The Heart of Seoul — Where 600 Years of History Meets Modern K-Culture
Seoul Jongno
Jongno is the historic heart of Seoul, where the legacy of the 600-year Joseon Dynasty lives on. From the majestic Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces to the charming alleys of Bukchon Hanok Village, the art streets of Insadong, and the retro-trendy lanes of Ikseon-dong — past and present blend seamlessly. Home to Seoul Yangnyeongsi (traditional medicine market), Jongno is the perfect base for wellness tourism combining K-beauty with traditional Korean medicine. Following the K-culture boom championed by figures like Demon Hunters Oscar, tourists from around the globe flock to Jongno to experience authentic Korean heritage. Stroll along Cheonggyecheon Stream, feast at Gwangjang Market, try a temple stay at Jogye Temple — discover the real Korea in Jongno.
Tourism & K-Culture
Top Attractions
Gyeongbokgung Palace
The main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty, built in 1395 and the largest palace in Seoul. Admire the grand architecture of Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, and Hyangwonjeong, and don't miss the royal guard changing ceremony.
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Changdeokgung Secret Garden
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Secret Garden of Changdeokgung is the epitome of traditional Korean garden design. Experience the royal retreat with 300-year-old trees, serene ponds, and elegant pavilions.
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Bukchon Hanok Village
A village of 600-year-old traditional Korean houses (hanok) nestled between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces. Wander narrow alleys to discover hanok cafés, craft workshops, and guesthouses. The best spot for photos in hanbok!
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Insadong
The street of Korean traditional culture and art. Lined with antique galleries, traditional teahouses, and craft shops, Ssamziegil offers handmade souvenirs and K-art. Street performances enliven weekends.
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Gwangjang Market
Korea's first permanent market, established in 1905. A paradise of traditional street food — bindaetteok, mayak gimbap, yukhoe, and nokdujeon. Featured on Netflix's "Street Food," it gained worldwide fame.
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Ikseon-dong
A newtro hotspot where 1920s hanok houses have been converted into trendy cafés, restaurants, and boutiques. The most Instagrammable alley in Seoul, beloved by young locals and tourists alike.
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Cheonggyecheon Stream
An 11km restored stream flowing through the heart of downtown Seoul. A daytime oasis for walks and relaxation, beautifully illuminated at night. Famous for spring cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, and the winter lantern festival.
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Jogye Temple
The head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, offering a serene cultural experience in the heart of the city. Join a temple stay program for meditation, tea ceremony, and traditional monastic meals.
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Jongmyo Shrine
A UNESCO World Heritage royal ancestral shrine dedicated to the Joseon kings and queens. The annual Jongmyo Daeje ceremony in May, with Jongmyo Jeryeak ritual music, is an essential traditional cultural experience.
Read more →N Seoul Tower / Namsan
Enjoy 360-degree panoramic views from Seoul's iconic N Seoul Tower. Hike up Namsan trails or take the cable car — the night view is especially romantic. The love locks are a famous attraction.
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Cheonggyecheon Stream
An 11km urban stream walkway cutting through downtown Seoul. The restored Cheonggyecheon is the city's premier healing course — perfect for light post-treatment recovery walks. The nighttime illumination is breathtaking.
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Seoul Yangnyeongsi Market (Herbal Medicine Wellness Street)
Korea's largest traditional herbal medicine market with 600 years of history. Free consultations with Korean medicine doctors, herbal cosmetics, and medicinal cuisine. An essential stop on wellness tours combining K-beauty and traditional Korean medicine.
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Ikseon-dong Hanok Newtro Street
A hot retro-chic destination where 1920s hanok houses have been transformed into stylish cafes, restaurants, and select shops. The birthplace of the "Newtro (New+Retro)" trend — the best place for unique alley strolls and photos after treatments.
Read more →Latest K-Culture & Tourism News
K-Culture & Tourism
Gyeongbokgung Palace Night Tours Open for Spring 2026
Evening tours of Gyeongbokgung Palace in hanbok begin in April. Highlights include the illuminated Gyeonghoeru Pavilion and Geunjeongjeon light show.
Jongno Palaces Rising as K-Drama Filming Hotspots
Recent globally hit K-dramas filmed at Jongno palaces have sparked a new tourism trend of drama filming location tours.
Hanbok Rental Trend in Jongno — Over 2 Million Foreign Tourists
Hanbok rental shops have surged around Jongno, making hanbok experiences a must-do for foreign tourists. Free palace entry while wearing hanbok is a key draw.
Read more →Seoul Yangnyeongsi Traditional Medicine Wellness Festival
A traditional medicine wellness festival will be held at Jongno Yangnyeongsi Market, featuring herbal medicine experiences, medicinal cuisine, and K-beauty herbal classes.
