How to Get “Views + Alleyway Vibes” in Tongyeong in Just One Day
If you can hang out in Tongyeong for just one day, this is the combo I recommend first.
- Morning: Ride the Mireuksan (Tongyeong) Cable Car for a panoramic view of Hallyeohaesang National Park
- Afternoon: Lunch near Jungang Market + an alley stroll through Dongpirang Mural Village
- Evening (optional): Gangguan night view or add Seopirang/Dpirang briefly
Plus, the route between the two is efficient, so it’s the lowest-risk “day trip” plan.
Recommended Itinerary at a Glance (Day Trip)
| Time | Course | Key Point |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30~10:00 | Arrive at Tongyeong Cable Car / buy tickets | On weekends and peak season, “arriving in the morning” makes the biggest difference |
| 10:00~12:00 | Ride the Mireuksan Cable Car & enjoy the upper observatory | Operations may stop if winds are strong → 반드시 check the weather (Cable Car) |
| 12:00~12:30 | Cable car → move to Jungang Market/Gangguan | Official guidance: about 25 minutes one-way toward Dongpirang (Cable Car) |
| 12:30~13:30 | Lunch (near Jungang Market/Gangguan) | Plenty of options like Chungmu gimbap/seafood/mulhoe |
| 13:30~15:30 | Walk around Dongpirang Mural Village | Free & open year-round; use public parking lots (Visit Korea) |
| 15:30~17:00 | Café/Gangguan stroll (optional) | Wrap up the view at a rooftop café |
| 17:00~ | Head home | Clean route flow by bus/car/taxi |
1) Tongyeong Mireuksan Cable Car: Key Info on Fares, Operating Hours, and Closures
Location & Contact (for Navigation)
- Address: 205 Balgae-ro, Donam-dong, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Phone: 1544-3303 (Cable Car)
Cable Car Fare (Official, as of Jan 2026)
- Adult Round trip 17,000 KRW / One-way 13,500 KRW
- Child (ages 4/48 months to elementary school) Round trip 13,000 KRW / One-way 11,000 KRW (Cable Car)
Discounts (for eligible visitors) require proof, and discounts cannot be combined. (Cable Car)
“Truly Important” Operating Notes
- May close/suspend due to weather (Cable Car)
- Ticket sales may close early 2–3 hours before the end of operations (Cable Car)
- Regular closure day: the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month (if it’s a holiday, the next day) (Cable Car)
👉 So here’s the one conclusion: the safest move is to check the official “Operating Hours Guide” notice the day before/day of your visit.
2) (Reference) Summary of the Cable Car Operating Hours (Jan 2026)
Tongyeong Cable Car hours vary by month. Below is a summary based on the official notice for Jan 2026.
| Period | Weekdays | Saturday | Sunday/Holidays | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/1 | 06:00~16:30 | (Same) | (Same) | Special operation |
| 1/2~1/15 | 10:00~16:30 | 09:30~17:00 | 09:30~17:00 | |
| 1/16~1/31 | 10:00~17:00 | 09:30~17:00 | 09:30~17:00 | Extended from the 16th |
- January regular closure (maintenance day): 1/14 (Wed) (Cable Car)
- Also, according to the notice, due to major first-half maintenance from 2/2 to 2/6, there is guidance that 1/28 (Wed) will operate as normal. (Cable Car)
- It also states that on weekends, operations may start earlier or be extended depending on visitor flow.
In winter (January), the notice also provides Tongyeong sunset times (e.g., 17:26 on the 1st, 17:33 on the 10th, 17:43 on the 20th, 17:54 on the 31st).
3) Easy Transportation for Walkers/Foreign Travelers (How to Get to the Cable Car)
The question I get most often when guiding foreign guests is, “Can I get there by bus?” And yes, you can.
Bus (Tongyeong Intercity Bus Terminal ↔ Cable Car)
- No. 141: Tongyeong Intercity Bus Terminal ↔ in front of the cable car bus stop
- Other routes (101/104/105) are also provided in the guide. (Cable Car)
Taxi (Fast and Low-Stress)
- Official guidance: About 20 minutes from the terminal to the cable car, around 10,000 KRW (when there’s no traffic) (Cable Car)
- If you’re worried about talking with the driver because you’re not confident in Korean
- One line to show the driver: “통영 케이블카(발개로 205)로 가 주세요.”
4) Getting from the Cable Car → Dongpirang Village (Route Planning Points)
Once you come down after riding the cable car, the most efficient next move is to head to the Dongpirang + Jungang Market area.
