South Korea’s sixth biggest city, Gwangju has worked hard to reinvent itself in recent times after the tragic events of the Gwangju Uprising in 1980.
Whilst much has been done to remember what happened, Gwangju has become an arts hub and home to such amazing spaces as the National Asian Cultural Center.
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From the super-cool Yangnim district to the slightly more surreal Penguin Village or K-Pop Star Street, there are lots of things to do in Gwangju – and based on our experiences, not that many other Western tourists have discovered it.
Cafe culture is key in Gwangju with several dedicated cafe streets plus some fantastic day-trips like Juknokwon Bamboo Forest or Boseong Green Tea Fields.
We spent several days here in May 2025 – here is our guide to Gwangju in South Korea.
You might like – 40+ best things to do in South Korea >
South Korea checklist
We love using agoda.com, expedia.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, Trazy or Klook.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars. For private drivers and taxis, check out our Transfer guide >
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All set for South Korea? Do one final check with our Seoul first timers guide and our South Korea packing list
How to get to Gwangju from Seoul
From Seoul Station you can take the high speed KTX train to Gwangju-Songjeong Station in around 2 hours. One-way ticket prices start from around 44,000 Won and there are around six trains per day. You can book your train tickets on trip.com or in person at the train station.
Check out this Korail pass for unlimited access to all trains, including the high-speed KTX >
You can also take an Intercity highway bus from Seoul Central City Bus Terminal to Gwangju U-Square Terminal in around 3 hours 20 minutes to 3 hours 40 minutes, starting from around 21,000 Won for an adult one-way. Book your tickets on Klook, Kobus or book them in person at the bus station.
How to get around Gwangju
Public transport options in Gwangju are good including one metro line that covers all the major areas, plus an excellent bus network.
Also make sure you have a T-Money card which can be used to pay for buses, the Metro and all South Korean public transport.
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Gwangju Accommodation & Hotels
Mid Range ($$)
CS Hotel
This is the hotel we chose to stay in for 3 nights during our stay in Gwangju. The room was lovely and felt clean and modern. There was a subway station a short walk away, plus many convenience stores, bars and restaurants nearby. Check rates and availability on Agoda, Expedia, Booking.com and Hotels.com
Mid-range ($$)
Stay Hotel
Spacious and modern hotel located near the lively Chungjang Ro area and a 5 minute walk to the subway station. Check rates and availability on Agoda, Expedia, Booking.com and Hotels.com
Try this – Activities and tours in Gwangju with Klook or Trazy
Things to do in Gwangju, South Korea
1. Gwangju Penguin Village / Yangnim Dong
Our first thing to do in Gwangju -’wing’ it to the Penguin Village 펭귄마을. We visited on a sunny afternoon in May 2025 but these penguins still looked ‘chill’ on such a warm day.
Located in the super cool Yangnim Dong district of Gwangju, Penguin Village got its name from all elderly residents who used to ‘waddle’ like penguins around the area’s narrow alleys.
A community & creative space, this is kitsch as but in a cute way – there are lots of ‘art’ installations & statues (some good, some bad) and there are lots of hanok houses and fun things to find.
Along the way, there are a few shops and stalls, including one that sells penguin shaped biscuits and treats – we went on a weekday so perhaps more opens at the weekend.
PS It took us a while to warm to Penguin Village as we started at the wrong end, which has very little in the way of art and displays – so do keep exploring the alleys. It is fun to visit if you are already in Gwangju but there isn’t enough to justify a trip purely for the village.
You might like – Things to do in Suncheon, South Korea >
2. Juknokwon Bamboo Forest (a day trip from Gwangju)
Traditionally associated with Japan, did you know there are big bamboo forests in South Korea too? Juknokwon Bamboo Forest 죽녹원 in Damyang (1 hour north of Gwangju) is a beautiful walking spot and popular historical K-Drama filming location.
We spent half a day exploring the beautiful bamboo groves of Juknokwon Bamboo Forest – onsite, you’ll find everything from hanok style villages to cute cafes and even a waterfall surrounded by pandas (models – not the real thing)!
But the star of the show is the bamboo forest itself, with many photo opportunities plus places to rest and relax along the way (you can even relax in hammocks looking up at the bamboo or have a foot spa).
We’d also highly recommend nearby Damyang Noodle Street 담양국수거리 for lunch, comprising several back-to-back restaurants all with gorgeous alfresco dining terraces overlooking the Yeongsan River. Here you can eat delicious noodle dishes and pancakes for not much money.
Check out our Juknokwon Bamboo Forest guide >
3. Sajik Park Observation Deck
We loved the cafe at Sajik Park Observation Deck so much, we went twice – once at sunset and also one morning.
Sajik Park offers amazing views of Gwangju and at night, the paths and roads here light up with some weird and wonderful illuminations (Sajik Forest of Light 사직 빛의 숲).
Best of all, the Sajik Park Observation Deck is free to visit with an outdoor terrace with panoramic views, plus a cafe space below.
