Last updated on March 16th, 2024 at 12:00 pm

One Day is Not Enough to Visit Suwon…

While spending a long layover in Seoul, South Korea back in March I was searching for a day trip from Seoul. Some place I’ve never heard before. Even though I’ve been to Seoul many times, I’ve never really had any other day trips except for that one time at the DMZ.

My search came up on a small city with a population of one million called Suwon. It’s 20 miles (30 km.) away from Seoul. I could get there in 36 minutes by taking the KORAIL train for 2700KRW ($2.30USD).

Suwon is a city full of history.
Suwon is a city full of history…

Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

My quick search also revealed that Suwon has a UNESCO Heritage World site called Hwaseong Fortress where a temporary palace was erected by King Jeong-jo back in 1796. For a while, during the Korean War, the North actually controlled Suwon until a fragile truce between the North and the South came into effect.

So Suwon is near Seoul. Has a medieval fortress with a wall surrounding a temporary palace for a King. I also discovered the city is famous for marinated Grilled Beef Ribs (Gal-Bi 갈비).

I was sold. Suwon here I come. I could almost smell the Gal-Bi sizzling on a hot plate!

Getting to Suwon From Seoul

The best way to travel to Suwon is by train. I don’t know if you can get there by bus. But it’s South Korea so I’m sure there is a reliable bus route to Suwon from Seoul.

For me, trains are my best option. And there are three types of trains that can take you there; slow, fast and fastest.

  • Subway Metro Line #1 is the cheapest option and of course the slowest. From Seoul Station, a fare costs 1300KRW, $1.25USD, and takes about an hour.
  • KORAIL train from Seoul Station to Suwon costs nearly double the price of Subway Line #1 but gets you to Suwon in half the time. Cost 2700KRW ($2.30) and you get a reserved seat.
  • KTX trains are the fastest. It’ll zip you from Seoul Station to Suwon Station in 25 minutes. But it costs 8400KRW ($7.15USD). You get a reserved seat too.
Hop on line at the KORAIL ticketing center. The staff are helpful with any questions you've got...
Queue up line at the KORAIL ticketing center. The staff are helpful with any questions you’ve got…
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KORAIL trains have reserved passenger seating…
Nice to see the the country by train...
Nice to see parts of South Korea by train…

For me, it was a no-brainer that riding the KORAIL train was the best way to travel to Suwon for me. It only takes 36 minutes from Seoul Station to Suwon Station for a paltry $2.30USD (2700KRW).

It’s a direct train with no stops. It gets me there quickly. Not that I was in a hurry. But the train fare was affordable and I got an assigned seat.

And remember these trains arrive on schedule and they depart on time. So get to your train platform with time to spare.

Suwon, here I come. A Korail ticket to Suwon...
Suwon, here I come. A Korail ticket to Suwon…

The third train which is the most expensive but fastest is the KTX which will pop you over to Suwon non-stop from Seoul train station in 25 minutes and continue on to Busan. It cost 8400KRW and I took this train by mistake back to Seoul.

While I bought a return ticket to Seoul Station from Suwon Station I knew something wasn’t right because I paid 2700KRW to get to Suwon. It wasn’t until I checked both my tickets then I realized I didn’t have a KORAIL ticket, but a KTX ticket instead.

I know. I’m such an idiot. Either way, I learned something new! In any case, I’ll just get back to Seoul quicker!

First Impressions of Suwon

When I arrived in Suwon Station I was all excited to check out Hwaseong Fortress. But I had to make a quick stop at the nearby Suwon Tourist Information Center.

This is Suwon Station. Lots of people around either waiting for someone or waiting to get somewhere...
This is Suwon Station. Lots of people around either waiting for someone or waiting to get somewhere…
Follow the signs to Suwon Tourists Center...
Follow the signs to Suwon Tourists Center…
My first ever glimpse of Suwon...
Right outside of Suwon Station, this is called Suwon Square…
Suwon Tourist Information Center looks very new and shiny...
Suwon Tourist Information Center looks very new and shiny…

The first thing to do is head to the nearby Tourist Information Center grab an updated map of Suwon and perhaps ask a couple of questions. I definitely wanted to find Suwon Hwaseong Fortress first. I found the visitor information center easily. It was less than a 3-minute walk from Suwon Station; just follow the sign markers.