- According to Tongyeong Cable Car’s official “Nearby Attractions” guide, it’s shown as about 25 minutes one-way to Dongpirang. (Cable Car)
- In other words, it’s great for bundling lunch/cafés/market browsing into one smooth block.
5) Dongpirang Mural Village: Location, Parking, and Vibe (Key Points)
What Kind of Place Is Dongpirang?
“Dongpirang” is a name made from “east” + “pirang” (a Tongyeong dialect word meaning slope), and there’s an explanation that in October 2007, the village was reborn with murals by gathering people to paint. (Visit Korea)
Thanks to that, now there are paintings in every alley, and from the hilltop you can also enjoy the Gangguan sea view. (Visit Korea)
Location/Hours/Fee
- Location: 6-18 Dongpirang 1-gil, Tongyeong-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Hours: Open year-round
- Admission: Free (Visit Korea)
Parking (Read This If You’re Driving)
Dongpirang itself is made of narrow alleys, so parking can be tight; official travel articles recommend using public parking lots. (Visit Korea)
- Public parking lots mentioned as examples: Tongyeong Jungang Market Public Parking Lot / Tongjeyeong Parking Lot / Taepyeong Public Parking Lot (Visit Korea)
Etiquette You Must Follow in Dongpirang
Because residents actually live here, there’s guidance asking visitors to avoid loud conversations or disruptive behavior. (Visit Korea)
Just following this one line makes the trip far more satisfying (the village vibe truly changes).
6) Dongpirang + Jungang Market Lunch Combo (A No-Fail Choice)
Dongpirang is a “hill walk,” so it quietly drains your energy. So for route flow, I recommend this:
- Have lunch first near Jungang Market/Gangguan
- Walk up Dongpirang and stroll the alleys while you digest
- Come back down and hit a café (even better if it’s a rooftop)
Typical signature Tongyeong menu picks are:
- Chungmu gimbap (simple, fast turnover)
- Mulhoe/hoe-deopbap (that seaside-city feel)
- Oysters/seafood hot pot (satisfaction varies a lot by season)
This kind of lineup is easy to fit into a “one-day course” without feeling heavy.
7) Estimated Cost for Today’s Course (Per 1 Adult)
| Item | Estimated Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tongyeong Cable Car (round trip) | 17,000 KRW | Official fare (Cable Car) |
| Dongpirang | 0 KRW | Free (Visit Korea) |
| Transportation | 0~ (depends) | Choose bus/taxi/car (Cable Car) |
| Food | Varies | Market snacks + meals |
8) (Optional) If You Have Time, Add Just One More Thing Like This
- Seopirang: Great to pair as a hill course facing Dongpirang (lots of photo points) (Visit Korea)
- Gangguan stroll: Walk toward the sea after coming down from Dongpirang for a “very Tongyeong” finish.
If your day is packed, even stopping at “Dongpirang” only is enough to make it a full, satisfying day.
Tips Especially Useful for Foreign Travelers (Expats in Korea)
- The cable car is heavily affected by weather, so plans may change on windy days. If you set a Plan B of market/cafés/alley walks, you won’t be caught off guard. (Cable Car)
- Sentences to show the driver (for taxis):
- “통영 케이블카(발개로 205)로 가 주세요.”
- “동피랑 벽화마을(동피랑1길 6-18)로 가 주세요.”
FAQ (Tongyeong Cable Car)
Q1. How much is the Tongyeong Mireuksan (Tongyeong) Cable Car fare?
For adults, it’s 17,000 KRW round trip and 13,500 KRW one-way. There is a separate child fare for ages 4 (48 months) through elementary school. (Cable Car)
Q2. When is the regular closure day for the Tongyeong Cable Car?
Based on the official guidance, the regular closure day is the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, and if it’s a holiday, it is 안내ed as closed the next day. (Cable Car)
Q3. Until what time are cable car tickets sold?
According to the official guidance, ticket sales may close early 2–3 hours before the end of operations. If you arrive late, you may not be able to ride, so a morning visit is recommended. (Cable Car)
Q4. Is there an admission fee for Dongpirang Mural Village? What are the hours?
Dongpirang is free and is 안내ed as open year-round. (Visit Korea)
Q5. How long does it take from Tongyeong Cable Car to Dongpirang Village?
In Tongyeong Cable Car’s official “Nearby Attractions” guide, Dongpirang is shown as 25 minutes one-way. (Cable Car)
Q6. Is a one-day course (cable car + Dongpirang) possible without a car?
Yes. According to the official “Getting Here” guide, Bus No. 141 runs between Tongyeong Intercity Bus Terminal ↔ in front of the cable car bus stop. Also, taxis are 안내ed as about 20 minutes/~10,000 KRW from the terminal. (Cable Car)
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