I was drawn to Jeonju, South Korea by the charming hanok village after hearing that their food was delicious and that they had picturesque traditional streets and buildings. When visiting Jeonju, bibimbap, and makgeolli are the top two things to try. While you could easily do a day trip to Jeonju, I recommend staying for one night, about 24 hours to have the full experience.
Getting to Jeonju from Seoul
We took the KTX high-speed train from Seoul to Jeonju station. At Seoul Station, we arrived half an hour early to situate ourselves and grab snacks before boarding the train. It takes about an hour and a half to get to Jeonju. After you get to Jeonju station, you’ll probably want to take a taxi to Jeonju Hanok village. There are a lot of taxis lined up right in the front when the trains arrive so it usually isn’t that bad of a wait.
Where to Stay in Jeonju
I highly recommend staying at a hanok for the experience. We stayed at the Beautiful House, and the room was very cute, with floor cushions for sitting and sleeping mats tucked away in the corner. A sturdy padlock secured the door, and the location was super convenient for our itinerary.
Day 1
Raw Beef Bimbimbap at Hasukyeong Gamasot Bibimbap
Jeonju is the home of bibimbap (mixed rice) especially, raw beef version called yukhoe bibimbap. If you can eat beef tartare, you can eat yukhoe. We had ours in Jeonju and it came with a meal set with many side dishes, and even some soup to cleanse the palate at the end. When the bibimbap arrives, take your pics and mix up that rice bowl! It was one of my favorite dishes in South Korea (read more about my top dishes in South Korea here)
PNB Bakery Choco Pies
Save some room for dessert around the corner at the PNB Bakery. These choco pies have cream as the filling instead of marshmallows. There are multiple locations though so feel free to go at a different time if you’re too full.
Pungnammun Gate
From the bakery, walk towards the Pungnammun Gate once the south gate of Jeonju Castle. After you snap a few photos, continue with your sightseeing tour of Jeonju hanok village.
Gyeonggijeon Palace
This historical landmark is the largest attraction in Jeonju hanok village and has a shrine that holds the portrait of King Taejo, founder of Joseon.
In the palace courtyard, there are some bamboo groves inside the palace walls, making it a wonderful and quiet place to stroll around and soak in the scenery. It took me about 30-40 minutes to explore the grounds.
Wander Around Hanok Village
Take pictures around the hanok village while you meander around the quaint streets and past the well-preserved traditional wooden houses. Stop by the Omokdae Tourist Information Center if you want to grab a map of the village, send a snail mail postcard back home, or if you need extra information.
Visit a Makgeolli Bar
Makgeolli is a Korean rice wine that is milk-colored, and generally on the sweeter side. Jeonju has some makgeolli districts/alleys that you should look into experiencing. We just went to 천년누리봄 which was near the hanok we stayed at and came with a hanjeongsik (full-course Korean meal that comes with many side dishes).
When going to a makgeolli bar in Jeonju, you are usually ordering by the kettle of makgeolli. You will typically be served a variety of dishes on a set menu that is the perfect accompaniment for drinking. Ours came with a silkworm dish and while I was not adventurous enough to try it, my friend said it doesn’t taste bad. I draw the line at insects when it comes to food. Overall, the price for the makgeolli was really affordable and it was an experience worth staying late in Jeonju for.
Wander Around Hanok Village
During the evening, I found it nice to walk around the hanok village again and see the buildings lit up in the dark. Most stores will close at night, and some day tourists have left making the streets less crowded and noisy. Plus, it’s a good way to burn off the alcohol you just drank.
Day 2
Omokdae
The walk to Omokdae is slightly steep from the hanok village but has a great view of the hanok village rooftops from up top.
When I visited Omokdae early in the morning, I saw locals getting their steps in and doing a few power walk laps in front of the pavilion.
Visit a Cafe or Teahouse
There are many cute cafes or tea houses to choose from. Grab a cup of coffee, or share some sweet treats with the people you are with. There are also traditional tea houses that you can discover as well. Unless you have a lot of other things you are interested in, I’d recommend catching a train back to Seoul right after brunch/lunch.
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