Note: Episode 20’s house by the beach location has been found! Scroll to the end.
Now that the drama is over, I have updated this entry with the address and directions of the exterior of Heo Jun Jae’s house. It is situated in Myeongdong and within walking distance of the train station. Also, I do have a few readers (who emailed me for the address) already visiting this place and I’m glad that all of you girls enjoy filming location “stalking”!
If there’s any location that I’ve missed out, feel free to share and I’ll add it in!
There’s still one location I’ve yet to find – the first accommodation where Lee Min Ho stayed in Spain. Where Jeon Jihyun appeared in front of him for the first time.
Please check back often as I update this post continuously!
Latest update: Interior Design of HJJ’s house can be found in my other blog post.
View all locations (Korea/Jeju) on Google Maps.
List of Places
Spain
- Barcelona
- Arc de Triomf
- Palau de la Música Catalana (Exterior of Shopping Mall, where HJJ came back with the umbrella aka famous teaser scene)
- Sitges – Parròquia de Sant Bartomeu | Santa Tecla
- CASTELL DE SANTA FLORENTINA (Accommodation @ Castle-looking place)
- Girona
- Piscina Es Cau
- Tossa de mar
- Steps of Sant Marti
- A Coruna
- Laberinto Monte de San Pedro
- Tower of Hercules
- Las Catedrales
- Plaza De Maria Pita
South Korea
- Incheon
- Seonjaedo
- Seoul
- Namsan Tower
- Heojoonjae house (exterior) (8 mins walk upslope from Myeongdong)
- Artmonstay Guesthouse
- Daemyung Vivaldi Park (Ski Resort)
- National Palace Museum of Korea
- Shinsegae Department Store (Myeongdong)
- Pocheon
- Pocheon Art Valley
- Paju
- Red Ginseng Spa (Jimjilbang)
- Donghae
- Mang Sang Beach (where mermaid returned to shore in episode 20)
- Sam Cheok
- Sinnam Beach (episode 20, red lighthouse)
- Gangneung
- Jeongdongjin (episode 20, house by the sea)
- Boseong
- Boseong Green Tea Plantation
- Jeju
- Mint Restaurant, Phoenix Island
- Mazeland
- Yeosu
- Aqua Planet Yeosu
- Hanam
- Starfield Hanam (Shopping Mall where Heo Jun Jae bought the green shoes for Mermaid which was supposedly in Spain)
Palau
- Milky Way (Natural Mud Bath)
Episode 1
[Piscina Es Cau] Natural Saltwater Pool – where Mermaid swam in episode 1.
Note: This is a private pool belonging to apartment Es Cau. In order to visit this pool, you will have to stay with them.
Address: 41.939412790699,3.2167534823395, Carrer Francesc Sabater, 17255 Begur, Province of Girona, Spain
How to get there: https://tourismwithme.com/coastal-path-in-begur-unspoilt-beaches-in-catalonia
Reference: https://www.timeout.cat/girona/ca/que-fer/piscina-es-cau
[MINT RESTAURANT] Phoenix Island, Jeju-do
Address: Glass House 2F, Phoenix Island Resort, 127-2, Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Island, South Korea
Other information: https://mskopino.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/mint-restaurant-jejudo-the-real-deal/
More pictures (Korean): http://yun-blog.tistory.com/805
[Palau de la Música Catalana] Where Heo Junjae came back to the ‘Shopping Mall’ entrance to look for Mermaid holding the umbrella
This location took me so long to search for but I’m glad that I found it!!
So basically the interior of the mall scenes were filmed in Korea @ Starfield Hanam while that exterior scene was filmed in Barcelona.
This scene makes me miss Europe so much.. Barcelona is so pretty with all their architecture!
Exterior Address: C/ Palau de la Música, 4-6, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
[Starfield Hanam] @ Hanam, Gyeonggi-do
Dramas production are seriously not cheap. For this scence, they had to hire so many foreigners and caucasians in this video for it to look like Spain. It kind of got me fooled for quite a while as I did not recall Barcelona having such huge shoping malls. Oh wells. Pretty amazing production team!
