The tourist attractions included in this itinerary
check out the hottest area!
김치맨
The Route
Shinchon, Ehwa Woman’s University areas are walkable. Seonyudo Park and Hongdae can be accessed by subway or bus. You can check the subway exits on this itinerary for each attraction in case you want to visit separately.
1. Shinchon
Lively area known for its numerous universities including Yeonsei, Ehwa and Seogang University.
FYI: You should visit here for budget-friendly foods and drinks.
Subway: Exit 2 and 3 of Sinchon Subway Station[NOT railway station], line no.2 (green line)
Things to do: Stay hungry before you come here. You will find good restaurants and cafes at a good rate. Find all the other good ones at every little alley: chicken place, Samgyepsal place, beer place, and more. Enjoy watching art performers busking in the evening.
2. Edae (Ehwa Woman’s Unversity)
The fashion mecca in the 1990s; Edae Style before Gangnam Style
FYI: It has died out quite a lot but still there are many affordable restaurants, bubble tea shops and cafes.
Subway: Exit 2 and 3 of Ehwa Woman’s Unversity Station, line no.2 (green line)
Address: 52, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul / 서울특별시 서대문구 이화여대길 52(대현동)
Things to do: Find the individual clothing stores, accessory shops, hairdressers’, cosmetics shops, bubble tea places and cafes.
3. Seonyudo Park
A beautiful ecological park built by reusing the facilities of a closed water purification plant on an island. 25 minutes away from Sinchon or Hongdae area.
Subway: Exit 2 of Seonyudo Station, line no.9 (mustard line)
Address: 343, Seonyu-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul / 서울특별시 영등포구 선유로 343
Opening Hours: 24/7
Tips: When you come from Shinchon or Hongdae area, take the green line to, line no.2 and transfer at Dangsan station to the mustard line, line no.9 to the west. Go 1 more stop and get out of exit 2 of Seonyudo Station.
Or if you come by bus, the most convenient one is 5714 and the name of the bus stop you get off at is Seonyudo stop.
There is another bus no. 602 that goes to Yanghwadaegyo (Yanghwa Bridge) Jeonmang (viewpoint) Café Stop. If so, you should walk back for 5 minutes, which is the second best. Don’t take other buses that give you an only headache. After this park, crossing Seonyu Bridge in the park make you reach the Hangang Park.
4. Sangsu
Pretty area with cool restaurants and cafés connected to Hongdae area
Subway: Exit 1 and 2 of Sangsu Station, line no.6 (brown line)
Things to do: This area is famous for its coffee street. Full of unique restaurants, dessert cafes and coffee shops will quench your boredom. You can also see many street stalls selling hand-made accessories and goods. If you are regular at Hongdae, you should extend your area to Sangsu.
5. Hongdae
THE HOTTEST PLACE in Korea. New York Time’s top 10 sites to visit in Seoul.
FYI: Hongdae(홍대) = Hongik Daehakgyo(홍익 대학교), meaning Hongik University
My friend asked me: Who was the “mr smart guy” that decided to name the station as 홍대입구역(Hongdae ipgu-yeok/Hongdae entrance station)? Why isn’t it 홍대역? Why did they decide to add 입구?
Kimchiman’s answer: 입구(ipgu) means entrance. When you get off the station, there is no Hongik Univ, bro. It is near that university, 홍익대학교 or 홍대 in short. It is at the entrance, at foot of the campus. That is why it is Hongdae Ipgu Station, Hongdae entrance station.
Subway: Exit 8 and 9 of Hongik University Station, line no.2. (green line)
Things to do: This area is famous for its street buskers, indie art culture. The entire area is filled with unique cafes, young designer’s’ clothing shops, accessory shops, clubs, and theaters, various graffiti on the walls around. The entire area turns into a mega festival town full of dancing, music, and clubbers. You can enjoy shopping, snacks, entertainment, and culture. At night you can see a number of indie buskers like amateur singers, dancers and various kinds of performers.
Café: Find unique cafes including cat café, cartoon café, sheep café, meerkat café, wedding café, etc.
Hongdae Free Market: Held at Hongik Children’s Park every Saturdays 13:00 – 18:00 from Mar. to Nov.
The Map of Picasso Street
Picasso Street: It is a street of wall paintings from the College of Fine Arts at Hongik University. This is also a well-known location for K-dramas. See the above route.
Tips: You can start your tour from exit 8 and 9 of Hongdae Station or exit 3 or 4 of Sangsu Station. Continue your tour in Yeonam-dong area full of international cuisines, Chinese restaurants, cafes and design shops.
Ask your friend Kimchiman about Korea!
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