# Suwon Hwaseong Fortress Guide: Free Walk and Night Opening
Suwon Hwaseong Fortress is free to walk at any hour, and the Hwaseong Haenggung palace inside costs KRW 2,000 for adults. Night visits run Friday to Sunday until November 1, 2026.
If you are staying in Seoul, you may worry about three things: what to pay for, how to fit the palace's closing time, and whether the evening session is still running when you go. This guide answers them in the order you will meet them, with facts checked on October 24, 2026 against the Suwon Cultural Foundation, which runs the palace, and the Korea Tourism Organization.
Contents Plan ahead: Key facts · Line 1 to Suwon Station · The fortress walls are free | At the palace: Hwaseong Haenggung costs · Night opening ends · What you cannot bring | Help: Help in English · FAQ · Checklist
Key facts at a glance
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Fortress walls (수원화성) | Free, open at all hours, closed on no day of the year |
| Walking trail | 5.1 km, about 2 hours |
| Palace (화성행궁) | KRW 2,000 adult, KRW 1,500 teen or soldier, KRW 1,000 child |
| Palace day hours | 09:00 to 18:00 (foundation); last entry one hour before closing |
| Palace night opening | Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays until November 1, 2026; 18:00 to 21:30, last entry 21:00 |
| Booking | Not required |
| Official site | Suwon Cultural Foundation |
(All values as of October 24, 2026; check the official site before you go.)
Two ways to read this guide. If you only want the walls, go straight to *The fortress walls are free*. If you want the palace after dark, read *Night opening ends November 1* first, because the season stops on that date.
From Seoul, take Line 1 to Suwon Station, then a city bus to the palace
Suwon is south of Seoul. The foundation's English directions page sends you by Seoul Subway Line 1 to Suwon Station, then by city bus.
The map shows Suwon in Gyeonggi-do, the province around Seoul, and the two airports that serve Seoul, Incheon (ICN) and Gimpo (GMP), both of which have bus or rail links to Suwon on the foundation's page.
For the palace, the foundation gives this route from Suwon Station:
Take a City Bus (Bus No.: 11, 13 or 13-4) at the Bus Stop near Suwon Station No.4 Exit(the North Square) → Get off at 'Hwaseong Haenggung, Suwon Seongji' Bus Stop — Suwon Cultural Foundation, Directions
From Seoul, the same page lists direct options that skip the station:
- From Gangnam Station: take Red Line Bus No. 3000 at the stop near Exit 5 and get off at the Paldal Mun stop.
- From Jamsil Station: take Red Line Bus No. 1007 at the stop near Exit 6 and get off at the Hwaseong Haenggung, Yeomin Gak stop.
- From Incheon Airport: take the Airport Railroad to Seoul Station, then Subway Line 1 toward Cheonan, Byeongjeom or Seo Dongtan to Suwon Station, then the bus above.
This page is not dated, so confirm the bus numbers in Naver Map or Kakao Map before you leave, and show the driver 화성행궁 (Hwaseong Haenggung). I did not find an official travel time or a last-train time, so the guide does not give one. Check both in your map app, especially if you stay for the night session.
The Suwon Hwaseong Fortress walls are free: plan 2 hours for the 5.1 km walk
The walls are the free part. The foundation lists them as open to the public, with no closing day and no fee, and says visitors can see them at night.
Translated: Suwon Hwaseong is an open-type site, and night viewing is possible. Original (Korean): 수원화성은 개방형이며 야간 관람 가능 — Suwon Cultural Foundation, Visitor Information
The Korea Tourism Organization describes a Hwaseong Fortress Trail of 5.1 km that takes about 2 hours. The wall itself measures 5,744 m around, so the trail and the full perimeter are two different figures. If you are short on time, you can walk a section and leave from the nearest gate.
Janganmun Gate is the main gate on the northern wall, according to VisitKorea. The foundation lists Paldalmun (Treasure No. 402), Hwaseomun (Treasure No. 403), the Seobuk Gongsimdon watchtower (Treasure No. 1710) and Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion (Treasure No. 1709) among the protected structures. UNESCO registered the fortress in December 1997.
