Bukchon Hanok Village: All You Need to Know

Grab your comfortable walking shoes and take a stroll through Bukchon Hanok Village Seoul.

Seoul in South Korea has 25 districts. If you are looking to escape the busy city life and learn some Korean history, this is the place to go.

The site takes in thousands of visitors and tourists each year.

And if you decide to rent Hanbok, you will gain free entrance to some of the palaces.

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Where is Bukchon Hanok Village?

The village is in Jongno. It is north of Seoul and between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palace.

The area of Bukchon consists of a few different neighborhoods or dong in Korean:

• Gahoe-dong
• Gye-dong
• Insa-dong
• Jae-dong
• Wonseo-dong

What is Bukchon Hanok Village?

Bukchon Village is a traditional Korean village. Another nearby traditional village is Namsangol Hanok Village which is located in Jung-gu.

This old village in Seoul dates back 600 years to the Joseon Dynasty. It has several hanoks, narrow roads, and cafes. Hanoks are traditional houses in South Korea.

The Joseon dynasty built the Five Grand Palaces that are around the village in either the Jongno or Jung district.

These palaces include:

1. Changdeokgung (창덕궁)
2. Changgyeonggung (창경궁)
3. Deoksugung (덕수궁)
4. Gyeongbokgung (경복궁)
5. Gyeonghuigung (경희궁)

During the Joseon Dynasty, this was a residential area for the high-ranking government officials and nobility.

The name bukchon means northern village. This village got its name because it is north of the Cheonggye Stream and Jongno which are two landmarks in Seoul.

The village has over 900 traditional hanoks made from clay, tile roof, and stone flooring.

Tips for Visiting the Village

• Since this area’s hills are incredibly steep, I recommend wearing some comfortable walking shoes!
• I would also recommend bringing a light bag if you are planning on renting hanbok.
• Although this area holds a lot of history, it is still a residential area so be mindful of that when you take pictures and talk throughout the village.
• There are no set operating hours for the village but again, be mindful of the residents in the area.

How to Get Here

You will want to get on the subway and take line 3 to Anguk Station which is exit 2.

Once you exit the subway station, you will walk for about 200 meters (650 feet), and then you will come across the village.

There will be signs and maps along the way to help guide you in the right direction. You can also use a navigation app, such as Naver or Kakao Maps to get you here.

Check out some other apps to download for South Korea.

What to Do in Bukchon Hanok Village

• Wear hanbok
• Walk around the village
• Go to a cafe
• Go to a museum
• Visit a traditional culture center
• Visit a palace or a monument

There are quite a few things to do in Bukchon Hanok Village. If you decide to rent Hanbok, keep an eye on the time because most places will have a time limit and will charge a fee if you do not return the Hanbok on time.

However, to walk freely around the village does not require an entrance fee. Some of the other attractions around the village do require an entrance fee and they may have different hours so you should always check before you go.

Check out some of the tours offered in Seoul.

Wear Hanbok

To get the full experience and to appreciate traditional Korean culture, you should rent hanbok.

The word hanbok means Korean clothing. The hanbok is traced back to as early as the 1st century BC to the 7th century AD, also known as the Three Kingdoms of Korea period. The hanbok that is worn today is modeled after the hanbok worn during the Joseon Dynasty.

If you choose to rent hanbok for your day in the village, you can find a store along Bukchon-ro.

You can rent hanbok and locker for around KRW 25,000 (USD 20) for two hours.

The store will let you know how long you have and if they don’t, be sure to ask.

Some of the stores might let you rent both the locker and hanbok by the hour. Each store should have different options to choose from for different prices. Some offer lockers for an additional price. It all depends on which store you go to.

So stuff all your stuff inside the locker and take a stroll around the area.

Of course, you have to walk around the village in your hanbok! Check out the narrow roads and restored traditional homes that surround you.

And don’t forget to have a photo shoot while you appreciate the hanoks.

Go to a Bukchon Hanok Village Cafe

Cha-teul Cafe (차마시는뜰) is a traditional teahouse located northeast of Gyeongbokgung Palace on Bukchon-ro 11na-gil.

This cafe is set in a hanok that overlooks Gyeongbokgung Palace. You can sit on the cushion on the floor while you sip your hot in-house tea and enjoy a delicious mochi dessert. The tables are low and there is a courtyard in the center.

Go to a Museum

There are myriad museums in this area and throughout South Korea. So do a quick search and see which ones interest you! Some of them may offer an audio tour.

National Palace Museum of Korea

These exhibits focus mainly on the Joseon Dynasty & royal family.

The National Folk Museum of Korea

This museum focuses on the lives, history, and culture of the Korean people.

Visit a Bukchon Traditional Culture Center

There are a few cultural centers scattered around Jongno. If you appreciate history, you can go to one and view the travel guide and learn some history of the village.

You can even take a calligraphy class if you want to squeeze that in!

Visit the Palaces

As listed above, these are the five palaces that were built many years ago. If you head to any of these palaces while you are wearing hanbok, the fee is waived.

• Changgyeonggung Palace
• Changdeokgung Palace
• Changdeokgung Palace
• Gyeongbokgung Palace
• Gyeonghuigung Palace

As always, here’s a TikTok of my day in Bukchon Hanok Village wearing a Hanbok.