Inside I found an English-speaking staff member and was instructed to take a bus to Paldamun Gate bus stop, which is located on the south end of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.

Bus to Paldamun Gate from Suwon Station

  • Get on intra-city bus numbers; 11, 13, 36, or 39

The bus stop is located literally outside of the tourist info center so you can’t miss it. The bus fare costs 1300KRW ($1.10USD) and takes about 10 to 15 minutes to reach Paldamun Gate.

Bus numbers are clearly marked on the bus’s digital display on the front and side of the bus.

This where bus numbers 11, 13, 36 and 39 stop and will take you to Paldamun, the south side of Hwaseong Fortress...
This is where bus numbers 11, 13, 36, and 39 stop and will take you to Paldamun, the south side of Hwaseong Fortress…
I took bus #9 to Paldamun and the bus fare was 1300KRW. Be sure to have exact change or have a T-Money card...
I took bus #39 to Paldamun Gate and the bus fare was 1300KRW. Be sure to have exact change or have a T-Money card…

I sat on a seat in front of the bus and had a good view of the road and streets ahead. The ride from Suwon Station to Paldamun Gate was enjoyable. The city definitely had a different vibe compared to Seoul. There weren’t any tall buildings or skyscrapers in sight. Suwon turns out to be quite a nice charming city. And surprisingly much bigger than I initially thought.

Get off at Paldamun Gate bus stop where your journey to Hwaseong Fortress begins!...
Get off at the Paldamun Gate bus stop where your journey to Hwaseong Fortress begins!…
Paldamun Gate is located on the southern end of Hwaseong Fortress...
Paldamun Gate is located on the southern end of Hwaseong Fortress…

About 15 minutes later I saw Paldamun Gate up ahead and got ready to get off. I don’t remember exactly but I think there was an English language automated voice message on the bus announcing each stop. Anyways, once you see Paldamun Gate you’ll know it’s time to hop off.

Exploring Suwon on Foot

As always it’s hard to get the lay of the land the first time even with a map on hand. So I just wandered a little bit around Paldamun gate to get my bearings. And from there I saw where most people were headed which was east of Paldamun Gate.

Wayfaring Soul Tip #312: Doesn’t hurt to follow a group of locals.

I basically went on my good ol’ instincts. So far it’s never failed me and I found a section of town well known for its farmer’s Market called Yeongdong Market (수원 영동시장) and Jidong Market (지동시장).

After walking around both markets briefly it was a good time to whip out the map I picked up from the tourist center and take a good look at where to go next. It was interesting to see that right in the middle of Hwaswong Fortress is a town.

Surrounding the town are walls and a small mountain called Paldalsan. Suwoncheon Stream runs right through the center of the fortified town center.

There are plenty of maps around the Suwon...
There are plenty of tourist information maps around Suwon…

I couldn’t make up my mind which way to go so I just decided to follow up a trail on the east side of the wall. There is a slope and a long drop along the eastern and western walls. Which makes sense from a strategic standpoint.

I could just imagine an invading medieval army having a very hard time trying to conquer the Hwaseong Fortress.

There is a town center with residential apartments and houses. And many small businesses too.

Hwaseong Temporary Palace is located just on the northwest corner of the fortress. But first, I wanted to walk around the town and get a good idea of the area by starting with a walk along the fortress wall.

This is the center of Hwaseong Fortress, there are walls and gates surrounding the town's center...
This is the center of Hwaseong Fortress, there are walls and gates surrounding the town’s center…

Luckily the stone stairs made the walk up a little easier.

