Looking for a agency to sense Korean traditional civilization at it’s finest? Participate inward a Homestay or pass the nighttime at a guesthouse.
The Seoul Tourism Organization has established a website that allows y'all to easily detect a host: http://stay.visitseoul.net. 100’s of guesthouses as well as homestays are listed. You tin contact the guesthouse straight or purpose i of the partner websites listed.
What is a homestay?
A homestay is when y'all remain inward the habitation of a local family. This tin last a wonderful chance to larn how locals alive as well as pick out a get-go paw await into a novel culture.
What is a guesthouse?
A guesthouse is a private solid that offers accommodations. This is similar to a homestay; however, the host does non ever alive inward the house. For those who are seeking to a greater extent than privacy but silent would similar a glimpse into Korean civilization this is a dandy option.
Once y'all pick out decided on an accommodation, y'all must submit a asking to the host. The host volition mostly reply inside 24 hours as well as say y'all if they pick out room or not. It is of import to read all data almost your remain prior to booking. Some houses pick out specific requirements.
For my accommodations I chose a traditional Hanok guesthouse located inward Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village called ‘The ticker of Bukchon, Gaonjae, Jignyeo.’ Hanok are Korea’s traditional houses consisting of a single-story construction made of clay, woods as well as stone. They pick out ondol heated floors as well as are topped yesteryear curved tile roofs called giwa. Hanok homes, inward this region, of Korea are shaped to model the Korean missive of the alphabet geok (ㄱ) or deegut (ㄷ). This gives the habitation a lovely courtyard inward the ticker of the structure.
Bukchon was built betwixt Gyeongbukgung as well as Changdeokgung palaces as well as originally housed high-ranking palace officials. During the Joseon Dynasty the surface area consisted of thirty villas. During the Japanese occupancy the villas were divided into 100’s of private homes. Today almost 40% of the Hanok houses inward this areas remain, most of them reconstructions.
There are currently almost 12,000 hanoks remaining inward Seoul 900 of which are concentrated inward Bukchon Village. Seoul lately recognized the dandy importance of these traditional structures as well as the authorities has established programs as well as grants to renovate the buildings as well as encourage locals to operate yesteryear on their home. This allows for a refreshing walk downwards Seoul’s ‘memory lane’ inward the middle of a booming metropolis towering amongst high rises. Each twelvemonth thousands of tourist come upward to Seoul’s Bukchon Hanok Village to pick out a glimpse into history.
By staying inward a hanok guesthouse y'all tin acquire beyond but the glimpse as well as dive correct into the past. There are many homes inward Bukchon that are instantly allowing guests. Some fifty-fifty offering traditional programs such equally pottery, cooking classes, traditional music as well as Hanbok wearing.
My beautiful hanok guesthouse remain made for a real romantic weekend spent amongst my history buff husband. The Center of Bukchon, Gaonjae, Jignyeo is a stunning habitation inward the ticker of Bukchon village. The hanok’s massive wooden front end doors opened upward to a beautiful opened upward courtyard amongst a rock patio, kimchi pots scattered throughout, as well as a lot of charm. Surrounding the patio are several small-scale guestrooms as well as a living area/cooking surface area attached to the primary house.
Our room opened to the courtyard. The nighttime nosotros stayed it began to snow, making for an fifty-fifty to a greater extent than picturesque sense equally nosotros peaked outside.
When entering whatever of the rooms inward a hanok habitation (like most homes inward Korea) it is necessary to take away your shoes. Sliding woods as well as rice newspaper doors opened to a simplistic room amongst sleeping mats, as well as a depression nighttime stand. Traditionally Koreans slept on the flooring on mats. At many hanok stays these are silent the sleeping arrangements. Although sleeping on the flooring isn’t ever ideal for westerners, it genuinely authenticates the experience. The ondol heated floors brand for a warm as well as cozy sleep. Our room had a private bath connected to it. The ceiling had exposed woods beams as well as all of the sheets as well as blankets were inward hanbok fabric. The living room as well as kitchen were opened upward for guests to use. Each morn breakfast was prepared on a depression tabular array amongst cushions surrounding it for seating. Breakfast consisted of toast, oranges, difficult boiled eggs, milk tea as well as coffee.
