BTS in Seoul: Every Pilgrimage Spot ARMYs Still Visit in 2026 (and What's Closed)

“How far have you been on the Bangtan Tour?” — that question went viral among ARMY a few years back, and the landscape has shifted plenty since. Some places have shut their doors (HYBE INSIGHT museum, Line Friends Itaewon, the HYYH-era abandoned pool), while fresh pop-ups keep appearing. This guide isn’t a recycled 2019 list. It’s a ground-truthed BTS pilgrimage guide for Seoul, updated for 2026 — what’s still open, what’s gone, and a Naver Map button at every stop so you don’t get lost in the backstreets.

BTS Spots in Seoul: What’s Actually Worth Your Time?

The places that matter fall into four buckets. ① The Nonhyeon-dong trio — the trainee-era spots where it all began, ② the HYBE Yongsan building and pop-ups, ③ MV and photobook locations around Seoul, and ④ BT21 merch stores. I’ve tacked on a handful of member- and fandom-connected spots, plus a few day-trip destinations outside Seoul. The table below flags what’s open and what’s closed, so you can skip the dead ends that old guides still send people to.

#	Spot	Type	BTS Connection	Location	Status (2026)
1	Yujeong Sikdang	Eatery	Pre-debut regular diner	Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam	Open (verify before visiting)
2	Old BigHit Building	Pilgrimage	First agency building	Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam	Exterior + fan message wall
3	Hakdong Park	Pilgrimage	Trainee-era hangout park	Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam	Open
4	HYBE HQ (Yongsan)	Pilgrimage	Current agency headquarters	Yongsan	Exterior only (no entry)
5	HYBE INSIGHT	Museum	BTS·HYBE exhibition	Yongsan	Closed (Jan 2023)
6	Laundry Pizza	Photo spot + eatery	LY ‘Her’ photobook	Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam	Open (verify before visiting)
7	Dongjak Bridge	Photo spot	LY teaser (V)	Ichon-dong, Yongsan	Always accessible
8	Dongho Bridge	Photo spot	’I NEED U’ (j-hope)	Oksu-dong, Seongdong	Always accessible
9	Seoul Forest Playground	Photo spot	LY ‘Answer’ (SUGA)	Seongsu-dong, Seongdong	Always accessible
10	Line Friends (Myeongdong·Gangnam·Hongdae)	Merch	BT21 = BTS × Line	Myeongdong·Gangnam·Hongdae	Open
11	Otsu Seiromushi	Eatery	Jin and his brother’s Japanese restaurant	Seokchon, Songpa	Reservation required (verify)
12	RM Forest 1 & 2	Fandom	Fan-created RM memorial forests	Jamsil·Ichon	Always accessible
13	Banpo Hangang Park	Pilgrimage	’BTS Life in Seoul’ video	Banpo, Seocho	Always accessible
14	K-Star Road	Pilgrimage	GangnamDol sculptures	Cheongdam·Apgujeong Rodeo, Gangnam	Always accessible
15	Lotte Star Avenue	Pilgrimage	BTS handprints	Jamsil, Songpa	Open (verify before visiting)

How I picked these: I cross-referenced existing Bangtan Tour lists from Creatrip and Flexi Classes, pulled out the Seoul-area stops, and fact-checked each one for 2026 status. Prices and hours are based on publicly available info — double-check before you go (on-the-ground verification is in progress).

Where BTS Started — The Gangnam Nonhyeon-dong Trio

The real heart of a BTS pilgrimage isn’t a glitzy stage. It’s a tucked-away corner of Gangnam — the pre-debut agency building, the humble diner where they ate every meal, and the neighborhood park where they’d catch their breath between practices. These three are a few minutes’ walk from each other. You can do the whole circuit in half a day, and it’s where you’ll feel the “started from the bottom” story most viscerally.

