Chuncheon blog — The fullest Chuncheon travel guide for first-timers

Not as famous as Jeju island or Busan, as bustling as Seoul… but Chuncheon city is also an ideal destination on your trip to South Korea. Coming here, you will discover unique cultural features, beautiful, romantic islands, or sacred temples. However, to have a smooth trip, let’s immediately update the latest Chuncheon travel guide and information below. So, is Chuncheon worth visiting, how to visit Chuncheon, what to do in Chuncheon? Let’s check out our Chuncheon blog with the fullest Chuncheon travel guide from how to get to Chuncheon, best places to visit as well as top things to do in Chuncheon to help you maximize your trip as follows!

Known as the capital of Gangwon-do province, Chuncheon is always considered an interesting and poetic destination for you to get the best experiences for hot summer days. This place is known for its many beautiful and romantic natural scenery. In particular, this capital of Gangwon-do is a very suitable place to organize outdoor fun activities. Therefore, international tourists who visit this place rate Chuncheon very highly as a tourist destination. The scenery here is not only beautiful but also attracts visitors by its peace and quiet with a night scene filled with shimmering electric lights.

Chuncheon blog: Overview of Chuncheon

Chuncheon is a small beautiful city located in the northeastern region of Korea, in a part of the basin formed by the Soyang River and Han River in Gangwon Province. The total area of Chuncheon is 1116.43 km2 with a population of nearly 500,000 people. Although not a big city, this place is still considered the capital of Gangwon province.

Immerse yourself in the romantic and vast space of lakes and rivers or get lost in small towns and alleys, admiring the beautiful cityscape at night. There are also many unique and special local festivals with unique art performances… All of which make Chuncheon an ideal destination for experiential activities.

In recent years, Chuncheon has again received the attention of many tourists and has become a popular tourist destination in Korea. Perhaps because of the unique culture and pristine islands, bringing many wonderful discovery experiences.

Visiting Chuncheon, visitors will feel a different space compared to the noise of Seoul and the bustle of the port city of Busan. Looking elegant, gentle and generous, Chuncheon is like a meek and graceful girl who always makes people feel a strange sense of serenity.

Chuncheon is also the hometown of famous novelist Kim Yoo Jeong (Gim Yu-jeong or Kim Yu-jŏng), author of The Camellias, a famous and talented Korean writer who unfortunately passed away at the age of 29. In Chuncheon, there is a museum and a train station… named after Kim Yoo Jeong. The poetic atmosphere covers Chuncheon. Chuncheon is like a book full of poetry, time here has no meaning. Maybe that’s why, as soon as I stepped foot into Chuncheon, I saw a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. Life here is not busy, not noisy, day after day, time passes gently. Perhaps that’s why even Koreans choose to travel to Chuncheon on weekends and holidays.

Chuncheon travel blog: When should you travel to Chuncheon?

Which month should I travel to Chuncheon? This is a common question of many tourists and it is known that the climate in Chuncheon is divided into two main seasons, which are: Cold, dry winter and hot, humid, rainy summer. The temperature here is quite harsh, the highest temperature in summer is over 37 degrees Celsius and the lowest in winter can be down to -10 degrees Celsius. At every time, Chuncheon brings its unique beauty, with different interesting discovery experiences, so you can come here anytime you want.

However, autumn from September to October is the best time to go to Chuncheon. At this time, the weather is a bit chilly, very suitable for walking and exploring the extremely romantic natural scenery of autumn.

Every year in May, the local festival Chuncheon International Mime Festival will takes place with other unique water art performances.

Chuncheon travel guide: Getting to Chuncheon

By air (chuncheon travel guide)

Chuncheon is a small city, not yet strongly developed in tourism, so up to now there is no international airport. To get to Chuncheon by air, you must buy a flight ticket to Incheon Airport in Seoul or Wonju International Airport in Jeju. Then from here buy domestic airline tickets or use public transportation such as subway, bus… to get to Chuncheon city.

