Insadong blog — The fullest Insadong guide for fun things to do in Insadong for first-timers

November 29, 2022

Ssamzie-gil Market traditional insadong (1) — | what to do in insadong

Address: Ssamziegil Market, 44 Insadong-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Ssamziegil Shopping Complex

This is a beautifully decorated prominent shopping mall located in the heart of Insadong. The complex has about 70 stores with four floors, where you’ll find lots of handicrafts, traditional artwork, traditional Korean teapot, teacups, plates, postcards, furniture, souvenirs. In addition it also has a number of restaurants, cafes, tea shops for you to stop by.

Ssamziegil is the most prominent place in Insadong street. Located in the middle of Insadong Street, this is a 4-storey shopping center, built in 2004 but the design is still very impressive. Especially the spiral design, you will go from the bottom to the top without feeling that you have climbed 4 floors.

Ssamziegil Shopping Complex (4) — | what to do in insadong

Address: Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 10:30AM–8:30PM
Phone: +82 2-736-0088

Shin Old Tea House

Shin Old Tea House is hidden in a small alley, away from the hustle and bustle of the main area. The shop is quite small and only has seating with low tables like a traditional Korean tea shop. The lighting is dim and offers a very relaxing atmosphere, while the tea menu here is quite varied and proud, there are some of the region’s great specialties.

Address: 166 Jongno 1(il).2(i).3(sam).4(sa), Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Beautiful Tea Museum

The Beautiful Tea Museum is a shop and a tea museum. It is located inside a hanok house, traditional Korean house type. The museum displays a variety of teas from China, Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and India..

In addition, the ceramic artworks and tea ceremony history also appear here. Therefore, Korean tourists who love tea can enjoy tea and learn about this beautiful culture here.

Address: 19-11 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 10:30AM–9:45PM
Phone: +82 2-735-6678

Alive Trick Eye Museum

Alive Museum is a place for you to take funny and unique pictures with countless of vivid 3D exhibits. The main idea is that you can insert yourself into artwork and create an optical illusion to make the images so they look like real. This is a great place to explore with lots of humor including Marilyn Monroe and Indiana Jones.

Alive Trick-eye Museum is an interesting place with funny images that fool your eyes. Here you will meet many funny pictures of the actors and celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe or Indiana Jones. This is also the location where the popular Korean reality show “Running Man” was filmed.

Address: 12, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu | Daeil Bldg. B1F & B2F, Seoul 03163, South Korea
Hours: 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM

Hanbok

At the Insadong Tourist Information Center, you can try wearing a Hanbok for a soft price. Hanbok is a traditional Korean costume used from the Joseon era. They have a variety of colors and styles for men, women and children. Although these are Korean clothes worn throughout history, but each hanbok now costs up to $500!

try hanbok in insadong 3 — Wearing traditional hanbok in Insadong

Address: 62 Insadong-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 9:30AM–6PM
Phone: +82 2-734-0222

Kyungin Museum of Fine Art

The Kyungin Museum of Fine Art was opened in 1983 and and is filled with Korean and international cultural, art atmosphere. There are 6 different exhibits in a year, along with permanent sculptures in the garden. If Insadong is a full of traditional place, Kyung-In is the place to reflect that tradition through its artwork and architecture during the Joseon Dynasty.

Kyungin Museum of Fine Art insadong seoul (1) — | things to do in insadong

Address: 57-1 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 10AM–6PM
Phone: +82 2-733-4448

Walking around small alleys

insadong blog,insadong culture street,insadong guide,insadong seoul (9) — | insadong blog

Do not miss the small alleys in Insadong, maybe you will find yourself a good coffee shop or restaurant.

Insadong seoul 2 — The beautiful alley in Insadong

Drinking tea at Chatjip Teahouse – A shop listed on the Michelin Guide

Another Korean traditional tea shop in Insadong you can visit is Chatjip Teahouse, a teahouse recommended by the Michelin Guide.

Address: 33-1 Insadong-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 10AM–10:50PM
Phone: +82 2-723-4909

Enjoy Korean BBQ

Korean BBQ places are a popular choice for dining in Korea. They not only serve delicious food but also a place to meet, chat and drink alcohol. Insadong is home to many such places. A famous restaurant in this area is Cha Iyagi, literally ‘tea story’. The interior looks like the inside of a hanok (a traditional Korean house) and the food here is delicious.

insadong bbq seoul — | things to do in insadong

Cha Iyagi
Address: 29-11 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Phone: +82 2-735-8552

Experience the Royal meal

Along with Korean BBQ, the old town of Insadong also has some restaurants that serve royal Korean cuisine. The royal meal contains about twenty different delicacies of traditional Korean cuisine. JinJinBara is one of the few places that offers the best royal dining experience in Insadong that you should visit.

Address: JinJinBara, 149- Tower Building 8 2nd Floor, Jungro-gu, Cheongin-dong, Seoul, Korea,
Phone: +82 2-777-8004

Insadong is close to Gyeongbokgung palace, Bukchon Hanok village, Samcheongdong street, Cheonggyecheon stream, Dongdaemun shopping center … So you can make an itinerary to visit a series of these points in the day and visit Insadong market.

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