I’ve frequented Jeonju quite a few times, probably even more so than any other Korean cities.
I sometimes make a day trip via KTX and hence my friends wonder: is this city REALLY worth your time and money? The short answer is yes. The long answer is yes, if you know the right things to do!
I’ve compiled some of my personal favourite things to do in this beautiful city. If you check out the Jeonju category on my website, you may find a few which I have left out. I’ll elaborate further in those posts why they didn’t make it to my top list!
Eat bibimbap in Jeonju Hanok Village
If you’re a huge bibimbap fan or generally searching for what to eat in Jeonju, you would have discovered that Jeonju is the birthplace of bibimbap. Hence, it only made sense that this would be in the top things to do in Jeonju.
I’ve tried a couple of bibimbap restaurants and my top favourites are all in Jeonju Hanok Village: Gogung Suragan and Emokdae!
I personally find that the bibimbap here tastes much better than those in other cities. I cannot fully understand what the difference is. However, I am guessing the key lies in the gochujang sauce and the marinated meats used.
Get afternoon tea at a teahouse
Jeonju is full of cafes just like most other Korean cities, but what I find is worth the experience is definitely having tea at one of their teahouses.
The vibes are very different: everyone feels to be moving at a much slower pace and everything is a lot quieter. I feel much more relaxed at their teahouses, especially those in the Hanok Village.
Their tea offerings are also quite eyeopening. Some places such as Gyodong Dawon even teach the differences between the teas and how to brew them correctly!
Visit the Jeondong Catholic Cathedral
If you’re searching for key things to do in Jeonju, the Jeondong Catholic Cathedral is certainly one of those landmarks that would pop up as well.
While I’m not religious, I do find the spot to be quite a marvellous sight, and many other locals seem to agree with me as well.
This historic site was built in honour of Roman Catholic martyrs of the Joseon dynasty on the very same spot the martyrs lost their lives. It is the first Romanesque building in the Honam region, and is considered one of the most beautiful Catholic churches in Korea.
Rent & dress up in hanbok, Victorian-era outfits, or school uniforms
This is a clear personal favourite but is rather polarising – just ask my travel companions, who mostly never seem to understand why I do this haha.
Compared to the hanbok dress-up at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the varieties offered here are much, much wider. I find that the pieces you can rent in Jeonju also tend to be nicer and cheaper.
If you’re not keen on hanbok rental, you can also try Korean school uniforms from the old days, and also the trending Victorian-era dresses.
Other than walking around the village in your costumes, certain shops also allow you to have your professional photos taken in the studio! I’ve seen quite a few locals taking the chance to take family or couple photos here, but do check in with them on the lead time.
Eat & buy back PNB choco pies as souvenirs
There’s only one snack I must bring back from Jeonju, and that is none other than choco pies from PNB Bakery. There are a few other shops around also selling choco pies – even Lotte sells it in their supermarkets – but NONE come close to the one sold by PNB Bakery.
PNB Bakery was founded in 1951 and is said to be the pioneer of choco pies. Their choco pie is a handmade confection consisting of two cocoa wheels. It sandwiches jam, whipped cream, and chopped walnuts, and is then dipped shallowly in chocolate.
Other than the original chocolate flavour, I found some other new flavours which included cheese, white chocolate, matcha etc. My personal favourite is still the original choco pie though!
This is much better than the versions sold in supermarkets and you just have to try it for yourself. They don’t add any preservatives though, so you have to finish them fast!
Try moju
Other than bibimbap and choco pies, moju is the beverage you have to try when you’re in Jeonju.
Moju is a rice wine-based beverage brewed with herbs and spices. It actually contains a fairly low amount of alcohol (less than 1%). In fact, the cool part about it is that it actually works as hangover relief!
To brew Jeonju moju, makgeolli (Korean rice wine) is boiled with ginger, jujube, licorice, arrowroot, and other herbs and spices. When the ingredients are boiled down to half, cinnamon is added. Because of its low alcohol content and medicinal ingredients, Moju is known as a good hangover relief.
Jeonju City Blog
I quite like the sweetness of the moju from the herbs that they brew the makgeolli with. It tastes even better as an ice cream, which you have to try in the Hanok Village!
Stroll through Jaman Mural Village
Unlike the other items on this list, Jaman Mural Village is a little way further and requires you to walk out of the hanok village.
Jaman Mural Village used to be one of Jeonju’s ‘daldongnae’ (poor hillside village). However, murals drawn by talented local artists has transformed Jaman Village into one of the top attractions in Jeonju.
Although I find the murals extremely lovely, I do have to warn that walking up the slope can be a particularly challenging task – but also a great workout!
Stay over in a traditional guesthouse
If you’re planning to stay overnight in Jeonju (which I highly recommend!), skip the hotels and directly book a traditional guesthouse in the Hanok Village.
Staying in a guesthouse in the village is a very unique experience that you will never get in bigger cities like Seoul. We booked through Booking.com for cheaper rates and so our guesthouse wasn’t super fancy, but if you have the budget, do go ahead to find more luxurious guesthouses on Airbnb!
If you’re lucky, your hosts can be very helpful in providing directions and recommending places of interest to make your trip there worthwhile.
I stayed in Bukyungdang Hanok Guesthouse and really enjoyed my time there – good to consider!
Related Posts:
- How To: buy KTX train tickets in Korea (complete guide!)
- Best places to eat bibimbap in Jeonju
- Jeonju Hanok Village: what to do in the International Slow City
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