Jeonju, South Korea One-Day Itinerary and Self-Guided Tour

Jeonju, the cultural capital of South Korea, is a charming gem of a town that should not be missed during your South Korea itinerary. Famous for its Jeonju Hanok Village, the largest in South Korea, Jeonju is also filled with charming buildings, cultural museums, and well-preserved history. It’s nicknamed the “slow city” for its pace of life, which is exactly what you’ll experience on this Jeonju one-day itinerary!
Out of all the cities that I visited in South Korea, Jeonju was by far the most picturesque. Around every corner is another beautiful snapshot. Visit Jeonju before crowds of tourists discover its allure!
Multiple trains and busses depart every day from Seoul to Jeonju. From Yongsan Station in Seoul, you can take the high-speed KTX train for 34,600 won ($31 USD), or local trains for about 26,000 won ($22 USD) to reach Jeonju.
Express busses also depart from Seoul to Jeonju every 10 minutes. They take anywhere from 2.5-4 hours and cost from 12,700 to 19,000 won ($10-$16 USD).
If you’re rather not DIY a Jeonju day trip, join a Jeonju Hanok Village Tour departing from Seoul.
The best place to stay in Jeonju is in a traditional Hanok House. There are countless guesthouses and hotels that operate within Jeonju’s Hanok Village, which is exactly where you want to be for this One-Day in Jeonju Itinerary.
Check out my list of 10 best hanok stays in Jeonju for some amazing recommendations. Many hanok guesthouses on the list are located in the heart of the Jeonju Hanok Village. Others are in quieter neighborhoods away from the crowds, but still within walking distance from the village and other things to do in Jeonju.
(If you want to skip to the good part, check out my favorite hanok from my list: Hanok Story Guesthouse.)
If you’re traveling on a backpacker’s budget, I stayed at the Jeonju hostel NeaRest Guesthouse. It’s is only a 10-minute walk from everything on this Jeonju One-Day Itinerary, has friendly and helpful staff, a common area, and amazing dorm room facilities.
Set the tone for your one-day in Jeonju itinerary by visiting the Gyeonggijeon Shrine, then taking an initial stroll through Jeonju’s Hanok Village. Visit the town’s many museums, browse the shops, then stop for some lunch or tea in a traditional Hanok building.
Rent a traditional Hanbok dress before you go if you want to look the part for your one-day itinerary of traditional Korean culture! Many tourists (even locals) do this to take memorable photos of their trip to Jeonju and South Korea.
Stop for lunch in a traditional Hanok building. Many of the restaurants along Jeonju Hanok Village’s main streets are traditional Hanok buildings, renovated to look modern on the inside. Try Jeonju’s famous bean sprout soup with rice, which pairs perfectly with some kimchi.
Jeonju is also where one of Korea’s national dishes, bibimbap had its start. The dish consists of rice with a variety of different colorful and nutritious toppings including beef, eggs, bean sprouts, red chillies, and more. Jeonju even has an annual bibimbap festival in October to celebrate the dish.
That’s a wrap for my one day in Jeonju itinerary. Have you booked your Jeonju accommodation yet? In order to make the most of a full day in Jeonju, I recommend staying one or two nights in town before continuing on your way. Be sure to check out the traditional hanok stay options in Jeonju.