Practical info: Hwaseong Fortress
| Item | Hwaseong Fortress |
|---|---|
| Korean name | 수원화성 (show this to taxi drivers) |
| Address | Yeonghwa-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon-si (수원시 장안구 영화동) |
| Nearest station | Suwon Station (Line 1), then a city bus |
| Hours | Open 24 hours, every day of the year |
| Admission | Free |
| Booking | Not required |
| Official site | Suwon Cultural Foundation, Hwaseong Fortress |
Because the foundation calls the site open-type, there is no ticket gate on the walls. The bus stops in the previous section put you near the palace, so you can start there and join the trail at the nearest section of wall.
Hwaseong Haenggung costs KRW 2,000, and two sources disagree on its day hours
Hwaseong Haenggung (also listed as the Temporary Palace at Hwaseong Fortress) is the largest of the temporary palaces that Joseon kings used, from the time of King Jeongjo (r. 1776-1800), according to VisitKorea. Unlike the walls, it has a ticket office. The foundation sets the fee by age.
Practical info: Hwaseong Haenggung
Photo: Adil, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
| Item | Hwaseong Haenggung |
|---|---|
| Korean name | 화성행궁 (show this to taxi drivers) |
| Address | 825 Jeongjo-ro, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si (수원시 팔달구 정조로 825) |
| Ticket office | 031-5191-4677 (from abroad: +82-31-5191-4677) |
| Day hours | 09:00 to 18:00; last entry one hour before closing (foundation) |
| Closed | No closing day |
| Admission | Adult KRW 2,000, teen or soldier KRW 1,500, child KRW 1,000 (individual) |
| Booking | Not required |
| Official site | Suwon Cultural Foundation, Visitor Information |
Translated: Visiting hours 09:00 to 18:00, no closing day. Admission closes one hour before the visiting hours end. Original (Korean): 09:00 ~ 18:00 ... 연중무휴 ... ※ 입장마감은 관람시간 1시간 전 — Suwon Cultural Foundation, Visitor Information
Here the two sources split. The Korea Tourism Organization's English listing (TourAPI data, last updated May 2025) shows 09:00 to 18:00 from March to October but 09:00 to 17:00 from November to February. The foundation's page and the Suwon city tourism page both show 09:00 to 18:00 for the whole year. An older English page from the Gyeonggi provincial government (created in 2015, and it still lists a KRW 1,500 adult fee) also says "09:00-18:00 (till 17:00 in winter)", which matches the tourism organization's version. I cannot tell which is current, so I give both.
To satisfy both versions in winter, reach the ticket office by 15:30. Under the earlier closing time, the last entry would be 16:00. Call the ticket office on 031-5191-4677 on the day if you will arrive late.
A 20-person group pays KRW 1,500 for an adult. The foundation also sells a combined ticket for the palace, the Suwon Hwaseong Museum (수원화성박물관) and the Suwon Museum (수원박물관); an individual adult pays KRW 4,000.
Free entry applies to several groups, including children aged 6 or under and visitors aged 65 or over with ID. On the last Wednesday of each month, called Culture Day, the palace is free in the daytime. For the rest of 2026 that means October 28 and November 25, but not the night session.
Night opening ends November 1: Friday to Sunday evenings only
The palace opens for the evening on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The 2026 season runs from May 1 to November 1.
Translated: Viewing period: May 1 (Fri) to November 1 (Sun), 2026, every Friday to Sunday and on public holidays. The period may change depending on the foundation's circumstances. Original (Korean): 2026. 5. 1.(금) ~ 11. 1.(일) 매주 금~일요일, 공휴일 ＊기간은 재단 사정에 따라 변경 될 수 있음 — Suwon Cultural Foundation, Visitor Information
Translated: Viewing hours: 18:00 to 21:30 (last entry 21:00). Original (Korean): 18:00 ~ 21:30 (21:00 입장마감) — Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening
As of October 24, five evenings are left: October 24, 25, 30 and 31, and November 1. The foundation lists no 2027 dates yet.
If November 1 has passed when you read this, the palace is a daytime visit only, and the fortress walls stay open. The foundation's night page describes four themed zones, a martial-arts night performance, 3D hologram displays and laser shows. A free Taekwondo performance runs from 18:00 to 19:20 on Fridays to Sundays until November 1, held at the Yuyeotaek building (유여택); the palace fee still applies.
The walls stay open after dark, as the foundation's visitor page confirms, so a night walk costs nothing even when the palace is closed.
