# Ganghwa Island: independent guide > Independent English guide to Ganghwa Island (Incheon, South Korea): the UNESCO Bugeun-ri dolmen, Goryeo refuge capital sites, Jeondeungsa temple, the 1866/1871 coastal fortresses (Gwangseongbo), Mani-san and Dangun's altar, UNESCO tidal flats, grilled eel and ginseng, day-trip logistics from Seoul. Published by geoguides. Some links are affiliate links (Stay22): they never change the reader's price and fund the site. Photos are Creative Commons, credited on each page and in assets/credits.json. ## Guides - [Ganghwa to Seongmodo by Ferry: Island-Hopping the Honest Way](https://ganghwaisland.com/island-hopping-from-ganghwa-how-to-reach-seongmo.html): A practical guide to the Ganghwa to Seongmodo ferry: dock location, approximate crossing time, fares, schedules by season, and what to do once you land. - [The Ganghwa Treaty: Where History Forced Korea Open to the World](https://ganghwaisland.com/the-ganghwa-treaty-where-history-forced-korea-op.html): The 1876 Ganghwa Treaty ended Korea's isolation. A guide to the island's treaty-era sites, how to reach them, and why the story still matters. - [What to Eat on Ganghwa Island: Turnips, Shrimp Jeotgal, and Tidal Flavors](https://ganghwaisland.com/what-to-eat-on-ganghwa-island-turnips-shrimp-jeo.html): A practical guide to Ganghwa Island's local food: turnip dishes, shrimp jeotgal, mudflat seafood, and where in the island's markets to find them. - [The Perfect One-Day Ganghwa Island Itinerary from Seoul](https://ganghwaisland.com/the-perfect-one-day-ganghwa-island-itinerary.html): A realistic one-day Ganghwa Island itinerary: dolmens, Jeondeungsa, mudflats and timing that respects distances and tides, not a fantasy schedule. - [Ganghwa Island by Season: When to Go for Dolmens, Tides, and Foliage](https://ganghwaisland.com/ganghwa-island-by-season-when-to-go-for-dolmens-.html): When to visit Ganghwa Island by season: tide windows, dolmen light, autumn foliage on Mani-san, and the months to avoid on the fog-prone north coast. - [Where to Stay on Ganghwa Island, or Why Seoul Might Be Better](https://ganghwaisland.com/where-to-stay-on-ganghwa-island-or-why-seoul-mig.html): A factual comparison of sleeping on Ganghwa Island versus basing in Seoul: areas, prices, access by car or bus, and who should book ahead. - [The Bronze Tide: Ganghwa's UNESCO Mudflats and How to Read Them](https://ganghwaisland.com/the-bronze-tide-ganghwa-s-unesco-mudflats.html): A practical guide to Ganghwa's getbol tidal flats: tide timing, viewing points, seasons for migratory birds, and what the UNESCO listing actually protects. - [Mani-san Hike to Chamseongdan: Korea's Foundation Altar](https://ganghwaisland.com/mani-san-climbing-to-korea-s-foundation-altar.html): A practical guide to hiking Mani-san on Ganghwa Island, reaching Chamseongdan altar, with routes, timing, difficulty and transport notes. - [Jeondeungsa: the Temple Inside the Fortress, Where Ganghwa's History Hides](https://ganghwaisland.com/jeondeungsa-the-temple-inside-the-fortress.html): Jeondeungsa sits within Samnangseong's earthen walls, a temple older than Goryeo. Hours, entry fees, the hike from the car park, and what to actually look for. - [Ganghwa Island by Bus from Seoul: The Practical Day Trip Guide](https://ganghwaisland.com/ganghwa-by-bus-the-practical-day-trip.html): No car, no problem: how to reach Ganghwa Island from Seoul by public bus, what you can realistically see in a day, and where buses fall short. - [The Bugeun-ri Dolmen and Ganghwa's UNESCO Megalith Coast](https://ganghwaisland.com/the-bugeun-ri-dolmen-and-korea-s-megalith-coast.html): A factual guide to the Bugeun-ri dolmen, Ganghwa's UNESCO megalith, with distances, transport notes, and nearby Bronze Age sites before dinner. - [The Ganghwa loop: a perfect day trip from Seoul](https://ganghwaisland.com/ganghwa-day-trip.html): A full-day Ganghwa Island loop from Seoul: the Bugeun-ri dolmen, Ganghwa-eup's Goryeo sites and hanok church, Jeondeungsa temple, grilled eel lunch and a fortress sunset, buses, wheels and timing included. ## Frequently asked questions ### How do I get to Ganghwa Island from Seoul? Direct buses (3000 from Sinchon, 88 from Yeongdeungpo and others) reach Ganghwa bus terminal in roughly 1.5-2 hours, the island connects to the mainland by bridge, no ferry needed. On the island, local buses exist but are sparse: a rental car or taxi-by-the-hour turns the scattered sights into an easy loop. ### Why is Ganghwa called Korea's history island? Few places compress Korean history so tightly: Bronze Age dolmens (UNESCO World Heritage), the altar where the legendary founder Dangun is said to have sacrificed on Mani-san, the refuge capital of the Goryeo dynasty during the Mongol invasions, royal archives, and the coastal forts where Korea fought French and American squadrons in the 19th century, all on one island an hour from Seoul. ### What are the Ganghwa dolmens? About 150 Bronze Age megalithic tombs scattered over the island's hills, inscribed by UNESCO together with the Hwasun and Gochang sites. The star is the Bugeun-ri dolmen: a capstone of roughly 50 tonnes balanced on two uprights, Northeast Asia's most iconic 'table' dolmen, standing free in a field. ### Is one day enough? A full day covers the classic loop: Bugeun-ri dolmen, Goryeo palace site and the Anglican hanok church in Ganghwa-eup, Jeondeungsa temple, and one coastal fortress at sunset. Add a night to climb Mani-san, walk the tidal flats and eat grilled eel without watching the clock. ### What should I eat on Ganghwa? Grilled eel (jangeo-gui) is the island signature, restaurants cluster near the southern shore. Ganghwa's other claims: prized ginseng (a royal tribute crop), turnip kimchi, and sunset coffee shops facing the UNESCO-listed tidal flats where the mud goes bronze at low tide. ## Reliable facts - Access: direct buses from Seoul (3000 from Sinchon, ~1.5-2 h) over a bridge, no ferry; on-island travel best by rental car or half-day taxi; northern coast roads have military checkpoints (carry passport). - Bugeun-ri dolmen: ~50-tonne capstone, flagship of the UNESCO Gochang-Hwasun-Ganghwa dolmen listing (~150 dolmens on the island). - Goryeo dynasty refuge capital 1232-1270 (Mongol invasions); Tripitaka Koreana carving initiated here. - Jeondeungsa temple inside Samnangseong fortress; 1900 Anglican church built as a hanok temple in Ganghwa-eup. - Coastal forts (Gwangseongbo, Deokjinjin, Chojijin): battles against France (1866) and the USA (1871). - Island table: grilled eel (jangeo-gui) on the southern shore, Ganghwa ginseng, UNESCO-listed tidal flats with sunset cafés (Dongmak beach). --- Source: https://ganghwaisland.com/