10 Things to do in Jeonju, South Korea – When traveling to Jeonju city, Korea, you can taste the famous stone bowl mixed rice dish, visit the ancient village with more than 800 traditional houses and take countless beautiful photos in Jaman mural village.
jeonju is a charming city located in southwestern Korea, a popular destination for food lovers. Not only does it attract international tourists, domestic tourists also love Jeonju thanks to its famous stone bowl mixed rice (dolsot bibimbap) specialty.
However, traveling to Jeonju, Korea is not only about food. There are many interesting places for you to visit and explore. Wearing a hanbok to take photos on the street is an experience when traveling to Korea. You can find many peaceful moments when traveling to Jeonju city.
Below are Jeonju travel experiences you need to know to make your trip more convenient.
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How to get to Jeonju city, Korea
To get to Jeonju from Seoul, you just need to take the Korean high-speed train (KTX) for a trip lasting less than 2 hours. Train tickets cost 45 USD for economy class.
If you decide to travel by train mainly during your trip to Korea, you can buy a Korail Pass online to save on travel costs.
High-speed trains are a convenient means of traveling from Seoul to Jeonju.
To travel to Jeonju, Korea from other cities, the most convenient means of transportation is the bus. You may have to connect once, but the cost is not too high. For example, to travel from Andong city, North Gyongsang province, you need to catch a bus for 12,500 won ($10 USD) to Daejeon, then change the bus from Daejeon to Jeonju for 7,800 won ($6 USD).
Suggested a few places to stay in Jeonju, Korea
If you are looking for a friendly hostel, not too expensive and located near all attractions, Blue Boat Hostel Jeonju will be a reasonable choice. The facilities here are very good, the atmosphere is pleasant, the staff can assist guests in planning a trip to Jeonju, Korea if desired.
If you prefer to choose a place with more traditional elements, Samlockhon Guesthouse would be a suggestion. This property features a traditional Korean house (hanok) style, located in Jeonju Hanok Village.
During your stay in Samlockhon, you will admire traditional architecture and experience the ancient Korean way of life. Stay at least one night at a hanok to deeply feel the local culture.
Finally, if you are not interested in a hostel, you can also book a regular three-star hotel like Ramada by Wyndham Jeonju as a place to stop during your days traveling to Jeonju Korea .
Specialties not to be missed in Jeonju city
Famous as a destination for gourmets, Jeonju has the best quality restaurants and the main specialty you need to try when traveling to Jeonju Korea is dolsot bibimbap. Of course, you can enjoy this dish in Seoul or anywhere, but Jeonju is still the most ideal place.
Bibimbap is essentially a dish of rice mixed with stir-fried meat and vegetables, often with a soft-boiled egg on top. “Bibimbap” is a compound word consisting of “bibim” (mixture of ingredients) and “bap” (rice). Its characteristic is the mildly spicy sauce that creates an attractive flavor. The rice is quite hot, but you will soon get used to it and thoroughly enjoy this dish.
Dolsot bibimbap is attractive right from the color of the ingredients and presentation.
The best version of bibimbap is dolsot bibimbap, which means bibimbap served in a stone bowl. The great thing about this is that it keeps the dish hot while you enjoy it. Some rice grains are also grilled on a stone bowl to increase the crunchiness of this bibimbap dish.
To enjoy specialties in Jeonju , you should go to the famous restaurant Han Kook Jib. It’s best to go a little earlier or later than normal meal time, otherwise you’ll have to wait quite a long time. A portion of dolsot bibimbap costs about 11,000 won ($8 USD).
In addition to dolsot bibimbap, those with a sweet tooth should definitely not miss the famous bakery when traveling to Jeonju city, Korea – PNB Bakery. The cakes here are very diverse and you will definitely be dizzy to choose.
Top 10 destinations when traveling to Jeonju city, Korea
The big advantage of the list below is that you can easily reach these locations on foot. Although you can visit the whole thing in just one day, travel bloggers recommend exploring Jeonju Korea for at least 2 days to get a feel for the city more slowly.
The list of top destinations in Jeonju city includes:
Jeonju Hanok Village
Jeonju Hanok Village shimmers at night.
