24 Hours in Charming Jeonju

I decided to begin my adventures in South Korea by travelling from Seoul to Jeonju as soon as I landed at Incheon International Airport. The flight from Doha touched down at about 5 pm local time, and in less than 5 minutes, I was past immigration and off to pick up my checked-in bag.

This immigration experience, which is often the worst part of visiting a new country for me as a Nigerian passport holder, was seamless and efficient – my first introduction to Korea’s efficiency as a nation.

Jeonju Hanok Village Hanbok Rental

I picked up my bags and went through the baggage area towards the exit gates. My checklist of things to do upon arrival included picking up the SIM card I had reserved online via the Klook website, getting some money from the ATM and booking a bus ticket from Seoul to Jeonju.

Before arriving in Seoul, I had researched enough and knew precisely where to go to check off these items. It also helped that Incheon International Airport has clear signs and is well organized. Within a few minutes, I crossed each item off my list and was seated on the 4-hour bus to Jeonju.

Travel by bus in South Korea
Gyeongbokgung Palace Seoul Hanbok on Black Girl

South Korea Travel Resources

Getting a visa to South Korea

Solo Tripping in South Korea – The Beginning

A simple travel checklist for first-time visitors

Buy a SIM card online and pick it up at the airport or get an eSIM here.

Rent your Hanbok online

Hanok Stay Experience in Namwon

How to Travel from Incheon Aiport, Seoul to Jeonju

There are a few ways to travel from Incheon Airport, Seoul, to Jeonju. One option is via a direct bus service that runs from the airport to the Jeonju bus station. Another is to travel via the KTX train, transiting through Seoul, Gwangmyeong or Yongsan Stations. And lastly, you can choose to drive down if you rent a car.

Because I wanted the option with little or no transfers at all, I chose to take the bus. This option worked well for me as I hadn’t quite figured out South Korea’s transportation network yet and didn’t want to worry about missing any connections.

Visiting Jeonju Hanok Village from Incheon Airport
Wandering about in Jeonju Hanok Village

What to Expect: Travelling from Incheon Airport, Seoul to Jeonju by Bus

The bus trip was very comfortable; the seats were wide, spacious and reclined for extra comfort. We had a brief bathroom break during the journey, and about four hours later, we arrived at the Jeonju Bus Terminal.

While travelling via the KTX is ultimately faster than the bus, I can highly recommend travelling by bus if, like me, you’re visiting Korea for the first time, arriving relatively late in the evening and looking for the most direct way to get to Jeonju.

After exiting the bus station, I tried to hail a cab using the Kakao Taxi app. Unfortunately, I wasn’t successful in getting one. I looked up the address of my hostel on Naver (a navigation app) and saw it was a 40mins walk from the station.

Where to Stay in Jeonju

Under normal circumstances, I would have been intimidated by this. Shortly after arriving in a new country, taking a reasonably long walk alone at 10 p.m. would have been an absolute NO for me. However, seeing people—couples and young children—out on the streets put me at ease, and 40 minutes later, thanks to Naver’s excellent navigation, I arrived at the 24 Guesthouse, Jeonju.

I left a detailed review about this place on booking.com but in summary, I was satisfied with my stay and the hosts were splendid. However, I may choose to stay elsewhere if I revisit Jeonju.

Gyeonggijeon Shrine Jeonju Gate

24 Hours in Jeonju: What I Did

After a fairly good night’s sleep, I set off early the following day to explore parts of the city. Rather than follow my well-laid-out travel itinerary, I let my day evolve organically. Perhaps this was due to a long day of travel or because I arrived in a rainy Jeonju. Either way, it worked out perfectly for me.

Places to Visit in Jeonju: Pungnammun Gate

My starting point was the Pungnammun Gate, the last remaining city gate of four built during the Joseon Dynasty. This Korean treasure had undergone a few restoration projects – and was partly under construction when I visited. Still, it was cool to admire and read a little about its history.

Moving on from the Pungnammun Gate, I took a short walk to the Jeonju Hanok Village, a cluster of over 700 traditional Korean hanok houses in the city.

Places to Visit in Jeonju: Jeonju Hanok Village

Jeonju Hanok Village Hanoks

I spent the morning wandering around a near-empty village but later returned in the evening to discover a bustling atmosphere filled with hanbok-clad guests, street food vendors, caricature artists, and so much more! I even stumbled upon a beautiful traditional dance and musical display organized by the city’s tourism board.

