Bongeunsa Temple
Bongeunsa Temple
4.5
7:00 AM - 11:45 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 11:45 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 11:45 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 11:45 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 11:45 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 11:45 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 11:45 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 11:45 PM
About
It’s hard to believe that this large, beautiful Buddhist temple is situated in the middle of a bustling metropolis. It’s impossible not to be moved by the beauty and serenity of this enchanting temple. You can even stay overnight for a fee.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
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How to get there
- Bongeunsa • 4 min walk
- Cheongdam • 9 min walk
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See what travellers are saying
- Caroline CNorth Vancouver, Canada24 contributionsworth a visitDefinitely worth the visit. I walked the peaceful meditation trail, which was the perfect length for reflection without feeling tedious. It offered several peaceful vantage points. I was in and out in about 45 minutes. As a person who speaks no Korean, it was a nice break from the hustle and confusion of Seoul.Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 15 February 2024
- Jeff KPittsburgh, Pennsylvania2,476 contributionsExcellent TempleI was really glad I stopped here. The temple has several buildings and is very colorful. The building at the top is particularly impressive. I got lucky and got to hear their band rehearse. It was very interesting and the people in the band were very welcoming, Recommended.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 April 2024
- TJeinsteinwoodDeal, United Kingdom1,037 contributionsAbsolutely stunningWow what an incredible place! We took the green line subway to stop 219 and walked through the Coex mall to find it. We went to the tourist information building when we arrived and the man volunteering - he didn't have a name badge on - was absolutely incredible! He gave us a map in English and went through it, sharing why certain buildings are important, where to get great photos and lots of stories about being Buddhist. It completely made our visit- without that we wouldn't have appreciated what we were looking at and understood it's importance. The buildings and gardens are absolutely beautiful and very peaceful. We were so lucky to see the cherry blossom out too. A must see when in Seoul. Stunning.Visited April 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 10 April 2024
- Carolina RuchLindesberg, Sweden29 contributionsVery peacefulI loved the place, it gave me an incredible peace being there. For my daughter was interesting too, we walked around, sat for a while and enjoyed the view. We were able to build a castle with stones with a nice old man who was sitting beside us.Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 22 June 2024
- Sophie VParis, France8 contributionsGreat!Beautiful temple right in front of the COEX shopping center! The place is quiet and peaceful with impressive and beautiful statues. There is a small shop at the entrance where you can buy flowers, bottles of water, incense, etc... as offerings to the various gods, including the goddess Kannon. We love it!Visited August 2024Travelled with familyWritten 5 September 2024
- CBI23 contributionsPeaceful and sereneA place full of calm and peaceful energy to recharge. You have to go to the heights on the terrace to feel this energy charged with meditation and prayers. Don't forget to make a wish and put your candles there. In the middle of Gangnam it is really very special!!Visited August 2024Travelled soloWritten 18 September 2024
- Monica CottoneBergamo, Italy5,866 contributionsAncient Buddhist templeBeautiful Buddhist temple in Gangnam, opposite a shopping mall very famous for its library. You can visit freely passing through the buildings, some rebuilt after various wars and fires. You enter passing through large water lily vases, pass under a "roof" of paper lanterns and visit the various buildings. At the end you are tempted by the large open space where another statue of the Buddha stands Absolutely recommended a visitVisited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 October 2024
- Mike GLondon, United Kingdom319 contributionsTemple right in the cityEasy access from Bongeunsa metro and free entry. Drop some money in the donation box. Surrounded by the city the location is part of the charm. Main attraction is giant Buddha. But lots of other temple buildings to look into or go into respectfully Well worth a visit to escape hustle and bustle of the cityVisited September 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 October 2024
- danybambiBagolino, Italy7,805 contributionsTo see...Magnificent Buddhist temple located in Gangnam district, not far from the Coex shopping center. Free admission. Also notable is the large statue of the Buddha. Definitely worth a visit.Visited October 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 26 October 2024
- MikeOrlando, Florida145 contributionsSerene Temple in bustling GangnamThis is a beautifully maintained Korean Buddhist temple. If you like historical or religious sites, this is a must-do! Even though it's located in the busy Gangnam neighborhood, the temple grounds are very quiet and peaceful. I didn't have time to explore everything, but the grounds are big, so I recommend an hour if you want to see it all. This is an active religious facility, so remember to be respectful. A couple of the structures had scaffolding around them, and other reviews mentioned this is a common sight. But it means this place is well cared for. If you're at the Starfield COEX Mall, this is right across the street, so it's convenient. The juxtaposition between traditional and contemporary is quite magical.Visited September 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 16 November 2024
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4.5
1,337 reviews
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Natari
Almaty, Kazakhstan76 contributions
Sept 2024 • Solo
This place is for you if…if you want to drown into peace and spend some time with yourself. I recommend going to this place on your own, as it’s quite sacred and doesn’t require rush. The hidden pearl of this temple is a huge Buddha statue.
