Hello Friends! Here is my guide to Insadong (인사동), Samcheongdong (삼청) and Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을) in Seoul, Korea. You can spend an entire day here just strolling the streets and popping into cute shops and cafes, but here are some of my favorite things to do.
To reach Insadong, you will come out of Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 6.
10 THINGS TO DO IN INSADONG
[1] Shop for souvenirs and other tchotchkes.
I recommend getting a traditional Korean stamp with name on it. You can find a lot of little knick knacks and toys here. It will probably be a little more expensive than at places like Namdaemun and Dongdaemun, but if you are not planning on going there to bargain, this is a good place that is pretty tourist friendly.
[2] Eat traditional Korean food.
Whether it’s BBQ at Cha Iyagi, Chol Myron (noodles), Hansik (lots of dishes spread out on the table), Sul Lung Tang at the oldest Sul Lung Tang restaurant ,or a korean lunch box at Miss Lee Cafe. There are so many cute little traditional restaurants in this neighborhood, and it’s a little intimidating to pick one. If you are up for Korean bbq I have been to Cha-iyagi many times and liked it. I also like Miss Lee’s for something a little more casual – as long as you’re ok with spicy food. Let me know if you’re interested in a food guide for Insadong!
Cha Iyagi (Korean BBQ)
Address: 15 Insadong 8-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Chol Myeon Restaurant
Miss Lee Cafe
144 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Sul Lung Tang Restaurant
38-13, Ujeongguk-Ro, Seoul 03149, South Korea
[3] Try Dragon’s Beard Candy.
Dragon’s beard candy is a royal snack that was once made for Kings. It’s made from a ball of honey and rice, and stretched multiple times into 16,000 strands. Then they put a scoop of nuts and seeds in the center and fold it up. In Insadong, you can get it in regular flavor, as well as pumpkin and I believe chocolate. You can find this at Myeongdong in the evenings, but in Insadong, these guys are here 7 days a week, all day long. It tastes better if you put it in the freezer, and it’s something you can take home.
[4] Shop at Ssamzigil (쌈지길) & visit the Poop Cafe(또옹카페).
Ssamzigil is a cute shopping mall in the middle of Insadong’s main street and has a bunch of small shops and restaurants, including the poop cafe! On the first floor, there is a stand that sells poop hotteok – with chocolate inside, and other traditional Korean snacks. On the 4th floor there’s actually a poop cafe where you can drink a mint latte out of a toilet or get curry rice in a toilet plate. Yum!
Ssamzigil (쌈지길)
http://www.ssamzigil.com/
44, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 인사동길 44 (관훈동)
Poop cafe (또옹카페) is on the 4th Floor of the Ssamzigil shopping complex.
[5] Walk through some local art galleries and/or museums.
Insadong and the neighboring Bukchon Hanok village have lots of little art galleries and museums here and there, and if you are into art and see something you like, don’t be afraid to take a peek and look around! The exhibits are constantly changing.
[6] Have tea at a traditional Korean Tea House.
When I visited Insandong and the neighboring Bukchon Hanok village, I searched and searched for a tea house in Bukchon, but I only found this one place called Cafe Yeon which was in an old Hanok house and wad nice, but seemed a little more modern and less traditional, However when i went to Insadong, I noticed so many signs for traditional Korean tea houses in this neighborhood! If you’re looking to have traditional Korean tea, you’re sure to find something in Insadong.
Cafe Yeon
63-20 Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
[7] Visit Bukchon Hanok Village.
After visiting Insadong, cross the street and head over to Samcheong dong, where you will find Bukchon Hanok Village. You will walk up a small street that on the weekends is lined with performing artists and people selling crafts. You will start to see a lot of cute little shops (and of course skin care shops everywhere), and some cute little cafes and restaurants. I recommend that you stop for a purple potato dessert at Cafe Bora. These desserts are just too pretty to pass up and they are really tasty too! I think this is one of my top dessert spots in Seoul. I recommend the ice flakes with purple sweet potato cream drizzled on top. It comes with extra cream, sweet potato chips and sweet walnuts.
Cafe Bora
75-3 Yulgok-ro 3-gil, Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
[8] Dress up in a Hanbok.
You can rent a Hanbok in either Insadong or Bukchon Hanok Village, and if you are into this sort of thing, it can be really fun! I see people doing this all the time, and if you have big group of friends all wearing colorful Hanboks, it makes for a great photo. This doesn’t seem fun for me since I have 2 small kids (and if you have kids, you probably know what I mean), but if you are single – go for it! since I never took wedding photos wearing a handbook so maybe my husband and I can do this wedding shoot for our 10 year anniversary next year.
[9] Stroll around the streets of Bukchon Hanok Village and Look at Traditional Korean Architecture.
You can pick up a map at the tourist office, and get some information on a nice route to walk and enjoy the traditional Hanok houses. People actually still live here, so don’t make too much noise. If you go in may, you will see gorgeous rose bushes hanging over the stone walls and it’s so pretty. The fall is also a nice time to enjoy this neighborhood, with all the leaves changing colors.
[10] Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)
You get bonus points if you visit Gyeongbokgung Palace while wearing a hanbok! This palace was the main royal palace of the Joeson dynasty. The front of the palace, you will see these guards in their traditional Korean dress, and this would probably be a fun place to take a photo in your handbook. Then you will enter a giant courtyard, and you can walk down the stone path to enter the palace. Some of the buildings are painted a vibrant green color, and in the fall this is a great place to enjoy fall foliage. There are other palaces in the neighborhood, but this is arguably the largest and most beautiful.