Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley

Ikseon-dong, in Jongno-gu, is one of the few remaining hanok-dense neighborhoods left in central Seoul.

Small hanok houses believed to date from around the 1920s sit packed together along narrow alleys, and over the past few years these houses have been converted one after another into stylish cafes, restaurants, and craft studios, giving the neighborhood an entirely new identity.

Every alley hides an unexpected space — a former inn turned into a cafe with a different mood on each floor, a workshop where you can make your own perfume. The unusual skyline formed by narrow lanes and low hanok eaves has also made it a consistently popular spot for photos on social media.

It's close to Insadong and Jongmyo Shrine, making it easy to combine with a visit to nearby sites — and the charm here is watching tradition and trend meet within a single alleyway.