And when you get up there, you’ll have a spectacular view of the Suwon. I was there in the afternoon time and the sky was a little overcast though. So someday, I would love to be there for sunrise or sunset.

I could’ve walked straight up along Suwoncheon Stream which cuts right through the town center. That would’ve been an easier walk. However, Suwoncheon Stream isn’t really that appealing at the moment because there wasn’t a lot of water.

I took another quick look at the map and learned that the fortress had a strategically placed bastion where soldiers could fire arrows, guns, and cannons at pesky invading armies. There is no mistake. Suwon was once protected by a mighty formidable fortress.

There are also many pavilions overlooking the city. I can just imagine Korean royalty hanging out, eating grapes, and enjoying a countryside once full of farms and forests miles away as far as the eye could see.

Seonamammun (Secret Gate)
Seonamammun (Secret Gate)

Every bastion, sentry post, observation post, gate, and flood gate has a designated Korean name and the map I picked up at the tourist info center tells which one is which.

Hwaseong Fortress was built in the 18th century, so some parts of the compound could be under construction during your visit. But while I was there I only saw one pavilion being renovated.

These bastions are found around the fortress. Defending soldiers fire arrows out of those holes...
These bastions are found around the fortress. Defending soldiers fire arrows out of those holes…

After walking mid-way along the east wall I looked west across the town and saw a tall Buddhist statue. At this point, I was just going by what looked interesting.

Daeseungwon Temple certainly caught my attention! So back down another long set of steps I went. It was time to go across town.

Daeseungwon Temple in the distance...
Daeseungwon Temple in the distance…
This set of stairs on the east side of the wall leads back down to the town center
This set of stairs on the east side of the wall leads back down to the town center
Many small apartment buildings and businesses are located in the middle of the fortress. Wall murals on residential homes seems to be popular in South Korea...
Many small apartment buildings and businesses are located in the middle of the fortress. Murals on residential homes seem to be popular in South Korea…

I could easily walk through the neighborhoods of South Korea all day long and enjoy myself. There are many residential buildings, houses, and small apartment buildings. I would love to live inside a fortress!

Yeomingak Bell Tower
Yeomingak Bell Tower – You will find this bell tower in the center of the town and opposite of Hwaseong Temporary Palace

Hwaseong Fortress was designed by Jeong Yak-yong, considered one of the greatest thinkers in the Joseon dynasty. The circumference of the fortress is approximately 4.7km. It was designed to keep the aesthetics of its natural surroundings intact using advanced build techniques for the time such as a cable drive system.

It took me about 15 minutes to walk from Dongichi Bastion located on the east end of the wall to the large open grounds of Hwaseong Temporary Palace.

Cross this wide avenue and you'll be in front of Hwaseong Haenggung Square and the front entrance of Hwaseong Temporary Palace...
Cross this wide avenue and you’ll be in front of Hwaseong Haenggung Square and the front entrance of Hwaseong Temporary Palace…

Hwaseong Temporary Palace

A fortress is built to protect a place and someone. In this case, it was protecting the Hwaseong Temporary Palace completed in 1796 by the order of the 22nd King of the Joseon Dynasty, King Jeong-jo.

And he built it for his father the Crown Prince Jangheon this amazing gift where he was laid to rest.

That’s a tough one to beat. I once bought my dad a tobacco pipe.

The outside entrance of Hwaseong Temporary Palace...
The outside entrance of Hwaseong Temporary Palace…

Sadly, through time and especially through the Korean War the Hwaseong Temporary Palace fell into disrepair. Until work was started in 1975 to restore the palace grounds.

Eventually, in December 1997 it was listed on the UNESCO world cultural heritage and it deserves that honor.

An adult ticket to explore inside Hwaseong Temporary Palace costs 1500KRW. For teens, it’s 1000KRW, and for children 700KRW.

Inside there are 16 points of key interest such as government offices, a few palaces, dining halls, and massive bedrooms for Korean royalty.

There’s even a big kitchen designed for cooking large banquets. One thing I learned about Korean royalty is that they really know how to feast.

