Suwon is 50 minutes from central Seoul by direct subway on Line 1. It has the finest UNESCO fortress wall in Korea and one of the country’s best grilled chicken dishes. Here is how to get there.
Suwon is a city of 1.2 million in Gyeonggi Province, immediately south of Seoul’s city limits. It is one of Korea’s most rewarding half-day excursions from Seoul: Hwaseong Fortress, built in 1796, has a 5.7-kilometre-long intact wall with watchtowers, gates, and the Hwaseong Haenggung Palace within its walls, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage. The city is also famous for galbi-jjim (braised short ribs) and tongdak (whole grilled chicken), both regional specialties worth timing a lunch around.
Quick answer: Seoul Metro Line 1 directly to Suwon Station. About 50 minutes from Seoul Station, 1,650 won with T-money. No transfer required.
Option 1: Subway Line 1 (Recommended)
Seoul Metro Line 1 (dark blue) runs directly from Seoul Station south to Suwon Station with multiple stops en route. This is by far the simplest option.
- Board: Line 1 at Seoul Station toward the Suwon or Cheonan direction
- Journey time: About 50 minutes from Seoul Station, slightly longer from northern Seoul stations
- Cost: Around 1,650 won with T-money from Seoul Station
- Frequency: Every 3 to 5 minutes during peak hours
From Suwon Station, buses run to Hwaseong Fortress (about 10 minutes, 1,150 won), or a taxi costs around 5,000 to 7,000 won.
Option 2: KTX (Faster but Less Practical)
KTX services stop at Suwon on some routes, reducing the journey to about 20 minutes from Seoul Station. However, the KTX fare (around 8,000 to 10,000 won) is significantly higher than the subway fare for a short distance, and KTX trains do not stop at Suwon on all services; check before booking. The subway is better for this journey.
Hwaseong Fortress – What to Do
The 5.7-kilometre fortress wall circuit takes about 2 to 3 hours to walk. Enter at Janganmun (north gate) from Suwon Station and walk the full circuit clockwise. The views over Suwon and the forested ramparts are excellent. Entry to the fortress grounds is free. Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, within the walls, charges 1,500 won entry and has traditional performance shows on weekends.
See the Gyeonggi Province day trips guide for Suwon in the context of other Seoul day trip options.
