Andong Travel Guide: Hahoe Village from Seoul (2026)

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Checked Oct 24, 2026

Hahoe Village from the cliff at Buyongdae, Feb 1, 2026. Photo: SeoulAslan

Andong is in Gyeongbuk province, about 2 hours from Seoul by KTX-Eum: 1h52 to 2h05 and 27,700 won one way from Cheongnyangni Station on the Oct 28 weekday timetable. Hahoe Village, the main reason to come, is not on the rail line. From Andong Station or the bus terminal you take bus 210 or Express 2 (1,500 won), then a free shuttle. A day trip works if you take the first train, and one night is easier, because the last KTX back leaves at 21:07 and the last entry to Hahoe is 16:30 in winter.

I went to Andong in winter, at the end of January and the start of February 2026. It is a quiet, dignified city, the kind of place that still feels like the home of the old yangban families, the scholar-aristocrats of the Joseon era. Hahoe Village is the one stop I would not skip, and it is where I saw cotton for the first time. The view of Hahoe from the cliff above it is spectacular.

Hahoe Village from the cliff at Buyongdae in winter. Photo: SeoulAslan

From SeoulKTX-Eum, 1h52 to 2h05, 27,700 won, from Cheongnyangni Station

By bus2h40 from Seoul Express Bus Terminal, 26,800 or 34,900 won

From Incheon AirportDirect bus from Terminal 2, 4h30 to 4h50, 54,000 won, 3 on Oct 23

Last KTX to Seoul21:07 from Andong to Cheongnyangni (Oct 28 weekday timetable)

Hahoe Village5,000 won for adults, last entry 16:30 Oct to Mar and 17:30 Apr to Sep

To HahoeBus 210 or Express 2 from the station, 1,500 won, then a free shuttle

Jump to: Why now · Getting there · Getting around · What to do · What to eat · 1 or 2 days · FAQ

Why are more foreign visitors going to Andong this year?

Foreign visitor-days in Andong rose 35.1% from Jan 1 to Sep 23, 2026 compared with the same period of 2025, using Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) mobile-data statistics. For all of Korea the rise was 22.5%. A visitor-day counts one person for one day, so the figures are best read as a trend, not a head count.

Foreign visitor-days in Andong by month. Chart: Before You Go Korea

The biggest jump was in May, from 43,200 to 63,900. March went the other way, from 14,400 to 12,300. The Korea–Japan summit was held in Andong on May 19, with the evening program at Hahoe Village (Newsis), which fits the timing, but the data do not say why people came, so I treat it as a possible link only.

How do I get from Seoul to Andong?

One-way adult times and fares. Chart: Before You Go Korea

Option	Time	Fare (adult, one way)	Notes
KTX-Eum from Cheongnyangni	1h52 to 2h05	27,700 won	10 a day, first 05:40, last 21:52
ITX-Maum from Cheongnyangni	2h33 to 2h42	27,700 won	4 a day, 06:38 to 17:38
Express bus, Seoul Express Bus Terminal	2h40	26,800 won (Udeung), 34,900 won (Premium)	18 a day, 06:10 to 22:00
Direct bus, Incheon Airport Terminal 2	4h30 to 4h50	54,000 won (Premium)	3 on Oct 23: 10:30, 12:20, 17:50
KTX-Eum from Gyeongju Station	43 to 49 min	15,200 won	9 a day

Train times and fares are from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's TAGO data for a weekday, Oct 28, and bus data are for Fri, Oct 23. Timetables shift with the season and the day of the week, so check the operator for your date.

• Train or bus? The fares are about the same, and the KTX-Eum is 35 to 50 minutes faster than the bus. The ITX-Maum costs the same as the KTX-Eum and takes more than half an hour longer, so take the KTX-Eum when you can.
• Coming back: the last KTX-Eum from Andong to Cheongnyangni leaves at 21:07 and arrives at 22:58 on the weekday timetable. The first leaves at 06:01.
• From Incheon Airport: a direct bus runs from Terminal 2, three times on Oct 23. The other route is AREX into Seoul and then the train (see my airport to Seoul guide).

For the train, Korail's English site (korail.com/global/eng) is the official seller, and my KTX booking guide covers the steps with a foreign card and passport. If you would rather book through an app, Trip.com lists the route (Cheongnyangni and Andong trains on Trip.com). Buses are sold at the terminal counter or on kobus.co.kr.

How do I get around Andong, and how does the Hahoe bus work?

Andong Station is not in the old town. The old downtown station closed in December 2020, and the current one is next to the intercity bus terminal (Kyunghyang Weekly). So the old market and Wolyeonggyo Bridge are a bus or taxi ride from the station.

For Hahoe Village, take bus 210 or Express 2 from Andong Station or the bus terminal. The fare listed on Andong City's tourism site is 1,500 won, and transfers within an hour are free if you pay with a transit card. The ticket office is at the parking area, and a free shuttle takes you from there to the village entrance in about 10 minutes. A taxi is the alternative. The city's tourist information line is 054-840-3431, and Korea's 1330 line helps in English. Show the Korean name on your phone: Hahoe Village is 하회마을, Buyongdae is 부용대. My Kakao T guide explains the taxi app, and the map app comparison explains why Google Maps directions are limited in Korea.

Byeongsan Seowon and Dosan Seowon, two Confucian academies, are out of town. Taxi, a rental car or a guided tour is the practical way to reach them.

What is there to do in Andong?

Opening hours by season. Chart: Before You Go Korea

Hours are from Andong City's tourism site, and all four are listed as open year-round. For Hahoe the listed times are the last entry. In winter everything closes earlier, so I would put the farthest stop first.