By the way, don’t forget to pay a visit to a nice little store with special souvenirs at the entrance of the temple
By the way, don’t forget to pay a visit to a nice little store with special souvenirs at the entrance of the temple
Written 16 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Culinary-Consultants
Ferrara, Italy3,738 contributions
Jan 2020
The first impression when arriving at the train station and getting into the Bongeunsa Temple is one of doubt of a comfortable atmosphere. But to my pleasant surprise, once we entered the premises of the Bongeunsa Temple, everything changed.
At the gate you pay a small fee to enter as historic and cultural attractions in Korea are facilitated with very affordable prices. Then you proceed to enter and on your left and right are the statues of Guarding Warriors, 4 to be precise, 2 on each side and each one has its own significance in the overall spiritual deal at the temple.
Then you continue to enter as you will see a smiling Buddha on your left in the middle of a pond and on the right a simple, minimalist and exquisite cemetery.
Finally you enter another big Pagoda Gate and voila you are in a square with several temple units to visit, front, left, right and on the hill. I do not recommend the ladies, high heels or something like that as there is a lot of antique steps along the way and you may have an unpleasant incident.
Then the choice is yours. Please look at the pictures we uploaded for you and see it for yourselves. Finally you come to a square where there is a giant statue of what appears to be a female Buddha or deity surrounded by hundreds of small figures and statues 1 foot size each = 33+ cmts in height. All exquisitely and tastefully allocated in perfect order on a crescent shaped wall behind the great statue.
This will bring the site tour to an end and from there you can take the steps and cross the street to visit the famous COEX Shopping Mall which can be seen across the street from the Bongeunsa Temple complex.
At the gate you pay a small fee to enter as historic and cultural attractions in Korea are facilitated with very affordable prices. Then you proceed to enter and on your left and right are the statues of Guarding Warriors, 4 to be precise, 2 on each side and each one has its own significance in the overall spiritual deal at the temple.
Then you continue to enter as you will see a smiling Buddha on your left in the middle of a pond and on the right a simple, minimalist and exquisite cemetery.
Finally you enter another big Pagoda Gate and voila you are in a square with several temple units to visit, front, left, right and on the hill. I do not recommend the ladies, high heels or something like that as there is a lot of antique steps along the way and you may have an unpleasant incident.
Then the choice is yours. Please look at the pictures we uploaded for you and see it for yourselves. Finally you come to a square where there is a giant statue of what appears to be a female Buddha or deity surrounded by hundreds of small figures and statues 1 foot size each = 33+ cmts in height. All exquisitely and tastefully allocated in perfect order on a crescent shaped wall behind the great statue.
This will bring the site tour to an end and from there you can take the steps and cross the street to visit the famous COEX Shopping Mall which can be seen across the street from the Bongeunsa Temple complex.
Written 28 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
197gabes
Singapore, Singapore176 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
This beautiful temple located just opposite the Starfield Coex mall. It’s a perfect place to go soak in some zen and leave your worries behind, although it’s located at the heart of the busy Gangnam district, entering the temple and one feels like being taken lightyear away from the city.
The compound is very well kept and there are informative signs posted to help foreigners better appreciate the significance of various items.
Taking a slow walk around the compound and exploring the different temple building architecture and statues of Buddha is a great way to release any tension or stress.
Also it seems that there are events scheduled on site throughout the year, so if happen to visit on days when there is an event scheduled it would definitely take the experience to a whole new level.
The compound is very well kept and there are informative signs posted to help foreigners better appreciate the significance of various items.
Taking a slow walk around the compound and exploring the different temple building architecture and statues of Buddha is a great way to release any tension or stress.
Also it seems that there are events scheduled on site throughout the year, so if happen to visit on days when there is an event scheduled it would definitely take the experience to a whole new level.
Written 17 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
San Jules
Malaysia53 contributions
Mar 2023 • Friends
Very peaceful & spiritual, just the right words for the temple. It is located just walking distant from the COEX. I came on Thursday and it was almost empty, you can just walk around as freely. Interestingly you can find Buddhist ceremony called Jeongdaebulsa which held on the ninth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar! Nearby you can get a lot of souvenirs like mini Buddha statue, prayer beads, Jade etc at nearby store within the temple complex.