I also learned that Hwaseong Temporary Palace was used to film many popular period films and soap operas. Even my wife who is Thai remembered watching some of the shows which were sub-titled in Thai of course.

For the Korean film and TV show addicts, these were filmed on location:

  • Dae Jang Geum
  • I San
  • Moon Embracing the Sun
  • King and the Clown

Time to Eat

I walked around the palace grounds for about an hour and I started getting hungry. It was 1 pm which was way past my usual lunch time. Time for some Gal-Bi!

Now I didn’t know where to go. If Suwon is well known as a Gal-Bi city then I was sure someone at the tourist information booth could come up with a good recommendation.

There are many tourists information booths in the fortress, this is a big one though...
Many tourists’ information booths in the fortress and this one is the largest…

I found one information booth right outside Hwaseong Temporary Palace. I asked a guy working inside if he knew of a good Gal-Bi restaurant. Oddly, the tourist assistant said Suwon is not well known for Gal-Bi.

Undaunted, I asked where I could find some good restaurants and he pointed out an area not far from the palace where there are a row of restaurants.

I went down not far from the palace and stopped at a restaurant with a bunch of posters of raw beef sizzling on hot grills. This place must be it. I went in and was greeted by a couple in the middle of their lunch. I apologized for disturbing their lunch. I assume they are the owners.

I was the only customer inside because it was past normal lunch hours. Still, they welcomed me in with a warm smile and showed me to my table.

Korean BBQ Meals Are Priced For 2 Persons

I found Gal-Bi on their menu and it was $25USD. However, Korean BBQ restaurants are priced for 2 diners.

So $25USD x 2 = $50USD which is too rich for lunch for one person. Instead, I opted for the thinly sliced fatty brisket Chadol-Baki (차돌박이) and it cost me $32USD for the standard 2 orders.

Yes, still pricey for lunch, but I was starving from all the exploring.

To be honest I can’t say it’s the best Korean BBQ I’ve ever had. The beef slices were still frozen when it hit the hot plate. I don’t think that’s normal but I’m assuming since it’s passed lunchtime already, they tucked everything back inside the freezer.

My friendly server, an elderly Korean lady did all the cooking for me. The beef didn’t really caramelize and was a bit soggy for my liking.

But the accompanying traditional side dishes banchan (반찬) together with the good quality beef satisfied my hunger.

Onwards I Go…

After a belly full of beef and so much banchan, I really had to walk off that meal. And what better way to do that than to tackle the steps leading up to the western wall of Hwaseong Fortress?

From the western side of the fortress, I made my way up north along the wall. It was a nice stroll, passing by more bastions and a command post. And you’ll get a great bird’s eye view of Suwon city. And the sky was clearing up and the sun was out.

It was definitely warming up a bit as well and I started sweating.

I also checked out the Bell of Hyowon (but I forgot to take a picture). It’s the symbol of Suwon. And there’s a ritual to striking the bell.

I struck the bell 3 times as instructed on an informational plaque. First for the health of parents, second for the health of family and friends. Third, for the person who needs it the most… myself.

The view from Seojangdae command post...
The view from the Seojangdae command post…
Seojangdae command post...
Seojangdae command post…

A little further up from the Bell of Hyowan is the Seojangdae command post. From this spot, you get a wonderful view of northeast Suwon.

From there I continued to the northern section of the fortress. I also want to point out that the western wall is the highest section of the fortress. There are plenty of steps and footpaths are easy to walk on. But it’s best to have on a good pair of walking shoes if you are planning to visit.

After rounding out the northern section of Hwaseong Fortress it was time for me to head back to Seoul. So I hopped on a #39 bus nearby back to Suwon Station. It costs the same price as getting to Paldamun Gate, just 1300KRW.

While on the train and taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi I saw that I missed out on a lot of sights and attractions in Suwon. However, I vowed that once I returned to Suwon I was going to visit those locations.

