Hundreds of years ago, Jongno was home to Korea's royal families. The area also played a key role in connecting the capital city with other regions. In the present day, Jongno is a place where the ancestral heritage and modern cultures coexist. It is a hub of tourist activities in the daytime, but nighttime is when you’ll discover its special charms. Keep reading to discover all Jongno has to offer when the sun sets.
Where to go
As part of the Creation of Living Palaces project, the Changdeokgung Palace Moonlight Tour offers a unique opportunity to witness and experience palatial beauty. The tour begins from the main gate, Donhwamun Gate (돈화문), and continues on for approximately two hours through Injeongjeon Hall (인정전), Nakseonjae (낙선재), and Huwon (후원, meaning "secret garden"). To make a reservation, visit the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation website. Reservations are accepted from 20 days before the event.
Korea's beautiful palaces and the royal culture they present have great value as precious tangible and intangible heritages. The Royal Culture festival is held at the Four Royal Palaces and Jongmyo Shrine, allowing visitors to get first-hand knowledge of their value. Each of the five venues will have unique performances, exhibitions, experiences and programs set within the individual traits of the palaces and Jongmyo Shrine.
Running between rows of tall buildings in downtown Seoul, Cheonggyecheon Stream is an urban space that also serves as a cultural and arts venue by providing various recreational areas, including the beautiful promenade alongside the stream. The stream runs with cool, clean water and plants grow along the banks. At night, the fountains throughout the stream, as well as the four-meter-high, two-tiered waterfall at Cheonggye Plaza, create a beautiful symphony of water and light. The Seoul Lantern Festival (held annually in November) and the Lotus Lantern Festival (held annually between April and May), are two of the major must-see nighttime spectacles at Cheonggyecheon Stream.
☞ Address: Taepyeongno 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: City Hall Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 2), Exit 4.
– Walk toward Donga Ilbo Building.
Dongdaemun Station (Seoul Subway Line 4), Exit 8.
- Cross the road after exiting the station.
- Walk toward the stream for 11 minutes.
☞ Website: www.sisul.or.kr (Korean, English)
Bukchon Hanok Village once served as the residential area for the high-ranking officials during the Joseon Dynasty. Located in the neighborhood of Gahoe-dong in Seoul, the village is made up of well-preserved hanoks (traditional Korean houses) where people still reside today. Many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses, providing an opportunity to experience, learn and immerse oneself in traditional culture. 11-gil is especially spectacular at night as it gives one a view of the traditional Korean architecture with the modern buildings and N Seoul Tower in the background.
☞ Address: 37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 2.
– Walk straight for 9 minutes.
☞ Website: bukchon.seoul.go.kr/eng/index.jsp (English, Japanese, Chinese)
Where to eat
Located on the 33rd floor of Jongno Tower, Top Cloud is a restaurant bar and grill with stunning views of the city. The buffet is reasonably priced and the grill serves a deluxe range of dishes and premium wine. In the evening, visitors can enjoy cocktails and live jazz performances while admiring the night view from above.
☞ Address: 33F Jongno Tower Building, 51, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Jonggak Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 3.
- The exit is connected to Jongno Tower.
☞ Website: www.topcloud.co.kr (Korean, English)
Cheongjin-dong in downtown Jongno is a typical food street, proud to be one of the representative food alleys in Seoul. It is widely known as pimatgol alley (literally meaning horse avoidance) as it was frequently used by the common people during the Joseon Dynasty to avoid yangban, the traditional ruling class, riding on horses.
The alley is full of restaurants and pubs serving delicious noodles, haejang-guk (hangover soup), stir-fried octopus, and bindae-tteok (mung-bean pancake) at affordable prices.
☞ Address: The area starting from Jongno 1-ga to Jongno 4-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 3, 5), Exit 1.
- Walk 4 minutes from the exit.
Jongno Street shines even brighter by night than during the day. In the evening, the delicious smells wafting from the street stalls near Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station lure in people. Most of the stalls serve udon noodles, roasted chicken, green onion pancake and more until the wee hours of the morning. Adventurous tourists can get drinks and food at a much lower price in this very exotic environment.
☞ Address: The area of Jongno 3-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul
☞ Directions: Jongno 3(sam)-ga Station (Seoul Subway Line 1, 3, 5), Exit 3 or 6.
This bar-restaurant serves traditional Korean rice wines produced by the brewer Kooksoondang. Menu items include luxurious rice wine (or ale) and makgeolli cocktails, served with traditional Korean seasonal sides as well as a variety of fusion dishes.
*source : KTO(Korea Tourism Organization) www.visitkorea.or.kr
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