For those who are keen to dive into and learn more about Korea’s history, a short trip to Jeonju is essential. Just over a 2.5 hour train ride from Seoul, Jeonju is considered one of Korea’s most beautiful places of history and is best known for the Jeonju Hanok Village, which comprises more than 800 hanoks. Apart from this, Jeonju is also recognised for the significant role it has played in the development of Korean cuisine by being the cradle of bibimbap and makgeolli.

Curious to find out what else Jeonju in South Korea has to offer? Here are 10 Things To Do, See & Eat In Jeonju which you can easily cover in a day trip.

#1 JEONJU HANOK VILLAGE 

No one can claim to have visited Jeonju without spending some time at the Jeonju Hanok Village. Comprising approximately 700 hanok buildings, Jeonju Hanok Village is considered Korea’s largest and only modern yet traditional hanok village. Apart from exploring the various cultural heritage sites here, you can look forward to participating in traditional craft activities, games, workshops and also wear a hanbok during your entire visit.

Jeonju Hanok Village
99 Girin-daero, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si,
Jeonbuk-do, South Korea

#2 JEONJU HANOK VILLAGE HISTORY MUSEUM 

For those keen on gaining insights into the history of the Jeonju Hanok Village, do consider walking through the Jeonju Hanok Village History Museum, a small space which chronicles this hanok village’s history. And don’t fret about not being able to understand Korean; the exhibits at this museum are accompanied by short English write-ups.

Jeonju Hanok Village History Museum
17-10 Choemyeonghui-gil, Pungnam-dong,
Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, South Korea

#3 GYEONGGIJEON SHRINE

The Gyeonggijeon Shrine is a registered historic site erected in 1410 which is home to the portrait of King Tae-jo, who is known for being the founder of the Joseon dynasty. It is also housed within the Gyeonggijeon Palace, which takes up one fifth of the Jeonju Hanok Village. It is also incredibly spacious with lots of room for children to run and play in nature.

Housed within the Gyeonggijeon Palace (which occupies a fifth of the Jeonju Hanok Village), visitors can look forward to visiting the Royal Portrait Musem, viewing the Main Hall, the Hongsalmun Gate (which is said to stop ghosts from entering the sacred grounds of Gyeonggijeon), the Jeonju Sago (which is where important books such as the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty were kept) and more.

Gyeonggijeon Shrine
44 Taejo-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si,
Jeonbuk-do, South Korea

#4 GYODONG SEOKGALBI 

We cannot emphasize this enough. Fans of galbi must have a meal at Gyodong Seok-galbi, a humble galbi restaurant situated in the heart of the Jeonju Hanok Village. During our visit, this restaurant was occupied by more tourists than locals, so this is the best indication that the food in this restaurant is good.

You must order the Tteokgalbi when at Gyodong Seokgalbi. Trust us, you will not regret it. The sweet marinade of the Tteokgalbi was incredibly delicious, and every single slice of grilled meat was tender and juicy. Other dishes that you can order to enjoy with the Tteokgalbi include the Jeonju Bimbimbab and naengmyeon.

Gyodong Seokgalbi
26 Taejo-ro, Pungnam-dong, Wansan-gu,
Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea

#5 GANGNAM CALLIGRAPHY MUSEUM 

Established in 1995, the Gangnam Calligraphy Museum is the only calligraphy museum in Korea. It is also home to more than 1,000 calligraphy works by notable artists such as Kim Jeong-hee, Lee Sam-man, Kim Hong-do and Jeong Yak-yong. Should you be keen on the art, you may be able to take part in one-day calligraphy courses during your visit. Entrance to this museum is free.

Gangnam Calligraphy Museum
74 Jeonjucheondong-ro, Wansan-gu,
Jeonju-si, South Korea

#6 JEONMANG CAFE 

To enjoy one of the best views of the Jeonju Hanok Village alongside a fragrant cup of coffee and sliced cake, head up to the cafe situated at the 4th and 5th floors of Jeonmang. Jeonmang Cafe carries a decent spread of drinks which will appeal to the family, from ades, smoothies and different types of tea.