By train from Seoul (chuncheon blog)

Located nearly 80km from Seoul, more than 300km from Busan, Chuncheon is connected to two major Korean cities with a quite convenient transportation system, making traveling between Chuncheon and other places not a challenge or difficulty for tourists.

There are many daily subway trains departing from Cheongnyangni station to Chuncheon. There will be a trip every 15 minutes, with a ticket price of about 3,000 won and more than 1 hour of traveling time.

From Yongsan Station in Seoul, you can also take the ITX train to Chuncheon in just 1 hour.

Getting to Nami: Traveling from Chuncheon to Nami Island, visitors take the train and stop at Gapyeong station and walk about 25 minutes or take another bus stop to Gapyeong Wharf.

By bus

Another quite economical way to travel to Chuncheon is by bus. You can catch buses to Chuncheon at Dongseoul bus terminal with a ticket price of about 7,700 won/trip. Besides, you can also go by express bus with faster travel time but the ticket price is also higher, about 9,100 won/trip.

Getting around Chuncheon

To have a ultimate Chuncheon experience, perhaps seeing the city on a bicycle, is from Bicycle Rental. Or if you want to travel far, you can take the express bus or city bus.

Where to go and what to do in Chuncheon

Nami Island (chuncheon travel blog)

If you are who loves romantic natural beauty, not spending time to go to Nami Island is an extremely regret. Because this beautiful island has long been known as the ‘autumn heart’ of Korea. With a unique shape, shaped like a crescent moon, located in the north of the Han River, getting to Nami Island is quite easy and convenient. Coming here, especially in the fall, you will be captivated by the poetic beauty, the forests changing leaves, changing from green to yellow and red, extremely impressive. Combined with the fresh, pleasant atmosphere, it is an ideal place to relax and relieve stress.

Chuncheon’s Namiseom Island is the location of beautiful scenes in the famous Korean TV drama series “Winter Sonata”. If you are a fan of this movie, surely when you come here just looking at it will make you fall in love because the natural scenery is so beautiful and poetic.

You can walk to explore romantic and charming streets in the fall. Especially when you visit the two famous lanes on Namiseom Island, Metasequoia and Songpa Ginkgo Tree Pathway, you will admire the autumn picture here with surprisingly beautiful color changes. The trees at this time are gradually turning yellow, so the scene is very romantic and appealing.

Garden of Morning Calm

Address: 432 Sumogwon-ro, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Hours: 8:30 AM–7 PM

If you still don’t know where to go when you come to Chuncheon, don’t miss the Garden of Morning Calm. With a total area of more than 30,000 square meters, this place has a rich and diverse vegetation. Lush green forests, blooming flower gardens… All create a fresh natural space, making anyone who comes here full of praise. Especially in the evening, the Garden of Morning Calm is decorated with bright LED lights, creating more magic and stimulating the eyes of visitors.

Petite France

This is a famous old town, considered a miniature France in the heart of Korea. When you arrive in this beautiful neighborhood, the first thing you feel is the incredible peaceful atmosphere. Walking around, you will discover ancient houses, imbued with French design style. It is because of this beauty that has helped Petite France become a wonderful destination, so it has appeared in many movies such as: My Love From The Stars, Secret Garden,…

Jade Garden Natural Arboretum

Address: 80 Haetgol-gil, Namsan-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Hours: 9 AM–6 PM

This place has a famous natural botanical garden that is likened to a miniature Europe in a dense forest. There is a very splendid and magnificent building located right next to the entrance. The entire landscape here is designed in a unique Tuscan style. It is this classic beauty that gives the tourist destination a natural picture filled with the colors of plants and flowers. Especially at this botanical garden, there are up to 24 different beautiful small gardens for you to check in and see.

This is the filming location for the famous movies “You Are My Pet” (2011) and “That Winter, the Wind Blows” (2013). Designed in Tuscan style, a European architectural style, the garden will bring a classic feel.

It is this classic beauty that gives the tourist destination Chuncheon a natural picture filled with the colors of plants and flowers. There are 3 trails in the garden: fragrant grass path, wooden path, and forest wind path. In the fall, these roads become even more romantic and attract many tourists.

