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If you’re planning a day trip out of Seoul, Suwon is a great choice because it is only an hour away from Seoul, unlike places like Pocheon Herb Island, which is two and a half hours away. You can get to Suwon by taking Seoul Subway Line 1, or if time is a concern, the alternative is to take the Nooriro train from Seoul Station to cut the travel time by 25 minutes for just 2,700 KRW. From Suwon Station, take the bus to the attractions in the province.

There are a few attractions at Suwon, with Hwaseong Fortress (수원화성)—a UNESCO World Heritage—being the main one. While I’m not a fan of Hwaseong Haenggung Palace (화성행궁), you can enter for free if you add ‘수원시’ as a Plus Friend on KakaoTalk. If that doesn’t work for you, the admission fee is just 1,500 KRW. End the trip by visiting Haenggung-dong Mural Village, which is nothing compared to the scale of Ihwa Mural Village but has its own quiet charm.