1. Yujeong Sikdang — The Trainee-Era “BTS Diner”

This is the no-frills home-style restaurant where the members ate nearly every meal during their trainee and rookie days. It’s a few blocks from the old BigHit building, and they’ve told stories on variety shows about shuffling in three times a day. Walk inside now and you’ll know instantly it’s an ARMY pilgrimage stop — the walls are plastered with posters and stickers from fans around the world. The standout dishes are dolsot bibimbap and Jeju black pork. Multiple visitors have reported the owner handing out little freebies (bookmarks, photos) to fans who stop by. Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu (near Dosan-daero 28-gil) · Hours and prices: verify before visiting · Walking distance from Sinsa Station or Hakdong Station 📍 Open in Naver Map

2. The Old BigHit Building — Where Everything Began

The first agency building where BTS trained before debut. From the outside it looks like an unremarkable commercial block, but the walls are covered floor to ceiling with fan messages written in languages from every time zone — the pilgrimage vibe is unmistakable. It’s tucked into a back alley and easy to miss, so punch it into Naver Map before you set out. Yujeong Sikdang and Hakdong Park are both nearby, making this a natural middle stop. (The building now houses regular offices — exterior viewing only, and please keep your voice down.) Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu (near Nonhyeon-dong 10-31) · Exterior only · 5–10 min walk from Yujeong Sikdang 📍 Open in Naver Map

3. Hakdong Park — The Swings Where They Caught Their Breath

During their trainee days, the members are known to have spent downtime at this park, a few blocks from their first dorm. It’s a quiet neighborhood park with swings and benches — the kind of place where you can steal a moment of calm in the middle of hectic Gangnam. Plenty of fans snap photos on the swings and benches the members are said to have sat on. 22 Jamwon-ro 4-gil, Gangnam-gu · Always open · About 10 min walk from Sinsa Station Exit 1 📍 Open in Naver Map

Can You Go Inside the HYBE Building or the BTS Museum?

The HYBE Yongsan headquarters is closed to visitors, and the HYBE INSIGHT museum in its basement shut down on January 15, 2023. When BigHit rebranded as HYBE and moved into this sleek glass building on Hangang-daero in 2021, it became the home base for BTS and the company’s other labels. The building itself is a working office — no fan access — but around member birthdays and debut anniversaries, nearby cafes run cup-sleeve events and small-scale exhibitions, turning the area into a purple-tinted pilgrimage zone.

HYBE INSIGHT used to be the go-to museum for artist exhibitions, but it hasn’t reopened since the closure and there’s been no announcement of plans to do so (as of July 2026). What’s filled the gap: large-scale pop-up exhibitions that appear seasonally at department stores, the HYBE grounds, and other venues around Seoul. The catch — they run short (usually 2–4 weeks) and often require advance reservations. Check Weverse and official channels right before your trip to see what’s on. 42 Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu · Exterior only (no entry) · Near Sinyongsan Station / Yongsan Station 📍 Open in Naver Map

MV & Photobook Locations — Seoul Edition

Seoul spots that became album photobook and music video backdrops. Most are bridges and parks, so they’re accessible year-round — just stay alert around traffic on the bridges.

4. Laundry Pizza — ‘LOVE YOURSELF: Her’ Photobook Backdrop

A laundromat-concept pizza joint near Gangnam Station and Yeoksam. It was already a solid pizza spot before BTS shot their album photobook here — now it’s a full-blown pilgrimage stop. It’s an actual restaurant serving American-style pizza and imported beer, so you can eat here, not just take photos. The potato pizza and mac-and-cheese pizza get named as fan favorites. Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu (near Yeoksam-dong 810-13) · Check hours before visiting · Near Gangnam Station 📍 Open in Naver Map

5. Dongjak Bridge — ‘LOVE YOURSELF’ Teaser (V)

A bridge spanning the Han River that doubles as a frequent K-drama filming location. BTS shot V’s scenes for the LOVE YOURSELF teaser here. It’s a busy bridge with steady foot and vehicle traffic — go early in the day and stay safe. Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu · Always accessible · Near Ichon Station / Dongjak Station 📍 Open in Naver Map

6. Dongho Bridge — ‘I NEED U’ (j-hope)

The bridge where j-hope’s scenes for the ‘I NEED U’ music video were filmed. Like Dongjak Bridge, this is a Han River crossing shared by cars and rail lines. Worth adding if you’re doing a bridge-focused photo-spot crawl. Again — watch for cars. Oksu-dong, Seongdong-gu · Always accessible · Near Oksu Station 📍 Open in Naver Map

