Located in central Korea and sitting about 145km south of Seoul, Daejeon is South Korea’s fifth largest city and serves as a transportation hub for the country. While Seoul, Busan and Jeju get most of the attention in Korea, from external visitors, expats and even Korean nationals, but the city is worth a weekend visit or even a consideration for a job. I spent two years living in nearby Sejong, the administrative capital of Korea and a city under construction, because of this I spent a fair amount of time in Daejeon and here are some of its top charms.
Hike
Hiking seems like Korea’s national pastime and most cities have easy access to a variety national parks and hiking. Daejeon is no exception with a myriad of national parks nearby, plus some easy hikes in the city itself.
Gyeryongsan National Park
Gyeryongsan National Park sits just a 50-minute direct bus ride from the National Cemetery subway stop. It has several hiking routes, most with moderate to easy difficulty and panoramic views of the ridgeline for which it was named. The translation of Gyeryongsan is “chicken dragon” because it was said the ridge line resembled a dragon with a cockscomb, you can be the judge of it resembles that or not. You can find more information on hiking Gyeryongsan National Park here.
Songnisan National Park
An hour and a half bus ride from Daejeon Express Bus Terminal, Songnisan National Park offers up scenic views and challenging hikes. With a name that means “remote from the ordinary world” Songnisan offers less packed hiking routes and stunning views of the unique granite cliffs in the area. Check out my guide to Songnisan National Park here for more information!
Daedunsan Provincial Park
About an hour bus ride from Daejeon, Daedunsan Provincial Park boasts a variety
of hiking trails with a variety of intensities and a highly instagramable bridge, especially in the fall and in fresh snow. There is a cable car which provides easy access to the bridge and peak, with a little café and snack shop right near the cable car. For more information on Daedunsan Provincial Park you can check out my article here.
All of these national parks and their hiking courses are featured in more detail in my Hiking in Korea series and are linked :).
See & Do
Expo Science Park & Light Show
Best known for the expo bridge and the evening light show that runs on Saturday and Sunday evenings complete with food trucks, the park was established in 1993 after the closing of the Daejeon Expo. The park now houses a handful of small museums and is often used for festivals such as the Daejeon Beer Festival. The expo bridge which lights up at night
Hanbat Arboretum & Daejeon Museum of Art
Located right across the footbridge from the expo park, the grounds of Hanbat Arboretum and the Daejeon Museum of Art are popular hangout and picnic spots on the weekend, especially in spring and fall. The arboretum serves as an eco-learning center for students as well as a recreational site and has 19 uniquely themed gardens. Daejeon Museum of Art features modern art from both domestic and foreign artists. It has a permanent outdoor sculpture exhibit which is a favorite for photo seekers.
Sky road & shopping
The Daejeon Sky Road is a 214m LED facility that runs the length of Eunoengjeongi Street and is lined with stores, restaurants, cafes and arcades. It’s quite close to Jungamgnounderground shopping and is a cool area for shopping and to grab dinner.
Uam Historical Park
A favorite park of mine in Daejeon is Uam Historical Park, a 20-minute bus ride on the 311 bus from Daejeon station, this little park
is tucked away at the end of a road in a quiet neighborhood. This park was built to celebrate the life of UamSong Si-yeol, a Joseon Dynasty Taoism scholar. The park has a collection of historical buildings from his life plus a pond and garden. This park is also a prime location for photos in spring and fall.
Relax
Yuseong Spa
Sore from hiking? Or just looking for a relaxing way to spend a few hours? Yuseong Spa may be just what you’re looking for. Located in Bongmyeon-dong, Yuseong is famous for its hot springs. According to legend wounded soldiers from the Baekje Dynasty bathed in the hot springs and were their wounds were healed. The hot springs may not actually heal wounds, but they will definitely help you relax. The YuseongSpa area also has a plethora of both western and Korean restaurants.
Seven Factory
Korea is known for instagramable cafes, in fact Korea may ruin instagramable cafes by giving you expectations that the rest of the world just doesn’t meet. Daejeon has several and Seven Factory is my favorite. Situated in Bongmyeong-dong near Chungnam University, Seven Factory is on the15th floorand has an outdoor space that provides an amazing view of Daejeon. The interior is quite open with multiple levels so patrons can spread out. One thing that is unique to Seven Factory is the 2000 won all you can eat snack bar if you don’t fancy buying actual food or if you like to graze for a few hours while working or studying.
Daedong Skypark and Mural Village
Another area with great views of the city
and a favorite spot of photographers hoping to capture the sunset and cityscape is Daedong Skypark. A short walk from the Daedong MRT in Jayang-dong, the skypark has several areas to sit and enjoy the view as well as a windmill that is fun for photos. The mural village is comprised of houses and several small cafes with colorful paintings, reminiscent of Ihwa mural village in Seoul, that wind their way up the hill to the skypark.
Daejeon often gets skipped over by most travelers in Korea and is a great kind of off the beaten path city to experience Korean culture. With its ample access to nature, cute cafes, museums, nightlife and spas, the city offers a little something for everyone.
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