After exploring the coast and ancient capital in my previous posts, Busan and the Busan to Gyeongju itinerary, our journey continued inland. This Andong travel guide with nearby villages and temples covers one of the most culturally and traditional regions of South Korea.
If you love UNESCO sites, wooden architecture, colourful temples, and authentic festivals, Andong might surprise you. It felt like stepping into traditional Korea, slower, deeper, and more rooted in history.
Stay Connected in South Korea
Before diving into this Andong travel guide, a quick practical tip: stay connected.
I always use Airalo eSIM when travelling. It allows me to land in a new country with instant data, perfect for maps, translations, and bookings. In South Korea, Naver Maps works best for navigation, and Papago is excellent for translations.
You can use my code DANIEL22410 if it’s your first time using Airalo.
From Ulsan to Andong – A Cultural Route
We left Ulsan early in the morning by our touring bus and headed toward one of Korea’s most important Buddhist temples.
🛕 Haeinsa Temple – UNESCO Wonder
Our first stop was Haeinsa, located in Gayasan National Park.
This UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for housing the Tripitaka Koreana, a complete collection of Buddhist scriptures carved onto wooden blocks between 1237 and 1248.
Walking through the temple complex truly feels like stepping into the Joseon period, or into one of those beautiful Korean historical dramas. The architecture is colourful, detailed, and incredibly peaceful.
I would absolutely love to join a temple stay or monk retreat here one day. The atmosphere feels calm and grounding. It is quite a walk to the temple, but definitely worth it.
Souvenir tip: Many temple shops sell delicate silver rings and bracelets. Beautiful, meaningful pieces to take home.
🏘 Hahoe Folk Village – Living Joseon History
Next, we visited Hahoe Folk Village, a traditional village from the Joseon Dynasty, founded in the 14th–15th century.
This UNESCO-listed village preserves traditional Korean homes, wooden structures, and mask culture. Walking through the village feels authentic and untouched.
The craftsmanship here is impressive. If you’re looking for souvenirs, I recommend wooden masks or handcrafted utensils; the quality is excellent.
🎭 Andong International Maskdance Festival
After exploring the village, we headed into Andong city for the Andong International Maskdance Festival.
The atmosphere was festive and full of life. There was a parade, cultural performances, and dances from different countries; we even saw performers from Indonesia.
One of the highlights was Talchum, a traditional Korean mask dance drama recognised by UNESCO.
The festival area has many local restaurants. It’s great if you like trying new foods. If you’re vegan, options may be limited, but I personally enjoy exploring local cuisine because it enriches the travel experience.
Where We Stayed in Andong
That evening, we stayed at CM Park Hotel Andong.
To be honest, this was purely a practical stop. Because of the Mask Festival, many hotels were fully booked. The hotel is not luxurious and doesn’t have many nearby restaurants, but it worked well for a one-night stay before continuing our trip the next day.
Is Andong Worth Visiting?
Yes, especially if you are interested in:
- UNESCO heritage sites
- Buddhist temple architecture
- Traditional Korean villages
- Cultural festivals
- Authentic local experiences
Andong feels more traditional and less modern compared to Busan. It gives you a deeper understanding of Korea’s cultural identity.
Travel Tips for Andong
📅 Best Time to Visit
Autumn is ideal, especially during the Maskdance Festival season.
🚍 How to Get There
- Tour bus (as we did)
- Train from Gyeongju or Busan
- Private guided day tour
🎒 What to Buy
- Wooden masks, utensils from Hahoe Village
- Handmade silver jewellery from temple shops
Tours and Experiences Mentioned in This Andong Itinerary
If you're planning your own trip to Andong and would like to follow a similar route, I've listed the tours, attractions and experiences mentioned throughout this guide below. Some of these were included as part of our organised tour through South Korea, while others can easily be booked independently if you're travelling on your own.
These are the experiences featured in this itinerary:
🛕 Haeinsa Temple
Haeinsa Temple was one of the most peaceful places I visited during my South Korea trip. Home to the famous Tripitaka Koreana and surrounded by the beautiful Gayasan National Park, it's a must-visit if you're interested in Korean history, Buddhism or simply want to experience a quieter side of the country.
→ [Haeinsa Temple]
Haeinsa Temple was one of the most peaceful places I visited during my South Korea trip. Home to the famous Tripitaka Koreana and surrounded by the beautiful Gayasan National Park, it's a must-visit if you're interested in Korean history, Buddhism or simply want to experience a quieter side of the country.
→ [Haeinsa Temple]
🏘 Hahoe Folk Village UNESCO Tour
Walking through Hahoe Folk Village felt like stepping back into the Joseon Dynasty. The traditional houses, peaceful surroundings and rich cultural heritage make this one of Andong's most memorable attractions.
→ [Hahoe Folk Village UNESCO Tour]
Walking through Hahoe Folk Village felt like stepping back into the Joseon Dynasty. The traditional houses, peaceful surroundings and rich cultural heritage make this one of Andong's most memorable attractions.
→ [Hahoe Folk Village UNESCO Tour]
🎭 Andong UNESCO & Cultural Highlights TourIf you're short on time, a guided tour is a great way to visit Hahoe Folk Village and learn more about Andong's fascinating history and traditions from a local guide.
→ [Andong UNESCO & Cultural Highlights Tour]
→ [Andong UNESCO & Cultural Highlights Tour]
🎎 Andong International Maskdance Festival (Seasonal)
If you're visiting Andong in autumn, try to time your visit with the Andong International Maskdance Festival. Watching traditional performances alongside groups from around the world was one of the unexpected highlights of our trip and gave the city such a lively atmosphere.
If you're visiting Andong in autumn, try to time your visit with the Andong International Maskdance Festival. Watching traditional performances alongside groups from around the world was one of the unexpected highlights of our trip and gave the city such a lively atmosphere.
📱 Stay Connected with an eSIM
Having mobile data from the moment I arrived made travelling around South Korea much easier. I used Airalo throughout this trip for maps, translations, transport and bookings, just as I have in Japan, South Africa and Indonesia.
→ [Airalo]
Having mobile data from the moment I arrived made travelling around South Korea much easier. I used Airalo throughout this trip for maps, translations, transport and bookings, just as I have in Japan, South Africa and Indonesia.
→ [Airalo]
Planning Your Own Andong Trip?
If I had to recommend just three experiences from this itinerary, I'd choose Haeinsa Temple, Hahoe Folk Village, and, if you're visiting at the right time of year, the Andong International Maskdance Festival. Together, they offer a wonderful introduction to South Korea's spiritual heritage, traditional villages and living culture, making Andong one of the most authentic destinations I visited during my trip.
Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting MissWidjaja!
Continue Exploring South Korea 🇰🇷
This article is part of my South Korea travel series, where I share the exact route I followed across the country, along with honest tips, itineraries and experiences to help you plan your own adventure.
Continue your journey:
➡️ Busan 4-Day Itinerary
➡️Busan to Gyeongju Itinerary
➡️ Andong Travel Guide (current article)
➡️ Andong to Seoul Travel Route
➡️ 2-Day Seoul Itinerary
➡️Busan to Gyeongju Itinerary
➡️ Andong Travel Guide (current article)
➡️ Andong to Seoul Travel Route
➡️ 2-Day Seoul Itinerary
Or explore everything in one place on my South Korea Travel Hub.
