Insa-dong (인사동) - Area information - Korea travel information

Insa-dong (인사동)

Insa-dong (인사동)

1.3Km    2024-05-17

62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-734-0222

Insa-dong, located in the heart of the city, is an important place where old but precious traditional goods are on display. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses, and cafes.

The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. There are about 100 galleries in the area offering every example of traditional Korean fine art from paintings to sculptures. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Center.

The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries. They are hidden deep within the twisting alleyways, making it feel like a treasure hunt. The shops in Insa-dong are very popular among all age groups, because each one is unique.

Every Saturday from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, the main street is blocked to vehicular traffic and it becomes a cultural space. Stores set up booths outside and Korean candy merchants and fortune teller stalls can easily be found; there are traditional performances and exhibits as well. Insa-dong is especially popular among international tourists. This is where they can experience and see traditional Korean culture first-hand, and also purchase pieces of fine art.

Hostel Tommy (호스텔 토미)

1.3Km    2021-05-27

66, Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-744-6844

Hostel Tommy is located in the Jongno district, right in the middle of Seoul. The location is within walking distance from some of the major tourist attractions such as Changdeokgung Palace, Samcheong-dong, Insa-dong, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Myeong-dong, and Dongdaemun Shopping Center. Jongno 3-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 3 & 5) and the Airport Bus Stop are also easily accessible from the hostel, making travel by public transportation convenient. The hostel provides free international calls and wireless internet access to guests. Friendly and helpful staff that speak English, French, or Japanese are always available to make sure guests have a comfortable stay. All rooms have a bathroom, mini-fridge, TV, towels, and a hair dryer. Toast, eggs, coffee, juice and jam are served for breakfast every morning.

OH!WABA (오!바바)

OH!WABA (오!바바)

1.3Km    2021-03-19

81, Seosulla-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-6083-9167

A waffle shop. The best menu at this restaurant is waffle. This is a cafe located in Jongno, Seoul.

Salon Sulla (살롱순라)

Salon Sulla (살롱순라)

1.3Km    2021-03-30

75, Yulgok-ro 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-6409-0027

It is a restaurant, decorated in a hanok style, that sells Western dishes. This Western dishes restaurant is located in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The most famous menu is pollack roe pasta.

High - Anguk Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (하이엔드코리아 안국)

1.3Km    2024-04-17

1F, 62-5, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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SAEWHA HOSTEL(세화호스텔)

SAEWHA HOSTEL(세화호스텔)

1.3Km    2024-06-20

50 , Samil-daero 32ga-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-10-3780-5988

Located in Jongno, in the heart of Seoul, Saehwa Hostel offers a variety of guest rooms, including ondol rooms and bedrooms, for up to 3 people. There’s a bathtub in each room. Shared PCs, massage chairs, microwave ovens, washing machines and dryers are all available free of charge. A simple free breakfast is provided, plus a free international phone service and a foreign language guidance service. Seoul Station is 15 minutes away by subway, and the airport limousine bus stops at Jongno 3-ga station. Changdeokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine, and downtown shopping streets are all reachable on foot.

Insa Art Plaza (인사아트 프라자)

Insa Art Plaza (인사아트 프라자)

1.3Km    2020-04-23

34-1, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-730-9969

Namsan Library (서울특별시교육청 남산도서관)

Namsan Library (서울특별시교육청 남산도서관)

1.3Km    2021-07-07

109, Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
+82-2-754-7338

Namsan Library opened as Kyeongseong Prefectural Library in 1922 as a public library in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. The library was moved to the current site in 1964 with a newly built building and its name changed to Namsan Library in 1965. This concrete building was built in 1964 and was designed by architect Lee Haeseong. It was designated as Seoul Future Heritage in 2013, credited for its preservation value.
It is comprised of 19 rooms and educational areas including the Humanity and Social Science Hall, Nature Science Hall, Language and Literature Hall, Electronic Information Room and more. Since opening, the library has collected nearly 500,000 books, 16,000 non-book materials, 700 continuing resources, and other special materials like old books, oriental books (including Japanese books), and more. Namsan Library also operates a reading treatment program unique to this library that began in 2005. The program includes remodeling of reading consultation room, training for people in charge of reading treatment, workshops, programs for individuals and groups. Also, various exhibitions, lectures, shows, cultural classes and other events are available all year long to enhance lifelong education.

Woo Lae Oak (우래옥)

1.3Km    2024-03-07

62-29 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2265-0151

Woo Lae Oak is a Pyeongyang naengmyeon (Pyeongyang cold buckwheat noodles) restaurant established in 1949. Its signature dish is the Pyeongyang naengmyeon, known for their clean and light broth. Alongside the onmyeon (warm noodles), they also serve bulgogi, which complements the warm broth perfectly. The restaurant is renowned to the extent that customers often line up to dine, and it was selected for the Michelin Guide 2023.

Tteok Museum (떡박물관)

Tteok Museum (떡박물관)

1.3Km    2021-09-29

71, Donhwamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-741-5447

The Tteok Museum displays over 2,000 Korean kitchen utensils and tteok (rice cake) related items, arranged by various themes. The displayed utensils are handmade household necessities that are ingenuous, yet reveal the lifestyle of the working class. The elderly may relive fond childhood memories and the younger generation can experience the wisdom of ancestors through the rare kitchen utensils.