Written 5 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MoTravel
19 contributions
Sept 2022
Bongeunsa Temple is a beautiful temple tucked inside of the busy district of Gangnam, so I would recommend anyone visiting the area to check it out! My friend and I signed up online for the "Thursday Templelife Program," a 2-hour program that involves participating in a few different activities. I thought it was a great way to experience the temple.
We received an email with an overview of instructions a day before the reservation, and everything was well organized upon arrival. We participated in a tea ceremony, a guided tour of the temple and its buildings, and copying sutras. All the staff were welcoming and knowledgeable!
We received an email with an overview of instructions a day before the reservation, and everything was well organized upon arrival. We participated in a tea ceremony, a guided tour of the temple and its buildings, and copying sutras. All the staff were welcoming and knowledgeable!
Written 19 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ESKPLosAngeles
Los Angeles, CA42 contributions
Apr 2022
If you're staying in Gangnam, you must go see this gem in the city. In 2019. though I was able to see the temple from my hotel room at Intercontinental Grand Parnas, I didn't go & regretted. When I visited again in April 2022, I visited while I was waiting for my room to be ready. It's a beautiful, inspirational place that I did not expect in the middle of Gangnam. The Temple is across the street from CoEx Mall. The gift shop also had very interesting items at affordable prices, including temple "wears."
Written 27 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah C
Delft, The Netherlands20 contributions
June 2022
I loved coming here when the city started to feel a bit overwhelming. You can sit to mediate or go for a walk. I enjoyed wandering among the serene buildings and walking the peaceful forest path. This is a real hidden gem in the heart of Gangnam and less busy / touristy than other popular temples in Seoul. And it's free to visit! Highly recommend.
Written 28 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
itsprobablyashley
Dubai, United Arab Emirates47 contributions
Dec 2019
I didn't know what I was expecting when the guide handed me a flyer with a map to the temple. We went around slowly and barely took any pictures because we knew they wouldn't do justice to how pretty the place was. All you could hear was mostly silence and the chirping of the birds, and the rustle of leaves, and footsteps full of purpose.
I'd say the exposition leading up to the Buddha statue was perfect - the entire scene caught me completely off-guard and took my breath away. This, I realized, was peace.
I'd say the exposition leading up to the Buddha statue was perfect - the entire scene caught me completely off-guard and took my breath away. This, I realized, was peace.
Written 2 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas M
Des Moines, IA208 contributions
Dec 2019
I loved this place. It was calm and stunning at the same time. I really was taken by Beopwangru, which contains 3300 statues of the "Bodhisvattva of Compassion." I had some pine needle tea at the end of my visit, and then back out into the city....
Written 6 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy S
Belper, UK53 contributions
Aug 2022
Beautiful, serene temple in the heart of the city. I loved the entrance where you are welcomed with hundreds of lotus flower blooms. We had to return to climb the steps to see the Buddha because it was so hot when we went first but I'm so glad we did as it is awe-inspiring.
Written 20 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Has anyone know about the experience during the temple stay? I'm unable to find any blogs or tripadvisor reviews talking about the programme. Thank you.
Written 16 July 2017
Hi there -- you have to email or call the temple directly. I saw the sign when i walked in.
Written 16 July 2017
На метро удобнее всего. Либо ст. Bongeunsa (коричневая линия), либо Samseong (green line, 219, exit 5,6), оттуда идете по направлению к океанариуму COEX, сразу за ним будет храм. Идти минут 10.
Written 3 May 2017
How can we join a temple tour with activities? What time should we be at the temple to join the tour? Do we have to book in advance?
Written 13 October 2015
We didn't experience the temple life/tour so no first hand experience I'm afraid, but their leaflet (picked up in late September 2015) which I have kept suggests 2 possible options:
'Group Templelife' for Koreans or foreign visitors -about 2 hours. You would need to call or email the temple directly. Reservations to be made one week in advance and the fee should be sent 5 days in advance (20,000W per person)
'Thursday Templelife' for foreign visitors from 14.00 to 16.00 every Thursday. You register onsite on the Thursday you wish to participate, at the Foreigners' Information Centre (20,000W per person)
For information, telephone (in English) 82-2-3218-4895 and you should find their website address online too.
Hope this is of help to you.
Written 14 October 2015
Quelle est la station de métro pour visiter ce temple?
Written 5 August 2015
How late are the visiting hours for this temple?
Written 15 July 2015
It does not have a gate that closes. Thought it would be nice to visit after dark but only visited during daylight hours. Gift shop does have hours. But not the temple.
Written 16 July 2015
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