Suwon

Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO walled city an hour from Seoul by subway — the easiest day trip, with the best fried chicken street.

Suwon is the day trip that beats most of Seoul's own sights: a complete 18th-century fortress wall you can walk in two hours, a palace, and a street of fried-chicken restaurants.

Getting there

Subway line 1 or the Suin-Bundang line to Suwon Station, about an hour from central Seoul with a T-money card; or KTX in 30 minutes. From the station, bus or taxi 10 minutes to Paldalmun gate.

Must-do

1. Hwaseong Fortress wall walk: about 5.7 km around; the section from Paldalmun up to Seojangdae pavilion gives the view. Archery experience at the Yeonmudae training ground.
2. Hwaseong Haenggung palace, with martial-arts demonstrations.
3. Suwon Hwaseong trolley (Hwaseong train) if you would rather ride than walk.
4. Chicken street by Paldalmun: whole fried chicken, the Suwon style.
5. Flying Suwon tethered balloon for an aerial view.

Tips

• Go in the morning, walk the wall before lunch, chicken street after.
• Suwon's Starfield mall and the Samsung Innovation Museum are nearby if the weather turns.