The Place Seoul (traditional Korean-style guesthouse) / 복합한옥공간 곳

12.4Km 2025-03-05

52-11 , Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-10-3255-1289

The Place Seoul in Gye-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, is a meeting place of traditional and modern Korea. It has a yard with a beautiful 80 year-old dogwood tree, and a small garden in which guests can enjoy the passage of the seasons. The Place Seoul is an environment-friendly place which uses eco-friendly consumables such as toilet paper and shampoo. Breakfast is simple and healthy. There are many good cafes in nearby Bukchon, and local tourist attractions include the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Public Hanok Night Out (공공한옥 밤마실)

12.4Km 2025-06-10

37 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-741-1033

Public Hanok Night Out is a special evening event that allows limited access to the nine public hanok buildings, including the Bukchon Culture Center, after sundown. The event is carefully prepared to make the hanok buildings accessible as much as possible. In addition, the event also offers a variety of programs to entertain the visitors. The event aims to raise awareness about embracing differences and diverse values during this time of ever-changing global society, as well as expand the the cultural values of hanok as something more unique.

Deoksugung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony (덕수궁 왕궁수문장교대의식)

12.4Km 2025-07-11

99, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese) • For more info: +82-2-737-6444

Deoksugung Palace has held a guard changing ceremony since 1996 after thorough historical research by leading historians. The ceremony, which is held in front of Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace, is a tradition similar to the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace and offers a rare opportunity to experience royal culture. The royal gate is opened and closed at pre-determined times, and the gatekeepers in charge of guard duty and patrols hold a shift ceremony three times a day.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a highly recommended event for tourists. It is held three times a day, with each ceremony following the same procedure and lasts for forty minutes to an hour, and the ceremony is free of charge. There are no ceremonies on Mondays as well as on severely cold or hot days.

As the ceremony begins, the changing of the guards commences replete with traditional musical instruments, and exchanges a password for verification. An eight-minute guard ceremony ensues, followed by a seven-minute change ceremony, and finally a patrol that completes the ceremony. The procedure takes a dramatic turn when 18 guards in six official positions beat a drum and bellow some orders.

The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony is a great opportunity to experience a rare traditional scene. The guards’ splendid costumes, with their brilliant primary colors, are a pleasure to view. Once the ceremony is over, visitors can take pictures with the gatekeepers.

Insa-dong (인사동)

12.4Km 2024-05-17

62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-734-0222

Insa-dong, located in the heart of the city, is an important place where old but precious traditional goods are on display. There is one main road in Insa-dong with alleys on each side. Within these alleys are galleries, traditional restaurants, teahouses, and cafes.

The galleries are the heartbeat of Insa-dong. There are about 100 galleries in the area offering every example of traditional Korean fine art from paintings to sculptures. The most famous galleries are Hakgojae Gallery, which functions as the center of folk art, Gana Art Gallery, which promotes many promising artists, and Gana Art Center.

The teahouses and restaurants are the perfect complement to the galleries. They are hidden deep within the twisting alleyways, making it feel like a treasure hunt. The shops in Insa-dong are very popular among all age groups, because each one is unique.

Every Saturday from 14:00 to 22:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, the main street is blocked to vehicular traffic and it becomes a cultural space. Stores set up booths outside and Korean candy merchants and fortune teller stalls can easily be found; there are traditional performances and exhibits as well. Insa-dong is especially popular among international tourists. This is where they can experience and see traditional Korean culture first-hand, and also purchase pieces of fine art.

Jeongdong Observatory (정동전망대)

12.4Km 2022-08-11

15, Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
+82-2-120

Jeongdong Observatory is located on the 13th floor of Seoul City Hall Seosomun building. The observatory has a cafe inside where visitors can enjoy a drink while gazing upon the magnificent view of Deoksugung Palace from above. In addition, the walls of the cafe are decorated with photos of old Jeongdong.

The Sool Gallery (전통주갤러리)

12.4Km 2025-06-19

18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

The Sool Gallery is an exhibition and experience space for traditional Korean liquor, established to promote the taste, style, and cultural values of the time-honored traditional Korean liquor. It provides various information about traditional Korean liquor for consumers or international tourists who can rarely obtain such information elsewhere. In addition, it provides traditional liquor education and business counseling to food service businesses and sales experts to continuously create demand for traditional liquor and expand the market. It is run by experts specializing in traditional liquor, including traditional liquor sommeliers, and it holds events to introduce various traditional liquors with different themes every month, as well as tasting events. Moreover, according to the monthly changing “Recommended Traditional Liquor by Month,” it displays a drinking glass and a bottle of the month recommended by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation.

HANSIK Space E:eum (한식문화공간 이음)

12.4Km 2025-11-11

18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul

HANSIK Space E:eum, located in Jongno, is a cultural space operated by the Korean Food Promotion Institute. It offers visitors an opportunity to delve into Korean cuisine through exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and a library.

Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을)

12.4Km 2025-06-19

37 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Surrounded by Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace and Jongmyo Shrine, Bukchon Hanok Village is home to hundreds of traditional houses, called hanok, that date back to the Joseon dynasty. The name Bukchon, which literally translates to "northern village," came about as the neighborhood lies north of two significant Seoul landmarks, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. Today, many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience, learn and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture. As Bukchon Hanok Village is an actual neighborhood with people's homes, visitors are advised to be respectful at all times while looking around.

Bukchon Cultural Center (북촌문화센터)

12.4Km 2025-06-19

37 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

Bukchon Cultural Center, located in a hanok, was established to offer traditional cultural experience opportunities for visitors to the area. The programs include tea ceremony, handicraft, and gugak as well as a Public Relations Exhibition Hall introducing Bukchon culture and hanok. Also, the center houses a space and a pavilion for visitors to relax while traveling.

Eight Scenic Views of Bukchon (북촌 8경)

12.4Km 2024-03-18

37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
+82-2-2148-4161

The Eight Scenic Views of Bukchon can be found at the Bukchon Hanok Village between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace. Bukchon was historically a district where the aristocracy of Joseon had resided in, so it is still home to a large number of traditional dwellings, called hanok in Korean. The eight views are as follows: No. 1, view of Chengdeokgung Palace; No. 2, view of Wonseo-dong Handicraft Road; No. 3, view of the Gahoe-dong area; No. 4, view from the hill at Gahoe-dong (Bukchon Observatory); No. 5, the view of the road uphill at Gahoe-dong; No. 6, the view of the road downhill at Gahoe-dong; No. 7, the view at house number (beonji) 31, Gahoe-dong; No. 8, the view of the stone stairway at Samcheong-dong.

The Place Seoul (traditional Korean-style guesthouse) / 복합한옥공간 곳 - Area information - Korea travel information