults 15,000 won, children 10,000 won, 09:00–21:00
• National Yeosu Marine Meteorological Science Museum: 10:00–17:30, closed Mondays, fees
• Marine Science Museum: 09:00–18:00, closed Mondays, free parking, with a touch pool
• Expo Sky Tower: adults 3,000 won, children 1,500 won, 10:00–22:00

Also stop by Yi Sun-sin Square to see the turtle ship replica. It is free, open any time, and a great place to tell kids about Korea's famous admiral.

5. Where to eat: crab rice set meals

Yeosu is famous for gejang baekban, a set meal built around soy-marinated crab with lots of side dishes. Restaurants cluster on Bongsan-dong's crab street. Gejang can be salty or spicy for kids, so ask about mild sides or steamed egg (gyeran-jjim).

• Hwangso Sikdang (황소식당): blue crab and rock crab set meals, 08:00–20:20, open daily
• Yennal Geujip (옛날그집): rock crab set meal, 09:00–21:00, open daily
• Floor seating and high chairs

An easy 2-day plan

1. Day 1 afternoon: arrive at Yeosu-EXPO Station → Aqua Planet → rest at your hotel
2. Day 1 evening: crab set dinner → the cable car at night if the kids still have energy
3. Day 2 morning: Odongdo by camellia train (go in before noon)
4. Day 2 after lunch: turtle ship at Yi Sun-sin Square → head home

Tips for foreign travelers

• Use Naver Map or KakaoMap for buses and walking routes; Google Maps is weak in Korea.
• Show taxi drivers the Korean name of your stop, such as 오동도 or 아쿠아플라넷 여수.
• Book KTX seats ahead on weekends; family seats sell out.

Summary

Aqua Planet, crab, the cable car and Odongdo: indoor fun and the sea sit side by side in Yeosu, so the weather matters less. That is the biggest win for a family trip.