I walked the whole of Hwaseong Fortress in one go, with colleagues, on an autumn weekend. It felt like a weekend trek more than a sightseeing trip: subway out, a full loop around the wall, subway home. Nothing about the day disappointed me, and it is one of the easiest UNESCO sites to reach from Seoul.
Before you go
- Walking the wall is free. The wall itself has no entry fee. Haenggung Palace, inside the old town, is charged separately (about 2,000 won for adults on the city’s official fee table).
- The full loop is about 5.7 km. Plan roughly two to three hours at a steady walking pace. The city also publishes shorter routes of 60, 90 and 120 minutes if you do not want the whole circuit.
- Wear walking shoes. Some stretches climb over a hill, so it is a proper walk.
- Autumn is a lovely time, but weekends are busier than weekdays.
1. Getting there by subway
I went by subway, which is the simplest way and the one I recommend. Get to Suwon Station (Line 1, plus other lines), then head for the fortress. Reports say bus 11 or 13 from the station reaches Paldalmun, the south gate, in 10 to 15 minutes, and a taxi covers the same stretch. Check the current route on Naver Map or Kakao Map, because bus numbers change.
2. Start at a gate and walk the loop
The wall has several gates, and you can start at any of them, because it is a loop. The city’s official route guide starts its shortest course at Janganmun, the north gate, and its longest at Paldalmun, the south gate, which also takes in Haenggung.
I did the full circuit around the wall. Most of the path is on top of or beside the wall, and you pass a series of gates, watchtowers and pavilions along the way. In autumn the leaves along the wall turn yellow and orange, which is why I would choose that season for a long walk like this.
3. The hilltop stretch
The wall climbs over a hill with pavilions that were once military command posts, and the views back over Suwon are the reward for the climb. Take your time on this section and stop for a drink if you need one.
4. Add Haenggung if you have time
If you have an extra hour, Haenggung Palace is the old palace inside the walls. Its adult ticket is about 2,000 won, and a source lists hours of 09:00 to 18:00, with evening openings on Fridays to Sundays until early November 2026. Confirm with the palace before you go, since sources disagree on some dates.
How to fit it into a day
Go in the morning, do the loop at a steady pace, and finish in time to eat in Suwon before heading home. I would not pair it with another big sight, because the walk itself is the day. If you are staying in Seoul, it combines well with a quiet day afterwards, such as the Han River Parks.
Distances, hours and fees come from Suwon City’s official visitor pages and travel guides (October 2026) and can change. Confirm before you go.
Photos: Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).
Sources: Suwon City, fortress wall courses; Seoul City Guide.