7. Seoul Forest Playground — ‘LOVE YOURSELF: Answer’ (SUGA)

The backdrop for SUGA’s shots in the LOVE YOURSELF: Answer photobook. The photobook captures a moody, tunnel-like solitude, but the actual Seoul Forest is a lively city park full of cyclists, strollers, and kids. You can tick off the photo location and then enjoy the park itself — it pairs perfectly with a café crawl through Seongsu-dong. 273 Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu (Seoul Forest) · Always accessible · Near Seoul Forest Station 📍 Open in Naver Map

Where to Buy BT21 Merch — Line Friends Seoul Stores

BT21 is the Line Friends collaboration brand that BTS members personally designed the characters for. Official merch is sold exclusively at Line Friends stores. As of 2026, the Seoul locations still open are Myeongdong (Line Friends Square), Gangnam, Hongdae (L7 Hongdae), and Garosu-gil. A word of warning: the Itaewon flagship store closed in 2020, and it still shows up in old Bangtan Tour blog posts — don’t make the trip based on an outdated guide. Each store has different photo zones and floor layouts, and the Myeongdong location is the most convenient if you’re already doing the Gwanghwamun–Myeongdong tourist circuit. Myeongdong·Gangnam·Hongdae·Garosu-gil · Store hours vary (check before visiting) 📍 Open in Naver Map (Myeongdong)

Member & Fandom-Connected Spots

These aren’t filming locations, but they’re woven into the pilgrimage circuit through their connection to the members or the fandom.

8. Otsu Seiromushi — Jin and His Brother’s Japanese Restaurant

A Japanese home-style (seiromushi) restaurant that Jin opened with his older brother in 2018. It built a reputation for traditional Japanese dishes and stays packed — reservations are basically mandatory. It’s in the Seokchon area of Songpa-gu, which makes it easy to combine with Lotte World and the Jamsil spots. (Double-check operating status and reservation procedures before heading over.) Near 30 Baekjegobun-ro 45-gil, Songpa-gu · Reservation required · Near Seokchon Station / Seokchon Gobun Station 📍 Open in Naver Map

9. RM Forest 1 & 2 — Fan-Created Memorial Forests

Fans organized and funded these forests to mark RM’s birthday, honoring his long-standing advocacy for environmental causes. Forest No. 1 is in Jamsil (Songpa) and No. 2 is in Ichon (Yongsan). They’re not tourist attractions in the traditional sense — more like quiet pockets of urban green space where you can stop by, take a breath, and reflect. No. 1: 65 Hangaram-ro, Songpa-gu / No. 2: Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu · Always accessible 📍 Open in Naver Map

10. Banpo Hangang Park — ‘BTS Life in Seoul’ Video

The Hangang Park featured in Seoul’s official promotional video “BTS Life in Seoul.” This is the quintessential Seoulite’s weekend spot — on a summer evening you get the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, the convenience-store ramyeon ritual by the river, and the whole Seoul-in-a-nutshell experience. Near 40 Sinbanpo-ro 11-gil, Seocho-gu · Always accessible · Near Express Bus Terminal Station / Sinbanpo Station 📍 Open in Naver Map

11. K-Star Road & Lotte Star Avenue

K-Star Road runs along Cheongdam-dong’s luxury shopping stretch (Apgujeong Rodeo Station → Cheongdam Intersection), lined with “GangnamDol” bear sculptures branded for different K-pop groups — part of the fun is hunting down the BTS one among them. Over in Jamsil, Lotte Duty Free’s Star Avenue houses K-pop and K-drama exhibits including BTS handprints, making it a natural add-on to the pilgrimage circuit. Near 407 Apgujeong-ro, Gangnam-gu (Apgujeong Rodeo Station) / Lotte Star Avenue: Olympic-ro, Jamsil, Songpa-gu · Check hours 📍 Open in Naver Map

Outside Seoul — Day Trips Worth the Detour

These aren’t in Seoul, but they’re iconic enough that no Bangtan Tour list feels complete without them. Worth adding if your schedule has breathing room.