Later, I visited the Omokdae Historic Site, situated on top of a small hill, just a short distance from the Hanok Village.

Places to Visit in Jeonju: Omokdae (and Imokdae) Historic Site

The stroll along the wooden platform, sheltered by trees, was pleasant, and the bird’s eye view of the Hanok Village was even more so!

What to do in Jeonju in 24 hours

My next stop was the Gyeonggijeon Shrine. I arrived for opening time, got my tickets at the gate and proceeded to tour the grounds of this historic site.

Places to Visit in Jeonju: Gyeonggijeon Shrine

I was enamoured by this site’s architecture and other Palaces and Temples I visited throughout my stay. It never got tiring or boring for me! I was also happy to learn of the different Kdramas shot in this location, including one featuring my darling Park Bo-gum! 🙂

Between strolls around the city, I stopped for quick snacks at the PNB bakery and convenience stores and had a delicious lunch of beansprout soup and its accompanying side dishes. Everything was delicious, and I was happy to discover that Korean food aligned well with my palate!

After more loitering about the Hanok Village, my time in Jeonju ended. I retreated to the guesthouse, feeling satisfied and excited to keep exploring the country. Every interaction I had was excellent, kind and courteous. It remained that way throughout my stay.

After Jeonju, I travelled to Namwon, stopping to see Korea’s oldest and largest tea garden in Boseong. It was an epic journey, but I loved every moment of it!

Visiting Boseong Tea Plantation from Jeonju

Do you have any questions about travelling from Seoul to Jeonju or visiting South Korea? Leave them in the comment section below, and I’ll be sure to get back to you!

16 comments

  1. Hi hi! your posts are so helpful and I am taking a lot of tips from you. I am heading to Jeonju too from Incheon in coming March. As we arrive Incheon only at 9.35pm, I wonder what is the last bus that leaves Incheon towards Jeonju.

    1. Hello Seet, it seems the last buses leave Incheon T2 and T1 at 10:45 pm and 11:10 pm respectively. You can check the updated schedule via this site. Also try checking the Naver app for other travel options in case you’re worried about missing the last bus.

  2. Hi! Travelling to jeonju in january. I am also planning to take the bus from Incheon airport to Jeonju. Does the bus have space for big luggage? It’s winter during my visit and I will stay in Korea for more than a week so I will be bringjng a large luggage.

    Thanks!

    1. I believe it does. There’s space for larger pieces of luggage outside the bus and smaller bags in the overhead compartments.

  3. Hi Amarachi, may i know how to buy the bus ticket to jeonju ? where to buy ?

    1. Hi Grace, I got mine from a ticket counter at the airport outside Terminal 1. It was very easy. The person behind the counter spoke a little English, but I wrote down my destination and showed him just in case.

  4. hi Amarachi, nice post ! Btw, are you taking the bus @ platform 12b @ incheon airport & directly to busan? because all the review i read it took 4 hours journey but your is only 3. Thanks !

    1. Hi Nana, yes, I took the Platform 12B-4 bus at Incheon but I rode it to Jeonju, not Busan. I just checked the timestamps of pictures I took before departure and upon arrival and yes, you’re right, the journey was about 4 hours, not 3. I guess it felt shorter to me 🙂 I’ve corrected my post to reflect the right duration. Thank you!

  5. How did you walk for 40 minutes with your boxes??? These pictures are so so so so so so beautiful.

    1. Thanks, Fifi. Luckily, I travelled very lightly and had just a backpack and a smaller daypack. So, walking with these two bags wasn’t difficult at all.

  6. Aw man, these views are something!! The architecture here never fails to amaze me.

    Alsooo yay to you enjoying Korean food. I love Korean food too and especially their snacks. I packed my carryon with loads when I visited 😂.

    1. The architecture is just so beautiful and artistic! I feel like I didn’t eat in as many restaurants because I was simply loading up on street food and snacks! This was such a fun travel experience!

  7. Were you casually speaking Korean to the locals or you picked up important phrases? I’m actually curious about that part.

    1. I wish I could speak! I met a lovely family at the restaurant in Jeonju and we tried to communicate in broken English/Korean but it was hard. So, no, I couldn’t connect with locals really. In the bigger cities, I could communicate to ask for help and people were always happy to provide it – many of the people I interacted with spoke fluent English. Also, I used the little words I knew – please, thank you, this is delicious, etc…every moment I could and that was always fun! 🙂

    1. Haha, South Korea was truly amazing! I think this is the worst case of post-vacation blues I’ve had in a very long time! I hope you can visit someday, would be looking forward to hearing about your experience!

