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Palaces, Hanok Alleys and Tea in Insadong

One morning is enough to take in the must-see sights of old Seoul without boarding a single subway train: you start at the gate of Gyeongbokgung, climb the slopes of Bukchon, drop down to Changdeokgung and lose yourself in the alleys of Ikseon-dong and Insadong before finishing among the lanterns of Jogyesa. Do this walk in daylight: people live in Bukchon and there are visiting rules.

  • 6 stops
  • 3.2 km
  • 2 h 15 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Steep street in Bukchon lined with traditional black-tiled hanok houses under a blue sky

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Gyeongbokgung PalaceThe great palace of the Joseon kings, razed twice and rebuilt piece by piece.
  2. 2 Bukchon Hanok VillageA hillside neighbourhood of traditional houses where people still live, so keep your voice down.
  3. 3 Changdeokgung PalaceThe palace that follows the mountain rather than dominating it, home to kings for nearly three centuries.
  4. 4 Ikseon-dongA maze of 1920s hanok turned into the liveliest corner of Jongno.
  5. 5 Insadong and SsamziegilThe street of antiques, hanji paper and teahouses, with a spiralling market.
  6. 6 Jogyesa TempleThe heart of Korean Buddhism among skyscrapers, with 500-year-old trees and thousands of lanterns.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

Palaces, Hanok Alleys and Tea in Insadong

Two Joseon palaces

Gyeongbokgung, the dynasty's grand palace, and Changdeokgung, a favourite of many kings and a World Heritage Site.

Hanok houses

Black-tiled roofs and inner courtyards in Bukchon and Ikseon-dong, two neighbourhoods with very different stories.

Seoul as it's lived

Teahouses, hanji paper, galleries and Jogyesa temple, always full of lanterns.

Keep exploring

More routes in Seoul

Back to Seoul
HistorySix Centuries of Seoul: From Joseon Kings to the Streets Mysteries & legendsSecret Seoul: Royal Escapes, Guardian Beasts and Cursed Stones

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Seoul?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Seoul in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Seoul in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Seoul in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary