This is the most detailed guide on the best things to do in Hyehwa you’ll find on the internet.

Alas, my one-month clinical internship in Seoul has come to an end, and now I’m ready to reveal the hidden gems I discovered along the way.

Starting with Hyehwa-dong, an often-overlooked yet fascinating part of the city. Hyehwa is where I lived for a month and it has become one of my favorite favorite favorite districts in Seoul. It is not touristy at all, in fact, I don’t even think there are a lot of travel guides on Hyehwa on the internet. Nonetheless, there are so many things to do in Hyehwa, it’s puzzling why this isn’t one of the most popular districts!

Although Hyehwa isn’t as well known as Dongdaemun or Myeongdong, one thing they have in common is that they’re all situated on the same subway line, line 4 or the blue line, making it extremely convenient and accessible.

You could easily spend a day in Hyehwa; it is the absolute perfect destination for a date, solo or romantic. Stay a little longer with me to discover all the best things to do in Hyehwa!

Best Things to do in Hyehwa-dong

Best Places to Visit in Hyehwa

Changgyeongung

Right across Seoul National University Hospital, Changgyeongung was definitely the first place I noticed upon settling into Hyehwa. If you’re a history lover or you just love to be in the presence of beautiful spaces, then Changgyeongung is a definite must-go. With an admission fee of only 1000won, it is an extra affordable version of Gyeongbokgung palace

National Science Museum for Kids

Right next to Changgyeonggung we have the National Science Museum for Kids. This is perfect if you’re traveling with children and are looking fun, interactive activities to do with them. There are many exhibitions here ranging from biology to technology. A great way for children to remain curious whilst traveling!

Marronier Park

On the other side of the SNU Hospital you’ll find Marronier Park, a small (but pretty!) park with an open stage. You’ll often see performers singing here. While it’s not a must-visit, you’ll pass by the Marronier park on your way to Ihwa mural village and Naksan, so it is the perfect place to slow down and take a breather during your day if you’ve got the extra time.

Ihwa Mural Village

I remember when I was growing up, Ihwa mural village was THE touristy place to go in Seoul. A little over a decade has gone by, and now it’s definitely seen a decline in popularity. Apparently people are complaining that it’s not well maintained. Well maintained or not, I went on an evening and found it to be extremely charming and unique. However, do keep in mind that this is an actual neighborhood that locals live in (a part of its charm!), so be sure to keep quiet when visiting.

Seoul City Wall Trail + Naksan Park

This is definitely one the best things to do in Hyehwa, and perhaps all of Seoul. The Seoul city wall dates back to the 1300s and the trail takes you on a hike along the walls on Naksan. I love anything with a little history and with the beautiful night view, I give this place a hundred and ten percent. On your hike, you’ll pass by Naksan Park and multiple cafes to marvel at the night view in Seoul.

This is hands down one of my favorite places in Seoul, and I recommend coming here at night.

Gwangjang Market

Touristy or not, Gwangjang Market has some pretty amazing food. The market is located between Hyehwa and Dongdaemun, and in my opinion, it is a must visit for anyone who’s in Seoul. You’ll find a huge variety of traditional Korean food here, it’s basically impossible to try them all in one go. I actually came back at least 4 to 5 times during my one month stay in Seoul.

And my favorite? The marinated octopus.

Best Cafes in Hyehwa

One of the best things to do in Hyehwa, and all of Seoul, is…cafe hopping! The cafes in Seoul are honestly on another level. The aesthetics, the food…I’m a sucker for a nice cafe. One of my biggest regrets was only going to two cafes in Hyehwa (I went to a lot more in other areas of Seoul), but both of them were incredible:

Hakrim Dabang

If you only visit one cafe in Seoul, it should be Hakrim Dabang. Hakrim Dabangis literally the oldest cafe in Seoul. It has been open since 1956, and has made an appearance in many popular Kdramas, such as My Love From Another Star. The dark wooden staircase leading up to the cafe on the second floor screams nostalgia, and the coffee here does not disappoint.

Emi’s order: Vienna coffee (hot) (P.S. I WISH I had tried their cheesecake!! Next time!)

Han-Umtteul Cafe

A 10 minute walk from Hyehwa station exit 4, I discovered this cafe hidden in the alleyway when I was exploring the area near Sungkyunkwang University. The vibes of this cafe is so fairytale wooden cottage, I could sit here and read all day.