Last but not least on this list is one of the most popular tourist destinations Jeonju . That is Jeonju Hanok Ancient Village, which preserves more than 800 traditional Korean houses (called hanok). You can rent a hanbok (Korean traditional costume) for about 10,000 won ($7.5 USD), walk around the neighborhood and take photos.
Jeonju Hanok Village is filled with interesting restaurants, coffee shops, and shopping stores. If you like, you can chat with a fortune teller there too!
Gyeonggijeon Temple
Gyeonggijeon Temple was built in 1410, during the Joseon Dynasty. It is considered a rare construction bearing the mark of King Taejo. The Joseon Dynasty existed until 1910, so you can learn a lot of interesting historical knowledge when visiting this temple. It also has an impressive museum next to the wooden buildings.
Gyeonggijeon Temple is also very suitable for sightseeing and taking impressive photos.
The temple is open from 9am to 7pm, entrance fee is 3,000 won ($2.5 USD).
Jeondong Church
The beautiful Jeondong Church is not far from Gyeonggijeon Temple. This beautiful red brick structure was built by French priest François-Xavier Baudounet in the early 20th century. The church’s location was not chosen by chance, but this is where many Korean Christians have visited. martyrdom.
Jeondong Church is an outstanding architectural work you should visit when traveling to Jeonju city, Korea.
Pungnammun Gate
Pungnammun Gate is one of the gates into Jeonju. The gate is located in the south of the city, built in 1768 during the Joseon Dynasty. This is the only one of the four city gates that still exists, although it was damaged during the Japanese invasion.
Pungnammun Gate still stands tall through many historical ups and downs.
Wansan Park
Imagine you travel to Jeonju in spring, meaning cherry blossom season. The best place in the city to admire the delicate and evocative pink color is definitely Wansan Park. You will have to climb a steep slope to get there but you certainly won’t be disappointed.
Flowers bloom in the park in spring.
Namcheon Bridge
Namcheon Bridge is a lovely structure spanning the Jeonjucheon River. Take your time to cross the bridge, then continue walking along this river and see the peaceful Korean city of Jeonju from a very different angle.
Namcheon Bridge is characterized by Korean architecture.
Nambu Market
Nambu market is the main market here, so you must definitely visit once when traveling to Jeonju city, Korea . If you go there in the morning, you will be instantly energized by the vibrant atmosphere. You can buy clothes, furniture as well as fresh fish, fruits and vegetables there. Part of the market is covered, the rest is an outdoor area.
Nambu market is also very lively at night, so you can choose the right time to visit the market.
Jeonju Hyanggyo Confucian School
“Hyanggyo” means “school” in Korean and Jeonju Hyanggyo is Jeonju’s most famous school. It was once built on the site of Gyeonggijeon temple, but the Japanese invasion caused it to be destroyed. Afterwards, the school was rebuilt in another area of the city.
Jeonju Hyanggyo School is covered with the yellow color of autumn leaves.
As a Confucian school, Jeonju Hyanggyo displays a beautiful portrait of famous Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Jaman mural village
During your trip to Korea , you may gradually realize that many villages or districts in this country have been painted into a giant work of art. Gamcheon Culture Village with brightly painted houses in Busan is one of them. This initiative aims to increase the attractiveness of some poor neighborhoods in Korea, attracting a significant number of tourists!
When traveling to Jeonju city, Korea , Jaman mural village with artistic murals is worth your time to visit, even though it is not as famous as Gamcheon Busan village. You’re sure to take lots of beautiful photos at this destination! Every little corner in Jaman mural village is meticulously painted.
Omokdae
Omokdae is an interesting historical site located in the mountains opposite Jaman village. That’s where General Yi Seong-gye (who would later become the first king of the Joseon Dynasty – King Taejo) chose to celebrate one of his victories over the Japanese army. It has some lovely wooden structures and breathtaking views of Jeonju Hanok Village.
Above is general information about tourism in Jeonju city, Korea that you can refer to for your upcoming journey in the land of kimchi. Hope you will have a meaningful and fun trip!
