Daejeon, Korea 2026: A Day Trip from Seoul by KTX (Sungsimdang, Hot Springs)
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Here is something most guidebooks leave out. Koreans buy KTX tickets to Daejeon for one bakery.
The place is Sungsimdang, and the queue outside it is a national joke. People arrive at the station, buy boxes of fried bread, and carry them home to Seoul as if they had been abroad. Foreign visitors rarely hear about it, because Daejeon has no palace and no beach. It is a science and government city, which does not sound like a holiday.
But it is only an hour from Seoul, it has an old downtown with real character, and it ends in a hot spring. Here is how I would spend a day, by train and subway only.
Checked on October 31, 2026. Hours and prices come from recent guides and may change. Check the official sites and Naver Map before you go.
How to get to Daejeon from Seoul
KTX is the obvious choice. It takes about an hour from Seoul Station or Yongsan to Daejeon Station, which sits right next to the old downtown. Booking sites list very different prices, so treat the figures above as a rough guide and check Korail for your date.
One thing to watch: some trains stop at Seodaejeon Station instead. That is on another line and not the station you want for this plan. Look for “Daejeon” exactly when booking.
The city has one subway line, Line 1, and it links almost every stop below. T-money works. For directions, use Naver Map or KakaoMap, because Google Maps does not give full directions in Korea. They need mobile data, and a Korea eSIM is the simplest answer.
The plan
Stop 1 and 2: Eunhaeng-dong and Sungsimdang
Leave your bag in a locker at the station and walk west, or ride Line 1 one stop to Jungangno. Ten minutes later you are in Eunhaeng-dong, the old center, with covered shopping lanes and small food stalls.
Sungsimdang’s main store is listed at 15 Daejong-ro 480beon-gil, open daily from 8:00 to 22:00. The thing to order is fried soboro, known in Korean as *twigim soboro*. It is a crumbly peanut topping on a fried bun, sweet and salty, and still warm if you time it right. The smell of hot oil and sugar reaches you before you reach the door. It costs about 1,700 won each, and about 10,000 won for a box of six.
Lines are longest on weekends and holidays. Going on a weekday morning makes a real difference. Also look for the Sungsimdang counters elsewhere in town, including at the station, if you just want a box on the way home. Check on the day which ones are open.
Eat lunch here. Daejeon’s local dish is kalguksu, hand-cut noodle soup, and there are plenty of small shops around the old center. Prices in this part of town are noticeably lower than central Seoul.
Stop 3: Hanbat Arboretum
Take Line 1 west to Government Complex Daejeon and walk about 15 minutes, or take a short taxi. Hanbat Arboretum is one of the largest man-made city arboretums in Korea, split into themed gardens. Entry has been free, but sections close on different days of the week, so check before you plan around it.
It looks best in spring and in the autumn colors, when the ginkgo paths turn yellow. In winter, go for the walk more than the flowers.
Stop 4: Expo Science Park
From the arboretum you can walk across to Expo Science Park, built for the 1993 Daejeon Expo. The Hanbit Tower is the landmark, and the bridge over the river to it looks lovely at dusk. It is a nostalgic place for Koreans who visited as children. An hour is enough unless you have kids who want the science exhibits.
Stop 5: Yuseong Hot Springs
Go back to Line 1 and ride to Yuseong Spa Station. A local guidebook describes Yuseong as the oldest of Korea’s many spa towns. There is an open-air foot bath near the station, free to use when open, and it is a great way to rest your legs after a day of walking. Bring a small towel. Winter or maintenance closures are possible, so have a backup.
For a full soak, many spa hotels sell day tickets. If you have never tried one, read our hot springs guide first, since the etiquette is simple but strict.
Afterwards, Line 1 takes you back to Daejeon Station. Book your return KTX in advance on weekends.
If you have kids
Daejeon O-World combines a zoo and flower gardens in the south of the city, and it opens at 9:30 according to the listing I checked. It is a separate half day, so I would swap it in place of the arboretum and Expo stops. Taxis from the old center are the easiest way there.
What it costs
FAQ
Is Daejeon worth visiting?
For a day, yes, especially if you enjoy food and everyday Korean city life. It is not a major sightseeing city, and that is part of the point. There are very few tourists.
How far is Daejeon from Seoul?
About an hour by KTX. Daejeon sits roughly in the middle of the country, on the main line between Seoul and Busan, so it is an easy stop if you are traveling between the two. See our Seoul to Busan KTX guide.
What is Daejeon famous for?
Sungsimdang bakery, science institutions, the Expo park, and Yuseong Hot Springs.
What should I buy at Sungsimdang?
Fried soboro is the classic. Many people also buy the bakery’s fruit cakes as gifts. Those cakes sell out, so go early if that is what you came for.
Can I do Daejeon without speaking Korean?
Yes. Station signs and the subway are in English, and you can order by pointing at bakery trays. Keep Papago or another translation app handy for restaurants.
The short version
Take a morning KTX to Daejeon, walk to Eunhaeng-dong, queue for fried soboro, eat kalguksu, stroll Hanbat Arboretum and finish with your feet in the Yuseong hot water. That is a very Korean day out, and hardly any foreign visitors do it.
