Suwon is one of the essential cities to see in South Korea and very close to Seoul, just 30 kilometers to the south. In it you will find the last walled city in the country, which makes it a stop to do in South Korea. Suwon is a place steeped in history, a stark contrast between traditional Asian architecture and modern skyscrapers, many iconic places to visit and World Heritage Sites. In this post I talk about the 20 best things to do in Suwon and where to stay.
20 BEST THINGS TO DO IN SUWON, SOUTH KOREA
1. Visit Hwaseong Fortress, an essential thing to do in Suwon
Suwon Fortress is the most important and essential place to visit in the city. The fortress was designed in 1794 following the latest architectural developments in Eastern and Western styles. A large part of the wall had to be rebuilt after suffering fires and destruction during the different invasions that the country suffered; today, almost its entirety is preserved.
In 1997, the fortress was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. It has a perimeter of almost six kilometers, four access gates, observation towers, fire platforms, bastions and artillery towers, as well as a palace full of courtyards and traditional Korean buildings from the dynastic era. The four gates that lead into the walled city are: Paldalmun (south gate), Changyongmun (east gate), Janganmun (north gate) and Hwaseongmun (west gate).
2. Paldalmun, the south gate of Suwon Fortress
This gate retains its original appearance and although currently, it is the only one that is no longer part of the wall, because with the reconstruction, the gate was already surrounded by the city and was in the center of a commercial area.
3. Suwon Bell Tower
You will find it in the first section of the tour, located in a quiet square that serves as a meeting place for both locals and travelers.
4. Janganmun, the north gate of Hwaseong Fortress
This entrance to Hwaseong Fortress was used by the kings when they entered the city on their journey from Hanyang. Upon reaching the door through the upper part, you can see the interior of the structure of the building with two roofs and the decoration of the paintings. This gate is still an open access between the modern city of Suwon and the interior of the most important fortress in South Korea.
5. Hwahongmun, the west gate of the fortress
Walking along the Suwon stream you will find the west gate of the fortress. It was built on the stream that runs through the Hwaseong Fortress itself, in the lower part it maintains small gates through which the water passes, while in the upper part a structure painted in the traditional red and black colors rises.
6. Changnyongmun, the east gate of the fortress
This area was also destroyed in the Korean War and had to be almost completely rebuilt, so we can hardly appreciate how it was in ancient times, although they followed the same style, it is seen to be very new.
7. More buildings to see at Hwaseong Fortress
In addition to the various gates, there are several buildings that are still in good condition. Some of the most important are:
Yeomingak: It is a tower with a bell inside that was ordered to be built by the King to show his joy to his subjects.
Nodae: They used it to launch catapults and it is located at the top of the mountain.
Hwahongmun: Located in the northern area, it was used as a military surveillance area built on top of a bridge.
8. Visit the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, an essential thing to do in Suwon
The Hwaseong Haenggung Palace is a small palace located in the center of the city and is an essential to visit in the city for its historical and cultural value. It has been used by kings since the period of King Jeongjo, who ruled from 1776 to 1800. Much of the palace was demolished during the Japanese occupation in the first half of the 20th century, but restoration work began in 1996 and the Palace reopened its doors in 2003.
9. Find the Bukammun Secret Door
This gate is located in the northern part of the wall. Through it you can access a small lake with a beautiful garden from which you can enjoy the wonderful views of the wall. The wall has five secret doors for the entry of people, merchandise, and the army, but this is the most famous and well-known.
10. Stroll through the Haenggung dong Mural Neighborhood, one of the best things to do in Suwon
The Haenggungdong Mural Village is a beautiful neighborhood full of colorful murals that add a touch of color and life to the city. In the past, this neighborhood was falling into decline. But after a redevelopment plan was activated, the neighborhood with its street art on every wall became one of the most visited places in Suwon.
11. Suwon Daeseungwon Temple
From Hwaseong Palace, a giant golden Buddha can be seen in the middle of the surrounding mountain. The Buddha is located in the beautiful Daeseungwon Temple, a small shrine located in a strategic place to be seen from the center of the city of Suwon.
