Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam: How to Visit and Try a Short Templestay
Bongeunsa is a working Buddhist temple in the middle of Gangnam, right across the road from COEX, and you can walk in for free any day. Get off at Bongeunsa Station (Line 9, Exit 1) or walk about ten minutes from Samseong Station (Line 2). A casual visit takes 45 to 90 minutes. If you want more than a look around, the temple runs short templestay programs — usually a few hours of temple etiquette, a bowing ceremony, meditation and tea with a monk — plus overnight stays. Programs, dates and fees change, so book or check through the temple's official website before you go.
Why Bongeunsa is worth a stop
Most visitors come to Gangnam for shopping, K-pop agencies or the Starfield Library. Bongeunsa is the opposite: wooden halls, incense, the sound of chanting and a hillside of trees, with glass office towers rising right behind the roofs. That contrast is the main reason people remember it. The temple has a long history (its origins are traced back more than a thousand years), and it remains an active centre of the Jogye Order, Korea's largest Buddhist order, so you will see people praying, not just tourists taking photos.
It also fits neatly into a Gangnam day. You can visit the temple in the morning while it is calm, then cross to COEX for lunch, the aquarium or the library. If you plan that combination, our guide to Starfield Library at COEX and what is nearby covers the mall side.
How to get there
By subway
- Bongeunsa Station, Line 9, Exit 1 – the closest exit; the main gate is a short walk away.
- Samseong Station, Line 2 – walk through or past COEX; around ten minutes.
Line 9 has express and local trains. Bongeunsa Station is a stop on the express service, which makes it easy to reach from Gimpo Airport side or from Sinnonhyeon and Gangnam's west.
Address
531 Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Type "Bongeunsa" (봉은사) into Naver Map or KakaoMap; both work better than Google Maps for walking directions in Korea.
What to see on a self-guided visit
The gates and the main hall
You enter through a series of gates guarded by painted guardian kings, then climb a few steps to the main hall, Daeungjeon. Inside, people bow on cushions in front of the Buddha statues. You may step inside quietly if a ceremony is not taking up the whole floor, but do not stand in the centre doorway, which is traditionally used by monks.
The giant Maitreya Buddha
Further up the slope stands a very tall standing statue of Maitreya, the future Buddha. It is the photo most people take, with the city skyline behind it. Walk clockwise around it if you want to follow local custom.
The sutra hall
Bongeunsa is known for its collection of carved woodblocks of Buddhist scriptures, kept in a dedicated hall. Even if you cannot go inside, the building and its signboard are worth a look.
Lanterns and seasons
In the weeks around Buddha's Birthday (in spring, on the lunar calendar), the courtyard fills with rows of colourful lotus lanterns, and the temple is at its most photogenic, especially after dark. In autumn the trees on the hill turn gold and red, and in winter the grounds are quiet and calm.
What a short templestay at Bongeunsa is like
Templestay is a national programme that lets visitors experience daily life at Korean temples, and Bongeunsa is one of the easiest places to try it because you do not have to leave the city. Program names and details change from year to year, but they generally fall into two types:
Day programs (a few hours)
These are the best choice for first-timers. A typical session includes:
- Temple etiquette – how to greet with palms together (hapjang), how to walk and sit in a temple.
- Bowing practice – a short series of full bows; you go at your own pace, and nobody expects you to do 108.
- Meditation – a guided seated meditation, often only 10 to 20 minutes for beginners.
- Tea with a monk – the part many people enjoy most: a relaxed conversation where you can ask questions about Buddhism or monastic life.
- A craft – sometimes making a lotus lantern or prayer beads.
Some sessions are run in English or with an interpreter and are aimed at foreign visitors. Check the language before booking.
Overnight programs
An overnight stay usually includes an evening ceremony, a simple temple meal, sleeping on a floor mat in a shared room and an early wake-up for the dawn ceremony. If you want to know how a night feels before you commit, read our beginner's guide to a temple stay night in Korea.
How to book
Book through Bongeunsa's official website or the national Templestay website, which lists programs at temples across the country with English information. Popular weekend and holiday sessions can fill up, so reserve a few days ahead. Fees, times and program content are set by the temple and change, so treat any number you see on blogs, including older posts, as a rough guide only.
Etiquette that matters
- Dress modestly: shoulders and knees covered is a safe rule. Templestay participants usually get a loose vest and trousers to wear.
- Take off your shoes before entering any hall and leave them neatly at the door.
- Keep your voice low and do not photograph people while they are praying.
- Do not point your feet at the Buddha statue when you sit.
- At temple meals, take only what you will finish; leaving food is considered wasteful.
Beri, a librarian in POPORO CITY, puts it simply: "Go slower than you think you need to. The temple only opens up when you stop rushing."
Quick tips
- Go early on a weekday morning for the quietest courtyard.
- Wear shoes that slip on and off easily; you will remove them often.
- The temple café and tea spots are a calm place to rest before COEX crowds.
- Bring a little cash if you want to light a candle or buy a lantern tag.
- Check the official site for program language, dates and fees before you set off.
FAQ
Is Bongeunsa free to enter?
Yes, walking around the temple grounds is free. Templestay programs have a separate fee, which you pay when you book.
Do I need to be Buddhist to join a templestay?
No. Programs are open to people of any or no religion. You are only asked to follow the temple's etiquette during the session.
How long should I spend at Bongeunsa?
About an hour for a self-guided visit. A short templestay program usually takes a few hours; an overnight stay covers an evening and the following morning.
Are there programs in English?
Bongeunsa has offered sessions for foreign visitors in English, but schedules change. Confirm the current language and dates on the official website before you book.
What is the best time of year to visit?
Spring around Buddha's Birthday for the lanterns, and autumn for the leaves. Any season works for a templestay.