Trip Planner: Asia / South Korea / Gyeonggi-do / Suwon / Hwaseong Fortress

Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon

4.5

#1 of 59 in Historic Sites in Gyeonggi-do

Must see · World heritage site · Historic Walking Area · Landmark

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Listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site, Hwaseong Fortress embodies the economic and militaristic power of the Joseon Dynasty at the end of the 18th century. Stretching for 5.52 km (3.43 mi), the partly restored fortress houses many different military facilities, along with the king's palace. Notice the holes in the walls which allowed easy gun/arrow fire and spear-attacking during the siege. As you explore along the long solid wall, observe the structures that surround it, like floodgates, watchtowers, wooden pavilions, and the beacon tower. You can attend a variety of performances here, as well as annual festivals, to fully experience the fort's history and tradition. For Hwaseong Fortress and beyond, use our Suwon driving holiday planner to get the most from your Suwon vacation.

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Tours to Hwaseong Fortress

FROM $10 BOOK WITH VIATOR Korea Virtual Tour from Suwon, PEACEFUL Borders KTourTOP10 Korea Virtual Tour from Suwon, PEACEFUL Borders KTourTOP10

Duration: 1 hour

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Hwaseong Fortress reviews

TripAdvisor traveler rating

967 reviews

Google

4.6

By ronny256

The wall looks like a miniature Great Wall of China. Quite long with restored parts looking like original ones. We stopped driving by. I’m not sure it’s worth making special trip from Seoul. Maybe...

The wall looks like a miniature Great Wall of China. Quite long with restored parts looking like original ones. We stopped driving by. I’m not sure it’s worth making special trip from Seoul. Maybe... more »
By alexh11494

Suwon itself doesn’t have a huge amount on offer, but we took a day trip from Seoul to come and visit the fortress, and we’re so glad we did. We started the walk in the north gate, Jangan-mun, and...

Suwon itself doesn’t have a huge amount on offer, but we took a day trip from Seoul to come and visit the fortress, and we’re so glad we did. We started the walk in the north gate, Jangan-mun, and... more »
By MaddisonPark07

Have you ever heard of Suwon Hwaseong? Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was built during the reign of King Jeongjo of Joseon and is a planned city centered on the fortress. Today, it is a symbolic building of.... more

Have you ever heard of Suwon Hwaseong? Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was built during the reign of King Jeongjo of Joseon and is a planned city centered on the fortress. Today, it is a symbolic building of.... more »

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By Agata zhmogeliukas

This is a MUST VISIT place if you ever come to Suwon! The fortress is free to visit and you can go up the defense wall and also see the city views from the above! There is also a beautiful pond that is popular for picnics and especially in summer it was super beautiful as everything was green and reflecting in the water! I am sure it is just as beautiful at other seasons as well!

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By anne

Beautiful site, rich with Korean culture and history. You can literally walk right along the walls inside the fortress. Admissions are so cheap… less than $1. I highly recommend visiting, especially if you’re in the area.

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By Nick G

A really great time exploring the fortress wall. I highly recommend hiking to the top of the archer tower for an amazing view of the city and a chance to ring the massive bell 3 timed for W1000.I really want to come back to explore the rest of the fort.

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By Gunnar Caya

Certainly the biggest draw for Suwon, and one of the biggest tourist attractions in all of Korea, this 200+ year old fortress is great. Nowadays you can walk along the walls for free, making a circle around the old city (mostly 3-story shops now) while surrounded on all sides by mountains and a modern city of over 1,000,000 people. Despite the modern world encroaching, it's still pretty easy to see how incredible this place must have seemed when it was first built. Walking the walls can take anywhere from 2 hours to 6 hours, depending on how far you decide to walk, how many breaks you take, and whether you decide to walk or take a cab back to your starting point. My recommendation is walking the walls on the way out and then walking outside the walls on the way back. Although walking the wall is cool, seeing it from outside is certainly more impressive. And best of all, it is free. The only thing that costs money is a visit to the emergency palace, and even that is super cheap. Highly recommended

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By debs3012

Came here to see the brightest moon on chuseok after 100 years! Difficult to park here. Though quite big but still too small for everyone! You can bring your mat and enjoy the day or night together with your loved ones. Take a walk around the fortress, which is so big! There is also a place where you can practice archery.

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