exploring bukchon hanok village in seoul
On our first trip to Korea before having kids we visited Seoul. Home to sleek skyscrapers and shopping malls, as well as old temples and royal palaces, the capital of South Korea is full of unique culture and modern pleasure.
More than the shopping malls and downtown central area of Seoul we were intrigued to explore the traditional, ancient villages in Bukchon.
Bukchon Hanok Village is a popular place for tourists for good reasons. This village was built over 600 years ago, and it still retains its beauty now. Hundreds of years ago this was the village where the Joseon dynasty officials and wealthy nobility lived. It is nestled between the ancient palaces of Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and is the perfect place to spend time visiting the monuments.
Kokdu in the Traditional Korean House - 꼭두랑 한옥
We took our time and enjoyed our walk along the winding alleys on the hills and admiring the beautiful houses and temples. The greatest joy of visiting this area was getting completely lost and coming across different surprises in every corner. There were lots of artisan boutiques, gorgeous restored houses, craft stores, tea rooms and coffee shops.
Bukchon village is an area where residents still live in these old traditional style homes so anyone visiting should remember to be respectful and conscious when touring around. Due to this reason, Bukchon village is closed in the evenings, but during the day there are a few restored homes that are used as museums and we were allowed inside. These are totally free and the village itself is also free to anyone who is visiting.
After exploring the hilly side of Bukchon hanok village we took a stroll over to Changdeokgung which was only a 10-15 minute walk. Both Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung are within walking distance but we chose Changdeokgung as it was the one we never really heard of.
Changdeokgung is one of the Five Grand Palaces built by the kings of the Joseon dynasty. It was the most favored palace of many Joseon kings and retained numerous elements dating from the Three Kingdoms of Korea period that were not incorporated in the more contemporary Gyeongbokgung palace. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most significant Korean landmarks and one of the best preserved palaces of all.
We were there quite early in the morning and it was very quiet with a unique layout compared to the other palaces. There was an entrance fee of about $2usd and we did not purchase tickets in advance, but there were no lines and it was a very easy process.
Changdeokgung palace architecture is spectacular and is one of the must see places when visiting Seoul. I would highly recommend it for an interesting historical and cultural experience.
Tips*
Closed on Mondays
Guided tours in English are at 10:30am and 02:30pm
Guided tours of the garden (Huwon) at 11:30am and 14:30pm
Ticket office closes 1 hour before closing time
Adults 3,000won Children (7-18) 1,500won
Admission is free for children 6 and under, seniors 65 and over
Admission is included with the Integrated Ticket of Palaces
Let me know if you’ve been! What’s your favorite palace?
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