Suwon
Discover Suwon
Suwon (수원, 水原) is a city in the southern central part of Gyeonggi-do. As the provincial capital, it is the political, economic and administration center of Gyeonggi-do. Major subway lines and expressways connect to Suwon, making it a transportation hub. Major attractions are Suwon Hwaseong, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the headquarters of Samsung Electronics.
What to Experience in Suwon
Taste of Suwon...
The food court in the mall at the train/metro station is excellent and extensive. You can get a fantastic meal for ₩4,500 and select from many choices; there's a showcase displaying all your choices. Besides plentiful traditional Korean restaurants, there are many places which serve other cuisines and fast food. Suwon is famous for its Galbi (sweet marinated ribs). Restaurants near the Yeongtong Square (Sagori) serve Galbi. There's also an excellent Galbi restaurant right across the street from the World Cup Soccer stadium. Vegetarian restaurants are hard to find, but they do exist. Suwon is famous for Galbi. But it is famous to affected other foods (ex. chicken). In 2019, Extreme Occupation, the Korean movie, was opened. this movie watched by 16 million people in Korea. In this movie, very special food that called to 'Suwon Wang Galbi Chicken' appeared. it mixed Galbi sauce and fried chicken in Korea And Suwon is the place of origin. As the movie became famous, this food also became famous and it is resulted in Suwon' new Tourism. Major nightlife seems to revolve around three areas: Ingyedong, Yeongtong, and Nammun (Paldamun). In Ingyedong, you will find an amazing number of hofs, bars, restaurants, hostess bars, etc. There's also several Korean nightclubs such as Juliana, Boss etc. Nammun is big among the university students of Suwon. It has a fashion street and the majority of nightlife is centered on Rodeo Street which is behind the main street to the left of Nammun Gate.
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Suwon into what it is today.
During the Iron Age (including the Proto–Three Kingdoms period), many small states emerged across central and southern Korea, forming what was known as the Three Han confederacies: Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. The Suwon area is thought to have belonged to Mahan. Historical records mention over 50 Mahan states, including Mosuguk, Wonyangguk, and Sangwoeiguk in today’s Gyeonggi-do. Among them, Mosuguk is believed to have been located in the Suwon region. The name “Mosu” is linked to the meaning of “Mulbeol,” an old word for “water fields,” which is essentially the same meaning as the modern name “Suwon.” Over time, the city’s name changed to Maehole, Suseong, and Suju, but it always carried the idea of “water.” For visitors to Seoul, Suwon can be treated like another suburb. It is possible to travel from Incheon International Airport to Suwon solely using the Seoul Metro. First, take the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) to Seoul station. From Seoul Station, take the Line 1 (blue) south towards Cheonan and Sinchang Station. From the airport to Suwon should take a little over 2 hours. Make sure you are on the correct train, as the track later splits and travels on two lines: towards Incheon (west) and towards Cheonan/Sinchang (south). You can transfer to the correct train at Guro Station if you're not on the right one. Prior to Guro Station there is an announcement about transferring from one line to the other....
Climate
Suwon's continental climate is very similar to that of other cities in the Seoul area like Ansan. The climate of Suwon is classified as a cold-temperate continental climate (Dwa). This classification takes into account the period during the winter season when temperatures can drop below minus 3 degrees Celsius. During the Iron Age (including the Proto–Three Kingdoms period), many small states emerged across central and southern Korea, forming what was known as the Three Han confederacies: Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. The Suwon area is thought to have belonged to Mahan. Historical records mention over 50 Mahan states, including Mosuguk, Wonyangguk, and Sangwoeiguk in today’s Gyeonggi-do. Among them, Mosuguk is believed to have been located in the Suwon region. The name “Mosu” is linked to the meaning of “Mulbeol,” an old word for “water fields,” which is essentially the same meaning as the modern name “Suwon.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsFor visitors to Seoul, Suwon can be treated like another suburb. It is possible to travel from Incheon International Airport to Suwon solely using the Seoul Metro. First, take the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) to Seoul station. From Seoul Station, take the Line 1 (blue) south towards Cheonan and Sinchang Station. From the airport to Suwon should take a little over 2 hours. Make sure you are on the correct train, as the track later splits and travels on two lines: towards Incheon (west) and towards Cheonan/Sinchang (south). You can transfer to the correct train at Guro Station if you're not on the right one. Prior to Guro Station there is an announcement about transferring from one line to the other. Travel time to the center of Suwon (Suwon Station) from Seoul Station takes about an hour on Line 1. The following are the Line 1 subway stations in Suwon. People living in Incheon, Ansan, Yongin, etc. can also take a Suin-Bundang Line....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
The bus system in Suwon is reliable and cheap. Most major stops have a list of available bus lines with route information. Green buses typically run inside the city, and larger blue and red buses take passengers to Seoul and neighboring cities. Most major stops and points of interest are listed in English. English announcements on the bus are only for stops of tourist interest. Suwon Station is not the terminus for the bus lines, so make sure you are traveling in the correct direction. Suwon also has a main intercity bus terminal, called the Suwon Intercity Bus Terminal, located about 2 km west of Suwon Station. From there, you can catch buses to cities like Daejeon, Incheon, Busan, and beyond. Local buses and taxis run frequently to the terminal. Inside, you'll find a small food court, a convenience store, and ticket booths. Most signs are in Korean, but staff usually understand basic English. Taxis are prevalent in Suwon, and easy to use. Several offer free translation services.
Where to Stay
Features of Suwon accommodation include a large number of love hotel-style motels. They are usually concentrated in the bar area in Ingye-dong, near Suwon Station. It is not just a love hotel-style motel. There are various types of accommodation. There are guest houses, hotels, and jjimjilbangs. Starting with jjimjilbangs, there are accommodation ranges ranging from ₩7,000 to ₩100,000. When using jjimjilbangs, it is essential to use a bathhouse. After taking a shower in a wooden bath, you can enter the sauna wearing jjimjilbang clothes. The average price range is ₩7,000 to ₩10,000. There is a sleeping room in the sauna, where you can sleep well. You may be embarrassed by the Korean culture of public bath, but it will also be a good experience. The jjimjilbang operates 24 hours a day and has no reservation system. Suwon is not a tourist destination. There are few guest houses, and the facilities are not good. There are many hotels in Suwon.
Money & Budget
There are many department store and shops in Suwon. Jewelry, clothing and accessories are available at department stores, and daily necessities are available at supermarkets. Also, there are traditional markets that have existed for a long time. The food court in the mall at the train/metro station is excellent and extensive. You can get a fantastic meal for ₩4,500 and select from many choices; there's a showcase displaying all your choices. Besides plentiful traditional Korean restaurants, there are many places which serve other cuisines and fast food. Suwon is famous for its Galbi (sweet marinated ribs). Restaurants near the Yeongtong Square (Sagori) serve Galbi. There's also an excellent Galbi restaurant right across the street from the World Cup Soccer stadium.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Suwon
Hwaseoung Fortress
Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion in Suwon
a stone building with stairs leading up to it
brown and black chinese temple
a large room filled with lots of books
“Two graceful herons stand quietly on a frozen lake tinged with soft pink hues, capturing a serene winter moment in nature. A peaceful scene highlighting the elegance of wildlife, the calm of frozen landscapes, and the delicate beauty of high-altitude lakes.”
a building with a neon sign on the side of it
a library filled with lots of books under a skylight
a large library filled with lots of books
Green trees and flowering branches over a tiled wall.
Hwaseoung Fortress
Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion in Suwon
a stone building with stairs leading up to it