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If you’re lucky enough to be planning a trip to Jeonju, South Korea, get ready for rich history, unique cultural experiences, and culinary delights. Known for its Hanok Village, the largest village of traditional Korean houses in the country, Jeonju is the perfect addition to any traveler’s Korea itinerary. From exploring the beautiful historic sites to trying its signature dish bibimbap, there’s no shortage of things to do in Jeonju, one of Korea’s most charming and authentic destinations.
Things to do in Jeonju: FAQs
Why should I visit Jeonju?
Jeonju is a must-visit destination in South Korea. Known for its beautiful Hanok Village, where you can experience traditional Korean culture and architecture firsthand, Jeonju offers an immersive cultural experience. The city is also famous for its delicious food, particularly bibimbap, which originated here and is considered the best in the country. UNESCO even designated it as a City of Gastronomy, making it a foodie’s paradise. With its rich history, unique cultural experiences, and renowned cuisine, Jeonju is the perfect addition to your Korea trip.
When should I visit Jeonju?
Jeonju is a good destination year-round, but spring or fall are the most enjoyable times to visit. Korea experiences harsh summers and winters, and since most of Jeonju’s main attractions are outside, it’s best to visit when the weather is mild and the skies are clear.
Fall is an amazing time to visit Jeonju when it hosts its annual Bibimbap Festival, the weather is ideal, and the fall foliage is colorful. Check out the other best things to do in fall in Korea.
How to get to Jeonju?
Jeonju is easily accessible from all over Korea. Your options include:
- By train: Usually, your fastest option is to take a KTX (Korea Train Express) to Jeonju Station. From Seoul, it takes 1.5 hours. Unfortunately, there is no direct fast train from Busan.
- By bus: The cheapest option is to take a bus to Jeonju Intercity or Express Bus Terminal. It takes 2.5 hours from Seoul and 3 hours from Busan without traffic.
- By guided tour: If you’d rather sit back and enjoy a hassle-free journey, you can join a guided tour with a local tour guide. This is an especially worthwhile option if you are traveling to Jeonju on a day trip because it allows you to see as much as possible in one day.
To conveniently see all the highlights of Jeonju in one day with a local tour guide, join this group tour from Seoul.
How long to spend in Jeonju?
A one to two-day trip is the perfect amount of time to spend in Jeonju. Everything on this list of the best things to do in Jeonju is within walking distance of each other, so you can easily get around and cover a lot of ground in little time. You’ll need at least one full day to explore, but it’s up to you if you want to spend the night or make it a day trip.
Jeonju is one of the best day trips you can take from Seoul or Busan. Check out my guides to the best day trips from Seoul and the best day trips from Busan.
Where to stay in Jeonju?
The best place to stay is near or in Jeonju Hanok Village. This area is called Pungnam-dong, and it’s the best location for easy, walkable access to all of the best things to do in Jeonju.
For the best immersive cultural experience, I highly recommend staying in a hanok. There are many guesthouses in the hanok village where you can sleep in traditional Korean houses and experience their way of life. Be aware that these hanoks often have traditional sleeping arrangements where you sleep on a thin pad on the floor. While I recommend toughing it out for a night for the experience, I understand if you’re not up for this. I included some Western-style accommodation options as well, although they are harder to find.
4-star hanok: Gyeonggijeon Yeonga ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4-star hotel: Lahan Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3-star hanok: Hanok Hyeyum ⭐⭐⭐
2-star hanok: Happiness Full Hanok Guesthouse ⭐⭐
Hostel: Blueboat Hostel ⭐
Is Jeonju good for solo travelers?
Jeonju is one of the best places for solo travelers in Korea! Like the rest of South Korea, it’s safe and comfortable for those traveling on their own. It’s well-connected by public transportation, and most of its top sights are walkable. Every place on this list of the best things to do in Jeonju is within walking distance. This makes it not only safe but also easy and convenient to explore as a solo traveler.
After solo traveling around Korea for three years, I put together my ultimate South Korea Solo Travel Guide including safety, tips, and what to expect.
Best things to do in Jeonju
Jeonju Hanok Village
Jeonju Hanok Village is the main attraction in Jeonju, and for good reason. Comprising of over 700 traditional Korean houses called “hanok”, it’s Korea’s largest traditional hanok village. You could spend hours wandering the streets of the Hanok Village and discovering its many charming alleyways, museums, tea houses, and more. Things to do in Jeonju Hanok Village include:
- Cafe Jeonmang (전망): a cafe with stunning panoramic views over the Hanok Village
- Rent hanbok: it’s the perfect place to rent traditional Korean clothing and wander around or have a photoshoot
- I rented my hanbok at Hanboknam and loved the colorful hanbok options and included hair styling!
