On my first weekend trip to Seoul, I strolled right past Cheonggyecheon Stream on a walk between Myeongdong and Insadong. It wasn’t until my second visit that I finally snuck down the steps and let the urban buzz drift away as I walked along this relaxing slice of central Seoul.
Cheonggyecheon Stream runs 11km from Cheonggye Plaza near Gwanghwamun east toward Dongdaemun. It was restored in 2005 after spending decades buried under a highway.
The western section alone packs in more than most travelers expect: a Joseon-era bridge built on a queen’s stolen tombstones, a 192-meter ceramic mural that most visitors miss, and one of the quieter spots I’ve found in the middle of a city this massive.
Here’s what I’d focus on checking out along Cheonggyecheon Stream as a first-time visitor…
A first-timer’s walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream
Cheonggye Plaza
Cheonggye Plaza is the starting point for any walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream. The first thing you’ll see heading down the steps is the Spring Sculpture, a 70-foot aluminum spiral designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
It took me a moment to warm up to the Spring Sculpture when I first spotted it. (Ya, it’s not exactly subtle.)
The details are worth a closer look, though. The ribbons running down the sides were inspired by Korean traditional dress, with the blue and red representing the unity of opposites.
Just below Cheonggye Plaza, the Candle Fountain drops four meters down a two-tiered waterfall. The waterfall is lovely during the day, but, in my opinion, it’s even more appealing after dark, when three-color lights illuminate the cascade. I’d make a point of coming back in the evening just to check it out again.
On either side of the waterfall sits Palseokdam, a wishing well made from eight stones collected from each of Korea’s eight historic provinces. Throw a few coins in with the locals and see what kind of luck it brings.
Don’t leave the Cheonggye Plaza area without hopping across the stream on the paired stepping stones. Crossing at the water level delivers a completely different perspective of the waterway.
Gwangtonggyo Bridge
Gwangtonggyo Bridge is the second bridge from Cheonggye Plaza, and it has the best story of anything along the stream. Most first-time visitors cross it or pass by without knowing what’s underneath.
During the Joseon Dynasty, Gwangtonggyo was the largest bridge in the city and one of its busiest spots. Kings used it on royal processions, and citizens gathered here to petition the throne.
When King Taejong rebuilt Gwangtonggyo Bridge in stone, he used the tombstones from his stepmother Queen Sindeok’s grave, deliberately placing them upside down as an act of contempt.
Queen Sindeok had tried to push her own sons ahead of King Taejong in the line of succession, and this was his (petty) answer: Seoulites would now walk over her grave for centuries.
You can still see the original carved guardian stones embedded in the foundations if you walk underneath. Some of them are still inverted.
This small historical detail is more compelling than any others I’ve come across along the stream. I’d make a point of ducking under to look before moving on.
During the 2005 restoration, Gwangtonggyo Bridge was moved about 150 meters west of its original location. The stones underneath are still original, even if the setting isn’t.
If you’re visiting Cheonggyecheon Stream on a weekend evening between April and October, Bamdokkaebi Night Market sets up near Gwangtonggyo with food trucks, handmade goods, and live performances starting at around 6 pm.
The Cheonggyecheon location has shifted around over the years, though. I’d recommend double-checking the current dates before building an evening around it.
(Last time I checked, it was unclear whether this location is still rockin’.)
King Jeongjo’s Royal Parade
A little farther east, between Gwanggyo (bridge 3) and Samilgyo (bridge 5), the north bank of Cheonggyecheon Stream is lined with one of the more unexpected things I’ve found in central Seoul: King Jeongjo’s Royal Parade, a 192-meter ceramic mural depicting a royal procession from 1795.
The mural is a replica of the Banchado, a documentary painting that recorded King Jeongjo’s journey from Seoul to Hwaseong to visit his father’s tomb. The original is listed among Korea’s most outstanding cultural treasures.
The tile version of King Jeongjo’s Royal Parade at Cheonggyecheon Stream stretches across 5,120 ceramic tiles. (I’ve even read that it’s the largest tile wall painting in the world.)
Most first-time visitors walk right past the mural. I’d slow down here to take it all in.
Sugyo Bridge
Sugyo Bridge sits at the site of one of the more interesting stories along the stream. And it’s one I’d have completely missed without doing some digging beforehand.
The original bridge here, Supyogyo, was built in 1420 and served as the city’s main flood warning system for centuries. A water gauge, built beside it in 1441, measured the stream’s level and triggered official alerts when flooding was imminent. The bridge took its name from it.
There’s also a more romantic story attached to this spot. King Sukjong was crossing the original bridge on his way back from a royal shrine visit when he spotted Jang Ok-jeong watching the procession from the roadside. She eventually became his royal concubine and one of the most famous and controversial figures of the Joseon period.
