Go Venture Beyond.blog

Seoul may be at the cutting edge of technology and pop culture, but it still retains it’s traditional side. Throughout the sprawling city are many palaces and gardens reflecting it’s past.

Nestled within two of the cities grand palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung, is the wonderfully aesthetic Bukchon Hanok Village, a quaint residential area with an aura of times gone by.

Hanoks are traditional Korean houses, and this part of town is filled with over 900 of these residentials. Finding the village can be a bit tricky first time round, but getting off at Anguk station, a 10 minute walk north along the main road will eventually lead you to some side roads branching off Bukchon-ro

There is a helpful tourist information branch in the area, which provides maps and further information, relating to the several spots of interest, especially if you want to find out more about the history of the county. If you really want to embrace the culture, you can even hire some traditional Korean hanbok wear, with several rental shops in the neighbourhood.

The area itself is quite the sprawl, with alleyways and staircases everywhere, but if you want the best view, get ready for a bit of a hike, and make your way to the top of the village along its central road, and you’ll get a stunning view of the Seoul skyline. On a clear day, like it was when we went, it’s truly spectacular. The tiled roofs of the houses really adding to the atmosphere.

The many narrow alleyways of the neighbourhood.

It is important that you stay respectful and not make too much noise, as easy as it is to get excited by the surroundings, people do live here, as made clear by the door numbers and several parked cars on the street corners. It was a blistering 30 degree on the day I went, so a break for some iced drinks was a must. We found a lovely little café, though I couldn’t find the name at the time, having a quick google search, I’m sure it was the Bukchon Asian Cultural Art Museum. The views from here are breath-taking. Grab a drink, and relax on the roof, with the rows of tiled roofs and mountains on the horizon. You can also buy some nice locally made gifts from the souvenir store too. Photos below! This was a great spot for a break, some parts of the village are very steep, so do wear suitable trainers for a comfortable hike!

You can easily spend a few hours just getting lost in the ambiance of the town, but eventually, lunch will beckon. Make your way west, down towards towards Samcheong-dong. You can make your way down the famous stone steps, that take you all the way down to the main road down below. Though before you do that, take in the sight from your vantage point. The backdrop provided by the natural beauty of the distant Bukhansan National Park, which lies north of the city, it truly majestic.

 Samcheong-ro is full of restaurants and boutiques

This is one of the must see tourist destinations if you are in Seoul, I also have a vlog at the top of the post, if you prefer to have a look too! click the video at the top of the page!