Given it is the highest cafe in Gwangju, it offers nice brews with views, sweet treats with altitude and the cafe often hosts temporary art exhibitions.
We were the only tourists on our visits to Sajik Park Observation Deck and Cafe and it was a nice mix of local families, elderly citizens and day hikers.
You might like – 100+ best things to do in Seoul or our 3 day Seoul itinerary
4. Chungjang Ro
The main Gwangju shopping street and evening entertainment area is Chungjang Ro 충장로, often referred to as Gwangjang’s Street of Youth and Fashion.
It is kind of like Myeongdong in Seoul or Seomyeon in Busan but on a slightly smaller scale (and far fewer tourists)!
From convenience stores to craft beer bars, fried chicken to high fashion, Donseongno is a must visit for foodies and shoppers at any time of day or night – it is the main shopping area for Gwangju.
Here you will find international brands and local fashion brands such as ABC mart and Adidas as well as loads of side-street eateries – towards the intersection of the Old City Hall, this is where you’ll find Gwangjus bars and clubs.
K-Beauty fans can also shop in multiple beauty shops like Olive Young and Nature Republic in Gwangju plus you’ll find cheap Korean chain cafes and restaurants like Isaac Toast and Gimgame.
Make sure to check out Kungjeun Bakery which opened in 1973 and is loved by the locals.
We even spotted some Ummas (old ladies) making and selling dalgona shapes, as seen in Squid Game.
You might like – Our first timers guide to South Korea including the best Korean SIM cards/ eSIMs
5. K-Pop Star Street
We feature a lot of different K-Pop South Korea activities on this site so we had to head to Gwangju’s K-Pop Star Street near Chungjang Ro.
It isn’t as good as say the BTS murals in Daegu but its fine if you are already in the area – it is essentially a small side alley that documents K-Pop singers from Gwangju (like J-Hope from BTS and Yunho from ATEEZ).
Gwangju’s K-Pop road has a few things to do like K-Pop branded benches (sit on Black Pink!) and a K Pop star handprint gallery (a bit like the Hollywood Walk of Fame or the BIFF Square handprints in Busan) featuring handprints from members of bands like Oh! My Girl, Monsta X, ATEEZ and Cravity.
There is also a rather pink K Pop heart section where fans from around the world have left messages / graffiti.
You might like – our guide to the Suncheon K-Drama open set you can visit >
6. Yangnim History and Culture Village / Sajik Guitar Street
Gwangu’s historic village with a hipster vibe, this is one of the oldest neighborhoods, a curious mix of Korean and European style architecture (brought about due to the influx of overseas missionaries many decades ago).
Allow yourself at least a couple of hours to wander around the side streets and alleys of Yangnim History and Culture Village 양림역사문화마을, stopping along the way to marvel at the architecture or grab a coffee in a cool cafe (we have a recommendation in a moment).
As well as the pre-mentioned Penguin Village, look out for various pop-ups and fun places to sit plus landmark buildings like the huge Yangnim Church, built in the 1950s.
In and around Yangnim History and Culture Village, you’ll find lots of cool bars and late night eateries, with several Japanese style izakayas and restaurants.
Nearby, you can also visit Sajik Guitar Road AKA Gwangju Acoustic Guitar Street – there are several guitar statues on the street and about half a dozen bars where you can listen to live music and guitar performances.
You might like – Our guide to Korean 7-Eleven stores and CU convenience stores
7. Yangin Bake Shop & 6K Coffee Shop
There are many great Gwangju coffee shops and cafes to choose from but one we particularly liked was Yangin Bake Shop 양인제과 (map) which is close to Sajik Park.
It is known for its Ang butter croissants and salt bread, plus their coffee is from nearby roasters 6k. This bake shop is so small (there are about 4 seats) but most customers are local Gwangju citizens who take away sweet treats and blissful bakery products.
Some of the bakery items we spotted at Yangin Bake Shop included pea paste butter croissants, strawberry pastry pie and freshly baked bread slices.
We just sat in the window watching the world go-by with a coffee plus their famous glazed rice soboro cake and a mango pastry pie.
You might like – Our guide to the best Korean street foods to try >
8. Gwangju National Asian Cultural Center
It is quite easy to get lost when exploring Gwangju’s National Asian Cultural Center as it is massive – in fact, it is said to be the world’s largest cultural complex, comprising various permanent collections and galleries.
It looks impressive both inside and out, with the architecture based around Gwangju’s theme of Light and Forest (you’ll also find this forest theme in a lot of the MRT stations in Gwangju).
The five main complexes at the ACC are the Exchange Center (temporary exhibitions), ACC Children (Korea’s largest children’s cultural facility), the archives and research center, a theater (for performing arts) and the Creation center (complete with a cool Hanul Madang sky garden).
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9. Dongmeong-dong Cafe Street
Such is the coffee culture in Gwangju, there are several dedicated cafe streets in the area including Yangnim-dong Cafe Street and Mudeungsan cafe street.
We decided to stay in downtown Gwangju and visited the famous Dongmyeong-dong Cafe Street – it is within walking distance of Gwangju Art Street (which isn’t worth visiting by the way as it is just a handful of expensive galleries).
