Insadong & Ikseon-dong

인사동 쌈지길 · 익선동 한옥거리

Tea houses and crafts, then a lane of hanok cafés next door

Hours

Shops roughly 10:00–20:00; Ikseon-dong cafés until about 10pm (varies)

Address

Ssamziegil, 44 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu; Ikseon-dong is around Supyo-ro 28-gil

Insadong-gil is lined with brush, hanji paper, ceramics and antique shops, and signs here have to be in Hangul, so even the Starbucks spells its name in Korean. Ssamziegil is a building wrapped around a courtyard with a ramp that spirals up four floors; browse the little craft stalls and you end up on the roof without noticing. Across the main road, Ikseon-dong is a tight cluster of small 1920s–30s hanok whose rooms now hold cafés, dessert shops and photo studios. Tea in Insadong, cake in Ikseon-dong, and half a day is gone.