Hahoe Folk Village (UNESCO). A river bends almost all the way around the village, and many of the houses are still lived in. Adult entry is 5,000 won (youth 2,500, children 1,500). Last entry is 17:30 from April to September and 16:30 from October to March.

A big old tree ringed with paper wishes in Hahoe, Feb 1, 2026. Photo: SeoulAslan

The village also has a free mask dance performance, the Hahoe Byeolsin-gut Talnori, at the mask dance training center. It is listed at 14:00 from Tuesday to Sunday between March and December, and on weekends in January and February (KTO).

The first cotton I had ever seen, at Hahoe. Photo: SeoulAslan

Buyongdae. The cliff viewpoint that looks down over Hahoe. The sign there explains that the name means a hill that looks down on a lotus flower, because the village, ringed by the river, looks like a single lotus floating on the water. In winter the fields and sandbars are the color of straw, and the view is still the best of the trip.

The sign and the view at Buyongdae. Photo: SeoulAslan

Byeongsan Seowon (UNESCO). A Confucian academy beside the river, open 09:00 to 18:00 in summer and 09:00 to 17:00 in winter.

Dosan Seowon. Another academy, with adult entry at 2,000 won on the city's tourism site. It is open 09:00 to 18:00 from February to October and 09:00 to 17:00 from November to January.

Bongjeongsa. A UNESCO-listed temple, free on the city's tourism site, open 07:00 to 19:00 in summer and 08:00 to 17:00 in winter.

Wolyeonggyo Bridge. A long wooden footbridge over the river, free to walk. From the station, take a taxi.

Festivals. Hahoe Seonyu Julbul-nori, the fire festival over the river, started on May 2 in 2026 and was staged ten times, with advance booking. It does not run in winter. The Andong Mask Dance Festival ran from Sept 24 to Oct 4 this year. Both are announced by the city, so check before you plan a trip around them.

What should I eat in Andong?

I am listing foods, not restaurants, because shop hours change, and the local queues will point you to the good ones.

• Andong jjimdak (안동찜닭): chicken braised with glass noodles and potatoes in a sweet soy sauce. The classic place to eat it is the jjimdak alley at the old market, which is lined with specialist restaurants. You can ask for it mild.
• Heotjesatbap (헛제삿밥): the name means "fake ceremony rice". It is the rice, seasoned vegetables and pan-fried pieces served at an ancestral ritual, served as a bibimbap-style bowl without the ritual. It is mild, so it suits people who avoid spicy food.
• Ganggodeungeo (간고등어): mackerel that is salted before it is grilled, usually served as a set meal.
• Andong soju: a traditional distilled spirit that is stronger than the green-bottle soju. The strength depends on the brand, so check the label.

How many days do I need in Andong?

One day covers Hahoe and the viewpoint. Two days take the pressure off the bus timetable and leave time for the seowon and the old town.

1. Take the first KTX-Eum from Cheongnyangni at 05:40. It reaches Andong at 07:32.
2. Taxi from the station to Hahoe, or the 210 or Express 2 bus if the timing works. Hahoe opens at 09:00.
3. Walk the village, then see the view from Buyongdae.
4. Head back to town and eat jjimdak.
5. Leave time for the last KTX-Eum at 21:07, and check the timetable for your date.

For two days, stay one night in or near Hahoe, or in town if you prefer restaurants. Trip.com's list for the Hahoe area is a quick way to see what is open on your dates (Stays near Hahoe Folk Village on Trip.com). On day two, go to Byeongsan Seowon in the morning, then Dosan Seowon or Bongjeongsa, and take the train home or on to Gyeongju (KTX-Eum, 43 to 48 minutes).

FAQ

Is Andong a good day trip from Seoul?

Yes, if you start early. The first KTX-Eum leaves Cheongnyangni at 05:40 and reaches Andong at 07:32, and the last one back leaves at 21:07. The last entry to Hahoe is 16:30 from October to March, so one night is easier in winter.

How do I get to Hahoe Village from Andong Station?

Take bus 210 or Express 2 for 1,500 won, then the free shuttle from the parking area. A taxi is the alternative.

How much does Hahoe Village cost and when is it open?

Adult entry is 5,000 won, all year. Last entry is 17:30 from April to September and 16:30 from October to March.

Can I combine Andong with Gyeongju?

Yes. The KTX-Eum runs between the two in 43 to 49 minutes for 15,200 won, nine times a day on the weekday timetable.

More Korea trip guides

• How to Book KTX as a Foreigner Now That SRT Is KTX (2026)
• Busan Day Trip from Seoul by KTX: Times and Fares (2026)
• Korea Travel Apps: Which You Need and Which You Don't

Andong details I will re-check

The 2027 dates for the fire festival and the mask dance festival once the city announces them. When any of them changes, this page and the date at the top will change with it.

Sources

• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, TAGO API: Korail train timetable and fares for Oct 28, 2026; express bus and intercity bus timetable and fares for Oct 23, 2026
• Korea Tourism Organization big-data regional visitor statistics (SKT mobile data), Jan 1 to Sep 23, 2025 and 2026
• Andong City tourism site (tourandong.com): admission fees, opening hours, bus 210 and Express 2, tourist information line, checked Oct 24, 2026
• Korea Tourism Organization travel information: Hahoe Byeolsin-gut Talnori performance (Korean)
• Newsis, May 19, 2026: Korea–Japan summit in Andong (Korean)
• Kyunghyang Weekly, Dec 18, 2020: Andong Station relocation (Korean)
• News TF, Oct 4, 2026: Andong Mask Dance Festival closing (Korean)
• Photos: SeoulAslan

— SeoulAslan