Things to do in Suwon Next Time I’m There:

  • Haeujae & Toilet Park – This museum has a bunch of funky toilet bowls. How cool is that?
  • Paldalmun Rodeo Street – I’m not a shopper. But if it’s the same as Hongdae Street in Seoul I’m going there!
  • Suwon Fried Chicken Street – Need I say more? (Update: Check out my latest blog about my experience at a Suwon fried chicken restaurant.)
  • Byeokhwa Street – This neighborhood has more wall art murals on residential homes.
  • Korean Folk Village – Part theme park, part museum. Sounds like a good place to learn something.
  • The Royal Tombs – Have to pay respect to the great kings of Korea.

I would love to explore more of Suwon city for a day trip. It’s so close to Seoul. So why not?

For me, it is a lot of fun walking around the different neighborhoods and just checking out local life.

Guide on where to stay in Seoul, South Korea
Didn’t book a hotel in Seoul yet? Check out my guide on the best areas in Seoul for first-time visitors…

Final Thoughts on Suwon City (while back in Seoul with a Latté and Lemon Meringue Pie)

After a full day of exploring the wonderful city of Suwon I went back to my favorite café near Insadong in Seoul, Anguk (안국) 153 Bakery to reflect on my day trip to Suwon.

And I came to the conclusion that one day is not enough to explore that wonderful city.

I would need at least 2 to 3 days. So I’m looking forward to going back.

One good cup of coffee and sweet pie!
At Anguk (안국) 153 Bakery in Seoul…

Also, one thing I noticed is that there were not a whole lot of tourists visiting when I was there. And I wondered why? Suwon is such a wonderful city. Granted I went during late March so it was chilly. But it got nice and sunny in the afternoon. To me, the weather wasn’t so bad.

But because of the winter, the grass was not green and the ice had not melted so Sowoncheon Stream was not as picturesque as it could be. It could be I visited Hwaseong Fortress off-season.

Even then, Suwon is such a wonderful small city to visit and if all you’ve got is a day, then that’s fine. But if you truly want to enjoy your time and learn more about Suwon you’d definitely need more than a day!

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42 responses to “My Day Trip to Suwon, South Korea”

  1. zahra Avatar
    zahra

    wow!i liked your article. It felt like as if i was visiting with you! 🙂

    1. Warren Avatar

      Thank you! It’s probably because of all the pictures I took and added to this post.

      Suwon really is a beautiful city and I’m going there again next month.

  2. Nini Avatar
    Nini

    Thank You for your article. very informational especially for me who plans to visit Suwon early 2017. Thank You again.

    1. Warren Avatar

      Nini you will love Suwon. I just went back there last week to check out their popular Fried Chicken alley. A new post about that experience coming soon!

  3. Yvonne Avatar
    Yvonne

    Hi, I enjoyed reading your article. Am gg in early march to Korea – solo Travelling 🙂 Also Thinking of a day trip to Suwon.
    May I ask what time you set off fr Seoul station to Suwon. Did you walk the whole fortress of about 5 km 🙂
    Thanks.
    Yvonne

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hello Yvonne, thank you I’m glad you enjoyed my post. I believe I walked 4.5km lol. The first time I went to Suwon I left early morning. The second time I went again I left in the afternoon.

      You can purchase your return train ticket too from Seoul Station by the way. I learned that the second time I went to Suwon.

      If you have any questions at all feel free to comment again 🙂 Have a wonderful time in Korea!

  4. Yvonne Avatar
    Yvonne

    Hi. Awesome !
    When I’m there Wondering if I can do half course of the fortress coz of limited time as I would like to explore Korean folk village And come back to Seoul before night fall. Estimated How many hours required for the whole route?

    1. Warren Avatar

      It is very possible to do half course. Because there’s a small town right in the center of the fortress. You can easily walk across the town to the other side of the wall. That’s what I did the first time in Suwon.

