Top 10 Things To Do In Insadong, Seoul

Browse the traditional stationary and porcelain shops

With its reputation as an art mecca and its long artistic legacy, Insadong is still regarded as the center of Seoul’s traditional arts scene. Almost all of the city’s traditional stationery shops are located here, and just to make it clear there’s even a giant paintbrush carved from stone at the entrance to the neighborhood (just outside Anguk Station).

You’ll find shops along Insadong-gil as well as countless smaller ones in the maze of alleyways that branch off the main street selling calligraphy materials, traditional hand-made paper that is called hanji, and beautiful pottery.

Even if you don’t plan on trying calligraphy or want to buy paper, it’s inspiring to see how connected the neighborhood still is to its historic, traditional artistic roots. You’ll probably be tempted to buy a beautiful pottery piece to take home with you though!

Feast on street food

Along the neighborhood's main street, Insadong-gil, you’ll find some of the best street food in Seoul, especially if you’ve got a sweet tooth! Indulge in ‘dragons beard candy’, which is more of an experience than a dish.

Watch the lighting fast vendor start with a piece of sugar and sugar syrup (which is set) and then pull and stretch the mixture again and again until it creates whispy, candy floss strings of sugar which are then wound around a filling of chocolate or nuts.

You can also munch on hotteok, a sort of pancake which is stuffed with sugar, cinnamon, and nuts. But you can also find classics like grilled octopus skewers, mandu served street style and tteok-bokki, which are gooey, stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth rice cakes served in a spicy sauce. 

Sip tea in a traditional teahouse

As well as strong ties to its artistic heritage, you can also find traditional tea houses that will transport you back to another time. The most famous is the Shin Old Tea House, but its such a beautiful, authentic experience, so don’t feel put off that it’s a must-see in Insadong.

You’ll sit on the floor of the tiny space, which is tucked away down a small alleyway and provides a cozy escape from the main street. There’s also a traditional tea house in the Kyung-in Museum, which is the oldest tea house in Seoul.

Tapgol Park

Tapgol Park is pretty small compared to the city’s other green spaces, but it has more history than every of the other parks in Seoul combined. It was the first urban park in Seoul, and following this, was where the March 1st Korean Independence Movement took place in 1919.

After WWI, this was where the Korean Declaration of Independence was first read, starting in motion the events which led to the bloody March 1st events.

But you could even say that its history dates back to 1467 since this area was once within the grounds of the Wongaksa Temple. All that remains of the 15th-century temple is the Wongaksa Pagoda, a beautiful 10 level stone pagoda that gives the park its name. 

Jogyesa Temple

In the slightly chaotic tangle of alleys and the bustling main street of the neighborhood, the Jogyesa Temple provides a much-needed pocket of calm. This is one of the most important and historic Buddhist temples in the country, having been established in 1395.

Although the temple you can see today was constructed in 1937, it’s still an important sacred site, and definitely somewhere to visit if you want to snatch a moment of peacefulness.

The temple is at the heart of Korean Buddhism and is where the lantern festival which takes place every year in celebration of Buddha’s birthday takes place every year. See the bronze Buddha statues, listen to the monks in their sacred chants and discover the temple’s fascinating history.