Suwon Day Trip from Seoul: Why You Shouldn’t Skip Suwon

Suwon is a beautiful underrated city not far from Seoul. I was actually surprised by how much I liked it as I didn’t expect too much. In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about how to take a Suwon day trip from Seoul. I planned it just right for my visit and want to share all my tips! I even loved visiting the Starfield Library here more than the one in Seoul. It’s so nice to walk along the fortress walls and explore all the cafes nearby. Plus, I found a hidden gem that most tourists and guides don’t talk about!

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How Long do you Need in Suwon?

One day is enough to see the highlights of Suwon. It was very doable as a day trip from Seoul. However, if you like to take things slow 2 days would be ideal. The benefit of staying overnight is you can see the fortress walls illuminate. It looks stunning with all the nights. I have seen them in photos and actually regret not staying overnight to experience it.

If you do stay overnight, I’d recommend staying in Haenggung-dong (the fortress area).

One of the most unique experience you can have in Korea is staying in a Honok hotel. It’s truly a dream! I’d stay in this hanok hotel which is ideally located in Suwon.

How to Get to Suwon from Seoul

By Public Transport

The easiest way to get to Suwon from Seoul is by taking the Korail KTX bullet train. It takes about 30 minutes from Seoul Station to Suwon Station. However, depending on where you’re staying in the city, I’d check Naver Maps (it’s Koreas version of Google Maps) for the best route. I ended up taking the bus directly there as it was convenient from my base.

On an Organized Day Trip & Tour

If you don’t want to deal with the transport to Suwon and thinking of how to get around when you’re there, this tour is perfect! It takes you to the Starfield Library, the famous Suwon Fortress Walls, and even another cool stop, the Waujeongsa Temple! I love doing these tours especially as a solo traveler. You get to meet other travelers and learn from locals to find the best hidden gems.

Suwon Day Trip from Seoul: Top Things to Do

9 am – OPTIONAL: Kyung Hee University

Start your morning at Kyung Hee University. I pretty much went here because it was fully in bloom with magical double blossoms on April 21, 2026. This campus is actually so beautiful and they have an impressive Amphitheater which is even more stunning during the blossom season.

The first photo was actually taken from a parking lot on the campus towards the business school!

If you love cherry blossoms like me, this tour will actually take you to them so you don’t have to hunt for them!

10:30 am Suwon Starfield Library

I took an Uber around 10:30am to my next stop! Suwon Starfield Library is located in a huge mall and the library that rivals the one in Seoul. I think it’s more impressive and beautiful. The famous library is Seoul has an escalator and is an insane Instagram hotspot. If you get to that one after 10am, then it’s impossible to enjoy. This one is a little quieter and is even larger in size. The library spans the 4th to 7th floor. I recommend starting at the top and going down to the floor level. You can get some really nice photos from the 6th or 7th floor.

11 am Lunch at London Bagel Museum

I don’t typically recommend spots that are chains or too touristy but the London Bagel Museum lives up to the hype. It’s a local Korean chain with a few locations in Seoul and one in Suwon. If you go to the one in Seoul, you’d expect to wait in line for a while to eat here. But I went to the one in Suwon which is conveniently located in Starfield Suwon. So it’s perfect to visit after you go to the library.

The bagels were really that good! I loved it and you can get different spreads to put on the bagel. I ordered the tomato soup as well and it was so tasty. I kept wondering, when could I go back a second time, but I ran out of time to go again while I was in Seoul.

12:30 pm Walk the Ancient Walls of Hwaseong Fortress

Now you will want to take another Uber from Starfield Library to Hwaseomun Gate. You can also get there by bus. From now on most of your day will be very walkable.

Old Suwon is surrounded by the Hwaseong Fortress which is a UNESCO World Hertitage Site. The wall spans 5.7 km (3.5 miles) long built in the 18th century. It circles around the city and you will enjoy views of the beautiful hills, streams and the city.

The fortress actually has 4 gates so if you start by Hwaseomun Gate, the western gate, you can continue along towards Janganmun Gate, the largest fortress gate in Korea. There is also Hwahongmun Water Gate which is the most beautiful of them all (perfect for the end of this one day itinerary). And finally, Changnyongmun Gate on the eastern side of the fortress. You definetly don’t need to walk the entire 5.7 km unless you have lots of time but you will find the best views from Hwaseomun Gate to Hwahongmun Water Gate.

There’s so much history behind Suwon, if you really want to learn about it then I highly recommend this tour as it goes deep into the culture and history.

1:30 pm Stop for a tea at a Hanok Cafe

A hanok is a traditional Korean home characterized by wooden architechture and courtyards. Many of them have been converted into cafes so during my time in Korea, I loved finding these quaint cafes. The most perfect one in Suwon is Gyeong-Andang. It is not far from the fortress walls and the perfect break from a busy day. I ordered a tea and some of their traditional Korean desserts. They have cozy indoor seating where you can sit on the ground with low tables. I loved sitting outside the cafe where you could see the full architecture of the building.

2:30 pm Wander Suwon’s Historic Streets

Not far from the cafe, you’ll find plenty of cute streets and shops with handmade items. You can even get your caricature drawn at Acorn which is a popular local chain in Korea. It’s a really fun activity and souvenir for your travels!

3 pm Search for K-drama locations

Suwon has been featured in so many K-dramas including LovelyRunner, Extraudinary Attorney Woo, and Our Beloved Summer. Part of the fun is stumbling across filming locations as you explore. The historic streets surrounding Hwaseong Fortress, traditional hanok buildings, and Hwaseong Haenggung Palace have all appeared in various Korean dramas and movies over the years.

Here are a few locations to save but there’s many more!

• 📍Mongted: 145-1 Sinpung-dong Paldal-gu, Suwon-si Gyeonggi-do (Lovely Runner)
• 📍Brussel Fries: 107-2 Jangan-dong Paldal-gu, Suwon-si Gyeonggi-do (Our Beloved Summer)

3:30 pm – Visit the Secret Mural Village

My favorite spot during my day trip to Suwon from Seoul was the hidden mural village. Not many people know this one! It’s called Jidong Mural Village and won’t take long to explore but it’s definetly worth a visit.

This colorful neighborhood was simply a quiet residential area and has since been transformed with murals decorating walls, staircases, and winding streets. The reason being was to revive the neighborhood and attract tourists. It’s proof that there’s so much more to do in Suwon than just the fortress. This little hidden gem in Suwon is perfect for your one day itinerary.

4 pm – Head to Hwahongmun Water Gate

Hwahongmun Water Gate is one of the most postcard worthy photos you can get in Suwon! You will see a beautiful traditional stone bridge with the Suwoncheon Stream flowing beneath the fortress. It was actually built to control the flow of water and at the same time it is part of the city’s defenses. I recommend crossing the bridge and exploring the surrounding area. It was one of the most scenic spots I visited during my one day in Suwon. Walk up along the city walls for some amazing panoramic views. You will see the walls curve along the landscape – it’s really impressive.

If you have the time, I also recommend visiting this popular cafe that has views of the fortress. It’s called Paletscent. Unfortunately, it was closed on a Tuesday when I went. But there’s also another cafe with similar views called Jung Jiyoung Coffee Roasters.

I honestly didn’t expect to like Suwon so much! I am happy I made the day trip and hope this post inspires you to give it a visit!