Visiting Seoul has become a must in the last few years. With the rise of Korean culture including K-POP, K-Drama and Korean gastronomy, the capital has become the preferred destination for travelers.
So you almost never get bored once there. So it should come as no surprise that your wallet empties very quickly for just a few days!
Besides, if you want Discover Seoul , I made a full article for a 3 to 4 day itinerary.
However, you can also have fun without having to spend a cent. Indeed, the advantage of Seoul is its relief because it is surrounded by quite a few mountains that are easily accessible by public transport.
Some are really accessible because it doesn't require a lot of effort to get to the top. This is the case, for example, of Inwangsan Mountain Park. Located not far from the famous Gyeongbukgung Palace, you can easily go there to admire a beautiful view of the city.
Or for the more adventurous, you have another alternative. In this article I am going to tell you about Bukhansan National Park.
For having done it twice, it is for me a real favorite and it is a hike to do at least once in a lifetime.
How do I get to Bukhansan National Park?
In my article on the city of Seoul and things to visit, I suggest staying in the Guesthouse in Insadong. It is located near all the main places to visit, which is really interesting if you want to optimize your trips.
In this case, it is therefore very easy to get to the national park by public transport. The guesthouse is located at the station Anguk (number 1). On this same line, you will have to go in the direction of Daehwa (to the left) and get off at the station Gupabal (number 2).
Then take exit 2 to go directly to the bus station and then get on the Bus number 704 and get off at the station Bukhansanseong Fortress Entrance. This is the 11th station leaving from Gupabal station.
You are almost there! You will then have to walk a bit from the bus station to the entry point of Bukhansan National Park. When exiting the bus, continue north and then turn right. Normally you should see the CU convenience store on your way. If that's the case, you're on the right track!
By the way, do not hesitate to stock up in the mini-market, because once you have started your hike, you will not be able to buy anything.
The ascent to the Baegundae summit
First of all, you should know that Bukhansan National Park is very vast. There are several things to see within it, so it is impossible to visit everything in one day.
On the other hand, there is one thing that all Korean men and women do every time they come to Bukhansan, and that is to climb Baegundae Summit.
The reason is quite simple, as it is one of the most beautiful peaks in Korea. So, if locals take advantage of the weekends, it is very often to go get some fresh air and do a bit of hiking near their home.
The national park itself is one of the activities that many of them recommend. And so this is an opportunity for me to show you this incredible summit.
You should know that its ascent is not easy. Because on your way, you will have a lot of rocky trails and a fairly steep drop at times. Add to that a duration of about 2 hours to get to the end, or even longer if you plan to stop frequently for breaks.
Finally, the descent will take place on the other side of the summit. Allow about an additional 2 hours to get to the nearest metro station.
The beginning of the ascent
The ascent starts rather gently, as you will be walking not on pebbles, but on a road with a fairly low altitude difference.
Take the opportunity to go to the bathroom, because once you have made good progress in your hike, no toilet is available.
I also recommend paying attention to what you eat the night before and in the morning, because Korean food means spicy food. And we all know the consequences after eating a spicy meal 6 hours later. I'm not drawing you a picture, am I? 😛
But let's get back to climbing the Baegundae summit. Typically, this ascent offers you the opportunity to recharge your batteries and enjoy the magnificent landscapes that will be presented to you throughout your journey.
My advice : when you travel alone and hike alone, it is also an opportunity to do some self-introspection. It may seem ridiculous, but believe me, there is nothing better than taking time for yourself to think about your future, what you aspire to become, and the opportunities that solo travel can give you, both on a human and spiritual level.
Without further ado, I leave you with these few photos in my ascent to the summit.
Baegundae Summit
After spending about 2 hours oscillating between stairs and rocky paths, you will reach the famous peak that everyone is talking about: the Baegundae Summit.
Of course, the climb was not easy, but see through these few photos the fruits of our efforts. With luck, you'll get a marvelous 360-degree view of the entire city.
With such an unobstructed view of the city of Seoul, you won't find anything better anywhere else. It's no wonder that so many hikers of all ages are venturing out on this climb.
The 2 hours of hiking are really worth it, if only for the pride of having accomplished this feat of climbing up to 836m in altitude!
Admire this splendid breathtaking view while eating your lunch snack on the rocks overlooking the summit.
The descent from Mount Bukhansan
Since the last climbs are quite steep, you will have to hang on to go back down since you will have to go back down the same path.
At the end of the steep descent, you have the choice between retracing your steps, or taking another direction.
For my part, I chose to take the new path to discover areas that are still unknown to me.
If you decide to take the same path as me, know that the descent will be quite easy, because the hiking trail is gentler.
So you will hardly need to hold on to a guardrail to help you put on one foot after the other as well as for the ascent.
Once you reach the road, simply continue straight on until you reach the main road. All you have to do is take the subway to the station Bukhansan Ui.
Return to the guesthouse after hiking in Bukhansan National Park
As I mentioned before, when you reach the main road, you will see the station Bukhansan Ui (number 1).
This is the Wooe-Sineul Lrt line (gray line). You will have to make 3 changes from this station. You will need to make a change at the station Sungshin Women Univ (number 2) and take the sky blue line.
Then, you will have to get off at the station Dongdaemun (number 3) to make your change with the navy blue line. Go in the direction of the station Jongno 3 (sam) -ga (number 4) to make the change with the orange line
The guesthouse is located at the station Anguk. Only one station separates you to reach your destination safely. You can decide to continue by subway or exit at Jongno 3 (sam) -ga station to walk to your guesthouse. In both cases the distance is practically the same.
What to do once back at the guesthouse?
Know that once you arrive at the Insadong Guesthouse, if you are really tired and do not want to go far away, in this case I recommend that you eat in the neighborhood instead.
There is just one good restaurant that I had the opportunity to eat and that offers very hearty dishes: Doma Insadong.
Located a few dozen meters from the guesthouse, you can end your day with a meat dish after so much effort.
For around €12, you have the meal above. It's really not expensive considering the portion I was served.
If not, you can always head to the neighborhood Myeongdong located a few metro stops away. It is a very lively place with numerous street-food stands. It is also a very touristy place where you will find a lot of shops open until late at night.
Conclusion
Dear travelers, if you have some time on Korean soil, take a full day to do one of the most beautiful hikes in South Korea.
Bukhansan National Park is definitely worth a visit, just for the view it offers. Prepare yourself physically and your belongings before leaving, because there is a long way to go.
Know that The hike is open all year. However, I recommend the fall season and spring to do it, because you will have the opportunity to discover the magnificent maple leaves in red and orange colors for one, and the many blossoming flowers for the other season.
The amount of your day will be for Barely less than €10 if you include transport as well as food rations once at the top.
For example, a normal day of visit to Seoul is around €30 if you include restaurants, museum visits and other ancillary expenses.
Although there are already a lot of things to do in the capital, sometimes it is enough to think a bit off the beaten path to realize that there are places that few tourists venture into. And going for a hike is one of them!
