Suwon is promoting its appeal as one of Korea's leading tourist cities, unveiling a range of tourism content spanning history, culture, nature and hands-on experiences to mark the "2026-2027 Year of Visiting Suwon."
A planned city built by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty and Korea's largest basic local government, Suwon holds tourism resources where tradition and modernity coexist, centered on the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hwaseong Fortress. The city is working to attract visitors with diverse attractions ranging from experiential tourism to natural rest areas, cultural and arts facilities, and tours of drama filming locations.
Visitors can find Suwon's signature experience programs around Hwaseong Fortress. The Hwaseong Trolley, a sightseeing train modeled after a sedan chair, circulates around major attractions including Yeonmudae, Hwahongmun, Janganmun and Hwaseomun, allowing visitors to tour the area conveniently. At Yeonmudae, visitors can also try gukgung, traditional Korean archery, which has gained popularity among foreign tourists.
"Flying Suwon," a tethered hot-air balloon operated near Changnyongmun, is a signature experience offering a panoramic view of downtown Suwon and Hwaseong Fortress. At night in particular, it draws tourists by offering views of the fortress walls and the city's night scenery. The city also operates digital tourism content such as the "XR Bus 1795," which recreates Jeongjo's Eulmyo royal procession using XR technology, and "The Secret of Hwaseong Fortress," a mobile mission tour.
For tourists who want to enjoy nature in the city, Gwanggyo Lake Park stands out as a leading attraction. Built around two lakes, Gwanggyo Lake Park is a leading eco-friendly park in the Seoul metropolitan area, featuring a wide grass plaza, walking trails and waterside spaces. In summer, a large floor fountain and water play facilities operate, drawing many family visitors.
In addition, waterside parks linked to reservoirs, such as Gwanggyo Park, Manseok Park and Seoho Park, have been built throughout the city, while Wolhwawon, a traditional Chinese garden inside Hyowon Park, is also drawing attention as a unique tourist destination. Urban green areas including Gwanggyosan, Paldalsan and Chilbosan mountains, as well as the Ilwol and Yeongheung arboretums, also provide rest spaces for residents and tourists.
To enjoy culture and the arts, the Suwon Museum of Art and Suwon Art Space Gwanggyo are worth a visit. The Suwon Museum of Art, located near Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, regularly presents contemporary art exhibitions and also serves as a cultural rest area for citizens.
The Suwon Museum, the Suwon Hwaseong Museum and the Suwon Gwanggyo Museum are spaces that systematically introduce Suwon's history and culture. In addition to permanent exhibitions, each museum operates special exhibitions and experience programs, satisfying both education and tourism.
Distinctive themed museums are another of Suwon's strengths. Haewoojae, which takes toilet culture as its theme, is an exhibition hall rarely seen at home or abroad, equipped with various toilet-related artifacts and experience facilities. At the Football Museum inside Suwon World Cup Stadium, visitors can view materials related to the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and major artifacts from Korean football history, while the National Map Museum is regarded as an educational attraction where visitors can learn the history of map-making and surveying.
Trips that follow drama filming locations are also popular. The Haenggung-dong and Haengni-dan-gil areas are known as filming sites for dramas including "Lovely Runner," "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" and "Our Beloved Summer." Hwahongmun, the alleys of Haenggung-dong, the Paldalsan circular road and the Ilwol Arboretum have established themselves as must-visit courses for drama fans.
Suwon offers a range of tourism courses tailored to the season, length of stay and travel purpose through its tourism website.
"Suwon is rich in tourism content where visitors can experience history, culture, nature and the arts all at once," a Suwon city official said. "Using the Year of Visiting Suwon as an opportunity, we will continue to expand various programs so that more tourists can visit Suwon and create special memories."
