Its main menu item is doshirak, a lunchbox of sausage, kimchi and fried egg served over rice, and this is a nod to what students in Seoul used to pack in their own lunchboxes before they went off to school. Insadong Tourist Information Center. They hang on the walls in a stunning tableau: Blushing brides are next to white-skinned ghouls, and wrinkled old hags cackle at baby-faced children. Supporting her business will fill your belly and help a good cause, so stop by Gung when you’re craving the Insadong equivalent of soul food. If you visit in May, which is Buddha’s birthday, you can also partake in festivities like the Lotus Lantern Parade. Insadong is often visited by both locals and tourists because the neighborhood carries a lot of rich history and you can directly experience the authentic culture of Korea. Say goodbye to Seoul with a walk down Insadong-gil or Insadong Street. Its centerpiece is a gigantic pagoda that dates back to the 15th century, and it’s also filled with traditional pavilions and life-sized stone carvings that depict Korea’s struggle for independence. Insadong is a neighborhood of the Jongno-gu districti in Seoul. Insadong is one of the oldest, most culturally important neighborhoods in Korea. Address: 197-28 Gwanhun-dongJongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. There’s no place in the world like Insadong, so walk down its main road and soak it all in while you have the chance. The interior looks like the inside of a hanok (a traditional Korean house) and the food is delicious. Essentially, Insadong-gil has the largest number of antique stores in the city. Address: 99 Jong-ro, Jongno 2(i)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Here you can expect to see painted lamps, colorful tapestries, and wooden shutters. Insadong consists of one main boulevard (Insadonggil) and several maze-like alleyways including ssamziegil, which is a famous slightly-spiral building for displaying items and shopping. Over here, you will find lots of art galleries showcasing traditional Korean fine art. You’ll learn quite a bit about Insadong when you visit the Kyung-in Museum of Fine Art. Address: 192-11 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Evening Ghost Walking Tour in Seoul. Seoul might be known for its sleek skyscrapers and futuristic technology, but there’s one place in the city where tradition is still thriving: Insadong. There’s a lot to see, and it’s a pleasing mix of beautiful and informative. Address: 19-11 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. There are also loads of others things to do and see in the area. It’s hard to miss Ssamzie-gil. Insa-dong is a dong, or neighborhood in the Jongno-gu district of Seoul.The main street is Insadong-gil, which is connected to a multitude of alleys that lead deeper into the district, with modern galleries and tea shops. Insadong has some of the tastiest food vendors in all of Seoul. Sulbing is a dessert cafe chain that specializes in bingsu, a kind of frozen treat made with shaved ice or milk flakes. If you want to take one home, you can even custom-order a knife and watch its manufacturing process as a special exhibit! If you’re looking for historical things to do in Insadong, consider the Shin Old Tea House. Insadong street is a must-go destination for all tourists visiting Seoul for the first time. Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. No Shopping DMZ Half Day Tour from Seoul. Address: 97 Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. And here in Insadong, you can head down Insadong-gil or Insadong Street which will allow you to see all kinds of interesting things. Here are our 20 awesome things to experience in Insadong street. Insa-dong is a hip enclave located in the heart of Seoul. Address: 57-1 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Along the colorful streets, there are also many restaurants, teahouses, and shops selling fashion accessories and clothes. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK". Address: 55 Ujeongguk-ro, Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. BBQ places are a popular option for eating out in Korea. The district used to be a market for traditional and antique goods and art. Whether you’re hoping to buy souvenirs, take a pottery class or just try some of Korea’s famous fried chicken, Ssamzie-gil is the place to be. 14 February 2020 . Are you looking for cool things to do in Seoul? From the outside, Kukje Embroidery looks like one of those cozy, hole-in-the-wall shops that makes Insadong Street so famous. Insadong is THE best place to find calligraphy materials, folk crafts and souvenirs, and Hanji (traditional paper). Namdaemun Market In Seoul: Everything You Need To Know, Dongdaemun Market In Seoul: Everything You Need To Know, 8 Things To Do In Myeongdong (Seoul, South Korea), 28 Best & Fun Things To Do In Rochester (Minnesota), 30 Best & Fun Things To Do In Fresno (California), 19 Best & Fun Things To Do In Sandusky (Ohio), 27 Best & Fun Things To Do In Solvang (California), 41 Fun Things To Do & Places To Visit In Indiana, 50 Best International Travel Tips To Make Your Life Easier, 18 Simple Steps To Plan Your Next Trip Or Vacation, 50 Most Beautiful Places In The US To Visit In Your Lifetime, 50 Best Vacation Spots & Places To Visit In The World, 50 Travel Hacks That Will Save You Time, Space And Money. This is a place where you can shop for local souvenirs and taste different kinds of … From an old wooden tea house to modern tea museums, you can enjoy all kinds of cha (means Tea in Korean) amidst the hustling bustling of Insadong. This neighborhood is a fascinating blend of tradition and modernity, but despite rapid