      I can’t really pinpoint how long the route took. Because I stopped in Hwaseong Temporary Palace for at least 30 minutes. Sat around a few areas (because I’m old) to rest my feet. Had lunch for about 40 minutes. Stopped by a few places to take a lot of photos.

      If you arrive about 11am into Suwon like I did you can pretty much explore the interesting parts on foot, stopping by for lunch or something and on to explore some more. To be honest there really isn’t that much inside the town center except homes. Most of the businesses, restaurants etc. are located on the southern part of the fortress.

      Depending on which train you take back to Seoul, you can get back there really fast.

      Yvonne my suggestion is don’t make your itinerary too rigid. I understand one may feel there isn’t enough time to explore because one might feel they’ll never be back in Korea again or for whatever reason.

      Whatever you think you’ve missed just mark it down. Because if you love Korea as much as I do you’ll be back there one way or another.

  5. Yvonne Avatar

    Thanks for your reply. Now I Hv even more qns to ask. Seriously!
    I will take the option of korail but not sure how? KTX too expensive.
    As I was posting this, it asked for my email, may I ask if you can actually read my email infor?

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hi Yvonne,

      Sorry for late reply, I have been so busy. Anyways you can always take the regular train (Line 1) from Seoul Station. Make sure to take the train heading to Suwon or Sinchang. I can’t recall correctly but price might be about 2,000KRW and takes 1 hour.

      Take the Korail I highly recommend it Yvonne. It’s only 2700KRW, you get an assigned seat plus it’s only 30 minutes

      Yes I can see your email Yvonne. If your email is invalid your comment would’ve went straight to my spam email box and I will never see it.

      If you have anymore questions I’ll try my best to answer sooner =) Happy Travels!

  6. Kim Avatar

    Hi. I am from S.Korea, and I was born and bred in Suwon. It is such a pleasure to see your blog about my home city. Suwon is quite big, it is one of the biggest cities in Korea. We are not crazy as Seoul, but we still have our own night life, and cultures. I am currently working in London, and I miss my city so much and I ended up reading your writing lol. There is a galbi restaurant called Gabojung which is the most famous Galbi restaurant in Korea. You should visit that one. Forget about chicken, it is just so new, I dont even go nearby there. I hope you enjoy time in Korea.

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hello Kim! Wow I’m so happy that a native of Suwon read my blog. Yet I’m also nervous too at the same time so I really hope I did well. Yes, Suwon is certainly not as crazy as Seoul. Which is one of the reasons why I love Suwon. I will visit there every time I’m in Korea. And thank you so much for recommending Gabojung and for sure I’ll write a post about eating there.

      Yeah, on my most recent visit to Suwon I tried one fried chicken restaurant and wasn’t too impressed. We’ve actually had better fried chicken in Seoul. I’ve been to Korea numerous times and I always have a fun time.

  7. Verl Avatar
    Verl

    Hi. May I check if you bought the korail tix at seoul station? Which part of station? Do you need to pre order early or you bought on the spot? How early did you arrive to buy the tickets? What us a good time to purchase? Thanks.

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hello Verl, how are you? Korail tickets are sold near the entrance to the train terminals. Believe me, you’ll find it very easily. You can buy tickets on the spot, no need to preorder. And you can also purchase your return ticket from Seoul Station as well. So no need to wait on line at Suwon Station to purchase a ticket back to Seoul Station. I bought my tickets about an hour before departure. And there were plenty of seats left. I always go to Suwon during the weekdays so maybe that’s why it’s not as packed. Have a good time in Suwon!

  8. Ivan Avatar

    Hey, Warren!
    Great in-depth guide to Suwon and Hwaseong Fortress!
    As I’m planning my next trip to South Korea, I think I should definitely bookmark your article!
    Thanks!

    1. Warren Avatar

      Thanks Ivan! Have a good time in Suwon. I’m sure you’ll enjoy as much as I did.

  9. Abhishek Ravi Avatar
    Abhishek Ravi

    Hi!
    I am currently in Suwon for a business trip . I followed a very similar path to what you described except I did it exactly opposite. I finished the palace quickly and then started from the western walls. The old city is quite pretty and quaint.

