Jeonju in 2 days with a night in the hanok area

Two days in Jeonju: Hanok Village sights first, then the Hyanggyo and Deokjin Park

Jeonju Hanok Village, with around 700 hanok, is Korea's largest and only urban traditional hanok village. Jeonju is also Korea's first UNESCO City of Gastronomy, so a trip of walking heritage sites and eating local food suits it well.

A day trip from Seoul is possible, but with one night you can follow the Jeonju guide's 2-day route as it is. On Day 1, walk the sights around the Hanok Village and have Jeonju bibimbap for dinner. On Day 2, start with kongnamul-gukbap, see Jeonju Hyanggyo, then take a bus or taxi to Deokjin Park. A route that fits everything into one day is in a separate post.

• Day 1: Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Jeondong Cathedral, Pungnammun Gate, Omokdae and Imokdae, Jaman Mural Village, Jeonju bibimbap for dinner
• Day 2: kongnamul-gukbap for breakfast, Jeonju Hyanggyo (closed Mondays), bus or taxi to Deokjin Park's Yeonhwajeong Library (closed Mondays)

• Jeonju travel guide →
• One day in Jeonju Hanok Village →

Getting there and around: KTX from Yongsan to Jeonju Station

Take the KTX from Yongsan Station in Seoul to Jeonju Station. It takes about 1 hr 40 min; check times and fares on Korail's official site (korail.com). Express buses run from Seoul Central City Terminal to Jeonju Express Bus Terminal in about 2 hr 40 min. Check timetables and fares on the bus operators' official booking sites.

City buses are useful from the station or terminal to the Hanok Village and Deokjin Park; check routes with official information. A taxi is handy with luggage or between the Hanok Village and Deokjin Park. The sights around the Hanok Village are easy to combine on foot. Korea Tourism Organization's 1330 Travel Hotline (+82-2-1330) answers transport and travel questions.

• KTX: Yongsan Station to Jeonju Station about 1 hr 40 min; check fares with Korail
• Express bus: Central City Terminal to Jeonju Express Bus Terminal about 2 hr 40 min; check fares with the operators
• In town: walk around the Hanok Village; city bus or taxi for the station, terminal and Deokjin Park

Day 1: Gyeonggijeon to Jaman Mural Village on foot, Jeonju bibimbap for dinner

Start with Gyeonggijeon Shrine inside the Hanok Village. Founded in 1410, this Historic Site holds the portrait of King Taejo, founder of the Joseon dynasty, and has a main hall, stone walls and a bamboo forest. Closing time changes by season (18:00 Nov–Feb, 20:00 Jun–Aug, 19:00 otherwise) and last entry is 1 hour before closing, so it is easiest to go there first when you arrive.

Next, see Jeondong Cathedral, built on the spot where Catholic martyrs of the Joseon dynasty died, and Pungnammun Gate, the southernmost of Jeonju's four city gates. Jeondong Cathedral is a working church with Mass, so check Mass times on its official site (jeondong.or.kr) and visit quietly.

In the afternoon, pass Omokdae, the hilltop where Yi Seong-gye (later King Taejo) celebrated a victory, and Imokdae across a bridge, then climb to Jaman Mural Village on the ridge between them. The Hanok Village is visible from the wide street, but the climb is steep, so wear comfortable shoes. Dinner is Jeonju bibimbap: seasoned vegetables, beef and yellow mung bean jelly arranged in a circle on warm rice, mixed with red chili paste.

• Gyeonggijeon: adults (25–64) KRW 3,000, ages 13–24 KRW 2,000, ages 7–12 KRW 1,000
• Gyeonggijeon free: last Wednesday of each month, ages 6 and under, ages 65 and over
• Jeondong Cathedral: check Mass times at jeondong.or.kr
• Jaman Mural Village: steep climb, comfortable shoes

Where to stay: the Hanok Village area or around Deokjin Park

The guide names the Jeonju Hanok Village area for a first visit, hanok stays and walking the heritage sites. The village began in the early 1900s around Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Omokdae and Jeonju Hyanggyo, so staying here lets you walk to both the Day 1 sights and Jeonju Hyanggyo on Day 2 morning. You can book a hanok stay or visit the Hanok Life Experience Hall, and there are hanbok and traditional performance experiences.

