Travel guides › Day Trips from Seoul: Suwon, Namhansanseong, Nami Island and Bukhansan
Day Trips from Seoul: Suwon, Namhansanseong, Nami Island and Bukhansan
If you stay in Seoul for several days, I recommend spending at least one day getting out of the city to the surroundings. Within an hour or two by public transport there are fortresses, mountains, islands and gardens, some of them World Heritage Sites. This article introduces places suited to day trips from Seoul by type. Transport and travel times can change with the period.
Suwon Hwaseong: a World Heritage Site you walk around
Suwon Hwaseong is a fortress wall built in the Joseon era under King Jeongjo, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can go from Seoul to Suwon Station by subway or train and then to the wall by bus or taxi. Walking the whole wall takes two to three hours of walking alone, and the view over the city from the wall is good. You can enjoy traditional markets and food such as galbi too.
Namhansanseong: an easy mountain-fortress walk
Namhansanseong is a mountain fortress in Gyeonggi-do southeast of Seoul, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. If you take a bus from Sanseong Station on subway Line 8 you can get to the trailhead. The wall path is fairly gentle and good for an easy walk, and it is especially popular in autumn foliage season. There are restaurants inside the fortress, so you can have lunch there.
Bukhansan: a mountain in the city, reached by subway
Bukhansan is a national park on the north side of Seoul, reachable by subway and bus, so access is good. The highest peak, Baegundae, is about 836 m and needs hiking experience, and if you are not confident in your fitness you can walk a section of the dulle-gil trail instead. Prepare comfortable hiking shoes, water and snacks, and plan your time so that you can come down before dark.
Nami Island: an island with four-season scenery
Nami Island is a small island on the Bukhan River known for its metasequoia avenue and four-season scenery. From Seoul you go toward Gapyeong by subway, train and bus and take a boat from the pier. You can walk around the island, and rent a bicycle as well. Admission and ferry methods can change, so check in advance.
Incheon Chinatown and Ganghwa Island
Near Incheon Station, the terminus of Seoul subway Line 1, is one of Korea's oldest Chinatowns. Stories are told connecting it to the origin of jajangmyeon, and there are many Chinese restaurants and street foods. If you want to go further, there is a course around Ganghwa Island's dolmens and coastal scenery, but it needs a transfer on public transport and takes longer.
The DMZ and border areas
The Imjingak area in Paju shows the history of Korea's division, and some sections of the border area require a tour application or identity check. Foreigners often need to bring a passport, and how it operates can change with the situation. Before visiting, check the official tour and operating information, follow instructions in an orderly way and always observe photography-restricted zones.
Tips for planning a day trip
- I recommend leaving before 9 a.m. The longer the trip, the less time you have on site.
- Be sure to check the last public transport home and leave some margin.
- Traffic is congested on weekends, in foliage season and in blossom season, so I recommend a weekday visit.
- On rainy days skip mountain and island plans and switch to Suwon Hwaseong or a city plan, which is safer.
Official sources
Rules, fares and opening hours change often. Check the latest details on the official sites below.