Suwon 수원
- Suwon's population - more than 1.2 million.
- an hour south of Seoul on subway line 1 or by bus from various points in the capital.
- Suwon is the home of Samsung Electronics
- The well-preserved walls of this ancient fortress city are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- famed for its spotless public conveniences.
Suwon (수원) is a major city located in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It is situated approximately 30 kilometers south of Seoul, making it a part of the Seoul National Capital Area. Suwon has a rich history, cultural heritage, and is known for its well-preserved city walls, traditional architecture, and modern urban development.
Things to see and do in Suwon
Fortress Walls tour, Korean Folk Village tour.
Hwaseong Fortress is Suwon's main attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage listed site. Hwaseong Fortress was built in 1796 on the orders of King Jeongjo to house the remains of his mentally-ill father, Prince Sado - who was starved to death by his own father King Yeongjo in Changgyeonggung Palace in Seoul.
Most of the 5.7 km castle wall is walkable and offers superb views over the sprawling town below. The castle grounds are open to traffic, which does not result in a peaceful environment unfortunately. Noted sights within the walls are the Paldalmun Gate and the Hwaseong Haenggung palace building. Admission to the castle is free and there are great views of the city from the castle walls.
There are a number of buses to Paldalmun Gate from Suwon railway station (#11, #13, #36 & #39).
There are free shuttle buses (30 mins) from Suwon's tourist information center at the station to the interesting Korean Folk Village, 20 km away. Traditional Korean life and culture is "re-created" in this interesting theme park. The emphasis is on performance - there are farmers' dances, horse-riding shows, a wedding ceremony and traditional games.
Also reached by bus (#6000) from Suwon Station is the massive Everland theme park. As well as the many and varied rides, there's a zoo, the nine-hole Glen Ross public golf course, restaurants, a speedway track, the Samsung Transportation Museum (Tel: 031 320 9900; Korea's only automobile museum) and the Hoam Art Museum (Tel:031 320 1800), with around 15,000 pieces of Korean art on display.
Another big draw at Everland is the Caribbean Bay water park, which opened at the resort in 1996.
Caribbean Bay, the "biggest water park in the world", has both indoor and outdoor pools, an artificial beach, a sauna, a spa and water slides. From Seoul take bus # 5002 from Gangnam.
Suwon City Museum provides insights into Suwon's history, culture, and development. It houses artifacts and exhibits related to the city's past, including the Joseon Dynasty and the construction of Hwaseong Fortress.
Suwon Festivals
Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival is Suwon's main festival held at Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in October. It honors the filial piety of King Jeongjo and includes a spectacular parade and banquet.
In August Suwon Culture Night is also held at the fortress and includes lightshows, live performances and projection mapping.
Suwon Public Toilets
To help put Suwon on the tourist map in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup, City Hall decided to upgrade and beautify the nearly 800 public toilets in the town. 16 brand-new public restrooms were also built, not just at the soccer stadium but at strategic places around Suwon. The new restrooms had their own name and were built ina mix of traditional and modern styles. Piped music, individual names such as "Firefly", solar power, bidets and frequent inspections have made Suwon's public restrooms the pride of the nation. Join a free tour or pick up the toilet map to see for yourself.
Nightlife & Eating Out in Suwon
Try the station area for bars and restaurants or Rodeo Street for a lively youth scene. Suwon is known for its galbi (barbecued ribs). Try Kabojung Kalbi on Jangdari-ro or Suwon Mandu. There are also Indian, Italian and Mexican restaurants in town.
Suwon World Cup Stadium
Tel: (0331) 229 2147 more Suwon stadium info
This 44,047 capacity soccer-specific stadium, nicknamed the "Big Bird", now home to the K-League's Suwon Bluewings, is a design masterpiece with one stand covered with an amazing bird-wing roof. Colorful seats done as a mural. Shuttle buses from the station.
Suwon Access
Suwon is a long one hour subway ride on Line 1 of the Seoul subway and is also linked to the capital by train. The quickest is the KTX express train which takes just over 30 minutes from Seoul Station.
There are also buses to Suwon from Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Jeonju, Mokpo and Sokcho.
Book Hotel Accommodation in Korea
Suwon is close enough to the capital Seoul to see on a day-trip but if you do decide to stay longer the city has a good range of accommodation on offer.
Some recommendations include the four-star Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Suwon with three restaurants, a bar and located close to Suwon Stadium.
The three-star Ibis Ambassador Suwon is a 2-minute walk from Suwon City Hall Subway Station on the Bundang Line.
Korea Tourist Hotel is another three-star property offering good facilities close to Suwon City Hall.
See a complete listing of hotels in Suwon.
Hotels in Korea - Booking.com
Hotels in Seoul - Booking.com
South Korea Hotels - Agoda
Seoul Hotels - Agoda
Find Hotels in Daegu - Agoda
Hotels in Busan - Agoda
Book Daegu Hotels - Booking.com
Incheon Hotels - Agoda
Book Incheon Hotels - Booking.com
Pyeongchang Hotels - Agoda
Suwon Hotels - Agoda
Search Suwon Hotels - Booking.com
Ulsan Hotels - Agoda
Uncover Ulsan Hotels - Booking.com
