Bukchon Hanok Village
북촌한옥마을
A 600-year-old neighborhood of hanok houses on the hillside between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, with about 900 traditional tiled-roof homes. The Eight Views of Bukchon make it Seoul's most photogenic alley.
Bukchon lies on the hillside between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung. During the Joseon Dynasty it was a residential district for royalty and the yangban aristocracy. Around 900 traditional hanok houses remain today. Most are still lived in, while others have been converted into workshops, tea houses, guesthouses, and small museums. The most famous of the officially designated Eight Views of Bukchon are the fifth and sixth. These are the downhill lane at Gahoe-dong 31, where tiled hanok roofs stack up on both sides with the high-rises of central Seoul in the distance. It is the shot nearly every visitor takes. Suggested route: start at Exit 2 of Anguk Station, pick up a map at the Bukchon Culture Center, walk uphill along Gahoe-dong Road to the Eight Views, then come down Samcheong-dong Road to browse the cafés and craft shops. The full loop takes about 2 hours. Many people take photos here in hanbok. Nearby, you can also visit Changdeokgung (a World Heritage Site where the Secret Garden requires a reserved guided tour), the Insa-dong traditional craft street, and the hanok café street of Ikseon-dong. Admission is free. Getting there: Subway Line 3, Anguk Station, Exit 2 or 3, then a 5 to 10-minute walk. Notes: this is a residential neighborhood. Since 2024, the core Gahoe-dong area has had timed visitor restrictions, with tourists barred from entering from 17:00 until 10:00 the next day. Please keep quiet and do not photograph the inside of private homes. The hills are steep, so wear comfortable shoes.
Opening hours
Open all day (visitor hours in the core Gahoe Cave area 10:00–17:00)
Nearby sights
- MMCA Seoul
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Jogyesa Temple
- Insadong
- Ikseon-dong Hanok Street
- Jongmyo Shrine
- Changgyeonggung Palace