Emi’s order: Biscoff cheesecake

Doochae Cafe

I actually found this cafe by accident when I was looking for a place to go in between meetings. Doochae Cafe is extremely spacious and the interior is very classy as well. It has three different floors, each with a different vibe, and even outdoor seating. What I loved most was their window!! That’s so specific, and it’s not the view or anything, but just the vines crawling on the window, it’s a vibe.

Emi’s order: Cappucino and sea salt bread

Best Eats in Hyehwa

Jesun Restaurant

Honestly I would eat here everyday if I could. They have the best stir fried octopus and pork, and really good banchan as well. If you dine in, they even have a box of seaweed on the side. This is one of the places I went back to multiple times during my stay in Hyehwa.

Nanumi Tteokbokki

Nanumi Tteokbokki deserves a special mention! It was my first meal upon arriving in Seoul, and I still dream about their tteokbokki and fishcake to this day. They have literally the BEST tteokbokki I’ve ever had, anywhere. I’ve never been a fan of tteokbokki due to their overly chewy texture, but theirs, *phew* a dream made in heaven. AND they’re open 24 hours! 24! You don’t find many places open 24 hours in Seoul.

Jangin Dakgalbi

This restaurant also has a place in my heart as it’s where I went with the first friends I made in Seoul. During dinner hours, you’ll see a huge line outside of the restaurant. It’s a great place to hangout and eat with your friends, the food is good, the place is clean and bright. Recommend!

Hwan Restaurant

One thing that frustrates me so much about Korea is that it’s almost impossible to dine alone at a restaurant. A lot of places only serve two or more people! This pasta restaurant is perfect if you’re eating alone. The environment is super cozy (it’s where I’d want to be on a cold winter night!), the chef is super friendly, you can literally watch him cook your meal and the whole experience feels very personal. I ordered the seafood rose pasta and it was *chefs kiss*.

Local Gamjatang

I unfortunately cannot find the name of this place on Naver Maps, but it’s location is quite hard to spot if you don’t pay enough attention. Gamjatang is pork bone soup, a very popular Korean dish also usually eaten with a group of people. This place is perfect if you are alone and want to have gamjatang just for one person. They had amazing banchan as well, I heard you can ask for banchan refills here but my introverted self could not. I wish they’d put more potatoes in the gamjatang.

Guksuga

This diner behind Marronier Park seems to be really popular amongst locals, it’s always crowded during meal hours. Guksu actually means ‘Korean noodles’, and that is exactly what they serve, a variety of traditional Korean noodles. I felt adventurous and ordered the kongguksu, which is basically noodles in cold soybean soup. Unfortunately, I hated it, but I’m pretty sure that was more of a me problem than the food’s problem. I’d go back and try all the rest of their noodles, and they had the freshest and yummiest kimchi I’ve ever had!

Street Food

I’m guessing because Hyehwa is predominantly a student area, they have a lot more street food stalls compared to many other districts. And the prices are much more reasonable than the night market in Myeongdong as well (unpopular opinion: Myeongdong stalls are a rip off). Here are some of my favorite stalls:

• fried chicken in a cup and hotteok (went multiple times and tried them in all different flavors)
• taiyaki (THIS specific stand, both the red bean and custard are good)
• egg bread (MUST ADD CHEESE)

Best Places to Shop in Hyehwa

Hyehwa really is more of a student area than a shopping hub like Hongdae or Myeongdong. To be honest, I’m not big of a shopper, but there are two stores that I found really darn cute and you really should visit when you’re in Hyehwa.

Coco Dress

Best. Vintage. Clothing. Literally.

The sign literally says ‘my mom’s old closet’ and that’s basically what it is. All the clothing items inside are literally what I would find in my mom’s closet as a young girl. This store has been running for seven year by a graceful grandma. I actually went up and asked if these were her old clothes. Unfortunately, they’re not, but they might as well be. The quality of the clothes here are amazing and I literally bought more clothes here than I did anywhere else in Seoul.

SUCH a hidden gem! If you’re into thrifting and vintage clothes, you’d be doing yourself a disservice by not going!

The Store Next to Coco Dress (lol)

I didn’t get the name of this store, but it’s located right next to Coco Dress and they sell a variety of accessories, both second hand and brand new. Although I didn’t get anything from here, they had some really unique pieces as well.

Hopefully, I’ve now convinced you to include Hyehwa into your Seoul itinerary with this post. What seemed like an ordinary district quickly became one of my favorite in Seoul. These are the best things to do in Hyehwa, and I hope you’ll get the chance to experience Hyehwa like I did.

Until next time,

Emi

P.S. If you’ve been to Hyehwa, please give me all your recommendations that weren’t mentioned here!!