Depending on the weather, diners can choose to enjoy the views of Jeonju Hanok Village indoors or outdoors on the terrace. We also appreciated the large cafe space which equates to ample seating for the times when you need to escape the rain or the sweltering sun.

Jeonmang Cafe 
89 Hanji-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju,
Jeollabuk-do 55041, South Korea

#7 JAMAN MURAL VILLAGE 

If you’re travelling with young children or are interested in enjoying colourful wall murals, time at the Jaman Mural Village is essential. Located a short walk away from the Jeonju Hanok Village, visitors will be treated to endless wall murals which are based on our favourite childhood characters (cue Ponyo, Doraemon and Spiderman) whilst climbing up the steep hill to the top of the village.

Looking for a place to take a break after snapping pictures with the wall murals? Cafe hoppers would be pleased to note that there are quite a few cafes nestled within the Jaman Mural Village which offer decent cafe drinks and desserts with excellent views of the area. 

Jaman Mural Village 
1-10 Jamandong 1-gil, Wansan-gu,
Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do, South Korea

#8 JEONJUCHUN RIVER, CHEONGYEONRU PAVILLION & NAMCHEONGYO BRIDGE 

The Jeonjuchun River is a river that runs right through Jeonju, and flows under the Namcheongyo Bridge. On hot days, you’d find visitors frequenting the river and dipping their feet, or their whole bodies, into the river to cool down. As there are paved paths at the perimeter of the river, there is also the option of cycling down the path to take in the sights of Jeonju’s scenery and to visit the Jeonju Ecomuseum.

If you don’t intend to be in close proximity with the Jeonjucheon River, the next best place to appreciate its views would be from the Cheongyeonru Pavillion on the Namcheongyo Bridge (which is also the main bridge connecting visitors to the entrance of Jeonju Hanok Village).

And for those travelling with kids, you’d be pleased to note that there is also a small section of books located near one of the entrances at the Cheongyeonru Pavillion. However, do bear in mind that most of the titles are in Korean, which may not be suitable for your children. Entrance to the Cheongyeonru Pavillion is free, but visitors will be required to remove their shoes prior to stepping onto the Cheongyeonru Pavillion.

Namcheongyo Bridge 
192-4 Gyo-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si,
Jeonbuk-do, South Korea

#9 PUNGNAMMUN GATE 

Built during the Josen dynasty in 1734 and a designated national treasure, Pungnammun Gate is the south gate of Jeonju Castle and is also the castle’s last gate standing gate today. The name “Pungnammun” can be translated as the resilient south gate of Jeonju, and this gate certainly deserves its name given the fire damage that it has experienced in 1767 and during the Imjin War. And if you approach the gate from the square in front of it, this is where you’d discover the Statue of Peace, a memorial to the Korean who made certain sacrifices during the war between 1932 and 1945.

Pungnammun Gate
1 Pungnammun 3-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si,
Jeonbuk-do, South Korea

#10 NAMBU MARKET 

One of the best places to dine and shop at in Jeonju has to be the Nambu Market. This market is home to about 800 stores which sell vegetables, fruits, food, dried fish, furniture, silk goods and other general goods. On the 2nd floor, there is also a Youth Market with vibes which resemble the streets of Hongdae in Seoul.

Food-wise, it would be best to visit Nambu Market during their bustling night market which is held on Fridays and Saturdays. During your visit, be sure to sample the range of traditional dishes such as the mung bean pancake, and also enjoy fusion dishes such as the bibimbap wrapped in rice paper. If you’re fortunate, you may even be able to eat your food whilst watching a street concert.

Nambu Market
19-3 Pungnammun 1-gil, Wansan-gu,
Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk-do, South Korea

History fanatics visiting South Korea need to put Gyeongju down in their itineraries. Fondly known as “the museum without walls”, Gyeongju is a place which lives and breathes history. From tombs, temples, pagodas, palace ruins, museums filled with endless historical artefacts, we were completely blown away by everything that this city has to offer. 

If you’re already intending to pay a visit to Busan, Gyeongju is just over an hour’s drive away so this gives you all the more reason to explore this beautiful city. For a glimpse of what wonders Gyeongju has to offer, here are 13 Things To Do, See & Eat in Gyeongju that you can achieve in 2D1N.