• Iryeong Station (Yangju, Gyeonggi) — The abandoned station from the opening shot of “Spring Day,” with V standing on the platform. Close enough to Seoul for a half-day trip.
• Jumunjin Hyangho Beach Bus Stop (Gangneung, Gangwon) — The “You Never Walk Alone” album cover location. It became so popular the local government installed a dedicated photo-zone bus stop.
• Yongin Daejanggeum Park (Yongin, Gyeonggi) — The set for SUGA’s (Agust D) “Daechwita” music video. It’s an open-set historical drama studio — you can go inside and look around.
• Magnet Cafe (Busan) — The café run by Jimin’s father. For when your travels take you to Busan.
• HopeWorld Sculpture (Gwangju) — A commemorative sculpture in j-hope’s hometown of Gwangju.

I’ll cover spots like Iryeong Station and Hyangho Beach in more detail in separate posts.

How to Route Your Seoul BTS Pilgrimage

You don’t need to cram everything into one day. The highest-density half-day loop is the Nonhyeon-dong trio — lunch at Yujeong Sikdang → old BigHit building (5–10 min walk) → Hakdong Park (walking distance). Add Laundry Pizza in Gangnam and you’ve filled the afternoon. For merch, hit Line Friends Myeongdong while you’re doing the Gwanghwamun–Myeongdong sights; if Seongsu-dong is on your itinerary, slot Seoul Forest into your café-hopping day. A few practical pointers:

• Use Naver Map, not Google Maps. The alleyway pilgrimage spots (Yujeong Sikdang, the old BigHit building, Hakdong Park) are either missing or misplaced on Google Maps. Search the names in Korean — that’s what gets you there.
• Watch out for closed spots. The HYBE INSIGHT museum (closed 2023), Line Friends Itaewon (closed 2020), The Min’s Café (shut down), and the HYYH abandoned pool (demolished) — all of these still circulate in old blog posts as if they’re open.
• Check pop-ups in advance. Seasonal pop-ups run short and often require reservations. Check Weverse and official channels right before your trip.
• Be respectful at pilgrimage spots. The old BigHit building, Yujeong Sikdang, and Hakdong Park are part of a real neighborhood where people live and work. Keep the pilgrimage vibe respectful — for the residents and for fellow ARMY.

FAQ

Q. Where should I start my BTS pilgrimage in Seoul? The Nonhyeon-dong trio in Gangnam is the core: Yujeong Sikdang, the old BigHit building, and Hakdong Park are all within walking distance — half a day covers it. BT21 merch is at Line Friends Myeongdong, Gangnam, and Hongdae. The HYBE Yongsan building is exterior viewing only.

Q. Is the HYBE INSIGHT museum still open? No. It closed on January 15, 2023, and as of July 2026 hasn’t reopened. Seasonal pop-up exhibitions have taken its place.

Q. Where can I buy BT21 merch in Seoul? Line Friends Myeongdong (Square), Gangnam, Hongdae (L7 Hongdae), and Garosu-gil stores. The Itaewon flagship closed in 2020 — don’t get sent there by an old guide.

Q. Can I use Google Maps for these spots? Naver Map is significantly more accurate, especially for the alleyway pilgrimage stops. Search the place names in Korean.

Sources

• Creatrip — ‘Bangtan Tour, How Far Have You Been?’ (original benchmark post, 2019) — creatrip.com/en/blog/5178
• Flexi Classes — ‘BTS Seoul Tour: 22 Places ARMYs Must Visit’ (updated 2025) — flexiclasses.com/korean/bts-seoul-tour
• Korea Trip Expert — ‘BTS Pilgrimage Tour: 7 Seoul Spots (2026)’ — koreatripexpert.com/bts-pilgrimage-tour-seoul
• HYBE INSIGHT official closure announcement (2023.1.15) — HYBE INSIGHT Twitter / press release
• Seoul Searching, Trazy, SCMP and other Bangtan Tour guides; individual Naver Place listings for each spot