Interior of the Shopping Mall Address: 750, Misa-daero, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do
Information Credit: (Korean) http://m.blog.naver.com/0404safetravel/220876229875
Episode 2
[Pocheon Art Valley] Place where Lee Minho lighted up hundreds of sky lanterns for Mermaid
Address: 234, Artvalley-ro, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
경기도 포천시 신북면 아트밸리로 234 (신북면)
Directions: From Cheongnyangni Station Transit Center Bus Stop, take Direct Bus No. 3200 to Pocheon-si Health Center Bus Stop → Cross the street and walk approx. 1 min. to Pocheon-si Health Center Bus Stop bound for the opposite direction → Take Bus No. 87-1 to Cheonjusa Temple Bus Stop → Walk approx. 5 min. to Pocheon Art Valley.
Operating hours: March-October 09:00-22:00 / November-February 09:00-21:00 ※ Closes at 19:00 on Mondays
Admission: Adults 5,000 won / Teenagers 3,000 won / Children 1,500 won
More information about Pocheon Art Valley – http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1770978
Fun Fact: This location was used in “Moon Lovers” and “Hwayugi” as well.
Want to visit this place? Read my review for my day trip to Pocheon Art Valley.
[Castell De Santa Florentin] near Barcelona
If you don’t recall this place, this was the accommodation that they went after Heo Jun Jae rescued mermaid from the shopping mall entrance. It was the accommodation where mermaid played with the light sensor while HJJ was bathing!
Address: Avenida Doctor María Serra, S/N, 08360 Canet de Mar, Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Official Website: http://castelldesantaflorentina.com/
This is an 11th-century medieval castle. The castle has been deemed as “World’s most Beautiful Castle” by Architectural Digest Magazine.
It was also featured in “Game of Thrones” Season 6.
This venue is available for rent for private events like weddings. There was a China celebrity (who was previously based in Singapore), Dai Xiang Yu (previously known as Dai Yang Tian) got married in. The castle is so beautiful
Photos are taken from their official website.
Information Credit: here (Chinese)
[Tossa de mar] – While they were running in Spain
Address: 17320 Tossa de Mar, Province of Girona, Spain
[Arco de Triunfo de Barcelona Arc de Triomf] – The place where she at the 5 euros ice cream
Address: Passeig de Lluís Companys, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
[Steps of Sant Marti]
More photos and similar locations with Games of Thrones – http://www.loveyougirona.com/follow-in-the-footsteps-of-jaime-lannister-and-daenerys-targaryen-the-stunning-locations-where-games-of-thrones-sixth-season-was-filmed/
Address: Església de Sant Martí Sacosta, Pujada de Sant Martí, 7, 17004 Girona, Spain
[Laberinto Monte de San Pedro] – Maze Garden
Address: 15011 A Coruña, Spain
Note: Some maze footages were filmed in Mazeland (Jeju), where fan photos were taken. The above is taken in Spain, while the close-up footages were taken in Jeju.
[Mazeland] – Jeju
More information about Mazeland: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1349264
Address: 2134-47, Bijarim-ro, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do 제주특별자치도 제주시 구좌읍 비자림로 2134-47
[Parròquia de Sant Bartomeu | Santa Tecla] – Cathedral where LMH continued to be a con-artist
Address: Plaça de l’Ajuntament, 20, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain
[Tower of Hercules] – Place where Lee Minho lost his mum
Address: Torre de Hércules, Av. Navarra, s/n, 15002 A Coruña, Spain
Some background information about the tower. Information is from Wikipedia:
The Tower of Hercules is an ancient Roman lighthouse on a peninsula about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 mi) from the centre of A Coruña, Galicia, in north-western Spain. The structure is 55 metres (180 ft) tall and overlooks the North Atlantic coast of Spain. The structure, almost 1900 years old and renovated in 1791, is the oldest Roman lighthouse in use today. The Tower of Hercules is a National Monument of Spain, and since June 27, 2009, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the second tallest lighthouse in Spain.
