Staying in a traditional hanok in Seoul

I recently had the pleasure of visiting and staying in a hanok during the beginning of my month in Seoul and absolutely fell in love with it. These traditional Korean houses provide not only a unique place to stay but an immersive cultural experience. Whether you’re into the history, architecture, or just looking for a unique experience, a hanok stay is a must-do in Seoul.

The beauty of the hanok lies in its simplicity and the peaceful ambiance it offers. Dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, hanoks are more than just architectural feats. Traditionally built from natural materials such as wood, soil, and rock, hanoks are designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional, offering a serene and comfortable living environment. Most feature ondol heating systems, which are underfloor heating systems that function by utilizing heat from cooking and other activities to warm the stone floors to provide a cozy living environment during the cold winters.

All traditional hanoks feature a courtyard in the middle of the home, which serves numerous purposes. It provides a communal space for family activities while simultaneously allowing the home to maintain a connection with nature, which is a fundamental aspect of traditional Korean architecture. The design of the courtyard and its orientation within the house are also influenced by the principles of feng shui.

In Seoul, hanoks are still alive and well if you know where to look for them. A popular tourist attraction is Bukchon Hanok Village, which is an insanely photogenic hanok neighborhood right in the heart of Seoul. While the city is well-known now for its modernity and technological advances, traditional Korean architecture such as what is found in this neighborhood is a welcome sight and fun to explore. The village also offers beautiful cafes, cultural workshops, and hanbok (traditional clothes) rental stores.

I had the pleasure of staying at a hanok in Jongno-gu, right next to Gyeongbokgung Palace. I found it on Airbnb and it was an absolutely perfect addition to my trip. It was a perfect mix of traditional-meets-modern, as it somehow felt like staying at a new hotel while maintaining its traditionality.

It was extremely updated, and featured heated floors (an updated version of the previously mentioned ondol heating system), a lovely hot tub in the courtyard, and one of the fancy LG clothes stylers that I’ve only ever actually seen in Korea. It was extremely cozy and was in the perfect location for me to venture over to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace, and Bukchon Hanok Village, each of which are popular tourist attractions. It was extremely calm and peaceful and honestly felt like I was at a luxurious spa.

The name of the hanok featured in this post is Uhui Yuhui/ Premium Hanok Stay and can be found at this link. I will definitely visit again and would recommend it to anyone visiting Seoul who is looking for a traditional Korean experience.