Buyeo, which is located about three hours south of Seoul, is one of the best weekend trips in South Korea. It’s not a super touristy destination but it’s full of amazing cultural and historical sites to explore. For the most part, everything in Buyeo is walkable which makes it the perfect small town to enjoy with the whole family. These are all of the best things to do in Buyeo, South Korea as well as where to eat, where to stay, and other Buyeo travel tips.
Things to Do in Buyeo
Gungnamji Pond
Gungnamji Pond was by far our favorite spot in Buyeo. It was so beautiful especially in the early morning fog! We had the whole place to ourselves and it was just such a calm, relaxing atmosphere. We could have spent the entire morning just walking around the pond and all of the different walkways.
The pond, which is surrounded by gorgeous willow trees, has a beautiful pavilion in the middle which is a popular spot for photographers. The whole area is full of lotus flowers which come into full bloom every July. There is even a Lotus Flower Festival which takes place here every year.
Buyeo National Museum
The Buyeo National Museum is free to enter and actually consists of three separate museums (one is a children’s museum). The museum provides education about the Sabi period and is home to over 32,000 relics including three national treasures.
Gudeurae Sculpture Park
The Gudeurae Sculpture Park is a large family-friendly park located right next to the Geumgang River. The park is full of sculptures and art installations. There’s even a playground for the children and free gym equipment available for anyone to use.
Don’t forget to check out my other post: The Gudeurae Sculpture Park in Buyeo, South Korea.
The sculpture park seemed to be a very popular spot for people walking their dogs and couples just taking a stroll through town. We honestly could have spent hours just exploring this one park. All of the unique sculptures were amazing. It was gorgeous in the middle of winter but it would be a great picnic spot when it’s a bit warmer out. There are also a couple of cafes and restaurants located right across the street from the park if you’re in need of a snack while you’re here.
Jeongnimsa Temple Site
The Jeongnimsa Temple Site was actually the only attraction in Buyeo that we had to pay an admission fee for but it was only 1,500 KRW (about 1 USD). Here you’ll find a five-story pagoda in the courtyard in front of the stone Buddhist statue inside the temple. There is also a museum located here with more information about the temple and Buddhist culture. You could easily spend an hour or more exploring this site.
Nakhwaam Rock
Nakhwaam Rock, also known as “The Cliff of Falling Flowers”, is a tiny little pavilion on the top of a stone hill that provides amazing views over Geumgang River. The pavilion is used to pay tribute to all of the women who remained loyal to the royal family by jumping off the cliff, sacrificing their own lives, after the Sabiseong Fortress (now the Busosanseong Fortress) was invaded.
Goransa Temple
Goransa Temple was one of my favorite things to do in Buyeo for one specific reason. Once you make it to the temple, there is a small stream of mineral water around back. At this stream, there are ladles available for you to use so you can sip the water. Legend has it that if you drink the mineral water from this stream, you will become three years younger!
The Goransa Temple is located right down the hill from the Nakhwaam Rock. It’s located right next to the river and there are beautiful views from the temple especially in the fall. Typically there are paper lanterns hanging all around the temple but they were being changed when we were there. There is also a tiny shop where you can purchase snacks and drinks by the temple when you arrive.
Samchungsa Shrine
We walked some of the most gorgeous hiking trails through Busosanseong Fortress to get to the Samchungsa Shrine. The shrine is surrounded by stone walls and is very colorful and beautiful. The Samchungsa Shrine was built in 1957 to pay tribute to three loyal subjects of Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms which ruled over ancient Korea.
Lotte Outlets
The Lotte Outlets are a great place to shop or grab lunch for the day. There are a ton of great outlet shops here as well as an entire underground children’s mall. The food court has many great Korean restaurants, cafes, and burger places. The entire mall is a mix of modern design and traditional Korean architecture which makes it very unique.
Other Things Not to Miss:
- Baekje Cultural Land
- Seongheungsan Mountain Love Tree
- Jeonggaksa Temple
- Royal Tombs in Neungsan-ri
- Ginseng Museum
- Mansusan Mountain Muryangsa Temple
- Seodongyo Theme Park
- Baengmagang River Cruise
Where to Eat in Buyeo
There are tons of great places to eat in Buyeo. Many restaurants, cafes, and even great street food options. These are some of the best spots:
- Kyo Chon
- bhc (Beer Chicken Plate)
- Countryside Whole Chicken House
- Baekje’s House
- Noritor
- Goodtrae Food Specialization Street
- Cafe Hapum
- Gongwon Chicken
- House of Baekje Restaurant
The main street in Buyeo (the one where Jeongnimsa Temple Site is located) is lined with tons of great restaurants and cafes.
Where to Stay in Buyeo
Lotte Resort Buyeo
Lotte Resort Buyeo is not only a very nice hotel in the area but it also features a theme park (Buyeo Aqua Garden), great dining options, and a gift shop where you can find all of the best Buyeo souvenirs.
For more info or to book a room, click here.
Healing House Pinkjang
Healing House Pinkjang is where we stayed for our trip to Buyeo. It’s a small hotel but the staff spoke perfect English and it was one of the cleanest hotel rooms we’ve had in South Korea. It’s located right off the main street so all of the best restaurants and attractions were walking distance for us. The best part? Our room cost us less than 20 USD/night!
For more info or to book a room, click here.
Buyeo Travel Tips
- Make sure you have a translation app available on your phone. You won’t find too many people in Buyeo that speak English.
- Spend at least a weekend in Buyeo. While it does make a great South Korea day trip, there’s definitely enough to explore here for at least a couple days or more.
- Visit Buyeo in the spring or fall. We came in the middle of winter and it was beautiful but it would definitely be better with fall foliage or spring flowers in bloom.
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Don’t forget to check out these other South Korea posts:
- Things to Do in Seoul
- A Trip to Cheongpung Land in Jecheon
- Snacks to Try in South Korea
- Photos That Will Inspire You to Visit Korea
- Myeongdong District Guide
Reading this gave me serious nostalgia! I lived in South Korea for a year (teaching English) and always told people I “lived 3 hours south of Seoul”, but I’ve never heard of Buyeo! (I lived in Gumi). What a great guide to a lesser-known Korean town.
Author
Oh nice! I always love going to the smaller, less visited towns like this. I bet you miss it here! 😁
Your photos of the lake and the pavilion are stunning. Very magical.
Author
Thank you so much! It was definitely a very beautiful place. 😁
I have wanted to visit South Korea for so long! We are based in Asia at the moment and hoping to visit soon! Love your photos, this area looks so pretty!
Author
Thank you so much! Buyeo was great, you should definitely make a trip to South Korea sometime 😁
Healing House looks so cosy! All your photos are great.
Author
Thank you so much 😁 it definitely was!