    The weather on the other hand was really not good. It was completely downcast and the air so thick with humidity it felt like being in an uncomfortable sauna.

    The chicken place Jin mi was exactly as you described it . I decided to take it packed as I felt a bit dehydrated after a day of constant perspiring. The sauce was quite sweet but after a certain while the spice did hit me. The portions are definitely meant for at least two but I piggied through most of it :).

    I plan to visit Seoul next weekend. Hopefully it goes well. The weather is going to be the same but an extra power of T-shirt and a strong umbrella should make it more bearable. :D.

    Thanks again!

    Abhishek

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hello Ravi! I’m usually in South Korea around March/April months. I was in Seoul once in August for a long layover and man it rained hard the entire day! Thanks for sharing your experiences and tips on Suwon, and safe travels!

  10. Will Yuncken Avatar

    Hi Warren
    Great article. Can you tell me if you can get around the walls and fortress in a wheelchair?

    I plan on visiting for a day however won’t go down if I can access many things in my wheelchair (i.e. If there are lots of steps)

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hi Will, how are you? If I recall correctly there is a ramp on the north end of the fortress. I could be wrong and I wish I could give you a definite answer. But perhaps you can double check with a tourist center around Seoul without making the trip out to Suwon. And when you find the answer please let me know. I will update this blog post.

  11. Fanny Avatar
    Fanny

    Great article! Thanks for shares.
    Actually I live in seoul now, and next week gonna be my first time visiting suwon. I really don’t have any idea what kind of that city. But your article describle it so clearly. Love it much!

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hello Fanny, thanks for reading! Let me know what you think of Suwon =)

  12. Jinn Avatar
    Jinn

    Hi Warren
    Hi Warren
    I enjoyed reading your Suwon article very much. Thank you for it. I am planning to visit Suwon in early Dec. In Seoul, it is easy to move around by subway. Is it the same in Suwon? Thanks.

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hi Jinn, How are you? I’m glad you like my article. I only used the subway from Seoul Station to Suwon Station. After that I used the bus to get from Suwon Station to Hwaesong Palace. The bus was easy to use and had stops in English announced. I guess depending on where you need to go the bus will be sufficient. However, if there is a particular place within Suwon you’d like to visit look for the tourists information center within Suwon Station. Happy travels!

  13. Sabrina Avatar
    Sabrina

    Hi, I will be going to Suwon from Seoul, stay a night there and leave the next day to Jeonju. I will have my luggage with me. do trains/ buses have compartments for luggages please since I will always be on the move. thanks

    1. Warren Avatar

      I Sabrina sorry for late reply. If I remember correctly the KTX and Korail does have some space for large luggage. But if you take the Subway metro line #1 there’s only space on top of the seats for small luggage. Have fun!

  14. Abhinav Kanoria Avatar
    Abhinav Kanoria

    Hi!
    Nice to read that. Is there admission fee for Hwaseong Fortress and Temporary Palace? Also I heard you can see some cultural performance at Hwaseong fortress. Did you see them?
    Lastly…I wanted to know how to go to Uiwang Rail Park after checking out fortress and Palace.
    Do you think one can cover fortress,palace and rail park in one day? Like, if I start from Seoul station at say 8:30am, can I easily be back to Seoul by 5:50-6 pm? (Day trip from Seoul)

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hello Abhinav! No fee to enter the fortress as there’s a small city town inside. However you do have to buy a ticket to go inside the Temporary Palace which cost 1500won for adults, 1000won for teenagers, 700won for children. I’ve never been to Uiwang Rail Park, so sorry I can’t help you out wit that one. But it’s on my list. Do let me know how it is.

    2. m Avatar
      m

      According the Kakao Maps, the Uiwang Rail Bike is 36 minutes from Suwon Station. You can take the number 1 subway line from Suwon Station to Uiwang Station (3 stations) and transfer to the 5-2 bus (it’s 8 stops on the bus). From Uiwang, you have the choice of taking the subway back (1 hour) or returning to Suwon Station for a train.

