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Latest update: 8 January 2026
Andong is the cultural heart of South Korea. Centuries-old traditions are still alive here. People dance with wooden masks and still live in traditional houses. But there’s also a modern center full of coffee shops and high-rise buildings.
About Andong, South Korea
Andong is known for its rich cultural heritage. This is where you’ll find Confucian centers – academies where Confucian scholars once studied and debated. This philosophy influenced South Korea for centuries, and in Andong, this tradition remains visible and tangible.
The city is also home to wooden masks used in traditional dances. During the Andong Mask Dance Festival, the over 800-year-old tradition is still performed. And then there’s Andong soju: much stronger than other soju in South Korea, made here locally according to an ancient recipe.
Visiting Hahoe Folk Village
Andong’s main attraction is Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO World Heritage village where, surprisingly, people still live. But I wrote a separate article about that with all the practical info and tips for Hahoe Folk Village.
Wolyeonggyo Bridge: the longest wooden pedestrian bridge
Wolyeonggyo Bridge is the longest wooden pedestrian bridge in South Korea, 387 meters (about 1,270 feet) to be exact. The bridge supposedly resembles a Korean woven shoe. Honestly, I don’t see it. But the story goes that a woman wove shoes from her hair to honor her deceased husband. If you want to experience eternal love yourself, you need to cross the bridge with your loved one. Worth a shot, right?
There’s a photogenic pavilion on the bridge. And you can also admire the bridge from the water, for example, in an automated pedal boat or a boat.
Small tip: go just before dark, so you can take photos in daylight. Then have a bite nearby (see next tip) and come back when the bridge is lit up. It seems like all of Andong has come out to take a walk and take photos here.
Try heotjesabap
Right by the bridge, you’ll find Kkachi Gumeongjip, where you can order heotjesabap. Atmospheric restaurant? Nah. And ordering via a screen (like in so many places in South Korea) doesn’t make it any cozier. But we come for the heotjesabap: it’s a traditional dish of several small bowls with rice, vegetables, and meat. We order one portion for two people, and it’s not enough, but we’re not that upset about it, as we’re not crazy about many of the dishes. So for us, it’s more about the experience than a culinary highlight.
Soju Museum: free and educational
The Soju Museum is free to visit and naturally focuses on Andong soju. It’s much stronger than regular soju (45% alcohol versus 16-20%). At the small museum, you learn everything about the history and production of soju.
Andong soju is made with water, wheat (for the yeast), and sticky rice. When you mix cooked rice with yeast into a paste, let it ferment, then heat it, you get Andong soju.
You need to translate most of the information boards with Google Translate, and some translations are rather uh… strange…
The rest of the museum is about Korean food. You see plastic versions of all kinds of meals, from daily food to festive banquets. There’s also a replica of the buffet from Queen Elizabeth’s 1999 visit to Hahoe Folk Village.
From Andong’s city center, you’re best off taking the bus. And then you arrive at a main road, an industrial area. Not very inspiring, and the museum building doesn’t look very inviting either, but if I understand correctly, this is an old soju distillery, so very fitting. Not pretty, but practical.
Andong Old Market & Culture Street
Andong Old Market isn’t as big as markets in other parts of South Korea, but it has roughly the same selection. You’ll find fresh vegetables, fish, meat, and all kinds of Korean snacks.
Andong Culture Street is the main pedestrian street with shops and restaurants. You also have Andong Food Street and BBQ Rib Street. Most food here is Korean BBQ with ribs – clearly Andong’s specialty.
Tip! There’s often a line at Achaga ice cream shop, even in bad weather. So if it’s quiet, grab your chance! Google Maps location
Coffee & pastries in Andong
In South Korea, you’ll find coffee cafés on every street corner and in between. And with that coffee, you can order all kinds of sweets. In Andong too. Here are a few places I tried for breakfast, lunch, or just a little something in between.
Cafe Life
A coffee bar full of plants with a zen-like atmosphere. It’s nicely spacious, and here and there people are quietly working or watching YouTube videos.
Mammoth Bakery
Mammoth apparently has a good reputation outside Andong too, because everyone takes something home.
There’s almost always a line. If you don’t see a line, grab your moment! We get a pistachio chocolate croissant (delicious!) and a focaccia that has little to do with Italian focaccia, except for the olives. It’s more like a soft roll. But good bread is hard to find in South Korea, so we’re okay with it.
