The Suwon Hwaseong Fortress is about an hour south of Seoul and makes for the perfect day trip. It’s beautiful any time of the year and there is something to do for everybody whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family/friends. You could easily spend an entire day here. However, it also makes for a great weekend trip as there are tons of other fun things to do in Suwon. This is everything you need to know for your trip to the Fortress!
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About Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
The Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was built between 1794 and 1796 and is the only fortress in Korea that is still fully intact. The walls of the fortress are almost 6 kilometers long and completely surround the center of Suwon City. Access to the Fortress is controlled by four main gates: Janganmun, Hwaseomun, Paldalmun, and Changnyongmun. There are also a number of floodgates, observation towers, command posts, and even secret gates at the Fortress! Many parts of the Fortress were destroyed or damaged during the Korean war but have since been fully restored. The Suwon Hwaseong Fortress became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area.
King Jeongjo had the Fortress built because he planned to move the capital from Seoul to Suwon (obviously this never actually happened). The Fortress was built to honor and protect the remains of Prince Sado (King Jeongjo’s father) even though Prince Sado was sentenced to death after becoming extremely violent and irrational. Prince Sado was ordered by King Yeongjo (his father, King Jeongjo’s grandfather) to climb into a rice chest and stay there until he died of starvation. Should you be interested in learning more about the history, there is a movie called ‘The Throne’ on Netflix!
What to See at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
Janganmun / 장안문 (North Gate)
I started at the Janganmun Gate when I visited the Fortress for many reasons. First of all, there is a large parking lot across the street from this gate which made for easy access. I had read somewhere that parking costs 2,000 KRW (about 2 USD) but we weren’t charged anything to park here. There was an attendant’s booth in the lot though so it might have just been luck that we were able to park for free that day. Secondly, there is a ticket office (and a couple of cafes!) located right inside the gate. They even had free maps available which definitely came in handy!
I entered at the Janganmun Gate and started walking towards the Hwaseomun Gate. From there I walked the entire fortress wall (plus a few detours in between) until I made it right back to where I started. I’m not at all saying that this is the best way to do it, but it worked for me. There are quite a few suggestions on the free map of walking routes to take if you’re not sure where to begin.
Hwaseomun / 화서문 (West Gate)
Hwaseomun would by far be the best photo spot in the fortress (in my opinion). On one side of the Hwaseomun Gate (inside the Fortress) you’ll find tons of great restaurants, cafes, and even play areas for children. On the other side (outside of the Fortress) is a beautiful park which is the perfect spot for picnics in the spring.
Seojangdae Command Post
Don’t forget to check out my other post: Anyang Art Park in South Korea: A Day Trip From Seoul.
The Seojangdae Command Post has been destroyed twice by fire but fully restored both times. From up here, you will get some of the best views over the city of Suwon and the surrounding mountains. Right next to the command post, you’ll find a long stairway that you can use to hike down to the Haenggung Temporary Palace.
Hyowon’s Bell
Hyowon’s Bell is located right at the top of Paldalsan Mountain. It was created to honor King Jeongjo’s devotion to his father and was designed with many intricate details and carvings on the bell. When the bell is rung, it is always rung three times. The first ring is to show gratitude for the love of one’s parents, the second ring is for the hope of happiness in one’s family, and the third ring is as a prayer for improvement of one’s self. If you should choose to do so, you may pay 1,000 KRW to make a wish and ring the bell yourself.
Seonamammun / 서남암문 (Secret Gate)
The Seonamammun Gate is just up the hill from the Paldalmun Gate. It’s surrounded by multiple turrets, pavilions, a firearms bastion, hiking trails, and gorgeous monuments. The walkways leading up to this secret gate are beautiful in the spring as they are all lined with huge cherry blossom trees.
Paldalmun / 팔달문 (South Gate)
Paldalmun is the southernmost and largest gate of the fortress and is actually considered a national treasure in Korea. It’s located farther away from the rest of the gates of the Fortress. But, it’s surrounded by restaurants, shops, and markets. Don’t forget to check out the Paldalmun Market while you’re here!
Daeseungwon / 대승원
Daeseungwon is a temple not far from the Haenggung Palace. The temple itself is quite small but you’ll find a huge golden statue of a Buddha here. It definitely makes for a great photo op! Just outside of the temple you’ll find the ‘Beautiful Haenggung-gil Craft Street’.
Hwaseong Haenggung Temporary Palace
I didn’t actually walk down to the Temporary Palace on this trip but it’s definitely one of the most popular spots within the Fortress. A “temporary palace” is a place where the king and royal family would go in times of war. Nowadays, the temporary palace is used as a venue for many different performances, traditional activities, and festivals. For a small fee, you can even rent traditional warrior clothing here for a bit of dress-up fun!
