Changdeokgung Palace Complex [UNESCO World Heritage Site] (창덕궁과 후원 [유네스코 세계유산])

1.8Km 2025-07-21

99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Changdeokgung Palace was the second royal villa built following the construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1405. It was the principal palace for many kings of the Joseon dynasty, and is the most well-preserved of the five remaining royal Joseon palaces. The palace grounds are comprised of a public palace area, a royal family residence building, and the rear garden. Known as a place of rest for the kings, the rear garden boasts a gigantic tree that is over 300 years old, a small pond and a pavilion.

The palace gained importance starting from the time of Seongjong, the 9th king of Joseon, when a number of kings began using it as a place of residence. Unfortunately, the palace was burned down by angry citizens in 1592 when the royal family fled their abode during the Imjin War. Thanks to Gwanghaegun, the palace was restored in 1611. Even today, it houses a number of cultural treasures, such as Injeongjeon Hall, Daejojeon Hall, Seonjeongjeon Hall, and Nakseonjae Hall.

Changdeokgung Palace’s garden behind the inner hall, called the "Secret Garden," was constructed during the reign of King Taejong and served as a rest area for the royal family members. The garden had formerly been called Bugwon and Geumwon, but was renamed Biwon Garden, or Secret Garden, after King Gojong came into power. The garden was kept as natural as possible and was touched by human hands only when absolutely necessary. Buyongjeong Pavilion, Buyongji Pond, Juhamnu Pavilion, Eosumun Gate, Yeonghwadang Hall, Bullomun Gate, Aeryeonjeong Pavilion, and Yeongyeongdang Hall are some of the many attractions that occupy the garden. The most beautiful time to see the garden is during the fall when the autumn foliage is at its peak and the leaves have just started to fall.

Though it has been treasured by Koreans for centuries, Changdeokgung Palace and its complex was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site by the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Committee in December of 1997 during the committee meeting in Naples, Italy.

Eunjujeong (은주정)

1.8Km 2024-03-12

32, Changgyeonggung-ro 8-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2265-4669

Situated near Gwangjang Market, Eunjujeong focuses on kimchi jjigae. Served wrapped in lettuce, it offers a unique delicacy. They also sell barbecued pork belly, which is grilled in the traditional Korean style. After finishig the meal, it's recommended to take a walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream right in front of the restaurant. Across Cheonggyecheon Stream is Gwangjang Market, which is also worth exploring, enriching the experience of the area.

Cheong Wa Dae Media Display (청와대 국민과 함께 영상전시)

1.8Km 2025-08-20

1 Cheongwadae-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
박주원 학예연구사 02-3771-8636

Cheong Wa Dae Media Display brightens the night through a media facade display on Yeongbingwan Hall. The display shows the history of Cheong Wa Dae through the theme "Twelve Lights".

Namdo Bunsik Seochon Branch (남도분식 서촌점)

1.8Km 2024-02-20

1F, 2 Ogin 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Namdo Bunsik is a snack restaurant that caters to the tastes of the younger generation by adapting regional traditional cuisine. The flagship menu features namdo tteokbokki, an jeukseok tteokbokki (instant tteokbokki) crafted with various ingredients such as pollack, scallions, and radish, with the broth prepared in-house. The spiciness of the tteokbokki can be adjusted from level 1 to level 3. Another popular item is sangchu twigim (deep-fried lettuce), where deep-fried dishes and pickled onions are wrapped in lettuce for consumption.

Hanyangdoseong Seoul City Wall Stamp Tour (서울 한양도성 순성길)

1.8Km 2025-06-30

Nusang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Hanyangdoseong Seoul City Wall is a 18.7 km-long trail that encircles the old capital city of Hanyang, covering Bugaksan, Inwangsan, Naksan, and Namsan Mountains. The urban trekking course provides the opportunity to see Seoul's history, culture, and nature all at once, including four large gates, four small gates, and 169 cultural heritages. To enjoy the trail even further, take part in the stamp tour. Travelers who complete the full trail, collecting stamps and taking pictures at the designated locations will recieve a completion certificate.

Gwangjang Market (광장시장)

1.8Km 2024-07-08

88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2267-0291

Gwangjang Market was the first permanent market in Korea and continues to thrive as a popular tourist destination today. The name Gwangjang means "to gather from afar and keep altogether." The market began as a small trading center that brought in goods from nearby regions, but has now grown into a large wholesale market selling a variety of goods, including upholstery, imported goods, groceries, dried fish, traditional goods, and more. The most popular section of the market is the food street connected to the East Gate, North Gate 2, and South Gate 1. The food street caters to a wide range of patrons due to the plethora of menus available. It is also one of the most recommended tourist attraction for international travelers.

Uke. Zamezip (육회자매집)

1.8Km 2023-12-22

200-4 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

This restaurant is located in a corner of Gwangjang Market's alley, and its main menu is Yukhoe/Beef Tartare (raw beef made by cutting small pieces of beef with various seasonings). The lightness of raw meat, which cannot be found in grilled meat, and the harmony with the seasoning are impressive. If you eat it with egg yolk, sprouts, and pears served together, you can feel the depth of the true taste of raw meat. If you want to try something a little more Korean-style, try 'Yuktangi,' which comes with Tangtangi (a dish made by pounding wild octopus on a cutting board and cutting it into pieces) and Yukhoe. However, the octopus Yuktangi moves around when the food is served, so you must be careful.

Buchon Yukhoe (부촌육회)

1.8Km 2024-03-04

200-12 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Buchon Yukhoe is a renowned restaurant located in Gwangjang Market's Beef Tartare Street, selected by the Michelin Guide in 2023. It specializes in yukhoe (beef tartare), a Korean-style raw beef dish marinated with sesame oil and pear. The restaurant uses fresh Korean beef supplied daily, ensuring a delightful and nutty flavor. The simple seasoning enhances the natural taste of the ingredients, and the yolk-topped yukhoe adds visual appeal to the dish.

Samcheong Sujaebi (삼청동수제비)

1.8Km 2024-03-04

101-1 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-735-2965

Samcheong Sujaebi is a handmade sujebi (hand-pulled dough soup) specialty restaurant located in Samcheong-dong. Sujebi is a dish made by tearing hand-pulled dough into pieces and boiling it in anchovy broth, among other broths. The signature menu features sujebi with sliced pumpkin, clams, and potatoes, all boiled together and served in a pot. Another specialty is the potato pancake made exclusively from 100% potatoes. Nearby attractions include Bukchon Hanok Village, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Bukchon Museum (북촌생활사박물관)

1.8Km 2022-08-30

90, Bukchon-ro 5na-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-736-3957

The Bukchon Museum displays items that have been collected from Bukchon, a historical village that was once home to the nation’s nobility. The museum was founded to observe urban development that took place in the recent decades through collected and preserved veryday household items that were used by Bukchon residents. Visitors are even allowed to touch items on display to better be able to imagine life in Korea before industrialization.

Changdeokgung Palace Complex [UNESCO World Heritage Site] (창덕궁과 후원 [유네스코 세계유산]) - Area information - Korea travel information