Ark Coffee
Ark Coffee has a beautiful wooden counter that reminds me of an old pharmacy or workshop. The owner prepares the coffee with great care. But then he throws a heap of cinnamon on it, and as far as I’m concerned, the coffee is ruined. In general, it’s smart to indicate throughout South Korea that you don’t want cinnamon, since they’re pretty fond of sprinkling it on.
Tea Time Coffee
Tea Time Coffee is a fully automated café. You order at one machine, grab a cup from another, ice from yet another and then there’s a drinks machine. It feels a bit futuristic, but you pay less than $2 (around €2) for a large drink.
Breakfast at Qqq/Kyukyukyu
We hop in for a quick breakfast fix at Qqq and get a savory roll with filling. My tip: take the one with basil. Perfect if you need to leave early and aren’t very hungry.
Mega Coffee
Mega Coffee is a chain you’ll find throughout South Korea. They serve large portions and big cups for little money. It’s definitely not the best coffee you’ll drink in South Korea, but sometimes convenience counts too.
Café Plan B (at the station)
If you have time to kill at the train station, you can go to Café Plan B. The café opens at 8 am and has a display wall full of action figures that attracts a lot of attention. I don’t recognize a single figure, but it’s a nice distraction while waiting for the train.
Food tips in Andong
Ringo Curry: comfort food
Ringo Curry is perfect for a rainy day: comfort food! When we walk in, we see that other people’s portions are quite large, so we order one curry with shrimp and a kind of croquette. You order at an automatic machine at the entrance, and aprons are also available. It’s not unwise to put one on, I can tell you. 😉
Korean BBQ at Woojeong Charcoal Ribs
There are tons of places in Andong where you can eat Korean BBQ. We choose Woojeong Charcoal Ribs, a restaurant with good reviews on Naver. There’s a line of Koreans outside, and we take that as a good sign. Inside, you write your name on a board, and you’re called when it’s your turn. To be safe, we don’t write Kim on the board, but Patrick. Because in South Korea, chances are that everyone’s last name is Kim haha!
Ordering is a bit difficult because no one speaks English, but with Google Translate and pointing at the menu, we get by. Beef ribs turn out to be the local specialty, and we understand why: the meat is delicious. You can choose from three options (all ₩32,000, about $24/€22):
- Hanwoo Saeng Galbi – Korean beef ribs
- Hanwoo Mineul Galbi – Korean beef garlic ribs
- Hanwoo Yangnyeom Galbi – marinated Korean beef ribs
We sit next to two friendly Korean men who also let us taste their dishes and want to share their soju. They’re fans of the Netherlands, thanks to Guus Hiddink, who coached the South Korean men’s soccer team to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup.
Funny: when we leave, we get a Yakult. Like how you’d get a mint or sweet with the check back home. We encounter this custom in more restaurants in South Korea later.
Stay in Andong: Yam Hotel
We pay $90 (€75) for two nights at the Yam Hotel, and the room is clean. But unfortunately, we’re right above pretty much the only place in Andong that stays open late and where people like to smoke a cigarette outside, half-drunk. So make sure you don’t get that room, and then it’s a fine option because you can walk right into the city center, and bus stops are also within walking distance.
Compare prices on Agoda and Trip.
How to get to Andong?
By train
From Sokcho, Gyeongju, or other cities in South Korea you can easily get to Andong by train. From Gyeongju, the journey takes about 1.5 hours on the ITX train. And from Seoul you’re there in about 2.5 hours. Check train times on Korail’s website.
By bus
Er rijden ook bussen naar Andong vanuit verschillende steden. Dit is vaak goedkoper dan de trein, maar duurt wat langer. Boeken doe je hier.
More South Korea inspiration
Useful links for your South Korea trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com, but compare prices. Trip is often much cheaper in South Korea. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You can book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. You can book ‘free’ walking tours at Freetour and cool food tours at Secret Food Tours.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare your options at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check Expedia, Kiwi and Trip.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Check out your options at Expedia and CheapOair for example.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo. Use the code THISIS8469 for a discount.
- Train and bus. Buy your train tickets directly on the Korail site and intercity buses also directly via this site. Some trips can also be booked on
Klook or via12Go . For local transport in the city, you use a T-Money card.
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