#1 GYEONGJU NATIONAL MUSEUM 

If you don’t have much time to spend in Gyeongju and are keen on Korean history, the Gyeongju National Museum is one place that you must include in your itinerary. As Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom, the Gyeongju National Museum is largely dedicated to relics of the Silla kingdom such as the Silla crowns and artefacts from the Hwangnyongsa Temple site.

The Gyeongju National Museum spans across 4 different exhibition halls, and is also home to the Library of the Silla Millenium amongst different attractions. Entrance to the Gyeongju National Museum is free, and there is a cafe onsite for those hungry for a bite. So feel free to immerse yourself the history of the Silla kingdom at your own pace.

Gyeongju National Museum
186 Iljeong-ro, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#2 GYEONGJU NATIONAL MUSEUM CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 

If you’re concerned about whether the Gyeongju National Museum will keep your kids occupied, reward them with a visit to the Gyeongju National Museum Children’s Museum (which is located at the basement of the Special Exhibition Hall) at the end of your visit. This Children’s Museum is extremely friendly and babies, young children, adolescents and adults are all welcome to visit this space. Here, visitors get to learn about Silla history and culture through hands-on exhibits and different activities.

Due to space constraints, the Children’s Museum limits each session to 50 people per slot. To avoid disappointment, do try to book your slot in advance. That said, the Children’s Museum does offer walk-in visits for foreigners but these slots are also limited to 10 pax per session.

Gyeongju National Museum Children’s Museum 
186 Iljeong-ro, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#3 BELL OF KING SEONGDEOK 

Housed within the premises of the Gyeongju National Museum is the Bell of King Seongdeok or the Emile Bell. This bell was commissioned by King Gyeongdeok to honor his father, King Seongdeok, and its cast was only completed by King Gyeongdeok’s son, King Hyegong. The Bell of King Seongdeok is designated as the 29th national treasure of Korea and is considered a masterpiece of Unified Silla art.

For those keen on legends, this fun fact may interest you. The name “Emile” draws reference to the ancient Silla term for “mommy”. Legend has it that the first bell that was cast produced no sound when it was struck. Following many failed attempts for the bell to ring, a monk dreamt that if a child was cast into the metal, the bell would ring. As such, the monk took a child from a village and cast her into a metal, after which the bell rung.

Bell of King Seongdeok
186 Iljeong-ro, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#4 DONGGUNG PALACE AND WOLJI POND 

The Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond is known for being part of the palace complex in the ancient Silla kingdom, and as the secondary palace occupied by the crown prince then. This is also where grand banquets were held when the Silla kingdom received and entertained important guests. 

Even though Donggung Palace is the only palace left of the Silla kingdom,  it was burnt down in 935 and thereafter, almost 33,000 pieces of historical relics were excavated from this site during the long-term excavation project from March 1975 to December 1986. There is also a model of the entire Donggung Palace and of the pond within one of the pavilions along the pond.

Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond
102 Wonhwa-ro, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#5 CHEOMSEONGDAE OBSERVATORY 

Designated as the 31st national treasure of Korea, Cheomseongdae Observatory is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia that was built in the 7th century in Silla. The number and placement of the stones in this observatory is said to be a nod to various historical and astronomical figures. Further, the position of the central hole is between 12 layers of stone (a total of 24 layers) is said to represent the number of months in a year, and the 24 solar terms.

Cheomseongdae Observatory
839-1 Inwang-dong, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#6 ROYAL TUMULI PARK 

Also known as the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, the Royal Tumuli Park is one of Gyeongju’s best known attractions. This park is home to a total of 23 tombs belonging to various Silla royalty and family members. Whilst the burial mounds might look enticing for pictures, do note that visitors are strictly not permitted to do so and may have to face penalties for doing so. Entrance to this park is free.

Royal Tumuli Park 
9 Gyerim-ro, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#7 CHEONMACHONG TOMB (IN THE DAEREUNGWON TOMB COMPLEX)

This was probably the most eye-opening part of our time in Gyeongju and we would highly recommend everyone to include the Daereungwon Tomb Complex in their itineraries. Specifically, you need to pay a visit to the Cheonmachong Tomb, for a chance to appreciate the interior and design of an ancient tomb. Excavated in 1973, the Cheonmachong Tomb is the only tomb that is open to the public and it is also home to many artefacts from the 5th and 6th centuries. Entrance to this tomb is free for all.