I love to hear from you, Leave a comment here!

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Guess where! 👀
18 hours ago
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Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
Let me be honest, that tripod was never going to see the light of day! 🤭
2 days ago
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2/9
What a beautiful city! 😍

#kamoriver #kyoto #japan
What a beautiful city! 😍 #kamoriver #kyoto #japan
3 days ago
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3/9
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰
_____________________

If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢

📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here
📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン)
📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats.

For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. 

Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day!

#lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
Clear views of Mount Fuji, a beautiful lake and swans... what more could I possibly ask for? 🥰 _____________________ If you visit the area, here are some places you'll find the swans + a perfect view of Mount Fuji 🏔🦢 📌 Hirano Beach 白鳥浜: There's an elderly gentleman who comes to feed the swans from around 8:30am to 4pm, so you're likely to see flocks of swans here 📌 In front of Koyu Club Hotel (コーユー倶楽部山中湖畔サロン) 📌 A little further down the road from the last location is a dock where you can also rent swan boats. For clear views of Mount Fuji, winter, spring and autumn have the most days with clear visibility. You can always look up the weather forecast to see what the day's going to be like before you visit. Early mornings and evenings give you the best chance of seeing the gorgeous mountain without any cloud coverings 🤍 On this particular day, Mount Fuji was clearly visible throughout the day! #lakeyamanaka #fujifivelakes #swanlake #japan
4 days ago
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4/9
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍

To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it!

-------‐‐‐--‐

Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages.

The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture.

#travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
This town was a beautiful surprise in Japan 😍 To get here, we travelled from Kyoto to Nagoya and from there to Nakatsugawa. From Nakatsugawa Station, we had to take another bus to Magome-Juku but the commute was so worth it! -------‐‐‐--‐ Magome forms part of the Nakasendo Trail, a historic route that once connected Kyoto and Edo (modern-day Tokyo) during the Edo period in Japan. It traverses the mountainous heart of Japan, offering breathtaking views of forests, rivers, and traditional villages. The trail is known for its 69 post towns where people would rest along the way. Today, parts of the Nakasendo are well-preserved, allowing hikers to experience a mix of nature and history as they walk through charming old towns like Magome and Tsumago, where time seems to stand still amidst the preserved traditional architecture. #travelinspiration #japantrip #magome #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
6 days ago
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Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
Black Crow Castle, standing strong since the 1500s — a true Japanese gem!
6 days ago
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Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂

Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel!

Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑

I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are!

+1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel!
_____________________________

Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below!

#travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
Travel Amarachi is VERY different from Home Amarachi! Am I living a fake life?😭😂 Because,my ideal day will start at 10 or 11am and end at 2am. I'm a night owl 🦉, not an early bird 🐦 - a complete opposite of who I become when I travel! Tea or Coffee? No, thanks! I'll take a glass of orange juice please! 🍹 But "Travel-Amarachi" will take that matcha 🍵, with the beautiful cafe to matcha! See what I did there? 😉 #thefunniestgirlinNigeria #MFGN👑 I only hike for love ❤️ and my Love can faint if he goes on a trip that doesn't include any bit of hiking. So here we are! +1: I am also a big home buddy. If you catch me outside, I must really love you! But Travel-Amarachi can't stay put in the hotel! _____________________________ Over to you! What are some ways travel-you differs from home-you? Let me know in the comment section below! #travelinspiration #japantrip #travelwithapentojapan #travelwithapen
1 week ago
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An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍

#japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
An absolutely wonderful time in the most stunning country! 😍😍 #japantrip2025🇯🇵🌸⛩️
1 week ago
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8/9
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June.

If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can:

🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌

You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays.

Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 

Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr
Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter

Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
Public holidays should be your best friend if you work full time and love to travel. Eid and Easter fall between the months of March and June. If you plan out your vacation time properly, you can: 🌸: get 24 vacation days ✈️ by taking only 12 days off! 🤯. Perfect for your Asian odyssey or West African road trip from Nigeria to Cote D'Ivoire 🚌 You can also split this time, taking shorter breaks in addition to the public holidays. Take 12 days off from March 31 to April 21 to get 24 vacation days (including weekend and public holidays)! 😀 Mar 31 - Apr 01: Likely Eid Al Fitr Apr 18 - Apr 21: Easter Send this post to your manager immediately! 🚀
1 month ago
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