Six Korean Cities Where You Can Travel Car-Free Without Tangled Routes
An analysis of transit-friendly cities that tightly link key sights from stations and terminals by foot, city bus and subway alone
-
JongnogakJongno-gu, Seoul
-
SuwongakSuwon, Gyeonggi-do
-
DaegugakDaegu Metropolitan City
-
GunsangakGunsan, Jeonbuk State
-
ChuncheongakChuncheon, Gangwon State
-
BusangakBusan Metropolitan City
Comparison table at a glance
| City | Arrival hub | Main way to get around | Core walking area | Car-free difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jongno (Jongnogak) | Gwanghwamun, Anguk and Gyeongbokgung stations | Walking + Subway Lines 1, 3 and 5 | Gyeongbokgung Palace to Bukchon, Seochon and Insa-dong | ★☆☆☆☆ (very easy) |
| Suwon (Suwongak) | Suwon Station (KTX, Line 1, Suin-Bundang Line) | Bus, then walk everywhere | Hwaseong Haenggung Palace to Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion and Haengnidan-gil | ★☆☆☆☆ (very easy) |
| Gunsan (Gunsangak) | Gunsan Station / Gunsan Intercity Bus Terminal | Walking in the old downtown + city bus No. 99 (islands) | Modern History Museum to Hirotsu House and Dongguksa Temple | ★★☆☆☆ (easy) |
| Daegu (Daegugak) | Dongdaegu Station (KTX) / Banwoldang Station | Metro Lines 1, 2 and 3 + express buses | Daegu's Modern Alleys (Gyesan Cathedral) to Suseongmot Pond | ★★☆☆☆ (easy) |
| Chuncheon (Chuncheongak) | Chuncheon / Namchuncheon / Gangchon stations | Gyeongchun Line commuter trains and ITX + city buses and taxis | Gongjicheon Sculpture Park to the Soyang River area | ★★☆☆☆ (easy) |
| Busan (Busangak) | Busan Station (KTX) | Metro Lines 1–4 and the Donghae Line + city buses | Old downtown (Nampo, Yongdusan) to Gwangalli and Haeundae | ★★☆☆☆ (easy) |
1. Arrive Once, Walk Everywhere: The Compact Walkable Trio of Suwon, Gunsan and Jongno
The most tiring moment on a car-free trip is waiting for yet another bus at every sight. In the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress area, once you get off in front of Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, everything connects on foot: the palace tour, the fortress wall trail, a picnic by the pond at Banghwasuryujeong Pavilion (Northeast Corner Tower), and the cafés and restaurants of Haengnidan-gil. You won't need a ride at all until the fortress lights come on in the evening.
Gunsan's old downtown also has a remarkably dense cluster of modern cultural heritage. Starting from the Gunsan History Hall of the Japanese Colonial Period and the Modern History Museum, flat alleys tightly connect you to Iseongdang Bakery, Haemanggul Tunnel and Dongguksa Temple, making it a textbook walking trip.
Gunsan History Hall of the Japanese Colonial Period · Photo: 이범수 · Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip If you want to extend your car-free trip from Gunsan's old downtown to Seonyudo Island (Gogunsan Islands), check the timetable for city bus No. 99 or the weekend Gunsan City Tour Bus in advance, and you can do an island trip on foot too.
2. Metro Travel Without Worrying About Wait Times: Daegu and Busan
If city bus intervals worry you, Daegu and Busan, with their dense metro networks, offer peace of mind. In Daegu, get off at Banwoldang or Cheongna Hill Station and you can walk straight into the 'Modern Alleys,' which link Daegu Gyesan Cathedral, the Daegu Modern History Museum and the Daegu Yangnyeongsi Museum of Oriental Medicine. In the evening, ride Line 3, an elevated monorail, to Suseongmot Station and stroll the night views of Suseongmot Pond Recreation Area.
In Busan, right after arriving at KTX Busan Station, you can go straight to the Busan Modern & Contemporary History Museum Annex, Yongdusan Park, and Jagalchi and Nampo-dong on Subway Line 1, and by transferring to Line 2 you get punctual rides all the way to Gwangalli and Haeundae beaches.
Daegu Gyesan Cathedral · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip To reach Palgongsan Mountain (Donghwasa Temple area) in Daegu without a car, take the Express 1 bus from the underpass stop at Dongdaegu Station and you'll get there in one ride with no transfers.
3. A Lakeside Trip Where Commuter Trains and the ITX Drop You at Waterside Trails: Chuncheon
Chuncheon, where you watch the Bukhangang River flow past the train window instead of gripping a steering wheel, is a perennial favorite for car-free day trips. Gongjicheon Sculpture Park and Gongjicheon Recreation Area, close to Chuncheon and Namchuncheon stations, have well-kept flat waterside paths and bike lanes, so you can soak up the lakeside city's atmosphere without a car.
Routes that link Gapyeong and Gangchon stations to take in Nami Island or the Elysian Gangchon area, or that include Chuncheon's famous makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken), are easily handled with train stations plus short taxi or bus rides.
Gongjicheon Jogak Park · Photo: Korea Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1
Yeohaenggak editor's tip Weekend ITX-Cheongchun seats from Yongsan and Cheongnyangni sell out early, so if you miss a reservation, take a regular Gyeongchun Line commuter train from Sangbong or Cheongnyangni and you can leave any time without booking.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Q. Which city is best for a car-free trip on a rainy day?
Jongno, Daegu (Daegu Modern History Museum, Daegu National Museum) and Busan (Busan Modern & Contemporary History Museum), where subway stations connect well to museums, exhibition halls, department stores and underground shopping arcades, are the best for getting around on foot on a rainy day.
Q. Are there any tips for a 2-day, 1-night car-free trip while pulling a suitcase?
Leave your bags in the lockers at major train stations such as Suwon, Busan, Dongdaegu and Chuncheon stations, do your first course traveling light, then head to your lodging in the evening, and you'll save more than half your energy.
Q. When I have a lot of luggage, can I store or ship it right at the station?
Major KTX stations such as Busan, Gangneung, Jeonju and Mokpo stations are well equipped with lockers, and in places like Busan, Gyeongju and Gangneung you can also use luggage delivery services that send your suitcase from the station to your lodging.
Sejonggak
Jeonjugak
Sokchogak
Yongingak