Suwon

Suwon, the capital of Gyeonggi Province about 30 km south of Seoul, is a day trip for Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Hwaseong Haenggung, the temporary palace King Jeongjo used on visits to his father's tomb.

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Suwon is the capital of Gyeonggi Province, about 30 km south of Seoul, with about 1.2 million residents. Visitors mainly come for Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed on 4 December 1997. King Jeongjo ordered its construction in 1796 to protect the new town. The wall has four main gate towers, seven floodgates and pavilions such as Banghwasuryujeong. The construction records survive in the Hwaseong Seongyeok Uigwe text.

Hwaseong Haenggung was a temporary palace where King Jeongjo stayed on visits to his father's tomb. Its first restoration phase opened to the public in October 2003. Suwon is a popular day trip from Seoul, and the city is traditionally called the City of Filial Piety. Suwon galbi is a famous dish of marinated beef short ribs seasoned with sesame oil and salt, usually from Hanwoo cows. Summers are hot and humid and winters are cold and dry, so plan the fortress walk around the weather.

Suwon in five

Walk the fortress wall at no chargeKTO lists Hwaseong Fortress as open 24 hours all year with free entry. The walls stretch about 5.7 km around Paldalsan, and the site has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 12 December 1997.Hwaseong on VisitKorea
Budget for the palace ticket and hoursHwaseong Haenggung is open 09:00 to 18:00 from March to October and 09:00 to 17:00 from November to February. KTO lists an adult individual ticket at 2,000 won, teenagers 1,500 won and children 1,000 won.Haenggung on VisitKorea
Reserve the tourist trolley, and skip MondaysThe trolley runs 09:40 to 17:00 and is closed Mondays; reservations are required on the website. KTO lists adults at 6,000 won and a ride of about 40 to 50 minutes.Trolley on VisitKorea
Take a night bus from the airport after about 23:30KTO lists night buses from Incheon Airport to Gyeonggi-do towns including Suwon. Tickets must be bought in advance, and cash or transit cards are not accepted on board.Incheon travel guide
Pair Suwon with a Seoul dayThe city is south of Seoul in Gyeonggi-do, so it fits as a separate day rather than a stop between Seoul sights. Check Korail and the Seoul subway for the current route.Seoul travel guide

Things to do in Suwon

See all attractions in Suwon

Landmark · SuwonKorean Folk VillageBuy tickets online or at the ticket machines at the entrance to avoid queues. Weekends and holidays are the busiest times.

Landmark · SuwonHaenggung-dong Mural Village

Castle · SuwonSuwon Hwaseong FortressStart at Paldalmun Gate for a smoother route along the wall, and pick up a map at one of the tourist information centres.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to SuwonPut the places you like in Suwon on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Getting there: From Seoul by rail or subway; check Korail for current routes
Getting around: Walk the wall; trolley and taxis between gates
Best base: Seoul for most trips; Suwon for an early fortress start
Fortress: Open 24 hours, free; wall about 5.7 km (KTO)
Time needed: Half a day to a full day

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy4 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh2°Low-5°Cold, dry
FebruaryPartly cloudy4 rainy daysHigh5°Low-3°Cold
MarchClear6 rainy daysHigh12°Low2°Thaw, dust
AprilClear7 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Spring blossoms
MayClear9 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°Warm, clear
JunePartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Rainy season
JulyRain17 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Hot, humid
AugustRain16 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Hot, typhoons
SeptemberRain10 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Clear
OctoberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Autumn color
NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh13°Low4°Crisp
DecemberPartly cloudy5 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low-3°Cold

Average daily high and low in Suwon, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Suwon

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 1°
Humidity: 67%
Wind: 11 km/h
Chance of rain: 18%

Suwon

05:41 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+9

Today15°4°18%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 18%.
Wed16°6°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu15°9°70%Thursday: Drizzle. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 70%.
Fri11°2°13%Friday: Clear. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 13%.
Sat6°-2°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun9°-1°4%Sunday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 4%.

Updated 03:07 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 1,333 KRW

Amount

Converted to

KRW · South Korean Won

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Suwon

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

Apr–MayLotus Lantern FestivalSeoul, a day trip
JunSeoul Queer Culture FestivalSeoul, a day trip
Jul–AugPentaport Rock FestivalIncheon, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Suwon

Fortress walking toursGuided history of the wall and palaceCompare day trips

Palace and trolley ticketsReserve the trolley onlineBook timed entry

eSIM for South KoreaWalking maps and translationRead the guide

Travel insuranceA day trip insured against delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Suwon, checked

Hwaseong Fortress: open 24 hours, free; UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 12 December 1997; walls about 5.7 km.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Hwaseong Haenggung: 09:00 to 18:00 March to October, 09:00 to 17:00 November to February; adult individual ticket 2,000 won.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Hwaseong Fortress Tourist Trolley: 09:40 to 17:00, closed Mondays, reservations required; adult fare 6,000 won.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source

Plan around Suwon

All of South Korea

Cities, KTX routes and entry rules

Read the guide Seoul travel guide

Palaces, markets and where to base

Read the guide Incheon travel guide

Airport rail, layovers and ferries

Read the guide The DMZ

Official access rules and tour options

Read the guide Gyeongju travel guide

Another heritage city, further south

Read the guide Trains and transport

KTX, subways and buses

Read the guide

Suwon FAQ

Is Suwon worth a day trip from Seoul?

Yes for a walkable UNESCO fortress with free entry to the wall, a palace and a trolley. It is a calm contrast to Seoul, and easy to see in half a day if you skip the full wall walk.

Is Hwaseong Fortress free?

The fortress itself is free and open 24 hours, per KTO. Hwaseong Haenggung palace, the museum and the trolley charge separately, so budget for the ones you plan to enter.

How long is the Hwaseong wall?

KTO says the walls stretch about 5.7 kilometers around Paldalsan Mountain. Walking the full circuit takes a good part of a day with stops, so many visitors do a section.

When is the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival?

KTO says the festival is held every fall and that the fortress offers performances daily. Dates change each year, so check the fortress foundation site before you plan around it.

When is the best time to visit Suwon?

April, May, September and October. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is cold, though the fortress is still open 24 hours. Mondays close the trolley.