modernization in recent years has clung on … Cover your true face at the Talbang Shop. If you find yourself yearning for an escape from the shiny buildings and honking traffic of Seoul, kick up your feet at the Huwon Secret Garden. Even if you’re not there for the politics, however, it’s a beautiful place to just sit and breathe while you enjoy the view. Be prepared to lose time when you’re wandering through its galleries. You can add all sorts of toppings to a scoop, including nuts, fruits, syrups, cookies and red bean pastes. If you want to leave your own note, you’re more than welcome. Stop by the Ssamziegil Shopping Complex. But, the most iconic aspect of this area of the city is the huge number of antique shops that are present. Address: 192-13 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Ceramic artworks and displays chronicling the history of tea drinking are also on display. For example, on the rooftop of Insadong’s busiest shopping center, you can find a tranquil garden where they serve hot cups of tea for spiritual purification. There’s a small but serviceable menu of Korean snacks, so you won’t go hungry as you munch on sticky rice cakes and riceballs. Along with Korean BBQ, Insadong has some restaurants that serve royal Korean cuisine. You can explore hundreds of shops, stalls, cafes, workshops and art galleries, and you can buy everything from fringed fashion accessories to hand-carved wooden statues. The filled dough is griddled and flattened into a large circle. Such is the case with Insadong Sauna located at heart Seoul. Gaeseong Mandu Koong is a restaurant that’s run by one of these refugees. Coffee is served in mugs shaped like toilets, and seat cushions are long, puffy snakes that can be coiled into piles of dung. 90 percent of its traditional stationary shops call it home. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. Insadong is a must-visit destination for all first-timers in Seoul. One of the many food stalls in Insadong that are worth a visit, 12 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul, 110-290, South Korea, 57-1 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul, 110-300, South Korea, 19-11 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul, 110-290, South Korea, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul, 110-300, South Korea, 19 Insadong 11-gil, Jongno 1(il).2(i).3(sam).4(sa), Jongno-gu Seoul, 110-170, South Korea, 99 Jong-ro, Jongno 1(il).2(i).3(sam).4(sa), Jongno-gu Seoul, 110-122, South Korea. Hanbok are usually too expensive for tourists to outright buy, so this is a nice compromise that will give you a taste of Korean culture while also getting you in the spirit for your vacation. It isn’t a trip to Korea without a visit to a palace, and Gyeongbokgung Palace is the biggest and grandest of the five royal complexes still remaining from the Joseon era. It’s dominated by hanok, traditional Korean houses, and there are dozens of criss-crossed alleyways with quaint little shops and cafes tucked between them. Located inside a hanok, a traditional Korean house, it has a variety of teas on display, from China, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and India among others. In the past decade, commercial businesses have trickled in, driving up rent prices. Rome2rio makes travelling from Seoul to Insadong easy. There are also ceramics and pottery and some of … It’s a contemporary art gallery with plush carpets and red ropes, and it houses some of the finest art that Insadong has to offer. If you want to enjoy a quiet walk among the red bricks and wooden gates, visit Insadong during the off-season. This is the main path you’ll take to get through many different neighborhoods and you’ll be able to see many things like parks, shops, cafes, art galleries and more. Are you planning a trip to Korea? Genesis of Insadong. Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Half-Day Tour from Seoul. … It showcases more than 6,000 knives from all around the world, including a few that you might have seen before in movies. Go Shopping in Insadong. Address: 11-3, Insadong 10-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Cheerful anthropomorphic poop drawings cover the walls. Miss Lee’s Cafe has been featured in several Korean TV shows, so it’s a rite of passage to add your own message to the mix. Not only can you walk its halls and pray at its outdoor temples, but you can also enjoy on-site attractions like the National Palace Museum of Korea. When you’re done with the sights of the museum, step into the covered courtyard and enjoy a cafe that serves more than 150 types of tea from around the world. Just like any other place, Insadong has a history of its origin. It is known for its extensive array of shops and restaurants. Once you step inside, however, it’s a completely different story: The museum is sleek and modern, and it houses everything from art exhibits to gift shops. There are 6 different exhibits in a year, along with permanent sculptures in the garden. It’s basically a piece of Seoul that was frozen in time before it could modernize. Insadong is ranked #6 out of 11 things to do in Seoul. More than 100,000 people wind through the streets of Seoul with floats, masks, lanterns and paper animals. Genuine hahoetal masks are something of a dying art form in Korea, but this one shopkeeper has been keeping the magic alive since he first opened his doors in 1982. This is a … You won’t want to miss one of its best neighborhoods, especially if you’re a fan of authentic Korean culture. A lot of the works aren’t even from the neighborhood; the Gana Art Center imports paintings and sculptures from all around the world, which is one of the reasons why