How to Use This Tour Guide
This guide covers three destinations in central Jongno-gu with a strong food thread running through all of them. Insadong is the traditional craft and street food district in the morning; Jongmyo is the UNESCO-listed royal shrine in the early afternoon (guided tour only); Ikseon-dong is the hanok restaurant and food lane destination for the late afternoon and evening. The three stops connect on foot or by one short subway ride.
Start Course A by 10:00 to allow time for Insadong and the Michelin Bib Gourmand lunch before the 14:00 English-language guided tour at Jongmyo (Jongmyo can only be entered with a guide). Plan to arrive at Ikseon-dong around 15:30–16:00 for the afternoon food tour while the lanes are still quiet, before the evening dinner crowd builds after 18:00.
Course A: Insadong — Traditional Craft Street & Street Food
The morning course is anchored in Insadong, Seoul's most intact traditional arts and food street. The pedestrian-only main road and the spiral Ssamziegil mall are best explored slowly — stop for street food along the way and browse the hanji paper shops and celadon galleries before the lunch stop in the back alleys.
📍 Stop 1: Insadong & Ssamziegil (인사동 & 쌈지길)
Known for: Seoul's traditional arts and craft district; the best place in the city for Korean souvenirs, handmade goods, and street food on a pedestrian-only street
Insadong (Insadong, 인사동) is a 700-metre pedestrian street running south from Anguk toward Jongno, lined with traditional craft shops, hanji paper boutiques, celadon pottery galleries, and tea houses. The most architecturally interesting stop is Ssamziegil (쌈지길), a spiral open-air mall wrapped around a central courtyard where indie designers and artisan sellers rent small stalls. For street food on the main road, look for hotteok stalls (sweet stuffed pancake, ₩2,000) and cloud-shaped gurum tteok (구름떡, rice cake, ₩3,000–5,000) — both are Insadong specialties. Hanji (Korean handmade paper) products and celadon pottery make excellent lightweight souvenirs.
📸 Photo Spot: Ssamziegil courtyard — shoot upward along the spiral ramp with the open sky above. The hanging lanterns in the atrium are best photographed from ground level looking up.
⏱ Suggested Time: 1–1.5 hours
Getting There:
- From Myeongdong: Line 4 → Chungmuro → transfer Line 3 → Anguk (~12 min). Exit 6, walk 3 min to Insadong-gil
- From Gangnam: Line 3 direct → Anguk (~24 min). Exit 6, walk 3 min to Insadong-gil
- From Hongdae: Line 2 → Euljiro 3-ga → transfer Line 3 → Anguk (~25 min). Exit 6, walk 3 min to Insadong-gil
🚶 Next Stop: Walk 2 min south along Insadong-gil → turn into Insadong 10-gil for lunch →
🍽 Lunch — Michelin Bib Gourmand (12:00–13:00)
Lunch is at Gaesong Mandu Gung, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant in the Insadong back alleys — no transit needed from Stop 1. After lunch, walk or take Line 1 one stop to Jongno 3-ga in time for the 14:00 English guided tour at Jongmyo.
📍 Lunch: 개성만두 궁 (Gaesong Mandu Gung) — Michelin Bib Gourmand
Featured in: Michelin Guide Seoul (Bib Gourmand); recognized for traditional Gaesong-style mandu and Korean home cooking
Gaesong Mandu Gung (개성만두 궁) serves the hand-folded dumplings of Gaesong — a city now in North Korea, historically famous for its mandu tradition. The restaurant has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction for exceptional value: plump, thin-skinned dumplings in clear broth, alongside bibimbap and doenjang jjigae. Arrive at 12:00 sharp — no reservations taken and it fills quickly. Budget ₩10,000–15,000 per person.
⏱ Suggested Time: 1 hour (including wait)
🚶 Next Stop: Walk south 15 min to Jongmyo, or Line 1 one stop (Jonggak → Jongno 3-ga, ~3 min) then walk 5 min north →
Half-Day Option — End the Tour After Lunch
Insadong, Ssamziegil, and lunch at 개성만두 궁 is a complete and satisfying morning. From Anguk station you can return directly:
- To Myeongdong: Line 3 → Chungmuro → transfer Line 4 → Myeongdong (~12 min)
- To Gangnam: Line 3 direct → Gangnam (~24 min)
- To Hongdae: Line 3 → Euljiro 3-ga → transfer Line 2 → Hongdae Entrance (~25 min)
