Famed for the long fortress walls that wrap around it, Suwon is one of the best places travelers can visit to dive into South Korea’s history. And it doesn’t hurt that the city lies just outside the capital of Seoul, making it a prime pick for a day trip. Things to do in Suwon lean on the historic side thanks to the UNESCO–listed Hwaseong Fortress, the city’s star attraction with many preserved gates, scenic parks, and cultural sites to explore.
The spring months of May, April, and May—on the back of South Korea’s bitter cold winters—bring the ideal weather for sightseeing in Suwon. If your timing is just right, you might even catch Suwon during its cherry blossom season, which is normally in early April, although the timing shifts from year to year. October offers a different reason to visit the city with the Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival, which includes martial arts programs and the King Jeongjo Tomb Parade.
Seoul’s public transport system makes it easy to get to nearby Suwon, with bus, metro, and train options for reaching the city. The only drawback of coming by rail and metro is that Suwon Station isn’t near the city's historical center and main attractions. Local buses make it easy to get around Suwon, although you should expect to do lots of walking during your visit, especially along the walls of Hwaseong Fortress.
It’s easy to focus on the historical center of Suwon inside Hwaseong Fortress and forget the rest of Suwon. But the modern parts of Suwon deserve some attention, too, whether it’s the Samsung Innovation Museum that details the history of technology or the incredible architecture of the Starfield Library, which opened in 2024 and replicates the success of its counterpart in Seoul’s Gangnam district.
