Eurwangni Beach

At the western tip of Yeongjongdo in Incheon, Eurwangni Beach is often called the closest swimming beach to Seoul. Its draws are about 700 m of sand, a shallow sea averaging just 1.5 m deep, and sunsets over the open water to the west. It is close to Incheon International Airport, so plenty of people drop in for a look at the sea before or after a flight.

An old beach on the airport island

Eurwangni was designated a National Tourist Site in 1986. When a bridge linked Yeongjongdo and Yongyudo in 1988, it became much easier to reach and visitor numbers soared. Today's Yeongjongdo is the result of reclaiming the sea between Yeongjongdo, Yongyudo and smaller islands to build Incheon Airport. The beach now belongs to Eurwang-dong in Incheon's Yeongjong-gu district.

The reclamation took place between 1992 and 1994, turning the sea between Yeongjongdo, Yongyudo, Sammokdo and Sinbuldo into dry land, so the western side of the island, where Eurwangni lies, was originally Yongyudo. The airport brought bridges and a railway, and with them the beach became an easy day trip from the capital region.

What to enjoy

• Shallow water: the gentle slope and shallow sea make it good for paddling with children. At low tide the water retreats a long way, revealing wide sand flats.
• Sunset: the beach faces west, so late afternoon is its best moment. The rocks and small headlands at each end frame sunset photos well.
• Pine grove: the pines behind the sand give welcome shade on summer afternoons.
• Fishing boats: near the small breakwater at one end you can hire a boat for sea fishing. Restaurants and cafés line the road behind the beach.
• Wangsan Beach: walk over to nearby Wangsan Beach to the north and compare two beaches with quite different moods.

Summer swimming season

Every summer Eurwangni opens as an official swimming beach together with Wangsan and Hanagae beaches. In 2026 it opened on 20 June, with jellyfish nets and safety buoys in place and lifeguards equipped with water scooters and all-terrain vehicles. Dates and hours change each year, so check with Yeongjong-gu before you go.

Tripto tips

• Getting there: take the AREX Airport Railroad from Seoul Station to Incheon Airport Terminal 1 Station, then a bus or taxi. The beach is about 7 km from Terminal 1. By car you cross the Yeongjong or Incheon bridge, both of which charge tolls.
• When to go: late autumn and winter bring fine sunsets and few people. On summer weekends in swimming season the beach road and car parks are badly congested.
• Sunset times: the sun sets around 19:00–20:00 in summer and around 17:30 in winter. Arrive half an hour early.
• Bridge tolls: you can also reach the island via the Cheongna Sky Bridge, opened in January 2026; the toll for a car is KRW 2,000.
• Check the tide: the beach looks very different at high and low tide, so check tide times before swimming.
• On a layover: if you are visiting before a flight, keep it to 2–3 hours and leave plenty of time to get back.