The original Supyogyo was moved to Jangchungdan Park near Dongguk University Station when the stream was covered over in the 1950s. It was too long to fit back into the restored stream in 2005. What’s standing here today is a modern wooden replacement.
If the original interests you, it’s a 15-minute walk away. The carved water gauge markings are still visible on the stone.
I’d say it’s worth the detour, especially if you’re already hitting up the Namsan hiking trails or Namsangol Hanok Village, both of which are close by.
Naraegyo Bridge
The natural stopping point for most first-time visitors walking along Cheonggyecheon Stream is Naraegyo Bridge. The walkway’s 12th bridge is shaped like a butterfly in full wingspan and has a glass bottom.
Naraegyo Bridge is one of the more distinctive crossings I’ve seen along Cheonggyecheon Stream. It sits right in front of Pyeonghwa Fashion Town, putting you squarely in the Dongdaemun District by the time you reach it.
One bridge further east, between Beodeuldari and Ogansugyo, the Wall of Culture is worth a few minutes. This art installation features rotating cultural artwork along the stream wall.
The Wall of Culture is hardly the most dramatic sight along Cheonggyecheon, but it’s a natural reason to keep walking a little further before heading back up to street level.
From Naraegyo, Dongdaemun Market is right above you. It’s a good place to exit the stream and pick up where your day of exploring Seoul takes you next.
Beyond Naraegyo
Cheonggyecheon Stream continues for several kilometers east toward Jungnangcheon. And there’s still plenty to see if you’ve got the legs for it.
The Walls of Hope sit between bridges 18 and 19, further into the Dongdaemun stretch. They’re made up of individual ceramic tiles hand-painted with the hopes and wishes of 20,000 Seoul citizens.
It’s a quieter, less-visited part of the stream. I think it’s well worth dropping in if you want to escape the crowds of the western section.
Jonchigyogak, the last remaining pillars of the elevated Cheonggye Expressway that once covered the stream, is a solid stop if urban history is your thing. They’re one of the few physical reminders of what this stretch of the city looked like before the 2005 renewal project.
The Cheonggyecheon Museum sits near the end of the main walking stretch, between Sumuldari and Gosanjagyo. The museum covers the full history of the stream across six floors.
(I absolutely adore the contrast between the traditional wooden stilt houses in front and the modern main building.)
Admission to the Cheonggyecheon Museum is free. It’s closed on Mondays.
Seoul Lantern Festival
If you’re visiting Seoul in December or early January, I’d recommend timing your Cheonggyecheon visit around the Seoul Lantern Festival. It’s been running every winter since 2009. (Oh ya, and it’s totally free to attend.)
Traditional hanji paper lanterns and LED installations line the 1.3km stretch from Cheonggye Plaza east to around Samilgyo Bridge, daily from 6 pm to 11 pm. The Seoul Lantern Festival typically runs mid-December through early January.
(Though I read that the 2025 edition of the Seoul Lantern Festival extended into late January.)
The theme of the festival changes every year and can go in unexpected directions. The 2025 edition featured a Pokémon theme, with a seven-meter-tall Gyarados installation and over 100 Magikarp along the stream.
I’d check the official Korea tourism site for the current dates and theme details before visiting, since they shift from year to year.
Weeknight visits are less crowded than weekends. If you have flexibility on timing, I’d go on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening rather than a Saturday.
When to visit
Cheonggyecheon Stream is open 24 hours and is worth visiting at almost any time of day. But it earns its reputation most in the evening, in my opinion.
The stream is lit year-round after dark. The combo of the illuminated water with the city humming above is a completely different experience from the daytime. I’d aim to arrive just before sunset and stick around until after it gets dark.
Crowds build on weekend evenings, particularly near Cheonggye Plaza. On weeknights, Cheonggyecheon is noticeably calmer, and the walk feels less rushed.
Spring and autumn are the best seasons overall to visit Cheonggyecheon Stream. The pathway sits below street level, which provides some shelter, but Seoul summers are hot and humid enough to make any outdoor walk (and I do mean any) less enjoyable than it should be.
Winter works outside of the Seoul Lantern Festival period, though I should warn you that some sections of the path can get slippery after freezing rain or snow.
How to get there
There are access points at regular intervals along the entire route. I’d suggest dropping in or exiting at whichever point suits your itinerary.
For Cheonggye Plaza and the western starting point, the easiest option is Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5. From Exit 5, it’s about a 2-minute walk.
City Hall Station, located on Lines 1 and 2, is another option. Leaving via Exit 4, adding about 5 minutes on foot.
For the Naraegyo Bridge section, use Dongdaemun Station on Lines 1 and 4, or Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station on Lines 2, 4, and 5.
If you’re already in Myeongdong, Cheonggyecheon Stream is a 15-minute walk north. The area is a fantastic bookend to a day of exploring Myeongdong.