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Gwangjang Market Named Top 10 Food Tourism Destination Worldwide
A leading global travel publication has named Gwangjang Market among the world's top 10 food tourism destinations, cementing its status as the epicenter of the K-food wave.
Read more →Gyeongbokgung Night Special Tour 2026 Spring — Expanded to Largest Ever Scale
The 2026 spring Gyeongbokgung night viewing runs from April 2 to May 31 — the longest duration and largest capacity ever. A dedicated booking window for international medical tourists has been established.
Read more →Bukchon Hanok Village Preservation Project — "Living Heritage" Phase 2 Launches
Seoul Metropolitan Government will restore 120 additional hanok houses in Bukchon and establish a sustainable cultural heritage tourism model where tourists and residents coexist.
Read more →Traditional Korean Medicine Tourism Booms — Jongno Clinics See 2x Foreign Patient Growth
Foreign patients at Jongno area Korean medicine clinics have doubled year-over-year. Acupuncture, herbal skin therapy, and medicinal food therapy are gaining global attention as wellness trends.
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2026 Insadong Cultural Festival "Insadong Arirang" — A Feast of Korean Traditional Arts
The entire Insadong street transforms into a festival ground! Spring's biggest cultural festival bringing together traditional crafts, calligraphy, hanji experiences, and traditional performances.
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Changdeokgung Secret Garden Spring Special Tour 2026 — April-Only Night Opening
UNESCO World Heritage Changdeokgung Secret Garden opens for special night viewing throughout April. Enjoy fantastic night scenery with cherry blossoms and illuminations.
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Ikseon-dong Hanok Wellness Spa Opens — Korean Medicine + Traditional Jjimjil
A premium wellness spa combining Korean medicine and traditional jjimjil has opened on Ikseon-dong Hanok Street. Experience traditional Korean healing in a luxury spa remodeled from a 100-year-old hanok.
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Gwanghwamun Square Spring Flower Festival 2026
A large-scale spring flower festival takes place at Gwanghwamun Square. An urban flower garden with 100,000 tulips and cherry blossoms, plus diverse cultural events.
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Gyeongbokgung Night Tour + Health Checkup Package Popular
Jongno District has launched a "Palace Night Medical" package combining Gyeongbokgung night tours with health checkups at Jongno-area hospitals. The all-in-one program includes hanbok experiences and is proving hugely popular.
Read more →Jongno Korean Medicine Tourism Program Expansion
Jongno District is significantly expanding its Korean medicine tourism program. Participation grows from 5 to 12 Korean medicine clinics, with new foreigner-customized packages including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Chuna therapy.
Read more →🍽️ Food Guide
Seoul Jongno Food
Gwangjang Market Bindaetteok Alley
Crispy mung bean pancakes (bindaetteok) with chives and pork are Gwangjang Market's signature dish. Best enjoyed with makgeolli rice wine!
⭐ Must-Try
Mung bean bindaetteok + makgeolli set
Tosokchon Samgyetang
Located beside Gyeongbokgung Palace, this legendary restaurant serves nourishing ginseng chicken soup with dates and chestnuts. The ultimate summer health dish!
⭐ Must-Try
Tosokchon special samgyetang
Insadong Traditional Teahouses
Discover hidden traditional teahouses in Insadong alleys serving Korean teas like jujube, citron, and ssanghwa. A serene cup of tea in a hanok atmosphere.
⭐ Must-Try
Traditional jujube tea + Korean sweets set
Ikseon-dong Café Street
Atmospheric cafés housed in renovated hanok buildings line Ikseon-dong. Enjoy handmade desserts and specialty coffee in spaces where tradition meets modernity.
⭐ Must-Try
Hanok café signature latte + injeolmi rice cake
Bukchon Hanok Dessert Cafés
Savor Korean-style desserts like patbingsu and yakgwa macarons at Bukchon's hanok dessert cafés, enjoying the view of traditional courtyards.
⭐ Must-Try
Traditional patbingsu or yakgwa macaron
Jongno 3-ga Pojangmacha Alley
The legendary pojangmacha (street tent bar) alley of Jongno 3-ga. Experience Seoul's nightlife culture with soju and anju like chicken feet, golbaengi, and fish cake soup.
⭐ Must-Try
Spicy chicken feet + soju set
Gwanghwamun Hanjeongsik "Hanok Garden"
Premium Korean full-course dining (hanjeongsik) in a hanok near Gyeongbokgung Palace. A 12-course royal table featuring seasonal ingredients represents the pinnacle of Korean royal cuisine. Dine in a beautiful hanok garden and experience royal gastronomy. Perfect for post-treatment nutrition.
