[One Day Walk] Walking in Snow-Covered Gyeongbokgung, Reflecting at a Samcheong-dong Cafe... 2-Hour Course on Jongno Nadeul-gil

8.12km 'Insadong·Samcheongdong Nadeulgil'

If winter mountain hiking in severe cold feels burdensome and you are looking for a relatively easy walking trail in the city, try stepping onto the 'Insadong·Samcheongdong Nadeulgil' trail.

This is a representative urban trail where you can enter from Jongno 3-ga Station Subway Lines 1, 3, and 5 Exit 1, Gyeongbokgung Station Subway Line 3 Exit 5, or Anguk Station Subway Line 3 Exit 2, and evenly experience history and culture while immersing yourself in contemplation.

While walking the total 8.12 km section, you can tour several pavilions within Gyeongbokgung Palace, follow the quaint wall-lined path past the road in front of the Blue House, and reach the Samcheongdong cafe street. After strolling through Samcheong Park, where you can also reach the Seoul City Wall, you will walk along the tranquil paths of Bukchon Hanok Village, known as the best-preserved hanok area in Seoul.

If you start the course from Jongno, the first place your steps will reach is the Insadong intersection. With abundant food and sightseeing options, your feet may be held there without realizing it. After passing the Jongno Cultural Center and arriving in front of the Gyeongbokgung ticket office, it is good to walk while listening to the stories each pavilion within the palace holds.

Heungnyemun is the middle gate located among the three gates of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was destroyed twice during the Japanese invasions of Korea and the construction of the Joseon Government-General building but was rebuilt in 2001. Passing through it, Geunjeongmun, designated Treasure No. 812, appears. It was built in 1392, the 4th year of King Taejo’s reign. It was destroyed by fire during the Japanese invasions and reconstructed in 1867, the 4th year of King Gojong’s reign. Beyond Geunjeongmun is Geunjeongjeon, National Treasure No. 2223, where the coronations and grand ceremonies of successive kings were held.

Photo by Seoul City

After touring other sites such as Gyotaejeon and Jipgyeongdang, move on to the Samcheongdong cafe alley.

Passing through Gwanghwamun Square and walking along the Gyeongbokgung Art Museum road, you will find various cafes lined up. It is a place where the colors of traditional hanok and exotic modern artistic hues coexist.

After warming yourself with a cup of hot coffee, enjoy the natural scenery at Samcheong Park. Covering an area of 380,753 square meters, it is located on the northeastern foot of Bukaksan Mountain near Gyeongbokgung Palace. The park’s main scenery consists of dense forests including old pine trees and the valley of Samcheongcheon, the upper stream of Cheonggyecheon. In Yeongsugok, located in the southeast where the valley waters gather, there are rocks lined up like a folding screen. On these rocks, large characters reading 'Samcheongdongmun' are engraved, said to be the calligraphy of Kim Gyeongmun, a calligrapher from the Injo period.

Finally, conclude your itinerary by walking along the Seongbuk-dong old houses and Bukchon Hanok Village paths, which have endured for many years with the 600-year-old city wall between them.