We enjoyed spending fourth dimension inward the living room amongst friends sharing a bottle of vino as well as watching the Olympics. The invitee solid possessor was real accommodating as well as fifty-fifty brought out snacks. The entire sense was wonderful as well as I highly recommend trying it out if y'all detect yourself inward Seoul!
Over view:
Pros:
-Beautiful historic construction
-Great location- inward the ticker of Seoul, walking distance from many attractions
-10 infinitesimal walk from subway
-Free Wi-Fi
-Breakfast included
-Great restaurants, café’s as well as museums surrounding the house
-Friendly host
Cons
-Guest solid possessor does non verbalise English linguistic communication (there was an English linguistic communication speaking host only a telephone phone telephone away if nosotros needed help)
-If y'all cannot slumber on a difficult surface this is non a proficient accommodate to remain at
What to create around The Center of Bukchon, Gaonjae, Jignyeo:
Tourism
The surface area surrounding our guesthouse was non brusque of activities. Simply taking a stroll around the Hanok Village tin render hours of entertainment. There are many charming cafes, tea houses, fine art galleries as well as restaurants littering the area. Follow the signs to Bukchon overlook as well as y'all tin sentiment hundreds of hanok rooftops, Gyeongbukgung palace, The President’s house, as well as Seoul’s stunning surrounding mountains. Two streets inward the hamlet (just around the corner) silent alone consist of hanok houses as well as brand for impressive photos of the homes amongst Seoul’s modern metropolis as well as mountains behind.
Insadong
Insadong is but a 10 infinitesimal walk from the guesthouse. This surface area is good known equally a traditional arts surface area to both foreigners as well as locals. Wandering the streets allows y'all to witness the civilization of the yesteryear as well as present. Snack on traditional Korean street nutrient from i of the many nutrient carts. Shop your ticker out at the many stores known for stationary, art, pottery as well as antiques. Visit the oldest bookstore inward Seoul, Kyung-in Art Gallery, as well as many onetime tea houses. Watch a calligraphy demonstration or pansori performance. Wander off the primary street to detect some of the best Korean nutrient inward the world. Feast on a regal meals consisting of double digit courses. Visit the tourist data ticker to wearing clothing inward Hanbok as well as participate inward other traditional activities!
Gyeonbukgung Palace
22, Sajik-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul Fee: 3,000 won
House: January-February, November-December: 09:00-17:00
March-May, September-October: 09:00-18:00
June-Auguest: 09:00-18:30
This palace is arguably the most beautiful as well as grand palace inward Seoul. It’s unremarkably referred to equally the “Northern Palace because it is furthest north. It was originally built inward 1395, but burned downwards several times, since that period. It is the largest palace of 5 that were built in Seoul by the Joseon Dynasty. Enjoy watching the changing of the guards each hour. English guided tours are available gratuitous of accuse several times per day. The National Palace Museum of Korea is located S of Heungnyemun Gate, as well as the National Folk Museum is located eastward inside Hyangwonjeong.
Jogyesa Buddhist Temple 55, Ujeongguk-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Fee: Free
Jogyesa Buddhist Temple is the ticker of Zen Buddhism inward Korea. It is famous for it’s location. Beautiful locust as well as baeksong trees, that are over 500 years old, surroundings the temple. Get a glimpse into the beauty as well as peace of Buddhism inward the ticker of Seoul. Just across the street is the ticker for temple stays. Here y'all tin detect to a greater extent than data on the Buddhist religious belief as well as volume a stay.
Seoul Museum of History
Website: www.museum.seoul.kr
Fee: Free full general admission/ Free good guides available
Hours: March-October 9:00-21:00, weekends 9:00-19:00; November- Feb 9:00-21:00, weekends 9:00-18:00
Capture the traditional civilization of Seoul amongst it’s many exhibits that volition pick out y'all dorsum inward fourth dimension from the prehistoric era to modern Seoul. View the many Joseon Dynasty relics the museum houses.
Gyeonbukgung Square
Gyenonbukgung Square is located straight inward front end of Gyenbukgung palace’s primary entrance. Throughout the twelvemonth events as well as concerts are frequently assistance here. Dree upward inward regal vesture yesteryear visiting the kiosk entitled “I am King.” Located nether the massive gilded King Sejoun statue y'all tin see the Hangul museum. On hot summertime days cool downwards around the refreshing fountains.
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