Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village is a living slice of old Seoul, a hillside neighbourhood of preserved traditional Korean houses, or hanok, with their gracefully curved tiled roofs, tucked between the grand royal palaces. Its steep, narrow lanes, where people still live, offer a charming glimpse of the city as it was before the skyscrapers, with picturesque views of the tiled rooftops framed against the modern towers beyond.

What you actually see

• The hanok houses - the traditional tiled-roof homes and lanes.
• The rooftop views - the tiled roofs against the modern city skyline.
• The craft workshops - the tea houses, galleries and craft studios.
• The palace surroundings - the location between the royal palaces.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather; go early morning or on a weekday for the quietest lanes and best photos. It is easily combined with the neighbouring palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung.

Honest expectations

It is a real residential neighbourhood, not a museum, so signs ask visitors to keep quiet and respectful, as crowds and noise have become a genuine problem for residents; some lanes now have visiting-hour limits. It is best early to avoid crowds. It is charming but small, a stroll rather than a long visit.

Nearby

Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces and the Insadong arts street are alongside.