Cheonmachong Tomb
14 Gyerim-ro, Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#8 COFFEE DARUDA 

If you’re looking for a relatively quiet yet beautiful space to enjoy some coffee and pastries, a trip to Coffee Daruda would be worth your time. And if you’re keen on getting in some Vitamin D into your system, you can consider enjoying your meal outdoors where you’d be greeted by beautiful views of the pier and the sea.

Taste-wise, the coffee at Coffee Daruda was pretty decent and the croissants were fluffy yet crispy. All in all, a pretty good spot to kick back and rest your mind.

Coffee Daruda
Daebon-ri 63-1, Gampo-eup, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#9 GYEONGJU GYOCHON TRADITIONAL VILLAGE 

Aside from being home to 12 generations of the Gyeongju Choe clan, the Gyeongju Gyochon Traditional Village is also home to many other historically significant venues. Here, you’d find Gukhak, Korea’s first state academy founded in 682 during King Sinmun’s rule, the House of Gyeongju Choi Clan (Important Folklore Material No. 27) and the Gyeongju Gyodong Beopju Liquor.

Other activities that may interest you at the village include the Mi-Gyeong Traditional Culture Center, free musical performance as the Gugak Performance Hall, Hanguk Toki (a Korean earthenware centre) kimchi and noodle making workshops and more.

Gyeongju Gyochon Traditional Village 
39-2 Gyochon-gil, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#10 YOSEOKGUNG (GYOCHON TRADITIONAL VILLAGE) 

Gyochon Traditional Village is home to the house of Silla Princess Yoseok, the daughter of King Muyeol. For the uninitiated, Princess Yoseok is more famously known for her love story with the great Silla monk, Wonhyo, who is remembered for composing music for Buddhist doctrines to help the people of Silla remember Buddhist teachings. Walk around Yoseokgung for a glimpse of the life that Princess Yoseok led, including viewing her study hall and living quarters.

And if you’re feeling nibbly, you can dine at the restaurant on the premises which has been in operations through 12 generations since the Joseon dynasty.

Yoseokgung
19-4 Gyochonan-gil, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#11 GYEONGJU GYODONG BEOPJU LIQUOR PREMISES 

If you’re keen on bringing a part of Gyeongju back with you, you should definitely consider popping by the Gyodong Beopju Liquor Premises to pick up a bottle of locally produced Beopju which is a type of cheongju (clear rice wine). Brewed from September to April, the Beopju available here is brewed according to a recipe passed down through the generations of the Gyerim Choe clan, a historically prestigious and influential family in Gyodong, Gyeongju.

Gyodong Beopju Liquor Premises
Gyo-dong 69, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

#12 NAMCHEON STREAM AND STEPPING STONES 

Situated alongside the Gyochon Traditional Village is the Namcheon Stream and Stepping Stones. This is the same stream that flows below the Woljeonggyo Bridge and the Stepping Stones placed across the stream makes this area a popular picnic and picture spot for locals and tourists alike. Whilst there is no specific address for this stop, it is easy to spot the stepping stones along your walk to the beautiful Woljeonggyo Bridge. 

#13 WOLJEONGGYO BRIDGE  

The Woljeonggyo Bridge is one of the most majestic sights in Gyeongju and its beauty when lit up at night brought us to tears. This bridge is located right beside the Gyochon Traditional Village, and was originally built during the 19th year reign of King Gyeongdeok. And if you are visiting during the cherry blossom season in spring, the view of the Woljeonggyo Bridge would be absolutely incredible. 

As visitors are allowed to walk through from one end to the other of the Woljeonggyo Bridge, each step felt as if we were stepping back into time and the lives of the Gyeongju citizens back in the Silla empire. Do also remember to also look for the narrow flight of steps at the side of the bridge as there is a small museum atop the bridge which features information about the people who used to travel across the bridge such as the Hwarang (elite warrior group of male youth in Silla).

Woljeonggyo Bridge 
48 Gyo-dong, Gyeongju-si,
Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea