Daegu 대구
- Daegu's population - 2.5 million.
- surrounded by forested mountains, Korea's fourth largest city is a lively urban sprawl with no real center.
- split between Daegu and Tong-Daegu stations the city is a chaotic mix of giant video screens, new developments and run-down tenements.
- twinned with Milan, textiles are the main industry.
- within easy reach of ancient cultural city of Gyeongju.
Things to see and do in Daegu
Daegu, South Korea's fourth largest city is known as a center of manufacturing and retail. Top of the list for most visitors is Daegu's historic Herbal Medicine Market, near to the central Yasigolmok district followed by more retail therapy at Seomun Textile Market. There is even a Rice Cake Street, Motorcycle Street, Shoe Street and Sock Street.
Ap-san Park to the south of the city is a welcome area of green, temples and a small museum dedicated to the Korean War.
Daegu Hyanggyo is a former Confucian Academy and Jae-il Church and Gyesan Cathedral are well-established places of worship.
Palgongsan Provincial Park
20 km north of Daegu is Palgongsan Provincial Park, a favorite of hikers. Donghwasa Temple dates back to the 5th century and has an 8th century statue of a seated Buddha. The huge and more modern Tongil Buddha was built in the hope of reunification with North Korea.
The Gatbawi Buddha image is situated on the top of Mt Gwanbong (850 meters) with views of Daegu below. There are buses from Dongdaegu Station to Donghwasa (#105) and Gatbawi (#104), which take about an hour.
Haeinsa Temple, also an hour by bus from Daegu, is one of Korea's most sacred sites containing the 14th century Tripitaka Koreana - 80,000 carved wooden blocks containing Buddhist sutras. The beautiful, forested location is well worth the visit especially on less-crowded weekdays.
Museums in Daegu
The city is home to several excellent museums. These include the Daegu National Museum, Daegu Art Museum and Museum of Natural Dye Arts.
Daegu National Museum has a collection of around 30,000 archaeological objects excavated in the surrounding area.
Daegu Art Museum has a collection of mainly Korean and Chinese art and also hosts temporary exhibitions throughout the year. It opened in 2011.
The Museum of Natural Dye Arts focuses on the city's history of fabric dyeing including traditional tools and fabrics.
The Daegu Bangjja Yugi Museum is the country's first bronzeware museum with around 1,500 pieces on display The museum opened in 2007.
Festivals in Daegu
Daegu plays host to a number of festivals throughout the year. These include the Bongsan Art Fair held several galleries on Bongsan Culture Street in mid-October, Daegu Chimac Festival a celebration of beer and chicken ('chimac') in Duryu Park in July, Daegu International Opera Festival (DIOF), Daegu Queer Culture Festival usually in June, Daegu Yangnyeongsi Festival dedicated to oriental and herbal medicine in May and Dongseongno Festival, also in May, featuring a fashion show and music concerts.
Nightlife & Eating Out in Daegu
There are a variety of Korean & American eateries, restaurants and pubs on Eating Street in Deurangil, Suseong-gu & Dongseongro Street both south of Daegu Station. Visitors can also find Thai, Indian and Japanese cuisine. Some recommended restaurants include Balaji Restaurant on Dongseong-ro for delicious Indian and Nepali food, Hi Thai for Thai dishes on Gongpyeong-ro and Jungang Tteokbokki for the city's speciality dumplings.
For a drink try Monsters Craft Beer, EToH's Drafthouse on Dongseong-ro or Four and Twenty on Samdeog-dong.
Transport in Daegu
The KTX express train connects to Seoul from Dongdaegu Station. On the KTX Gyeongbu Line, connecting the capital, Seoul, and the southern port of Busan, Dongdaegu is a busy station. The journey time to Seoul on the KTX is 1 hour and 50 minutes. To Busan, travel time on the KTX is just 50 minutes.
Daegu International Airport (DIA) has flights to Seoul and Jeju as well as departures for Shanghai. To reach the airport take city bus #401 or city express bus #104 or #105 at Jungang Negeori Junction. City bus #131 goes to the airport from Daegu Station.
Daegu's subway system has two lines: Line 1 (red) and Line 2 (green) with the connecting station at Banwoldang. The tragic arson attack on the subway, in which around 200 people were killed in 2003, has lead to a number of security upgrades on all of South Korea's metro systems.
City buses crisscross the urban area and visitors can purchase a travel card for use on city subways and buses. There are regular and deluxe services as well as a yellow shuttle bus connecting the main transport hubs.
Tourist Information
There are Tourist Information offices at the airport, Daegu Station, Dongdaegu Station, Seomun Market, Dongseongno Street and Yangnyeongsi.
Daegu World Cup Stadium
Tel: (053) 793 3901 more Daegu stadium info
The impressive 65,857 seat Daegu Sports Complex Stadium is the largest in Korea, complete with 2 giant video screens, a running-track and 3 storeys underground. There are great views of the surrounding hills. There are shuttle buses to the stadium from Tong-Daegu station. The stadium (aka Blue Arc) also hosts the annual Daegu Marathon in April. The ground was the home of Daegu FC until 2018. They now play at the smaller DGB Daegu Bank Park which has a capacity of 12,400.
Book Hotel Accommodation in Korea
Visitors to Daegu will find a good mix of accommodation available ranging from luxury, five-star hotels to more budget hotels, guesthouses and hostels.
At the top end the five-star Daegu Marriott Hotel offers a restaurant, a fitness center, free private parking, and a bar.
Hotel Interburgo Exco boasts four stars and is located close to the Daegu Convention Center. There is an outdoor pool and six dining options.
Part of the Japanese Toyoko Inn chain, the Toyoko Inn Daegu Dongseongro has three stars and good facilities for the price.
For those on a tighter budget, Hotel Noblestay is a good choice and close to Daegu Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine.
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