Cheongpyeongsa Temple

Located on the top of majestic Obongsan Mountain, Cheongpyeongsa is a sacred temple, attracting many domestic and foreign tourists to visit. Visitors coming here can not only pray for good luck, but also explore the unique architecture of the temple, as well as immerse themselves in a peaceful, fresh space to relax. When coming here, you should pay attention to how you dress, choose neat and polite clothes, do not wear too revealing clothes to show respect and solemnity in sacred areas.

Traveling to Chuncheon without visiting Cheongpyeongsa Temple is a big omission. This is an ancient and sacred temple located on the top of majestic Obongsan mountain. The scenery here is majestic and peaceful, very suitable for you to get away from the hustle and bustle as well as the noise of the city.

Chuncheon Myeongdong Street

As the name suggests, Chuncheon Myeongdong Street is a miniature version of the famous shopping area Myeongdong in Seoul capital. This place is crowded with bustling rows of clothing, accessories and shoe stores.

Chuncheon Myeongdong neighborhood also has Dakgalbi Street, famous for the fingerprints of the main actors in the movie “Winter Sonata”.

Gongjicheon Sculpture Park

Gongji Park is also considered an art museum – a place to display many impressive sculptures. When coming here, visitors will enjoy extremely unique outdoor art display spaces.

Right in the central location there is also a fountain that operates 24/7. Locals and tourists alike love strolling around the lake, making it an ideal destination for families on weekends. In particular, every year Gongji Park holds a Spring Art performance program or a poetry storytelling contest that attracts quite a large number of participants.

Uiamho Lake Skywalk

Address: 486 Chiljeon-dong, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Hours: 9 AM–6 PM

Uiamho Lake Skywalk creates a highlight that attracts visitors with an extremely impressive elevated observation deck. From the observatory, you can admire the beautiful scenery in the middle of the bike lane – a great place for visitors to keep souvenir photos.

The Skywalk is built with a transparent glass floor about 12 meters above the water. When you come here, you can walk around to experience the feeling of walking on clouds and this is a thrilling experience, feeling scared as if you could plunge into the water at any time.

Jungdo Island

Located near the city center, Jungdo artificial island is a favorite resort for many tourists. This is also an ideal destination for those who are looking for a peaceful space, in harmony with nature.

Some interesting activities on the island are cycling, camping, hiking, and swimming. In addition, if you are an adventurous person, you can participate in thrilling water sports games in Jungdo Island.

Kim Yoo Jeong House and Museum

Kim Yoo Jeong – a typical writer of the short novel genre, also has a museum and memorial house right in his hometown. Although I have not read any of Kim Yoo Jeong’s works, I have only vaguely heard that The Camellias is a very famous and typical work of modern Korean literature.

In the yard, there are many statues illustrating characters in Kim Yoo Jeong’s works. Because I haven’t read what he wrote, I don’t really understand.

Kim Yoo Joeong Museum, stores published works, prints from the past, translated into many languages.

KT&G Sangsangmadang Chuncheon Arts Center

Address: 25 Sports town-gil 399beon-gil, Gangnam-dong, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Hours: 10 AM–7 PM

This is one of three art spaces in Chuncheon, next to centers of Hongdae and Nonsan. It has galleries with many works of art, outdoor performance rooms and cafes to serve visitors. The items here are designed and sold, and can be purchased at Design Square.

Gangchon Rail Park (Gimyujeong Railbike)

Address: 1383 Gimyujeong-ro, Sindong-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Hours: 9 AM–5:30 PM

Located in the border area between Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do. This place has long been a famous tourist attraction in Chuncheon because visitors will be able to participate in experiences such as cycling on the railway and leisurely admiring the natural scenery on both sides of the road.

Certainly, coming to Gangchon rail park, you will feel the peaceful and quiet space of this place. Especially, if you want to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this is the ideal place for you to relax and be more calm in your soul.