  15. Sean Kim Avatar
    Sean Kim

    Hi!! this is hello from Suwon. Good tour post about Suwon thanks mate.
    but still there are more hidden places to visit. I guess you must come back haha.
    and reading down all comment, I realized there are so many people interested in Suwon. I’d like to make Suwon tour guide account in instagram. then next time you visit here I might help you. cheers

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hi Sean, how’s it going? Most definitely I believe there is more to do in Suwon! I couldn’t agree more =)

  16. Jam Avatar

    Very useful info and i like the pacing of your storytelling 🙂 We’re going there in very early June. They say Hwaseong Fortress looks better at night, would you know til what time they’re open so we can hike with the walls/structures lit-up? Can’t wait to try something outside Seoul that is not the usual touristy areas.

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hello Jam, well inside the fortress is a small little town where people live and work. So, that the town center I’m sure will be open around the clock. However, any area where you have to pay to get in will be closed at night. You’ll like Suwon and yeah I do know how you feel. Not really sure why I don’t see so many tourists in Suwon.

  17. Iqbal Avatar
    Iqbal

    Today I spent a day to follow you footsteps based on your article, really enjoyed your pertinent suggestions and tips.

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hello and thank you! I’m flattered you followed my footsteps. I encourage all to make their own, it’s such a wonderful city with so much more to see I haven’t touched upon yet.

  18. Emma Avatar
    Emma

    Hi Warren
    Many the for your tips Suwon looks quite interesting indeed. I’m from France and going to uni in Suwon in August !! Really excited….I’ll use your blog as a guide for the first days….many thx Emma

    1. Warren Avatar

      Bonjour Emma from France! Happy you found this post helpful. Have a wonderful time studying in Suwon in August and do let me know about your experience.

  19. qianting Avatar
    qianting

    Hi, i managed to find your post of Suwon while i google about going to Suwon for a day trip!
    your post was awesome!
    i am heading to seoul next year 2019 Jan.
    I will be heading there for my first solo trip and was thinking where i could head to other then seoul.
    Saw that suwon was quite near to seoul and i thought maybe i could head there to hwasong.
    I would like to add it into my itinerary after reading your post.
    As it is my 2nd time to korea, i hope i could travel else where but being alone feel kinda of restricted.
    Thanks for your post!

    1. Warren Avatar

      Hello! I have no doubt at all that you will enjoy Suwon as much as I have =) I was traveling alone too and regardless I enjoyed it all. Have a great time!

  20. Fabien Avatar
    Fabien

    Heya! Just came back from Suwon! 🙂
    It is definitely worth the visit, and I’m so glad I searched for an easy day trip and found your page.
    A few updates on the prices: I paid 4800KRW for the train (economy with reserved seat) and 1250KRW for the bus (with the T-Money card).
    There is a combined ticket you can buy to see the fortress, the palace and something else I forgot and didn’t go (I know, I know).
    Inside the palace, there’s a martial arts performance at 11:00am that lasts about half an hour, and the Royal Guards also have their performance on Saturdays.
    When you get out of the palace, you can also go back to Padalmun gate through an alley full of nice restaurants and shops, which feels like the main city strolling point. And you can also find the Sundae there, which oddily enough for those who go to McDonalds is not an ice cream but a sausage! 😀

    Anyway, very much recommended!

    1. Warren Avatar

      Fabien, thank you for the updates! And I so happy you had a great time in Suwon!

  21. m Avatar
    m

    Your Korail ticket says that you caught the Mugunghwa line. It’s one of the slower lines into Suwon, but I don’t think there’s a significant difference in time between the Mugunghwa, ITX and KTX trains from Seoul Stn to Suwon Stn. There are several intercity buses that travel between Seoul and Suwon. I’d suggest the Kakao Map and Korail apps whenever in Korea.

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