The Complete Guide For a Trip to Oido, Siheung
Oido is only about one hour and 20 minutes away (if you leave from Seoul Station on subway line 4) from Seoul and it’s the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a day trip. Unfortunately, there is no beach to access the ocean to swim in. However, it is a great place to go if you’re a seafood lover!
Some of Oido’s most famous landmarks are the Oido Red Lighthouse and the Tree of Life Observatory. Each landmark is located at the opposite ends of the Oido Food Culture St., which is where all the seafood restaurants are. You can find everything from fresh sashimi to lobsters and clams among other seafood.
Some Facts About Oido
Transportation: Oido station on subway line 4 is the closest station, which is convenient if you are not traveling by car. There are local buses as well that allow you to travel from the subway station to different areas. However, the time between buses is quite long since it’s not a big city. So, you might have to wait up to 30 minutes. If you’re not in a hurry and the destination is close by, buses are the cheapest way to travel. There are taxis as well if you want to reach your destination faster.
Climate: Oido is by the ocean, but it is still only about an hour away from Seoul. Therefore, the weather is similar to Seoul; hot in the summer and freezing in the winter.
Language: Oido and Siheung in general are not used to getting foreigners, so there might be a language barrier. A little English might be spoken, but I strongly suggest downloading a translation app. Check out my post on the 10 Apps You Must Download Before Traveling to Korea for my translation app suggestion and more!
Where to Eat in Oido, Siheung
Since Oido is by the ocean, it’s one of the best places to go for seafood. There is a whole street named Oido Food Culture Street. Based on my experience, all the restaurants are similarly good. It’s just a matter of what seafood you want to have.
We wanted to have both clams and sashimi. So, the place I recently visited was called “Deung-Dae Hwe-Jip”, which can be translated to “Lighthouse Sashimi House.”
This is the Lighthouse Sashimi House, which is located on the Oido Food Culture Street. To learn how to reach there, click on the map of your preference.
This was my second time visiting, and all the seafood was always very fresh. This time, the clams and shrimp were even shown to us alive before cooking them! It was a definite proof of how fresh the seafood was.
When you go to a seafood restaurant, lots of side dishes come along when you order a main menu. Many people rate the restaurants based on how many of what kind of side dishes are given.
Fun Fact:
The members of the entertainment TV show Running Man once visited the Lighthouse Sashimi House, too!
Other Places to Eat
If you’re visiting the area but are not a big fan of seafood, you can visit Slowly in Forest. They serve brunch, pasta, salad, and roasted meats.
Cafés to Visit in Oido
There are some cafés in the Oido Food Culture Street, but I wanted to visit one with a view. So, I went to Rendéjà-Vous Siheung branch.
There are over 30 branches of Rendéjà-Vous café in Korea. I’ve been to two of them and the concept is a bit different in each one. The one in Oido has a tropical theme with the view facing towards “Wave Park”, a water park for surfing (more information below). There is a great variety of drinks and desserts. I strongly recommend the Milk Crepe Cake. It’s super soft and creamy!
You can find some other cafés near the same area with a slightly different view in each one. The following are some of the cafés that I would definitely like to visit next time!
What to Do in Oido
Oido might not be the right place to swim in the ocean, but there are many unique activities to do in the area. Depending on the season you visit and the activities you choose to do, it can be a day trip or a longer one.
Here’s a list of some of the best places to visit in Oido!
The lighthouse is one of the most famous landmarks of Oido. It’s a great picture zone and you can find some street food nearby.
The observatory is also a great picture zone as well as a good place to watch the sunset. Sometimes you can find caricature artists if you want a special souvenir!
When the tide ebbs and mud appears, you can find all kinds of sea creatures, such as crabs, clams, octopuses, and more! At Oido Mud Flat Experience, rainboots, hoes, and baskets are provided. Whatever you catch is yours and you can take them with you to either cook them at home or let them go.
At Siheung Oido Museum, you can learn about history, specifically the Neolithic Age. There is something for everyone, but mostly, there are lots of children’s activities. If you’re traveling with children, this is a great place to visit!
The Siheung Oido Prehistoric Park, which includes an observatory, takes about an hour and a half to look around while learning about prehistoric times. Since it’s a park, I recommend visiting either during spring or fall. There are many activities, especially for children, so it’s worth a visit if you’re traveling with kids.
If you’re into surfing, Wave Park is the place to go. It’s the biggest artificial surfing park in the world! There are instructors that can teach you if it’s your first time. There are two areas: one is for surfing and one is called Mio Costa, which is like a small waterpark with a wave pool and some activities such as ziplining. You can find more information about the park here.