Dongmeong-dong Cafe Street has dozens of cool cafes plus at night, loads of bars and epic eateries open up – we visited early evening as the Korean BBQ restaurants were opening and it smelt amazing.
A little more laid back (and possibly more hip) than Chungjang Ro, Dongmyeong is also home to lots of little fashion and gift shops.
We even spotted a 24 hour unmanned gift shop where you pay yourself at the till (that would never work anywhere else in the world – you’ve gotta love South Korea).
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Gwangju Uprising
There are several Gwangju things to do associated with the tragic events of the Gwangju Uprising.
These were demonstrations in 1980 by students and locals against a coup that ended in many unnecessary deaths after the South Korean military opened fire on demonstrators.
The sad modern history and tragic events of the Gwangju Uprising are commemorated in many ways across Gwangju including:
10. May 18 Democracy Square (5.18 민주광장) and Old Jeonnam Provincial Office
When we visited in May 2025, the square was closed off for a memorial event for the recent wildfires that the local area had suffered. It is still the epicenter of Gwangju political events and marches and where the 1980 May 18th Democratic Uprising demonstrations took place.
Recently, a Fountain of Light (빛의 분수대) has been installed at the square to commemorate the May 18 events – there is a fountain in the daytime which lights up with immersive displays in the evening.
For a bird’s eye view of the square, head to the top floor of Old Jeonnam Provincial Office next door. This was the former headquarters of the local resistance movement and where many students were tragically killed after taking gunfire from a Korean military helicopter.
Today it is an arts space plus has several floors with exhibits about the Gwangju Uprising – you can still see some of the bullet holes in the walls.
11. 5-18 Memorial Park
A national cemetery commemorating the victims of the May 18 Uprising, the 5·18 Memorial Park 기념공원 is also a popular park with lots of gorgeous green spaces.
The park is very peaceful and has several huge statues and memorial plazas, listing all of those who tragically died in the Gwangju Uprising. On the outer perimeter, you can spend some quiet time at Mugagsa Temple.
We visited and found the memorial park full of elderly citizens using the outdoor gym equipment and jogging – there is also a peace pagoda at the top of some steps.
12. 1913 Songjeong Station Market
A word of warning – although featured in many tourism leaflets as one of Gwangju’s best markets – we found 1913 Songjeong Station Market (1913송정역시장) a BIG disappointment and pretty much empty on a weekday.
A traditional market that is now ‘reborn’ as a youth market, the name 1913 Songjeong Station Market relates to the year it was originally opened and it is just a short walk from Gwangju Songjeong Station.
There are a few famous things to try here like Uncle Croquettes, mugwort dessert from Sooks Bakery plus the rice with egg pancakes but most stalls were closed or deserted when we visited – based on recent Google reviews, we aren’t the only ones who were disappointed.
13. Watch a K-League Game at Gwangju Football Stadium
The perfect way to ‘kick-off’ your trip to Gwangju, K League football (or soccer) is a popular sport, up there with baseball.
Gwangju is home to Gwangju FC who play in the top flight of K-League soccer at the nearby Gwangju Football Stadium.
South Korea K League game tickets are easy to purchase (and very cheap) plus the World Cup Stadium in Gwangju has good transport links.
The K League football season in South Korea runs from February / March to November and matches generally take place on Fridays through Sundays.
You might like our guide to getting K-League tickets in Seoul >
14. Boseong Green Tea Fields (a day trip from Gwangju)
Time for tea in South Korea. The most beautiful and famous tea-fields in Korea can be found at Boseong Tea Plantation in the Jeollanam-do region, Gwangju (although Jeju Island is also known for its green tea plantations too).
You can visit Boseong by taking a bus from Gwangju Express Bus Terminal to Boseong Bus Terminal. We visited the Daehan Dawon green tea plantation (located next door to the Boseong Korean Tea Museum 한국차박물관) in summer 2025 and it was well worth the journey.
Nearly half of South Korea green tea is harvested in this area so it is a must visit (especially if you are a tea drinker)! Daehan Dawon has lush green tea fields which you can explore – hike to the top for coastal views or enjoy green tea ice-cream in the cafe overlooking the tea plantation.
From cherry blossom trails to bamboo forests, waterfalls to wonderful panoramic views, here is our guide to the Daehan Dawon / Boseong Tea Plantations >
If you don’t manage to make it to Boseong, then you can buy the tea from Amazon >
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We have just completed two nights in Gwangju. Stayed at CS hotel on your recommendation and was very good. We spent nearly one day just going from one area to another to see everything that had to do with the May 1980 uprising, was so interesting but incredibly sad and grim. We did the penguin village for about five mins and was a bit sad, run down and rubbish. We might have just got it on a off day.
Hi Kay, we are glad to hear you also enjoyed CS Hotel. Sorry to hear the Penguin Village wasn’t a great experience, it’s a quirky place to swing by when visiting other attractions in the area. Hope you are having a great trip in South Korea! Thanks, Caroline and Neil