Hyehwa-dong used to be the center of Seoul’s art and music culture. However, despite the change, it still remains a major contributor to the arts world. Look at Hyehwa Station.

Daehango holds the largest theatre district in Seoul.

Daehango holds the largest theatre district in Seoul. With over 150 small theatres, you can enjoy performers from artists irrespective of age. If you are lucky, you might witness impromptu street performances, usually done to promote an upcoming show. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch a show.

Daehangno Information Center

Trying to get tickets for the show? Want to know where to go from the station? Then look no farther than the Daehangno Information Center in Marronnier Park. In the information center, you can buy tickets for all the ongoing shows and also find out information about upcoming shows. The information center also has theme-specific walking route maps, which give information about history, culture and the evolution of Hyehwa-dong.

The small park was once part of Seoul National University’s campus but has now become the center of Daehangno. It holds various landmarks like the ARKO Arts Theatre that shows various performances and the Artist House, which is a Romanesque brick building that used to be the main building of Seoul National University. Despite its size, the park also serves as an outdoor stage for performances.

An outdoor stage for performances

Daehangno

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Marronnier Park

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The route leading to Naksan Park through Marronnier Park

Through the park, you can walk to the Ihwa Mural Village. The mural village is a transformed residential area, brought back to life with art. At the mural village, you can borrow old school uniforms and walk through the old alleys. Due to its popularity, cafes can also be found in the village. The mural village is also connected to Naksan Park.

The mural village

The Seoul city fortress wall

Namsan Tower

The Seoul skyline like a La La Land purple sky

Naksan Park is famously named for its shape, which resembles a camel’s back. Naksan Park is also part of the Seoul city fortress wall. The fortress wall is a wall built around Seoul in the Joseon Dynasty. From Naksan Mountain, beautiful views of Seoul can be seen all the way to Namsan Tower, which is also part of the fortress wall. Along the wall, Naksan Park is famously known for having the best sunset views. On a lucky night, the Seoul skyline can look like a La La Land purple sky.

Alleys in Dongdaemun Market, filled with food stalls and eateries

If you wish, you can walk the length of the wall to Dongdaemun Gate. Dongdaemun Market is famously called Korea’s fashion Mecca. Filled with all sorts of markets from traditional to clothing, the alleys are also filled with food stalls and eateries, which open at 10:30am and close as late as 5am. The place is a wonder to see. You can walk the length of the wall or head down back 15 minutes to Hyehwa Station to take the train, but I recommend walking. The view is worth it.

Naksan Park

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Hanoks Entrance

Traditionally, most hanok houses don’t have beds, which is part of their charm and is historically correct. However, when on holiday, one might still want the luxuries of a bed over historical accuracy. Personally, I love sleeping on the heated floors in hanok but only during the cold seasons or rainy days. So, in the summer, I would prefer a bed over blankets on the floor.

The signboard of the Hanok Artisans and Architects Association

The front yard of Hanok

One can’t talk about this hanok stay without mentioning its architectural value. Originally built in 1938, as the name suggests, it was broken down to 3 buildings due to its large size. To the left is a traditional Korean restaurant and on the right is the Hanok Artisans and Architects Association. What this means is the hanok is always in state-of-art hanok conditions.

Since the hanok has just two rooms, the hanok is mostly collectively booked. This makes it perfect for families traveling together to experience an ideal traditional Korean family experience. I would also recommend this hanok for a night out with friends, like I did. Hyehwa-dong is a relatively quiet and safe neighborhood. There are few places in Seoul where friends can meet for a quiet gathering without the bustle and bubble of Seoul.

Even though the hanok is a 10 minutes’ walk to the nearest metro station (Hyehwa Station), the hanok is 2 minutes away from the Maeul bus stop, which also goes to the station. This makes the hanok easily accessible for all ages and all seasons. Also, Hyehwa Station is on Line 4 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, which means it’s on the same line as the major shopping districts: Dongdaemun Market, Myeongdong and Namdaemun Market (Hoehyeon Station). It is also one of the lines that goes to Seoul Station, from which you can easily get to the airport or other parts of the country.

My stay was nothing short of memorable, the host excitably told us the history of the place and their 2018 winter renovation plans. In the morning, a balanced breakfast was dropped at our door, recharging and motivating me to explore the culture around Hyehwa-dong. Hyehwa-dong has something for all ages and all times of the day. Thus, staying at this hanok makes all that excitement within reach. Therefore for people seeking architectural, cultural and traditional appreciation while still in the comfort of modern amenities and hanok advancements, I would highly recommend this hanok.

A blend of traditional charm with modern amenities