Bukchon Asian Art Museum
I’d love to introduce the Bukchon Asian (Oriental) Art Museum (Bukchon, Seoul), a place I discovered after being captivated by the beauty of traditional Asian gardens.
Here, not only can you wander through a serene garden, but you can also enjoy panoramic views of Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace. For just 6,000 KRW, you can experience it all — a cup of coffee, a traditional garden, the Bukchon observatory, and a beautiful hanok-style café.
Bukchon Hanok Village is a real residential area where people still live, so visitors are kindly asked to explore quietly and respectfully.
Please note that entry to Bukchon hanok village is not allowed after 5 p.m., and around 6 p.m., security staff block the main entrances to prevent further access. It’s best to visit the Bukchon Asian Art Museum before 5 p.m., and then leave the village quietly as the evening approaches.
To reach the museum, enter the small alley next to the Nature Republic store in Bukchon Hanok Village.
As you walk up the path, you’ll pass traditional hanok walls, curved rooftops, and people in colorful hanbok. It’s fascinating how tradition and modern city life coexist so harmoniously in the heart of Seoul.
Follow the sign that says “Bukchon’s Best Observatory (10m),” and you’ll soon arrive at the Bukchon Asian Art Museum.
Perched at the highest point in Bukchon, it offers a sweeping view of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the entire hanok village.
The 6,000 KRW entrance fee includes a drink ticket, giving you access to both the museum and the café.
Beyond the entrance lies a beautifully carved wooden gate that exudes an air of Eastern mystery.
Crossing the small bridge over the pond feels like strolling through a royal garden.
Even in the heat of summer, the garden is impeccably maintained, and lotus flowers bloom serenely on the water’s surface.
There are two observatories here. If you walk a bit further inside, you’ll find a second one with a much broader, more open view.
From there, you can take in the serene beauty of Bukchon Hanok Village and even see Gyeongbokgung Palace in the distance. It was a hot summer day when I visited, and I wished the skies had been clearer — the clouds made me a little wistful.
Still, I was deeply impressed by how beautifully the garden was maintained, even in the midst of the summer heat.
As you stroll through the garden, you’ll come across a quiet hanok building where you can step inside and take a short rest.
Here, you can enjoy your drink surrounded by antique folding screens, wooden furniture, and hand-carved nameplates — each piece telling its own story. Sipping coffee in such peaceful stillness felt like finding a hidden retreat in the middle of the city.
Inside the café, you’ll find various artworks collected from Korea, China, Tibet, and other parts of Asia.
The menu includes coffee, traditional teas, and several other refreshing drinks. With your entrance ticket, you can enjoy an Americano, iced tea, or green tea, and for just an additional 1,000 KRW, you can upgrade to drinks like lattes, sweet potato lattes, or chocolate lattes.
It’s impressive how much you can experience — a garden, an observatory, and a hanok café, all for just 6,000 KRW.
Upstairs, the café’s second floor offers a cozy and quiet atmosphere.
A few foreign visitors were there as well, and I couldn’t help but hope that more travelers would discover this hidden gem. The scent of aged wood and the gentle sound of the breeze made the space feel warm and soothing.
I ordered Mogwa-cha (quince tea) for an extra 1,000 KRW and noticed that the café was fermenting its own fruit syrups, such as quince and jujube.
From the outdoor garden to the hanok café and all the rare art pieces on display, the experience is enriching. Every detail felt thoughtful and full of care, easily worth far more than the admission fee. I truly hope this lovely place becomes more widely known as one of Bukchon’s hidden gems.
Next time, I’d love to return on a clear autumn day and see Bukchon’s scenery from the observatory once again.
Address : 27 Poeun-ro 6-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Phone : +82-2-335-3591
Operation Hours : Monday-Sunday: 09:00 - 21:00
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Source : https://blog.naver.com/su12192000/223980591147
Writer : su12192000
Special thanks to su12192000
Bukchon Asian Art Museum seoul korea