This little gem in the middle of South Korea cannot be missed. The show stopper of Jeonju is the Traditional Hanbok Village. Even though Jeonju is small and can easily be visited in one day, it was a highlight of my South Korea trip.
Walk Eunhaeng-ro and simply enjoy the vibes. This is the main street in the Hanok Village with cute stores, cafes and stalls.
Visit Gyeonggijeon Shrine (경기전), a historical attraction built in 1410 at the front of the Hanok Village.
Hanbok rentals are popular, although I wasn’t into cosplay, I enjoyed watching others dress up in traditional clothing.
One of the local specialties in Jeonju is choco pie. The best known bakery to get these is PNB (PoongNyeon JeGwa – 풍년제과), with several stores in Jeonju.
On top of the hill is Omokdae with the best view of the village with its rooftops.
Don’t forget to wander to Jaman Mural Village. Next to the Hanok village you cross the road to a different neightborhood full with colorful murals.
A fun side activity is relaxing at a footbath cafe. Enjoy your aching feet being soaked, get an automated neck/shoulder massage and a (iced) tea while watching people pass by. The whole experience is only ₩14.000 for 30 minutes.
Staying in Jeonju
Staying for one night is plenty of time to explore the Traditional Hanok Village and surroundings. You can opt for a homestay at a hanok. I preferred booking a regular hotel with a comfortable room. I stayed at the Davin Hotel, which is right around the corner of the Hanok Village.
How to get to Jeonju?
From Seoul take the bus from Central City bus terminal, also called Honam Line Terminal. The Express bus terminal and Central City terminal are located next to each other.
Coming from Sokcho I arrived at the Express terminal, and walked over to the Central City terminal on the West side.
Buses to Jeonju depart frequently, travel time is about 2.5 hours and tickets can be bought at the station at the counter or ticket machine. If you prefer to book tickets in advance, I recommend using Klook.
