A Day in Suwon, South Korea

Sep 5

5 min read

Suwon was honestly one of my favourite days in Korea.

I was lucky enough to visit with a friend who actually grew up in Suwon, and she wanted to take me around and show me some of the places that held childhood memories for her. I always think there’s something really special about seeing a place through the eyes of someone who grew up there, rather than just following a typical tourist itinerary.

Our day wasn’t really planned around ticking off every attraction, but we ended up seeing so many different sides of Suwon - from modern shopping centres and beautiful libraries to palaces, fortress walls, traditional activities and plenty of food.

So, while this isn't a strict step-by-step itinerary, here are some of the places and experiences from our day that I would definitely recommend if you're travelling to Suwon for the day.

1. Starfield Suwon

📍 Location: Jangan-gu, Suwon

We started our day at Starfield Suwon, a huge shopping mall with so many shops, cafes and things to look around.

One of the sweetest parts for me was getting to experience something that was actually a childhood memory for my friend. We made personalised pens, which was something she remembered doing when she was younger. It was such a simple little activity, but being able to do something that brought back a childhood memory for her made it feel much more special.

We also grabbed some really delicious juice and, of course, had to stop for London Bagel Museum. We had a look around the shops and wandered through the mall before making our way to one of the spots I was most excited to see - the famous Starfield Library.

The library is located inside Starfield Suwon and is definitely worth stopping by. The huge bookshelves stretch several levels high and make such a beautiful backdrop for photos. It was the perfect little stop while exploring the shopping centre before we headed off to explore the more historic side of Suwon.

2. Hwaseong Haenggung Palace

📍 Location: Paldal-gu, Suwon

From there, we made our way towards Hwaseong Haenggung Palace.

Walking through the palace grounds was such a contrast to where we'd just been. One minute we were surrounded by modern Korea, and the next we were walking through traditional Korean architecture and historic courtyards.

The palace was built during the Joseon Dynasty and was used by King Jeongjo when he visited Suwon. Even if you're not usually someone who loves visiting historical sites, I think it's worth adding to your Suwon day. It's beautiful, peaceful and gives you a little more insight into the history of the city.

3. Try traditional Korean archery

📍 Location: Jangan-gu, Suwon

We had so much fun trying traditional Korean archery, and my kids absolutely loved this activity - and honestly, so did I!

The ladies helping us were so lovely and really helpful, making the whole experience easy and enjoyable. There was something a little magical about standing there with a bow in your hand, shooting arrows with Suwon Hwaseong Fortress right in front of you. It was definitely one of those experiences that made the day feel a little more special.

4. Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

📍 Location: Paldal-gu & Jangan-gu, Suwon

Of course, you can't visit Suwon without seeing Hwaseong Fortress. The fortress stretches around the historic part of Suwon, with its original walls, gates and watchtowers still standing today. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it's definitely somewhere I'd recommend adding to your Suwon list.

We didn't have enough time to walk around the entire fortress, so instead we hopped on the little cart and took a ride around. It was such a lovely and relaxing way to see more of Hwaseong without feeling like we were rushing from one place to the next.

It was just the four of us, so we could sit back and enjoy the ride while my friend pointed out different places along the way and told us about things she used to do as a kid, as well as little memories from growing up in Suwon.

Having her share those memories with us made the experience feel so much more personal. We weren't just sightseeing - we were getting to see a little part of Suwon through the eyes of someone who had grown up there, which made it one of my favourite parts of the day.

5. Making Dalgona

📍 Location: Hanggung-dong, Suwon

We stopped by Nostalgic Dalgona, and the kids absolutely loved it!

The gentleman who helped us was so friendly and welcoming, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. He was amazing with the kids and patiently showed us how to make the dalgona from start to finish.

Once we had made our candy, it was time for the important part - trying to carefully carve out the shape without breaking it, just like in Squid Game.

Let's just say... only two of us would have made it to the next level!

It was such a fun and nostalgic little experience, and I loved that we got to make it ourselves rather than simply buying it. I would definitely recommend stopping here, especially if you're travelling with children.

6. Choco Navi

📍 Location: Hanggung-dong, Suwon

Choco Navi was another cute little stop we made during the day.

The lady who owns the cafe was absolutely lovely, and the chocolate was so good. It was the perfect little place to stop for something sweet and take a break after exploring.

I always love finding these smaller, local spots when travelling, and this one was definitely worth stopping by.

Final Thoughts

Before heading back to Seoul, we took our time wandering through the little shops and streets around Suwon. After a busy day of exploring, it was nice to slow down and just see where the streets took us.

Would I recommend a day trip to Suwon? 100%!!!

Suwon ended up being one of those days that I didn't expect to love as much as I did.

Getting there from Seoul was also really easy. My children and I caught the train to Suwon in the morning to meet my friend, and after spending the day exploring, we took the bus back to Seoul in the evening. Both were really easy options, which made the day feel even more relaxed, especially travelling with my two children.

I think having a local friend show me around made the day even more special, but even if you're visiting Suwon on your own, there is so much to see and do.

You can combine history, culture, activities, cafes, food and shopping all in one day, and it's such a nice change of pace from the busier streets of Seoul.

If you're planning a trip to Korea and have a spare day in your itinerary, I'd definitely consider adding Suwon. And if you happen to have a friend who grew up there and can show you around… even better.