Hwaseong Fortress
Quick Facts
- Location
- South Korea, Suwon
- Category
- Castle & Fortress
- Duration
- About 2 hours on the wall walk
- Opening Hours
- Daily Open all day · Per the visiting hours and fees page of operator Suwon Cultural Foundation (checked 4 November 2026), the Hwaseong fortress walls are open year-round at all hours with no closing day and are free to walk; the site is open-type and may be visited at night. Haenggung Palace and Hwaryeongjeon Shrine inside the walls follow separate rules: daily 09:00-18:00 with no closing day and last entry one hour before the end, plus an evening opening on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 1 May to 1 November 2026, 18:00-21:30 with last entry at 21:00; that period may shift at the foundation's discretion.
- Ticket Price
- Adult: The fortress walls are free. Haenggung Palace and Hwaryeongjeon inside cost 2,000 won for adults, 1,500 for teenagers and military personnel and 1,000 for children individually; groups of 20 or more pay 1,500／1,200／800 won · Child: Children 1,000 won; preschool children aged 6 and under are free · Three-site combined ticket (Haenggung Palace + Suwon Museum + Suwon Hwaseong Museum): 4,000／2,500／1,000 won individually, 2,500／1,500／800 won for groups of 20 or more. Outstanding registered Suwon volunteers get 50 percent off; Suwon residents aged 19-39 get a reduction on Fridays only.
- Address
- Hwaseong Fortress walls, central Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (around Paldalsan)
- Coordinates
- 37.2815, 127.0150
Introduction
Hwaseong Fortress is the city wall King Jeongjo of Joseon built in the 18th century to relocate the capital and honour his father's tomb; it joined the World Heritage list in 1997. Following hills and water for about 5.7 km, it comprises four gates, hollow piers, beacon towers and the Hwaseomun, blending East Asian fortification with Western bastion technique, hailed as the pinnacle of Joseon military architecture. Walking the wall overlooks Suwon; the autumn Hwaseong Cultural Festival re-enacts drills and parades, a history-rich day trip from Seoul.
✨ Highlights
🛈 Practical Info
Opening Hours
| Monday | Open all day |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Open all day |
| Wednesday | Open all day |
| Thursday | Open all day |
| Friday | Open all day |
| Saturday | Open all day |
| Sunday | Open all day |
Per the visiting hours and fees page of operator Suwon Cultural Foundation (checked 4 November 2026), the Hwaseong fortress walls are open year-round at all hours with no closing day and are free to walk; the site is open-type and may be visited at night. Haenggung Palace and Hwaryeongjeon Shrine inside the walls follow separate rules: daily 09:00-18:00 with no closing day and last entry one hour before the end, plus an evening opening on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 1 May to 1 November 2026, 18:00-21:30 with last entry at 21:00; that period may shift at the foundation's discretion.
Ticket Information
| Adult | The fortress walls are free. Haenggung Palace and Hwaryeongjeon inside cost 2,000 won for adults, 1,500 for teenagers and military personnel and 1,000 for children individually; groups of 20 or more pay 1,500／1,200／800 won |
|---|---|
| Child | Children 1,000 won; preschool children aged 6 and under are free |
| Free Admission | Free for visitors wearing hanbok (including modernized hanbok), on Culture Day (the last Wednesday of each month, evening openings excluded), for seniors aged 65 and over, and for visitors with disabilities (plus one companion where the disability is severe) |
Three-site combined ticket (Haenggung Palace + Suwon Museum + Suwon Hwaseong Museum): 4,000／2,500／1,000 won individually, 2,500／1,500／800 won for groups of 20 or more. Outstanding registered Suwon volunteers get 50 percent off; Suwon residents aged 19-39 get a reduction on Fridays only.
💡 Tips
FAQ
What are the opening hours of Hwaseong Fortress?
Monday: Open all day; Tuesday: Open all day; Wednesday: Open all day; Thursday: Open all day; Friday: Open all day; Saturday: Open all day; Sunday: Open all day; Per the visiting hours and fees page of operator Suwon Cultural Foundation (checked 4 November 2026), the Hwaseong fortress walls are open year-round at all hours with no closing day and are free to walk; the site is open-type and may be visited at night. Haenggung Palace and Hwaryeongjeon Shrine inside the walls follow separate rules: daily 09:00-18:00 with no closing day and last entry one hour before the end, plus an evening opening on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 1 May to 1 November 2026, 18:00-21:30 with last entry at 21:00; that period may shift at the foundation's discretion.
How much is the admission for Hwaseong Fortress?
Adult: The fortress walls are free. Haenggung Palace and Hwaryeongjeon inside cost 2,000 won for adults, 1,500 for teenagers and military personnel and 1,000 for children individually; groups of 20 or more pay 1,500／1,200／800 won; Child: Children 1,000 won; preschool children aged 6 and under are free; Free Admission: Free for visitors wearing hanbok (including modernized hanbok), on Culture Day (the last Wednesday of each month, evening openings excluded), for seniors aged 65 and over, and for visitors with disabilities (plus one companion where the disability is severe); Three-site combined ticket (Haenggung Palace + Suwon Museum + Suwon Hwaseong Museum): 4,000／2,500／1,000 won individually, 2,500／1,500／800 won for groups of 20 or more. Outstanding registered Suwon volunteers get 50 percent off; Suwon residents aged 19-39 get a reduction on Fridays only.
Any practical tips for visiting Hwaseong Fortress?
The wall circuit runs about 5.7 km and takes more than two hours to walk in full; the operator lists the walls as open-type, accessible all day including at night. Paldalmun in the south and Janganmun in the north are the usual starting points of a walk.
How long should I spend at Hwaseong Fortress?
A typical visit takes About 2 hours on the wall walk.