The Romans who conquered this region of Spain believed it to be, in a figurative sense, the end of the earth, whence its name Finisterra. This region is notorious for shipwrecks, earning it the name Costa da Morte, “Coast of Death”.
[Las Catedrales] – Cliffs where they both jump into the waters
Address: Praia das Catedrais (Augas Santas), Ribadeo, Lugo, Spain
I have a reader of mine who has visited some of the filming locations in Spain! You can take a look at the photos in her album.
Episode 3
[MYEONGDONG, NAMSAN AREA] – HEO JOONJAE HOUSE
[SEONJAEDO ISLAND] – Moses Red Sea parting beach where Mermaid first arrived in South Korea
Address: Seonjae-ri, Yeongheung-myeon, Ongjin-gun, Incheon
인천광역시 옹진군 영흥면 선재로34번길 101
Website: www.seonjaedo.com
Visit Korea website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=1751268
Directions and more information can be found here. This island looks beautiful and I’ve bookmarked it for my next korea trip which I have yet to decide when..
[Aqua Planet] – Aquarium situated in “Building 63”
This is the aquarium that LMH will visit every year on his birthday, hoping to find his mum.
In the drama, it was mentioned that the aquarium was at Buidling 63 but the footages were actually filmed at Yeosu (Southern Coast).
Please do not visit the one at 63 expecting it to look exactly the same. This information had been clarified at VisitKorea’s website and I guess “Building63” was part of an endorsement or product placement? Oh wells..
Address: 61-11, Odongdo-ro, Yeosu-si, Jeollanam-do
Website: www.aquaplanet.co.kr
Episode 4
[Boseong Green Tea Plantation] – Scene where LMH saved Mermaid in ancient days
Address: 763-67, Nokcha-ro, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do
전라남도 보성군 보성읍 녹차로 763-67
Directions: From Boseong Intercity Bus Terminal, take Nongeochon Bus (Boseong-Gunhak) to Daehan Dawon Bus Stop → Walk approx. 6 min to Daehan Dawon.
Operating hours: May-August 09:00-19:00 / September-April 09:00-18:00
Admission: Adults 4,000 won / Teenagers & Children 3,000 won / Infants (Under age 6) Free
Website: http://dhdawon.com/page/main.asp
Information Credit: Visit Korea
Finally found Heo Joon Jae House!
Now that the drama is over, here’s the address and directions to Heo Joon Jae’s house (exterior)!
Address: 48-55 Hoehyeondong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Disclaimer – this address is only an estimate. If you copy and paste the address into google maps and follow the directions, you should be able to see it!

Anyway, this place is accessible like 800m up slope from Myeongdong and yes it does gives you the Namsan Tower view!
This view is kind of nostalgic in Lee Minho’s earlier drama Personal Taste, the exterior of the house was also filmed at a spot where you can see Namsan tower in the background. It was at Anguk area. In case you are keen, you can read here.
Episode 5
[Artmonstay Guesthouse] – Rooftop where they had BBQ and Joonjae gave Mermaid a handphone
Address: 42 Toegye-ro 20na-gil, Jung-gu 04630 Seoul
Guesthouse Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Artmonstay/
Episode 6
[Daemyung Vivaldi Park (Ski Resort)]
Address: 262, Hanchigol-gil, Seo-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do
강원도 홍천군 서면 한치골길 262 (서면)
Website: https://www.daemyungresort.com/daemyung.front.foreign.main.main.ds/dmparse.dm
Visit Korea website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=266845
Book a one-day ski tour from Trazy
Book your Vivaldi Park Ski Trip from Seoul from Klook
Episode 9
[National Palace Museum of Korea] (국립고궁박물관) Place where HJJ visited to see his portrait from xxx years ago.
Address: 12, Hyoja-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 종로구 효자로 12 (세종로)
Directions: Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3), Exit 5. 5 min-walk.
Gwanghwamun Station (Seoul Subway Line 5), Exit 1. 10min-walk.