Chuncheon Romantic Market

Address: 42-18 Jungangno 2(i)-ga, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Hours: 8:35 AM–8:30 PM/Sunday: Closed

Another interesting tourist place in Chuncheon for you is the bustling Chuncheon Romantic market. Known as the largest local market here, with many large and small stalls selling all kinds of items, making it easy for you to choose your favorite item. Not just shopping, in Chuncheon Romantic market there are also many delectable food stalls, allowing you to explore the culinary quintessence of this country.

If you want to understand more deeply about the people and lives of Chuncheon people, Chuncheon Romantic market will be the best suggestion for you to visit. This is the place that leaves the deepest impression on the people here. The special thing about this market is that there are many buildings that have been around for a long time. The stores here are also decorated very impressively and eye-catching. This has made a huge difference to the space of the stores located in this market. When you have the opportunity to go to Chuncheon Romantic market, you will see many unique works of art.

Mount Gubongsan

There are many wonderful tourist attractions in Chuncheon, and Gubongsan Mountain is also among them. To conquer this mountain peak, you will have to cross a quite long and dangerous road. But perhaps it is because of that difficulty and challenge that is the highlight, making many adventurers want to climb to the top of Gubongsan. Coming here, you will be able to admire the picturesque natural landscape, looking out into the distance you will also be able to observe the impressive panoramic view of the miniature city of Chuncheon. In addition, there are many beautiful shooting angles when coming to Gubongsan, helping you easily create unique, one-of-a-kind photos as souvenirs.

The ideal way for you to see the entire central area of the city is to go to the high observatory area on Gubongsan mountain. In particular, this area also has many ideal cafes where you can sit and enjoy coffee and admire the scenery. All cafes here have different designs and decoration styles. Therefore, you will have a lot of choices according to your style. Revealing that every shop here is suitable for you to check in and get a lifetime photo as a souvenir of your trip.

Chuncheon Mulle-gil

Address: 644-23 Songam-dong, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Hours: 9 AM–6 PM

Chuncheon Mulle-gil Canoeing

For an unforgettable memory during your exploration of Chuncheon, experience visiting Lake Uiamho by boat on the Mulle-gil River. The rowing journey will stretch 4km and last about 45 minutes. Chuncheon Mulle-gil – a place with romantic natural scenery that will help you feel relaxed and enjoy the wonderful natural scenery here.

What to eat in Chuncheon?

Korean cuisine is diverse, offering many tasty flavors. However, for those who have just set foot in Chuncheon for the first time, it will be difficult to choose among the countless delicious dishes of this land of kimchi.

Naengmyeon (Cold Noodles)

Naengmyeon cold noodles are a great choice. This dish not only has a typical Korean flavor, but it also contains many hidden meanings. Typically, fresh, long noodles represent a healthy, long life. When preparing, these noodles are cooked with a special cold soup, herbs, spices, some fresh beef, kimchi, etc. All are combined together perfectly, bringing an irresistible delicious taste.

Buckwheat Noodles Salad (Korean Makguksu)

One more delicious dish in Chuncheon for you, which is Makguksu noodles. This dish is similar to Naengmyeon, but instead of using a special cold soup, Makguksu noodles use cold buckwheat noodles. The noodles are cooked together in a rich broth, added with some spices such as salt, sesame, sugar, mustard, kimchi… and indispensable meats. Depending on each guest’s taste, you can mix and match your own ingredients.

Ginseng chicken soup (Samgyetang)

If you want to explore the culinary quintessence of Chuncheon city, take the time to enjoy Samgyetang. This dish is known as ginseng stewed chicken soup, which helps cool the body, so it is very popular on hot summer days. Not only that, this chicken soup is also extremely nutritious and good for your health because it is cooked with many other ingredients such as: Sticky rice, ginseng, jujube, ginkgo nuts, etc. So, if you have the chance, don’t miss this wonderful delicacy.

Dak Kalguksu (Chicken Noodle Soup)

Another savory noodle dish that captivates many diners when coming here is Dak Kalguksu noodles. Although this dish is not too luxurious or expensive, it is very popular with diners. Fresh and chewy noodles, cooked in a rich broth, topped with irresistibly juicy pieces of shredded chicken. Overall, after enjoying this Dak Kalguksu noodle once, you will want to come back to enjoy it a second time.