- Visit a traditional tea house: Gyodongdawon (교동다원) is a lovely, quaint tea house but there are many more tucked away
- Hanok Village History Museum: museum telling the history of the Hanok Village
- Jeonju Crafts Exhibition Hall: traditional Korean craft exhibitions
- Jeonju Traditional Hanji Center: traditional Korean paper production center
- Jeonju Traditional Liquor Museum: museum all about traditional Korean liquor
Gyeonggijeon Shrine and the Royal Portrait Museum
Next to the Hanok Village is Jeonju’s second-most famous attraction, Gyeonggijeon Shrine. The shrine was built in 1410 and houses a portrait of King Tae-jo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty. The complex includes traditional buildings, gates, and the Royal Portrait Museum. Other than the famous portrait of King Tae-jo, you can see portraits of other important royals and learn about their history.
Omokdae
On the outskirts of the Hanok Village is Omokdae, a historic pavilion on a steep hill. It’s a historic site related to King Tae-jo, the founder of the Joseon Dynasty (who is enshrined at Gyeonggijeon Shrine). Today, it’s famous for its gorgeous views of Jeonju Hanok Village. You have to climb stairs to get to the top, but it should only take about 15 minutes.
Hanbyeokdang Pavilion
Hanbyeokdang Pavilion is a peaceful, small pavilion on the Jeonjucheon Stream. It was built in the Joseon Dynasty in 1404 with beautiful views of the river and nearby mountains. It’s a quaint, non-touristy place to see traditional architecture and have a break after exploring the other nearby attractions.
Jeonjuhyanggyo Confucian School
Jeonjuhyanggyo is a Confucian School that was established during the Joseon Dynasty and served as a national education center. 25 Confucian scholars are enshrined in the main building and the grounds are renowned for the old, huge ginkgo trees that are especially gorgeous in the fall.
Jaman Mural Village
This hilltop village is covered in colorful murals, local stores, and quiet cafes. As opposed to the nearby Jeonju Hanok Village, Jaman Mural Village is modern, bright, and eccentric. If you’re up for an uphill walk, it’s a great place for artsy photo ops and a coffee break.
Jeondong Cathedral
This important Catholic church was built in honor of Roman Catholic martyrs of the Joseon Dynasty. It’s built on the same site where the martyrs were executed and is the first Romanesque-Byzantine style building in the region. Many people call it the most beautiful Catholic church in Korea because of its unique red bricks.
Nambu Market
Comprised of over 800 stores, Nambu Traditional Market sells street food, produce, furniture, silk goods, and more. It’s best to visit on a Friday or Saturday night when the night market comes alive with street food galore. It’s an authentic place to try local Korean street food for an affordable price.
Pungnammun Gate
Pungnammun Gate is a remnant of the Jeonju fortress walls that used to surround the city. It’s the only remaining of four gates that existed along the walls. Now, it’s located in the middle of a roundabout near Jeonju Hanok Village. It’s right outside of Nambu Market, so stop by after the night market to see it beautifully lit up.
Try bibimbap
Bibimbap has taken the world by storm as one of the most beloved foods in Korean cuisine. It’s a bowl of rice mixed with various toppings, including eggs, sliced meat, sauteed vegetables, and gochujang to spice it up. Jeonju is the home of bibimbap, so you must try it while you’re there. The most famous bibimbap restaurant is GoGoong (고궁), where the signature dishes are the traditional bibimbap and the hot pot bibimbap. You can’t go wrong! Just be prepared for a wait, or arrive shortly after it opens.
Bibimbap is so important to Jeonju that every fall, it hosts its Bibimbap Festival. Check out my guide to the best things to do in fall in Korea, including the Jeonju Bibimbap Festival.
Try a choco pie
Choco pies are a classic Korean snack cake with two layers of cake, a filling in the middle (typically marshmallow), and a chocolate coating. Jeonju is home to Korea’s most famous choco pie bakery, PNB. With locations all over the city, PNB Bakery has many flavors of choco pies, including white chocolate, banana, and the signature chocolate. Supposedly, even the president of Korea gets his choco pies from PNB. They make for the perfect dessert after your bibimbap meal.
Jeonju is a treasure trove of cultural, culinary, and historical delights that should not be missed. From exploring its charming Hanok Village to trying its famous bibimbap, Jeonju is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Korean culture.
Keep reading:
- 2 week South Korea itinerary & travel guide from a local
- 31 unmissable things to do in spring in Korea
- 22 best things to do in summer in Korea
- Fall in Korea: The 26 best things to do
- 25 unmissable things to do in Korea in winter
- 10 best day trips from Busan
- 15 best day trips from Seoul
- South Korea Solo Travel Guide: Safety, tips, & what to expect
- Top 9 things to do in Gyeongju, South Korea & 2-day itinerary
- Where to stay in Seoul, South Korea: A local’s guide
- 20 best things to do in Seoul, South Korea
- Seoul itinerary: Local’s guide to 1 week or less
- Where to stay in Busan: Top areas for every traveler
- 16 best things to do in Busan, South Korea
- Busan itinerary: 2, 3, or 4 days in South Korea’s coastal gem
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