Official Website: www.gogung.go.kr (Korean)
Visit Korea Website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=268178
Episode 11
[Red Ginseng Spa (Jjimjilbang)] 홍삼스파참숯가마사우나 – Where Mermaid stayed when she ran away from home
*Disclaimer: I have previously identified the location as “Riverland Spa” due to the similarity in clothing (Pink/Grey) shirts and the wooden logs and flooring from the photo below from Riverland spa’s website. However, a reader, Patty, visited the place and realised that it was a wrong location! I’m truly sorry to those who have made the extra effort to visit the place but end up in a disappointment. Please forgive me as I am not residing in Korea and a lot of information that I share is not first-hand information. Hope you can understand my mistakes and I’ll try my best not to make such a mistake again!
******************
Okay, so I did a search on this spa location + the drama name and I found a few blogs with this image below.
Image above retrieved from: http://blog.naver.com/breadmaking/220962119992
Address: 경기도 파주시 탄현면 갈현리 654-7
5 Jangneung-ro, Tanhyeon-myeon, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Directions: From Seoul, Take the train to Geumchon Station and transfer to bus 900.
Official Website: https://hongsamspa.modoo.at/ (Korean)
Visit Korea Website:
I have not visited this location before but I found these blogs with photos that you can ‘verify’ with! The spa clothes are different but the mats are similar!
- (Korean) http://m.blog.naver.com/shiyou1111/220472974573
- (Korean) http://madeathome.blog.me/220931115087
- (Korean) http://blog.naver.com/xodn3919/220944728094
Episode 11
[Shinsegae Department Store (Myeongdong)] Where Mermaid was enjoying the Christmas Lights before HJJ got arrested by the police
Address: 63, Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 서울특별시 중구 소공로 63 (충무로1가)
Directions: Hoehyeon Station, Subway Line 4 (Blue), Exit 7
Official Website: english.shinsegae.com
Visit Korea Website: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SHP/SH_EN_7_2.jsp?cid=273750
Verify this location by watching this beautiful Christmas video they uploaded on their Facebook page!
Episode 20
[Mangsang Beach (망상해변) @ Donghae]
Address: 6270-10, Donghae-daero, Donghae-si, Gangwon-do
강원도 동해시 동해대로 6270-10 (망상동)
Visit Korea Link: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264619
[Simgok-ri, Gangdong-myeon]
Estimated Address: 163 Simgok-ri, Gangdong-myeon, Gangneung, Gangwon-do, South Korea
Disclaimer: I am not 100% certain of this location. Found some korean blogs talking about this scenic road and the photos do look familiar.
Korean Blog Link: Naver Blog
[Sinnam Beach (신남해수욕장) @ Samcheok]
Address: 506-10 Galnam-ri, Wondeok-eup, Samcheog, Gangwon-do, South Korea
신남해수욕장 로드뷰 강원 삼척시 원덕읍 갈남리
I am 99% sure that this is the correct location for the red lighthouse as I have visited this place myself back in 2013!
While watching the drama, I found the red lighthouse really familiar and I was really exactly the same one that I’ve seen before
The photo below belongs to me, extracted from my Eastern Sea exploration back in 2013 post.
We were actually visiting the Haesingdae Park (aka Penis Park) in Samcheok and there was this random red lighthouse in the vicinity.
Okay, I just found out that the house is not filmed at the place with the red lighthouse.
[JEONGDONGJIN, Gangneung]
Address: 491-1 Jeongdongjin-ri Gangdongmyeon Gangneung-si Gangwon-do
강원도 강릉시 강동면 정동진리 491-1
I’m confused but it is at this place called raramuri (which I have no idea what it is). It feels like he is some artsy designer or perhaps the owner of the place? He has some interesting behind the scenes footages in his blog too!
I suppose the walking scenes on the boardwalk were filmed near here as well. I can’t verify further as the Daum/Naver Street view does not capture that view.
There’s a facebook page of this place here: https://www.facebook.com/Raramuri_%EB%9D%BC%EB%9D%BC%EB%AC%B4%EB%A6%AC-569028056501906/
and his website with photos: http://xurykim.blog.me/220920681175
But.. I can’t understand korean and the translation is a little off so SOMEONE HELP ME.
