Paju is one of the easiest places near Seoul to build a K-drama day around locations that are still visitable rather than isolated screenshots from old productions. The Korea Tourism Organization published a dedicated Paju “Drama Road” route linking Byukchoji Gardens, Heyri Art Valley, Yakcheonsa Temple and Provence Village. The four stops work because they offer different moods: a garden set, an art village, a quiet temple and an evening lights district.
This is not a list of every drama ever filmed in Paju. It is a practical one-day route based on an official KTO itinerary, with enough time to actually experience each place.
Morning: Byukchoji Gardens
KTO highlights Byukchoji Gardens as a filming location for Bon Appétit, Your Majesty and notes that productions including Vincenzo and Penthouse 2 also used the gardens. That makes it a useful stop for fans who want a location with multiple drama connections rather than a single one-off scene.
Official KTO information lists seasonal hours, with last entry one hour before closing. In April and from July through October, the listed hours are 09:00–18:00; March and November have shorter schedules, while May–June run later. Winter hours are shorter again. Check the garden’s own site before departure because seasonal events can affect the experience.
The reason to start here is simple: gardens are better in daylight, and arriving earlier gives you more room to walk without watching the clock. If you recognize the pavilion and landscaped water features from dramas, take your photos first and then spend time in the less-famous sections rather than treating the garden like a single set piece.
Fans of Vincenzo can pair this with our Vincenzo filming locations in Seoul guide on a different day.
Lunch and art: Heyri Art Valley
KTO’s route places Heyri around lunchtime. The village has appeared in Would You Marry Me? and Our Beloved Summer, and it was selected as one of Korea’s 100 Must-Visit Tourist Spots for 2025–2026. Unlike a single restaurant or building, Heyri is a creative district with galleries, cafés, museums and workshops, so it still works even if a particular filming business has changed.
That matters for drama tourism. A common mistake is traveling to an exact storefront years after filming and discovering that the tenant or interior has changed. At Heyri, the broader streetscape and artistic setting are the attraction. KTO lists establishment hours as variable, so check any museum or café you specifically want to enter.
Give yourself enough time for lunch and one or two spaces, not every museum. The route is better when Heyri is a real break in the middle of the day rather than a frantic checklist.
Afternoon: Yakcheonsa Temple
Yakcheonsa gives the route a completely different tone. KTO identifies it as a filming location connected to To the Moon, My Liberation Notes and The Fiery Priest 2. The official itinerary lists the temple as open year-round.
Remember that this is an active religious space, not a drama theme park. Dress and behave accordingly, keep voices low around worship areas, and do not block paths while recreating scenes. Filming-location tourism works best when visitors treat the real place with more respect than the fictional scene.
If you are not interested in every drama connection, the temple is still useful as a quiet reset after the more commercial atmosphere of Heyri.
Evening: Provence Village
KTO finishes the route at Provence Village, which is a sensible choice because the area becomes more atmospheric after the lights come on. The official Paju route connects it with My Youth and notes a filming-site marker linked to My Love from the Star. KTO lists the village as open daily from 10:00 to 22:00.
Arriving near dusk gives you both daylight and evening views. This is also the easiest place on the route to slow down for coffee, a bakery stop or casual shopping before heading back toward Seoul.
Can you do the route from Seoul without a car?
KTO describes Paju as accessible by public transportation, but four dispersed stops in one day are substantially easier by car, taxi or a planned tour. Public-transport travelers should be prepared for transfers and may want to cut one stop. A realistic alternative is Byukchoji plus Heyri, or Heyri plus Provence, rather than forcing all four.
If you drive, the official sequence is useful because it avoids randomly bouncing between locations. If you use taxis, keep Korean place names saved in your map app and confirm the next pickup area before leaving each stop.
Make the route work if you do not have a car
Public transport can cover Paju, but the four official stops are spread out enough that a strict all-four itinerary may create more waiting than sightseeing. Before leaving Seoul, save each destination in a Korean map app and compare the travel time between stops, not just the distance from Seoul. If one transfer looks awkward, drop that stop rather than letting the entire day become a transport exercise.
A practical no-car version is to choose two anchors. Byukchoji plus Heyri gives you a garden-and-art day, while Heyri plus Provence is easier if you want cafés and an evening atmosphere. Taxis can be useful for the longest gap, but keep the Korean place name and address ready because English names are not always enough for pickup.
Filming-location etiquette that matters
These are functioning gardens, galleries, cafés, streets and religious spaces—not closed sets. Do not block entrances while recreating a scene, move furniture without permission, or photograph worshippers at the temple. If a business interior has changed since filming, treat that as normal rather than expecting staff to recreate the drama setup.
For photos, first enjoy the location as it exists now, then use a reference image only if it does not disturb other visitors. This approach makes the trip more enjoyable even when the exact filming angle is unavailable.
FAQ
Which dramas were filmed at Byukchoji Gardens?
KTO specifically mentions Bon Appétit, Your Majesty and also notes Vincenzo and Penthouse 2 among productions filmed there.
Is Heyri only worth visiting for drama fans?
No. It is an established art village with galleries, cafés, museums and workshops, and KTO included it among Korea’s 100 Must-Visit Tourist Spots for 2025–2026.
Is Yakcheonsa a set?
No. It is a real temple that has been used as a filming location. Visitors should follow normal temple etiquette.
What is the best order?
The KTO route starts at Byukchoji Gardens in the morning, continues to Heyri, then Yakcheonsa, and finishes at Provence in the evening. That order also makes practical sense for daylight and nighttime atmosphere.
Official source
Checked September 17, 2026. Location details and drama connections are based on the Korea Tourism Organization’s official “Paju Drama Road” feature, published December 3, 2025. Individual businesses and seasonal hours can change, so verify before travel. VISITKOREA: Paju Drama Road