Bronze Statue of King Jeongjo
King Jeongjo is the one who had the Fortress built, so naturally, there’s a statue of him here. King Jeongjo was the 22nd ruler of the Joseon Dynasty and died at the age of 47. He is remembered for his devotion to his parents and for the value that he placed on art and culture. The statue is absolutely gorgeous, especially just before sunset and with all of the cherry blossoms in the background.
Hwahongmun Gate/ 화홍문 (The Water Gate)
The Hwahongmun Gate was my favorite spot in the entire Fortress. We made it there just before sunset and it was gorgeous. It seemed much less crowded than many other spots inside the Fortress. This made it the perfect spot to relax and take a break from all the walking. In order to get to the spot in the photos, you’ll have to walk along the stream for a while until you find the stairway that takes you down to the water (it’s not hard to find at all) and then walk along the water back towards the gate. From down here you can also walk through the arches under the gate and over to a small park.
Dongbukgangnu Pavillion
The Dongbukgangnu Pavilion is located right up the hill from the Hwahongmun Gate and offers some of the best views in the entire Fortress. There is a small pond down the hill from the Pavilion where you will find couples having picnics by the water when it’s warm out. If you continue walking along the wall past the Pavilion, it will lead you to the Dongjangdae Command Post, the Dongbukgongsimdon Observation Tower, and the Changnyongmun Gate.
Sinpungnu / 신풍누 (Main Gate)
Every Tuesday through Sunday, at 11AM, there is a martial arts performance at Sinpungnu (the main gate). This is also where you’ll find the Jangeongyeong changing of the guards ceremony. The Sinpungnu Gate is located at the entrance of the Temporary Palace and costs an additional 1,500 KRW (about 1.50 USD) to get in.
Best Time to Visit the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
As with most places in South Korea, the best time to visit would be in the spring or fall. The summer months can be unbearably hot and winter months can be unbearably cold. In the spring you’ll find the Fortress surrounded by cherry blossoms and in the fall, you can enjoy beautiful foliage. However, the weather is not the only thing that changes with the seasons at the Fortress. These are some of the different seasonal activities that take place every year:
Winter: The ‘Watch-Night Bell Event’ and the end-of-the-year concert are held every year on December 31st at Yeomingak in front of the Haenggung Temporary Palace.
Spring: Every spring marks the beginning of the Hanmadang Program. This is a reoccurring martial arts performance as well as a Royal Guards Ceremony that takes place at the Fortress.
Summer: Suwon Culture Night (which is actually 8 nights) is held at the Fortress every August. This consists of many different performances, markets, lights, art exhibitions, and more. All of which take place at night!
Fall: Every October, the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival is held at the Fortress. Here you will find many different unique cultural performances and experiences.
Other Things to Do at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
- Gukgung Experience (Archery)
- Night View Tour
- Hwaseong Tourist Trolley
- Suwon I Park Museum of Art
- Flying Suwon
- Haenggung-dong Mural Village
- Suwon Hwaseong Museum
- Free Exercise Equipment
- Ji-dong Mural Village
To book your day tour to the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress with Klook, click here.
How to Get There
Address | 910, Jeongjo-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do
From Seoul | Getting to Suwon from Seoul takes about 45 minutes to an hour. If you take the train from Seoul Station to Suwon Station, it’s about a 50-minute ride. From there you will take the No. 5 bus to Jangan Park and walk to the entrance.
Parking | You can park at the Hwaseong Haenggung parking lot or the Yeonmudae parking lot. Parking costs 2,000 KRW for 3 hours, 10,000 KRW for an entire day.
Hours | November to February: 9AM to 5PM, March to October: 9AM to 6PM
Admission | 1,000 KRW (about 1 USD) for entry to the fortress. 1,500 KRW (about 1.50 USD) for entry to the Haenggung Temporary Palace. You can also purchase an “all-in-one ticket” which gives you entry to the Suwon Fortress, Haenggung Temporary Palace, Suwon Hwaseong Museum, and the Suwon Museum. The all-in-one ticket costs 3,500 KRW (about 3 USD). There are discounts for children and groups of 20+ people.
Are you planning a trip to the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress soon? Share in a comment below!
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What a gorgeous place! South Korea is on my list! You have gorgeous pictures.
I have never been to South Korea, but this fortress looks amazing! The only walled city I have been to was in Croatia, and this looks different yet equally as beautiful!
What a beautiful place! I love visiting places that are rich with history, and this looks like a great match. Thank you for such an informative post.
I have wanted to visit Seoul since watching the 1988 Olympic Games as a kid. Suwon Hwaseong Fortress looks incredible, I’ll pin it for when I one day visit!
This is an insightful, informative and inspirational post about a truly lovely and historic site! Thanks so much for the time and effort that went into creating this. The pictures are amazing and truly capture the culture and spirit of this destination!
Korea has such a unique and amazing architecture! I am pretty sure I would have a terrific time with building photography.