The area around Deokjin Park (Deokjin-gu) suits the lotus pond and walks. The hanok library Yeonhwajeong stands in the middle of the pond, and summer lotus flowers look even better at night. Accommodation, such as hanok stays, is most of the budget, so compare prices for your dates on booking sites.

• Jeonju Hanok Village area: first visit, hanok stays, walking the heritage sites
• Around Deokjin Park (Deokjin-gu): lotus pond, walks

Day 2: kongnamul-gukbap, Jeonju Hyanggyo, Deokjin Park, and avoid Mondays

Breakfast is kongnamul-gukbap, rice soup with crunchy bean sprouts in a rich broth made with anchovy and seafood. Then head to Jeonju Hyanggyo.

Jeonju Hyanggyo is a Joseon-era local Confucian school, moved to its current site in 1603. Daeseongjeon Hall enshrines the tablets of 7 Chinese and 18 Korean scholars, and its 400-year-old ginkgo tree makes it most beautiful in fall. Entry is free. Afterwards, take a bus or taxi to Deokjin Park. The ㄱ-shaped hanok library Yeonhwajeong in the middle of the lotus pond is open 10:00–19:00 and free.

Check the weekday when you pick your dates. Jeonju Hyanggyo and Yeonhwajeong Library both close on Mondays. If you arrive on Sunday and leave on Monday, both Day 2 stops are closed, so moving your trip by one day is the simplest fix. If Monday is a public holiday, the Hyanggyo closes the next business day, so check the day after a holiday too.

• Jeonju Hyanggyo: free, closed Mondays (next business day if Monday is a public holiday)
• Deokjin Park Yeonhwajeong Library: 10:00–19:00, closed Mondays, free
• Sunday–Monday trip: both Day 2 stops are closed

When to go: April–May and September–October by the climate normals

By Korea Meteorological Administration normals (Jeonju (Wansan) station, 1991–2020), average highs are about 18–27°C in April to May and September to October. This route is walking on both days, so look at these four months first.

July is the wettest month (303 mm), and August has 290 mm. January has highs of 5°C and lows of -4°C. Korea Tourism Organization notes the lotus flowers at Deokjin Park's pond in summer and Jeonju Hyanggyo's 400-year-old ginkgo tree, at its most beautiful in fall. Check weather and event dates on official sites before you go.

• April: high 20°C / low 7°C / rain 78 mm
• May: high 25°C / low 13°C / rain 83 mm
• September: high 27°C / low 17°C / rain 128 mm
• October: high 22°C / low 10°C / rain 57 mm
• July: high 31°C / low 23°C / rain 303 mm

Budget, food and a checklist before you go

Hanok Village entry and Jeonju Hyanggyo are free, so walking the sights costs little. Yeonhwajeong Library is free too, and the paid site is Gyeonggijeon at KRW 3,000 for adults. Check KTX and express bus fares on Korail and the bus operators' official sites, and hotels and food on booking sites. Accommodation, such as hanok stays, is most of the budget.

Besides Jeonju bibimbap and kongnamul-gukbap, there is hanjeongsik, a Korean set-course meal, and kalguksu, knife-cut noodle soup; for a snack, Jeonju Choco Pie is handmade with chocolate, strawberry jam and cream. Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check official information before you travel.

• KTX and express bus timetables and fares: check official sites
• Weekday: make sure Day 2 is not a Monday (Jeonju Hyanggyo and Yeonhwajeong Library closed)
• Gyeonggijeon last entry: 1 hour before closing
• Stay: Hanok Village area or around Deokjin Park; compare prices on booking sites
• Comfortable shoes (the climb to Jaman Mural Village)

• Full Jeonju travel guide →
• Which month is best for Jeonju? By the climate normals →
• Day trips from Seoul by train: Gangneung, Jeonju or Gyeongju →

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