The fee at night is the same as by day, according to the night page: KRW 2,000 for adults, KRW 1,500 for teens and soldiers, KRW 1,000 for children. These groups enter free:
Translated: Free entry when wearing hanbok (including modernized hanbok). Free entry for children aged 6 or under. Free entry for visitors aged 65 or over. Original (Korean): ※ 한복(개량한복 포함) 착용 시 무료입장 ※ 만 6세 이하의 미취학 아동 무료입장 ※ 만 65세 이상 무료입장 — Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening
Unverified: whether a daytime ticket also covers the night session. The foundation lists separate hours and the same fee for the evening, but its pages do not mention a combined or re-entry rule. Ask at the ticket office (031-5191-4677) when you buy. Even in the worst case, the extra cost is KRW 2,000 for an adult.
The evening session ends at 21:30. The 2026 media art shows on the fortress gates ran from October 3 to 11, so they are over. I found no official return-train time for the evening, so check Line 1 at Suwon Station in your map app before you plan a late night.
What you cannot bring, and what you can borrow for free
The foundation's rules apply to the palace. They list items you may not bring in, and actions that can get you turned away.
- No alcohol, tents, picnic mats, shades or cooking equipment.
- No pets, except assistance dogs for people with disabilities.
- No drinking, smoking or loud behavior that disturbs other visitors.
Wheelchairs and strollers are free to borrow at the palace: the foundation lists 3 wheelchairs and 2 strollers. There is parking for people with disabilities at the palace. The pages I checked do not describe step-free routes inside the palace, so call the ticket office on the day if that matters to you.
Help in English
- Palace ticket office: 031-5191-4677 (from abroad: +82-31-5191-4677).
- Suwon Cultural Foundation: 031-290-3600.
- Korea Travel Helpline: +82-2-1330, run by the Korea Tourism Organization, with interpretation in several languages.
- Audio guide: the foundation's page points to the Odii audio guide app, made by the Korea Tourism Organization, which includes Hwaseong Fortress and the palace.
- A phrase to know: 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida): thank you.
TourAPI also lists English and Japanese guided tours at the palace by reservation. The foundation's own guide page still carries a COVID-era suspension notice, so I did not use it. Ask the ticket office whether tours are running.
FAQ
Is the fortress really free? Yes. The walls are open at all hours with no fee. Only the palace charges.
Can I visit the palace at night in November? Only on November 1, a Sunday, the last night of the 2026 season. After that, visit by day.
Does my daytime ticket work for the night session? Unverified: the foundation's pages do not say. Ask at the ticket office.
Can I bring a picnic mat? No. The foundation bans tents, mats and shades at the palace.
Is there a free day? Yes, by day. On the last Wednesday of each month (Culture Day), palace entry is free. The night session is not included.
Before you go: checklist
- Choose your order: walls by day, palace by day or night.
- If you want the night session, go on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday on or before November 1.
- Reach the ticket office by 15:30 for a winter daytime visit.
- Save 화성행궁 and the ticket office number 031-5191-4677 on your phone.
- Check Line 1 return times at Suwon Station in your map app.
- Leave picnic mats, tents and alcohol at your hotel.
Official sources
Suwon Cultural Foundation and Suwon City
- Suwon Cultural Foundation, Visitor Information: hours, fees, exemptions, night opening, rules (checked October 24, 2026)
- Suwon Cultural Foundation, Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening: night hours, fee, programs, Taekwondo performance (checked October 24, 2026)
- Suwon Cultural Foundation, Hwaseong Fortress: perimeter, protected structures, UNESCO registration (checked October 24, 2026)
- Suwon Cultural Foundation, Directions: subway and bus routes (checked October 24, 2026)
- Suwon Cultural Foundation, 2026 Hwaseong Haenggung night opening extension notice: festival-period schedule change (checked October 24, 2026)
- Suwon City, Hwaseong Haenggung: day hours, night opening period, 21:00 ticket and entry cutoff, fees (checked October 24, 2026)
Korea Tourism Organization and others
- Korea Tourism Organization, TourAPI: English and Korean listings for the fortress, trail and palace (checked October 24, 2026)
- Gyeonggi-do, Suwon Hwaseong Fortress: older winter-hours wording, page created in 2015 (checked October 24, 2026)
- VisitKorea, Janganmun Gate: main gate on the northern wall; 1330 helpline (checked October 24, 2026)
Every fact in this article was checked one by one against the official sources listed above.