Things to do in underrated Korean towns: Heyri Art Village
We’ve got the ultimate guide to Heyri Art Village, with a range of places to go and things to eat across the day! Or maybe the week…
Image: Thuy Bui for Cherry Chu Magazine.
Located in the heart of Paju, this beautiful cultural art village is the place to go if you want to immerse yourself in creative arts: galleries, exhibitions, museums, art shops, book stores, restaurants, and many cafes can all be explored. The one thing that I really enjoyed about this place was all the open green space; it’s not condensed like Seoul. The village is perfect for taking a stroll, and is also both child and dog friendly. It’s the ideal getaway from the bustling city all in one spot.
Lots to do, see, and eat
I arrived around noon — when the Art Village is most lively. As it was my first time, I spent the first hour being mesmerised (as you typically do when you first move to Korea. That luxury has yet to fade). I stumbled into quirky shops, home stores, clothing stores, and everywhere I looked was an opportunity to take photos. After all of that, I headed to lunch.
My friend had recommended a place called Eataly Heyri (잇탈리 헤이리점), a fusion of Italian and Korean cuisines. Their signature dish is the ‘Spicy Cream Pasta with Mushroom and Bacon’ (23,000 won). The ‘bacon’ mentioned on the menu is actually galbi. These are Korean grilled ribs which, if you’ve never tried, I suggest you go and get immediately after reading this article!
Images: Thuy Bui for Cherry Chu Magazine.
When ordering this dish, you’re asked what level of spice you prefer (from level one to five). If you like spicy, then I would suggest level three; a perfect amount of spice without being too overpowering. For comparison, level three is slightly less spicy than the instant ‘Samyang 2x Spicy Buldak’ noodles. I also ordered a salad on the side.
I can feel the eyerolls already but salads are so underrated in Korea, with the country offering some of the best! The signature tomato, rocket, and ricotta salad cost 20,000 won, around £12 — this is quite expensive in comparison to the main dish, but vegetables and fruit are more expensive compared to in countries like the UK.
After lunch, I wanted to go to one of the art cafes to have coffee whilst studying. This is where ‘Gardenus’ caught my eye.
Images: Thuy Bui for Cherry Chu Magazine.
This gorgeous gallery and café is a true beauty for art, coffee, and dessert lovers. The café has plenty of unique seating areas, art collaborations, eye-catching architectural structures, desserts, open work spaces, and so much more. It really is the perfect space to relax, study, read, and catch up, whether by yourself or with friends and family. I really was sad when I had to leave, but I’d already spent 4 hours there.
What was even more sad was that the day had flown by and I hadn’t seen enough of the village. I’m dying to go back and would recommend the area to anyone who is looking for either a jam-packed day or a relaxing meal.
So, why not take the subway out of Seoul, and head to Heyri Art Village? With so much to see, do, and eat, need I say more?
How to get there from Seoul:
Travelling to the Heyri Art Village is easiest by car, and there are plenty of parking spaces. From Hapjeong Station you can take a direct bus (number 2200) which will drop you off right outside the village. It’s approximately a 45-minute bus journey, with 15 stops.
Address:
70-21, Heyrimaeul-gil, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 파주시 탄현면 헤이리마을길 70-21
IG: heyriart
Opening times:
As this is an open village, it’s accessible 365 days of the year. However, most businesses operating here are independent and therefore all operate individually, so opening times will vary. Typically, many places are closed on Mondays, and some are also closed on holidays such as Lunar New Year and Chuseok. More information can be found on the website.
Edited by Gabii Rayner.