Jangeo Gui (Grilled Freshwater Eel)

With a rich culinary background, Jangeo Gui is still a popular dish in Chuncheon. This dish uses fresh eels as the main ingredient, after being thoroughly prepared, they are marinated with typical Korean spices and finally grilled until golden brown and fragrant. Jangeo Gui is not only a delicious dish, but also a very healthy dish, helping to supplement vitamins and stimulate the blood circulation system.

Myeong-dong neighborhood is Chuncheon’s culinary paradise with a few famous restaurants such as Jangwon Myeongga, Byoldang Makguksu, Bistro Tasty.

Of course, visitors should not miss the opportunity to see Chuncheon at night  from high-rise restaurants, or famous cafe corners such as Ethiopia Cafe, J Cat Cafe, Jackson Bill or R Mutt 1917 restaurant.

Where to shop in Chuncheon?

As the central city of Gangwon-do province, Chuncheon has many large shopping areas for tourists to visit, such as the shopping paradises of Myeongdong-gil and Geumgang-no. There are many clothing stores and underground shopping areas around these two streets.

Where to stay?

Tourists can choose places to stay follow to their Korean package tours. Or choose a few friendly hotels located right in the shopping district of Myeong-dong. There is a Chinese restaurant here, visitors can have breakfast right here and walk about 20 minutes to reach the bus station, quite convenient.

Sejong Hotel is also a quite safe address located near Bongui-san mountain. From the hotel, visitors can see both Chuncheon city and the surrounding countryside. Rooms at this hotel are quite warm, country style. There is also the Grand Hotel located in Okcheon-dong …

Below we recommend more best budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.

• KT&G Sangsangmadang Chuncheon Stay (Agoda, Booking)
• Elysian Gangchon Resort (Agoda, Booking)
• Chuncheon Bom Stay (Agoda, Booking)
• Legoland Hotel (Agoda, Booking)
• Jackson9s Hotel (Agoda, Booking)

Check out more best and top hotels in Chuncheon on Agoda.com or Booking.com

With the information and Chuncheon blog above, we hope you will update the necessary guides for your trip. From there, you will know how to get around, places to play, eat, etc. when coming to this beautiful city of Chuncheon.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Chuncheon and Seoul you can refer to

• Chuncheon Ladies Tour by ITX Train
• Legoland Korea Resort Admission Ticket
• Chuncheon Mulle-gil Canoeing
• Chuncheon Mulle-gil Canoe and Rail Bike Tour
• 2N1D INK K-pop Concert Incheon & Chuncheon Tour
• Chuncheon Mulle-gil Ice Fishing and Gangchon Railbike Tour
• Nami Island / Elysian Gangchon Ski / Garden of Morning Calm Tour
• Private Incheon International Airport Transfers (ICN) for Seoul
• Discover Seoul Pass (BTS Edition Available)
• [SALE] Instant Ticket! Korea Rail Pass (KR PASS) 2/3/4/5 Days to travel around the cities in Korea
• KAL Limousine Bus Ticket for Seoul
• [Limited Offer] AREX Incheon Airport Express Train One Way Ticket in Seoul
• Bukchon Oneday Hanbok Rental Experience (4/24 Hrs)
• Nami Island, Petite France, Garden of Morning Calm, and Gangchon Rail Bike Day Tour from Seoul
• [Limited Offer] Incheon International Airport (ICN) Luggage Services (Between Airport and Hotel) by Safex
• 4G Prepaid SIM Card (SK Airports Pick Up) for South Korea
• [SALE] South Korea 4G Pocket WiFi (KR Airports Pick Up) from KT Olleh
• 4G Portable WiFi for South Korea from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)

Are you looking for more Namin Island travel guide and top things to do on Nami Island: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Nami Island travel blog — The fullest Nami Island travel guide for a great trip to Nami Island for the first-timers.