12. Stroll through the Paldalmun and Jidong Traditional Market
In the center of Suwon, next to the Paldalmun gate, there are several traditional markets that offer you delicious street food, fresh products, clothes, kitchen utensils, souvenirs, handicrafts...
13. Visit the Bath Museum (Mr. Toilet Museum Haewoojae), something curious to do in Suwon
In Suwon, there is an entire museum dedicated to bathing and it is certainly a curious thing to do in the city. In the place you not only learn about Korean bathrooms, but you can learn about the use of the bathroom that is done around the world. It's quite curious, and besides, the house itself is the largest toilet sculpture in Korea.
14. Sunset Observatory and Jeil Church
In Suwon you will find a church that stands out for its size. Surrounded by temples and Asian architecture and large skyscrapers, Jeil Church is an essential place to visit in Suwon. In it is the observatory from where you can have views of the entire city and the sunset.
15. Namchi Bastion, the perfect place to watch the sunset in Suwon
Near the Paldalmun gate you will find an access that leads to the top of the wall. Right at the point where the Namchi bastion is located, one of the places to see along the 5 kilometers of wall. It is the perfect place to walk, enjoy the views and the sunset.
16. The Suwon Hwaseong Museum, a visit to do in Suwon to learn more about the history of the city
This museum exposes the history of the fortress and the city. You'll find its history detailed through maps, original architectural plans, objects, and contemporary charts to explain how this massive fortress was built, as well as how it was managed and the daily rituals that would take place within these walls.
You'll be able to appreciate the plans and how even the smallest details survive in the Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe document (dating back to 1801), right down to personal details about its construction workers.
They also teach you the techniques that were used from other fortresses around the world, such as the earth-covered walls and bastions of European artillery forts, and the curved walls, thicker at the bottom, like Himeji Castle. in Japan.
17. Go to Suwon Station Rodeo Street at night, a must do in Suwon
Right next to Suwon Railway Station you will find Hyanggyoro Street, also known as Suwon Statio Rodeo Street. This street is full of restaurants, street food stalls, neon lights, cosmetic stores... At night is the best time to come, when there are more people and the lights stand out.
18. Samsung Innovation Museum
Suwon is known as the birthplace of Samsung, since the company was founded in 1969 in this city, where it continues to be headquartered. In East Gyeonggi, the brand has a museum on the history of electronics.
19. Stroll through Manseok Park, one of the most peaceful things to do in Suwon
Surrounding a large reservoir you will find Manseok Park, a huge urban park bordered to the south by the Suwon Arts Center. That reservoir was dug to supply water for rice paddies in the 18th century under Jeongjo of Joseon. It is a perfect park to disconnect, take a walk, have a picnic or come to see the cherry blossoms in spring. I had a chance to enjoy this show and it is one of the best things to do in South Korea in spring.
20. Go to Everland, one of the best things to do in Suwon if you are a lover of amusement parks
Everland is the largest amusement park in South Korea, located just over 20 kilometers east of downtown Suwon. You can go from Suwon or from Seoul and it is perfect to spend a fun day. One of the most popular rides is the T Express, the steepest, longest, highest, and fastest roller coaster in South Korea.
HOW TO GET TO SUWON FROM SEOUL
Both cities are only 32 kilometers from each other. So it could be considered that Suwon is one more district of Seoul. In addition, you can get there very easily. Taking line 1 of the Seoul subway, you will reach Suwon in just 1 hour, without the need to change, but this line branches into two sections, so you must take into account that one of every two routes goes to another destination.
WHERE TO STAY IN SUWON
In our case we did not stay in Suwon, we visited the city throughout the day from Seoul. However, the city has a wide variety of accommodation and quite well priced. Here are some great options where to stay in Suwon:
PLAN YOUR TRIP STEP BY STEP
I hope you enjoy your trip to South Korea a lot and that this article has been useful to you. You can continue reading many more related articles on the blog.
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A hug and see you soon!