By Stefanie Kosim
Let’s be honest—sometimes Seoul can feel a bit too familiar. Same cafes, same streets, same hangout spots. If you’ve ever thought, “I need a change of scenery, but I don’t want to go too far,” this one’s for you: a one-day trip to Suwon that’s close, easy, and surprisingly aesthetic.
Cool Tips of Getting to Suwon:
Do you know that ypu can skip the slow subway (which takes 1.5 hours) and hop on a KTX train from Seoul Station to Suwon Station? you’ll be there in just 30 minutes! Depending on which train you choose (like Mugunghwa, ITX-Cheongchun, or Saemaeul), tickets range from only 2,000 to 6,000 won. It’s honestly a steal for such convenience and time saved.
You can check your options and times easily on the official KTX Korail site: https://www.letskorail.com/
Now that you have arrived at Suwon Station, what can you do?
- Stroll Through Haenggung-dong (행궁동)
Head to Haenggung-dong, a cozy little neighborhood filled with mural art, retro shops, and vintage vibes. They have lots of cute accessories shops selling keychains, aesthetic stuff and many more that you can just stop by and look around!
- For the K-Drama Fans: “Our Beloved Summer” Shooting Spot
Do you know that Suwon is well-known for being used in a lot of K-drama shoots? Some dramas like “Our Beloved Summer” or “Lovely Runner” shooting locations are actually in Suwon and you visit some of those filming locations! Choi Woong’s house, for instance, is located at 109-1 Jangan-dong, Paldal-gu, right near Hwaseong Fortress. Walking through these locations adds a touch of cinematic magic to your trip!
Naver Map location: https://naver.me/5D8ozMB9
3. Coffee Break in Suwon
Suwon is also well-known for its MZ-style and aesthetic cafes! With a different vibe from Seoul cafes and definitely cheaper prices! Here are some café recommendations that are worth for your visit:
- Gyeongandang (경안당)
Special café of Korean traditional drinks and dessert with Hanok-style interior!
Location: https://naver.me/IgJGvNhh (경기 수원시 팔달구 화서문로31번길 8-15)
Menu recommendation: Matcha Latte, Omija tea, Bingsu
4. Lunch or Dinner?
When in Suwon, it’s practically a rule to try their famous fried chicken (통닭/tongdak) ! You can try their famous fried chicken for an affordable price in:
- JinMi TongDak (진미통닭)
Location: https://naver.me/5MVzlI8a (경기 수원시 팔달구 정조로800번길 21 진미통닭)
source: 진미통닭 Official Naver Map
Recommendation: order the half/half chicken which consist of fried one and yangnyeom flavor and also you should try the fried whole chicken (통닭) as their speciality!
If you don’t like chicken or are not in the mood for it, there is also a good seafood-based restaurant in Suwon!
- 행궁애월 (marinated seafood in soy-sauce speciality~)
Location: https://naver.me/5A3pwN81 (경기 수원시 팔달구 화서문로46번길 3 행궁애월)
Recommendation: albalone set (on picture) or half-half set (albalone and shrimp)
Bonus Stop: Starfield Suwon
If you still have time before heading back to Seoul, check out Starfield Suwon! There is a huge library inside the mall, which is worth visiting for the view and also for the pictures. Apart from that, the mall itself also have lots of shopping tenants and restaurants that you might want to try! Also, since this is a full-indoor place, this is the place recommendation to visit just in case the weather is not good, either too cold or too hot ☺
Okay, so what are you waiting for? Pack your bag, grab your train ticket, and go explore somewhere new this weekend!
myHUBS 
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