Ganghwa is a large island — technically part of Incheon — at the mouth of the Han River, connected to the mainland by bridge and layered with more Korean history per square kilometer than almost anywhere else in the country.
History
Ganghwa's location guarding the approach to the Han River and Seoul has made it a strategic prize for centuries. When the Goryeo dynasty faced Mongol invasions, the royal court relocated to Ganghwa and made it the de facto capital from 1232 to 1270, building the Goryeogung palace whose remains can still be visited. In the 19th century the island became a front line against foreign incursion, repelling French forces in 1866 and American forces in 1871, before the 1875 Ganghwa Island incident with Japan forced Korea into the 1876 Treaty of Ganghwa, its first modern treaty with a foreign power. The county was formally established in 1906 and became part of Incheon Metropolitan City in 1995.
Highlights
- Jeondeungsa Temple, founded in 381 CE and considered the oldest existing Buddhist temple on the Korean peninsula, built inside the walls of Samnang Fortress.
- Ganghwa Dolmen Sites, part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Dolmens of Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa — the island alone holds roughly 150 of these Bronze Age tombs.
- Manisan, the island's highest peak at 469 meters, topped by Chamseongdan, an altar traditionally linked to Dangun, Korea's legendary founder.
- Goryeogung Palace Site, the remains of the Goryeo dynasty's wartime capital, built during its 1232-1270 relocation from Kaesong.
Food
Ganghwa's most distinctive local product is its turnip (Ganghwa-sunmu) — a variety that has been cultivated on the island since at least the 5th century and is referenced in classical Korean medicine texts for its density and sweetness compared to mainland turnips.
Getting there
Ganghwa has no train station of its own — it's a bridge-connected island, reached from the Gimpo side of the mainland via the Ganghwa Bridge, first built in 1969 with newer spans added since. Intercity and express buses run directly from Seoul to Ganghwa's bus terminal, and it's also an easy drive or taxi ride from Gimpo.
How long
Ganghwa's major sites — the dolmens, Jeondeungsa, Manisan, and the old palace site — are spread across a large island, so seeing more than one or two in a single day means real driving time. A day trip covers the highlights if you pick a focused route, but it's a rushed one; an overnight lets you add the mudflats and coastal trails without racing the clock.