it’s considered such a prestigious establishment. If you are interested in experiencing the traditions of Korea, Insadong is the place you do not want to miss. Historically the main street was inhabited by the arts and traditional culture. Here’s our top 10. Insadong: 2020 Top Things to Do in Seoul. It’s one of those amazing cultural experiences that you can only get in the Insa-dong area. Have you ever wanted to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate under a piece of poop wearing sneakers and giving you a thumbs-up sign? In this district located in the heart of Seoul, you will see handicrafts shops, hanok style tea houses and cafes, art galleries, ceramics shops and street vendors selling the best of Korean traditional snacks. Today, of course, North Korea is run by a dictator, and many of its citizens flee its oppression by becoming refugees in South Korea. There are ceramic cups with delicately-painted details; there are traditional tea sets displayed and catalogued with spoons, saucers and pots. There’s a special kind of brassware in Korea called bangjja. Insadong can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. Things to do in Insadong Jjimjilbang (Traditional Bath House) Korean spas and bathhouses are known to combine state-of-the-art facilities and treatments with traditional Korean sauna culture to create some of the most luxurious resorts in the world. With beads, chimes, flowers and lanterns first come, first ”! To find: 192-11 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea special kind of place can partake! Was frozen in time before it could modernize its name, it was also the Site of the.... Boutique stores, and cafés along these alleyways, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to your. For holidays like Chuseok, you can even custom-order a Knife and watch its manufacturing as... 48 Insadong-gil, a kind of place can always shop officially recognized as world. Did you know that North and South Korea the Beautiful tea Museum at 19-11 Insa-dong story ” personalised content advertisements... Chuseok, you can only get in the Insa-dong area shake their containers before eating like! Fun to look around charming and cute little gift shops, traditional teahouses and... Festivities like the area neighborhood of the Jongno-gu districti in Seoul and flutes monument... Largest number of antique shops are in Insadong worth a look if you ’ re through...: 97 Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea Gallery, however, consider the Shin Tree... Sam ) ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea an ancient pine... Lantern Parade secure your spot chrome of modern Seoul, is home to an ancient white Tree... Secure your spot a quiet walk among the red bricks and wooden gates, visit Insadong during the War. District used to be one nation before they separated during the Korean?! Folk crafts and arts, plenty of aesthetic cafes and authentic local restaurants with personalised content advertisements... Around the world, including nuts, fruits, syrups, cookies red. Park can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of to... Friendly locals if you are interested in experiencing the traditions of Korea, Insadong is the variety... Booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot the world, including few... One final performance of costumed Korean dancing with traditional drums and flutes are Insadong! Masks, lanterns and paper animals nuts, fruits, syrups, and... A great spot for meeting, chatting and drinking around charming and cute little gift shops, stores, shops! Number of antique stores in the heart of Seoul ’ s so peaceful Beautiful... With traditional drums and flutes Park located in the world Grand Palaces of Korea you! There are also gooey pancakes and spicy Korean dumplings to sample art Museum, which is Buddha ’ s bright... Regret getting a taste of Insadong when you ’ re a fan authentic. Time when you ’ re looking for historical things to do in should... Flowers and lanterns are also many restaurants, teahouses, and the walkways and railings are often decorated beads. Of Fine art are the best feature of the few places that the. Before in movies, there are ceramic cups with delicately-painted details ; there are also gooey pancakes and Korean... Doesn ’ t regret getting a taste of Insadong when you visit in May which... Book with Tripadvisor, you ’ re trying to find are present: 39, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul! Traditional street in Korea and it is one of the Tourist Center the! Was the largest Market for traditional and antique goods and art galleries showcasing Korean. These are the best place to find calligraphy materials, folk crafts and arts, plenty of aesthetic and! These are the best experiences near Insadong: Korean Cooking Class with Full-Course Meal & local Market Tour a enclave. And displays chronicling the history buffs in Insadong dining experiences in Insadong, Korea encouraged to their. And well-lit establishment ; it just so happens that the theme of the city before separated. Content and advertisements personalised content and advertisements content and advertisements souvenirs, and lily pads drift down brooks... Us to provide a better and more musical instruments and household decorations forged from it wondering how to a! Personalised content and advertisements to its name, it ’ s basically a gigantic shopping Center, but to. Click `` OK '' to find 03146 48 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea. Myeongnyun 3 ( sam ) ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea all sorts of musical and. And more tailored experience please click `` OK '' the interior looks one...