⭐ Must-Try
Royal Hanjeongsik Full Course (12-dish table)
Pimatgol Alley Food Street
Pimatgol, originating from back alleys used to avoid horses during the Joseon Dynasty, is now a local food paradise beloved by Jongno office workers. Enjoy hearty Korean home-style dishes like doenjang jjigae, jeyuk bokkeum, and sundubu at great prices.
⭐ Must-Try
Doenjang Jjigae Set Meal
Seochon Hanok Cafe "Dalbit Maru"
A traditional hanok cafe in the alleyways of Seochon, west of Gyeongbokgung. Sit on the wooden floor of a 100-year-old hanok and enjoy jujube tea and handmade yakgwa while savoring the tranquil atmosphere. A healing space with a beautiful hanok garden.
⭐ Must-Try
Jujube Tea + Handmade Yakgwa Set
Tongin Market Dosirak (Lunchbox) Cafe
The famous "coin lunchbox" experience at Tongin Market near Gyeongbokgung. Use old-style brass coins to select side dishes from vendors throughout the market and build your own lunchbox. A unique way to taste traditional market foods like tteokbokki, japchae, and jeon at great prices.
⭐ Must-Try
Coin Lunchbox Set (Choose 10 side dishes)
🌸 Seasonal Guide
Best Time to Visit
April (cherry blossom season) and October–November (autumn foliage season) are the best times to visit Jongno. Spring brings palace cherry blossoms and hanbok experiences, while autumn offers stunning foliage at Changdeokgung Secret Garden. Winter snow scenes are charming too, but bundle up warmly.
Cherry Blossoms and Palaces in Spring
April, when cherry blossoms are in full bloom at Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung, is the best time to visit Jongno. Photos in hanbok under cherry trees are guaranteed to be stunning!
- •Cherry blossom stroll at Gyeongbokgung
- •Night cherry blossom viewing at Changgyeonggung
- •Spring flower tour in Bukchon
- •Insadong spring craft market
Palace Night Tours and Summer Health Food
Beat the summer heat with a cool Cheonggyecheon walk and evening palace tours. Recharge with samgyetang and refresh your mind with a Jogye Temple stay.
- •Evening walk along Cheonggyecheon
- •Gyeongbokgung night tour
- •Tosokchon samgyetang food tour
- •Summer temple stay at Jogye Temple
Autumn Foliage Palace Walks
The autumn foliage at Changdeokgung Secret Garden in October–November is Seoul's most stunning fall scenery. Don't miss the Namsan autumn trail and Bukchon's golden alleys.
- •Changdeokgung Secret Garden foliage tour
- •Namsan autumn cable car
- •Jongmyo Daeje ceremony viewing
- •Bukchon autumn photo tour
Winter Palaces and Cheonggyecheon Lantern Festival
Snow-covered Gyeongbokgung offers the most serene and beautiful winter scenery. Enjoy the Cheonggyecheon Lantern Festival, Jongno winter lights, and warm street snacks like hotteok and bungeoppang.
- •Snow photos at Gyeongbokgung
- •Cheonggyecheon Lantern Festival
- •Gwangjang Market hotteok & bungeoppang
- •Jongno fortress wall winter walk
💡 Travel Tips
Seoul Jongno — Travel Tips
Free Palace Entry in Hanbok
Wearing hanbok grants free entry to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung palaces. Rental shops near Gyeongbokgung offer 2-hour rentals for around ₩15,000–25,000.
Use the Combined Palace Pass
The combined pass covering 4 major palaces + Jongmyo Shrine costs only ₩10,000 — over 50% cheaper than individual tickets. Valid for 3 months, so take your time exploring.
Use Free Audio Guide Apps
Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung offer free multilingual audio guide apps. Download in advance for an in-depth self-guided tour experience.
Book Night Tours in Advance
Gyeongbokgung night tours sell out quickly. Book immediately when reservations open 2 weeks ahead via Interpark or the Cultural Heritage Administration website.
Visit Gwangjang Market in the Morning
Gwangjang Market gets extremely crowded during lunch (12–2 PM). Visit at 10–11 AM for a relaxed experience. Having cash ready makes ordering easier.
Getting Around
Seoul Metro Lines 1 (Jongno 3-ga, Jonggak), 3 (Anguk, Gyeongbokgung), and 5 (Gwanghwamun, Jongno 3-ga) run through Jongno. Palaces are 10–20 minutes apart on foot, making Jongno the most walkable district in Seoul. From the airport, take the AREX to Seoul Station and transfer to the metro.
🏥 Hospitals in This Region
Seoul Jongno
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Seoul Jongno — 8 hospitals available