Yangyang water boat café on Namdaecheon: Cafe Dunchi

I visited Cafe Dunchi (카페 둔치) in Yangyang with my parents. We chose it because we could drink beverages while looking out over the Namdaecheon River and ride an electric boat. The three of us boarded a boat and spent time on the river.

Where is Cafe Dunchi, and what is parking like?

Cafe Dunchi is in a water sports center right beside the Salmon Ecological Park on the lower Namdaecheon River in Yangyang. Its address is 295 Ilchul-ro, Yangyang-eup, Yangyang-gun. According to the original post, the café was open daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, while the boats operated from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

We parked near Seomdeul Naru and walked to the café. There was also a large parking area in front of the café. A deck connects to the surrounding park, making it pleasant for a walk.

What are the café space and drink and dessert prices like?

An iced Americano was ₩5,500, and a homemade egg tart was ₩4,000. They also had scones and honey bread, and introduced ginger tea and lemon tea made with house-made syrups.

After crossing a small bridge, we entered the café building floating on the water. The first floor was for waiting for boats, and the second floor was for drinking beverages while looking out over the Namdaecheon River.

How many people can ride the electric boats, and how much do they cost?

The electric boats came in 1–4-person and 1–6-person sizes. Since there were three of us, including my parents and me, we were directed to a 1–4-person boat.

• Electric boat for 1–4 people: ₩28,000
• Electric boat for 1–6 people: ₩35,000

Before boarding, we put on life jackets that fit us on the first floor. Children’s life jackets were available as well.

How do you operate the electric boat yourself?

After picking up our coffee on the second floor, we boarded the prepared boat. Since it was electric, we did not need to pedal, but one person in the group still had to take charge of driving.

A staff member helped us take the boat out from the dock. After that, we steered it ourselves and used buttons to move forward or stop. It was clear on the day we visited, and when we moved with the current, the boat felt fast enough for us to enjoy the river breeze.

What was the boat ride with my parents like?

My father was excited to drive a boat himself on the Namdaecheon River. My mother sat at the very back and enjoyed the boat ride while drinking an omija ade (five-flavor berry soda) from the café.

The boat moved more slowly when we went against the waves. At those times, we talked as a family, drank our beverages, and rested. The combination of driving ourselves and looking at the scenery from the river made it a memorable part of our trip with my parents.

What should you check before riding the boat?

Boat service may be restricted for safety in rain, strong winds, or other poor weather. If you plan to ride a boat, it would be good to check the weather before visiting. Also note that the café and boat services have different closing times.

Cafe Dunchi also blended well with the Namdaecheon River scenery from a distance. For us, picking up drinks at the café and riding a boat with my parents became an unusual part of our Yangyang trip.