Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)

7.4Km 2025-10-23

161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-3700-3900

Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 as the official palace of the Joseon dynasty by Yi Seong-gye, the future King Taejo and founder of the new regime. Gyeongbokgung Palace is commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because of its location to the north, comparied to Changdeokgung Palace in the east and Gyeonghuigung Palace in the west. Gyeongbokgung Palace is arguably the most beautiful and is the largest of all five palaces. Many Joseon kings were crowned here. The premises were once destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592-1598). However, all of the palace buildings were later restored under the leadership of Heungseondaewongun during the reign of King Gojong. The assassination of Empress Myeongseong, however, resulted in Gyeongbokgung Palace losing its function as a royal palace, eventually witnessing the downfall of the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongbokgung Palace retains the original Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, a prime example of Joseon architecture, and the Hyangwonjeong Pavilion and pond. The sculptures in the Geunjeongjeon Hall exemplify Joseon-era sculpture techniques. The west side of the area outside Heungnyemun Gate is occupied by the National Palace Museum of Korea, while the eastern side of Hyangwonjeong Pavilion within the Gyeongbokgung Palace is occupied by the National Folk Museum of Korea.

K-Royal Culture Festival (궁중문화축전)

7.4Km 2025-07-29

161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-1522-2295

The K-Royal Culture Festival is held at the five Royal Palaces and Jongmyo Shrine. The festival first began in 2014 and provides visitors with first-hand knowledge of these important cultural heritages through unique performances, exhibitions, experiences and programs. The festival expanded in 2021 to be hosted twice a year, in spring and in fall.

Harmony Mart - Insa Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (하모니마트 인사)

7.4Km 2024-04-17

1F (Gwanhun-dong), 38, Insadong 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Imun Seolnongtang (이문설농탕)

7.4Km 2025-06-18

38-13 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-733-6526

Imun Seolnongtang has been serving its hearty seolleongtang for over a hundred years since it first opened in 1907. Even its name has a long history: the word imun comes from Imun-gol, the now-obsolete name of the restaurant’s location, and seolnongtang, an old variation of the word seolleongtang. During the Japanese colonial rule, the restaurant’s regular customers included Gijeong Son, the marathon gold-medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The meal served at this restaurante is reputed to stay consistent from the Japanese colonial period.

Olive Young - Cheonggu Station Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (올리브영 청구역)

7.4Km 2024-04-18

A section of 1F, 168, Dasan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

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Jihwaja (지화자)

7.4Km 2024-03-18

125 Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2269-5834

Jihwaja is a traditional Korean restaurant operated by a successor of Joseon dynasty royal dishes. Their manchan course (full course) includes menus served at royal banquets such as gungjung manchan (royal course), Jineo-byul manchan (deluxe royal degustation course), and janggeum manchan (daejanggeum degustation course) courses. The janggeum course reconstructs dishes from the drama "Dae Jang Geum." For the Jeongchan course (Set menu), they offer so galbi sura (grilled beef ribs course), jeonbok cho sura (braised abalones in soy sauce course), so galbi jjim sura (braised beef short ribs course), and haemul sinseollo sura (seafood hot pot course). Additionally, they serve milk porridge, meat and vegetable skewers, mandu, royal hot pot, and grilled marinated beef.

Song Won (송원)

7.4Km 2024-03-15

35-4 Dongho-ro 24-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2275-3118

Song won is a Korean restaurant located in Jangchung-dong Gourmand Alley. They specialize in high-quality Korean beef barbecue such as bulgogi and galbi, seasoned with a variety of 20 different natural ingredients. Additionally, they offer traditional Korean dishes like hot stone pot rice and noodles. Across the street, visitors can find Jangchung-dong Jokbal Street, and both Jangchungdan Park and Jangchung Gymnasium are within walking distance.

Manseon Hof (만선호프)

7.4Km 2024-03-15

19, Eulji-ro 13-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2274-1040

Located in Euljiro Nogari Alley, Manseon Hof is a beer bar. The place is bustling late at night with people drinking beer and eating snacks like nogari (dried young pollack) and fried chicken at sidewalk tables. It is a great place to enjoy a cold draft beer and grilled dried young pollack dipped in spicy sauce and mayonnaise. Golbaengi muchim (sea snail salad) and gyeran mari (rolled omelet) are also other popular accompaniments.

Kumkang Land Rover - Jongno Branch [Tax Refund Shop] (CL종로지점(금강 랜드로바))

7.4Km 2024-06-27

81, Jongro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

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Jogyesa Temple (조계사(서울))

7.4Km 2024-10-25

55 Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

As the main temple as well as the district head temple of the Jogye order in Seoul, Jogyesa Temple is the center of Korean Buddhism. The temple was built in the late 14th century during the Goryeo period but was completely destroyed in a fire. It was rebuilt under the name of Gakwangsa Temple in 1910 with the effort of many respectful monks, namely Han Yong-un and Lee Hee-gwang. The temple was given a role as the head temple of Korea’s Buddhism and renamed to Tegosa Temple in 1936. In 1954, a purification drive took place to eliminate Japanese influence and revive traditional Buddhism, which established the present day Jogyesa Temple as a result.

Jogyesa Temple plays an important role in Korean Buddhism as the head temple of the Jogye order. Jogyesa Temple’s Dharma Hall serves as the main venue for several Buddhist events, holding rituals, lectures, ceremonies, and other events all year long. The annual lantern festival in celebration of Buddha's birthday also takes place at this temple.

Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) - Area information - Korea travel information