Sansawon Brewery & Museum

Gyeonggi-do


If you're partial to a day out at a winery, brewery or distillery, mixed in with a bit of culture amid nature, then a day trip to Sansawon Brewery & Museum could be for you. A producer of traditional Korean alcohol, Sansawon is all about high-quality, chemical-free soju (local vodka) and makgeolli and other rice wines; far removed from the nasty hangovers you can get from convenience-store booze. For ₩2000 you get a sampler and shot glass for unlimited tasting.

Also here is a museum of traditional brewery equipment (but with no information in English). Outside stand rows of ceramic vats containing soju left to age. It's a lovely outdoor area; you might consider packing a picnic lunch and buying a bottle to enjoy on the lawn.

It's worth getting in touch with Sool Company to see if these experts in the field are running tours. Otherwise, take the bus from Dong Seoul terminal (across from Gangbyeon subway on Line 2) to Pocheon (₩6000, 1 hour 10 minutes). From here it's a 10-minute taxi ride for around ₩8000.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Gyeonggi-do attractions

1. Namiseom Island

14.2 MILES

Part of popular TV drama Winter Sonata was set on this island in an artificial lake southwest of Chuncheon. It’s home to rows of majestic redwoods,…

2. Samak-san

19.99 MILES

The highest mountain near Chuncheon, Samak-san offers incredible views of the town and surrounding lakes. The hike up to the peak (645m) can be strenuous…

3. Donggureung

21.99 MILES

The largest and most attractive of the World Heritage–listed royal tombs scattered around Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, Donggureung is the burial place of seven…

4. Bukhansan National Park

22.02 MILES

Granite-peak-studded Bukhansan National Park's sweeping mountaintop vistas, maple leaves, rushing streams and remote temples draw over 5 million hikers…

5. Gongjicheon Sculpture Park

22.24 MILES

Families and teens picnic and sit in the shade of trees in this park dotted with sculptures, some of them hard to fathom. It's a very pleasant diversion…

6. Korean War Memorial

22.34 MILES

The evocative statues at this memorial to the Battle of Chuncheon are shown midaction, holding North Koreans at bay at the opening of the Korean War on 25…

7. Soyang-gang Maiden

22.78 MILES

This 7m-tall bronze statue by the lake is more exciting if you know the famous Korean song mentioning said maiden (the ballad whines on loop by the water).

8. Chuncheon City Hall

23.07 MILES

The landmark Chuncheon City Hall was undergoing a huge reconstruction and rebuilding at the time of writing.