Sightseeing - Korea travel and tourism information

Nami Island (남이섬)

1227368 2024-05-17

1, Namiseom-gil, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do
+82-31-580-8114

Nami Island, with the concept of “Fairy Tale Village and Song Village,” provides various cultural events, concerts, exhibitions, and more to give children dreams and hopes, couples' love and memories, and artists a space for creativity. Tourists can enjoy facilities including Song Museum, Picture Book Playground, MICE Center, and various activities such as Charity Train, Story Tour Bus, Bicycle, etc. Restaurants provide delicious food with carefully selected local ingredients and Hotel Jeonggwanru has themed accommodations.

Insa-dong (인사동)

873651 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.

Seoul Bongeunsa Temple (봉은사 (서울))

254925 2024-05-17

531, Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3218-4800

Once known as Gyeonseongsa Temple, Bongeunsa Temple is located north of COEX, and was constructed in the 10th year of Silla King Weongseong’s reign (794). In 1498, Queen Jeonghyeon refurbished Gyeonseongsa Temple and renamed it Bongeunsa Temple.

Originally located near the Royal Tomb of King Seongjong, the temple was transferred to its current location during Joseon King Myeongjong’s reign. The temple is home to 3,479 Buddhist scriptures of 13 types, including the works of Kim Jeong-hee. The Buddhist ceremony called Jeongdaebulsa is held on the ninth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, where monks march carrying the scriptures on their heads and recite the Beopseongge (Buddhist rites).

Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을)

1026638 2024-05-17

37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2148-4161

Surrounded by Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village is home to hundreds of traditional houses, called hanok, that date back to the Joseon dynasty. The name Bukchon, which literally translates to "northern village," came about as the neighborhood lies north of two significant Seoul landmarks, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. Today, many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience, learn and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture. As Bukchon Hanok Village is an actual neighborhood with people's homes, visitors are advised to be respectful at all times while looking around.

Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone [UNESCO World Heritage] (성산일출봉 [유네스코 세계문화유산])

412374 2024-05-16

284-12, Ilchul-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do
+82-64-710-7923

Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone rose 180 meters above sea level due to a magma flow under the sea over 5,000 years ago. It was originally a separate island, but a build-up of sand and soil has connected it to the main island. A large crater, formed by the hot lava mixing with cold ocean water, is located at the top of Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone. The crater is about 600 meters in diameter and 90 meters deep. It has been featured in films, and was originally used for agriculture, but has now been given over to a field of silver grass. From the summit, visitors can see Udo Island, as well as take in the magnificent sunrise. The tuff cone area was designated as a natural reserve on July 19, 2000.

Hongdae (Hongik University Street) (홍대)

503242 2024-05-16

20, Hongik-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul

Hongdae is a neighborhood known for its youthful ambience, with shops selling everything from clothing and cosmetics to living goods and books, as well as unique cafés and restaurants. The streets are also filled with buskers and dance performances, making a walk here quite entertaining. Special streets such as ateliers’ street (lined with private institutions for art students preparing for university entrance exams), Picasso’s Street, and Club Street are also must-go places for anyone hoping to fully experience the Hongdae area.

Gunwi-gun Palgongsan Provincial Park (팔공산도립공원(군위군))

15504 2024-05-16

Namsan-ri, Gunwi-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-880-8300

Palgongsan Mountain is located south of the Taebaek Mountain Range where the Nakdonggang and Geumhogang Rivers meet. The mountain stands high and stretches out like a folding screen. Near the top of the mountain, the granite protrudes in an odd shape creating a tall, grand geographical feature of the mountain. Furthermore, every valley is decorated with an exquisite rock face and lush forest adding to the mountain's reputation. Palgongsan Mountain was designated as a provincial park in May 1980. The mountain has many ancient temples and historical sites such as the Gatbawi Stone Buddha, Wonhyosa Temple, Cheonseongsa Temple and Bulgulsa Temple.

Cheonggyecheon Stream (청계천)

442614 2024-05-16

Changsin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2290-7111

Cheonggye Plaza was built on Sejong-ro Street, where Cheonggyecheon Stream begins. It was built between Dong-A Ilbo, the starting point of the Cheonggyecheon Stream restoration, and Sindap Railroad Bridge, with a length of 160 meters, a x_width of 50 meters, and a total area of 6,962 meters squared. The plaza is decorated with fountains, waterfalls, and walking paths. It was created as a place for meetings, harmony, peace, and unification, to celebrate the significance of the restoration of Cheonggyecheon Stream. A miniaturized version of Cheonggyecheon Stream is displayed here, providing an overview of the restored stream. There are also interpretive panels about the 22 bridges that cross Cheonggyecheon stream. Fountains of various shapes create beautiful scenery. Cheonggyecheon Stream is accessible from the square through stairs on the left and Cheonggye Trail on the right. There is also an 18-meter tunnel on the Cheonggye Trail, providing a unique experience for citizens entering Cheonggyecheon Stream from the plaza. After constructing Cheonggyecheon Plaza, the Seoul Metropolitan Government made it a car-free street on public holidays so that the plaza, waterside area, and streets could be used as cultural spaces for citizens to relax. A spectacular sight is created by three-color lights illuminating the fountains and a two-tiered waterfall coming down from a x_height of four meters. Palseokdam, made of eight stones from eight provinces in Korea, was laid along the waterfall's sides.

Jaman Mural Village (자만마을 벽화갤러리)

1 2024-05-02

Gyo-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do

Jaman Mural Village is located on a hillside across the road from Jeonju Hanok Village. The village was formed by Korean war refugees resettling where they could, and remained as a small village interlaced by narrow pathways until 2012. At that point, the village was enlivened with over 40 murals and became popular for photographs. Many of the houses have been converted into cafes, guesthouses, and restaurants.

Ajunghosu Lake (아중호수)

0 2024-05-02

Ua-dong 1(il)-ga, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do

Ajunghosu is a large-scale reservoir that was originally built for agricultural purposes but is now beloved as cultural and natural space for local residents. The lake features a wooden deck walkway that creates a beautiful scene at night when lit up.

Sightseeing - Korea travel information