However, I verified it with instagram locations and yes it is the correct place: https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/381413635/raramuri_/
Information Credit: http://m.blog.naver.com/8288likes/220920839545 and http://xurykim.blog.me/
*****
Thank-you so much for this. I find it so difficult to find filming credits on Korean drama. I really want to know where the long sandy beach is, that Lee Min-Ho rides his horse on in the beginning of episode 6. I have seen this beach in many dramas. Also, my husband was happy to find the location of the tea plantation. They should really include these credits for people outside Korea who may want to visit.
Hi there, thanks for your comment! I’ve yet to watch episode 6 so I can’t help you out for now. Will try to watch and update when I’m free! Do check back!
Will do! I’ve looked and looked. I think it may be on Jeju…..
Hi, do you know where LMH’s house near Namsan(I think) is located at?
Hello, Thanks a lot for this location ! Do you know where is Lee MinHo in Legend of the Blue appartement in Seoul next to the Namsam Tower ?
Thanks a lot !
Hi there, I am not sure about this place but I’ll update if I do find out!
do you know the hotel that Lee Minho take a rest and meet Jun Ji-hyun in episode 1?
I have not managed to find the location yet =(
Hi, just want to know where actually the Heo Joon Jae’s house?isn’t Artmonstay guesthouse? If yes then OMG!..because I will stay there next year for holiday. So excited. By the way I love the interior design of Heo Joon Jae’s house at The Legend of Blue Sea drama especially Shim Chung/ Jun ji Hyun room..so special. I love to know and see that house. May I know?or do you have any info about it?
Hey.. oh gosh you’re so lucky for staying there!! However, I think that artmonstay is the place they film the rooftop BBQ scene (in the earlier episodes) but I don’t think the interior design is at the guesthouse. I suppose the interior is likely to be in some studio somewhere..
Hey, I found some pictures of the ID of HJJ’s house but no info on the Shim Chung room. Have updated in a new post – https://www.flyhoneystars.com/2017/01/14/legend-of-the-blue-sea-interior-design/
Do you know what jimjilbang is in ep 11?
Hi there, I haven’t watched episode 11 yet. Do check back at a later date and I hope that I will have the information by then.
Hi there, just updated my entry with jjimjilbang location for episode 11!!
Thank you!
I wonder if you know the exact address of Heo Joon Jae’s house in myeongdong
Hi there, I will reveal the address once the filming is over.
Alternatively, you can email me at flyhoneystars@gmail.com
hi, I’ve read some of the comments and i also am interested in the interior design of Legend of The Blue Sea Hae Joon Jae’s apartment. If you do get any info on the studio/apartment/hotel of that interior design, please post it here. 😀 it’s very inspiring. thank you for the informative post btw, it’s really nice 😀
It is likely to be a studio set but.. base on the popularity of the drama, there might be a change that this set gets displayed after the filming ends? I remember You Who Came From The Stars had an exhibition for the film set too!!
Thank you for your kind comments! Hope to be able to provide more information about the apartment in time to come!
ahhh, is that so.. thank you ^_^ I will be waiting for your updates.
Hi good day.. did you know where is the shooting location where Lee minho was captured by the police? Is that in Lotte mall? Thank you
Thanks for your comment! Just updated the location of your request in my entry! It is at Shinsegae Department Store, Myeongdong Branch.
Thanks a lot for this list, this is great!!! I just started with the drama and had to google if I was correct with my guess about Tossa Del Mar, as I’ve been there once 10 years ago, so it looked familiar, but I wasn’t sure. I was sure about Sitges and Barcelona, as I used to live in Barcelona and go on day trips to Sitges. I’m glad they went to shoot at such beautiful places, it’s really nice there. Man, and last time I was in Barcelona and even Sitges, too, was this year June, so I missed them by 3 months!
ahhh! you’re so lucky to have visited Tossa Del Mar and Sitges before! I’ve only been to Barcelona and Madrid in Spain.. Well, there’s always a next time for a visit to Spain!
Hi.. do you know where’s the location when heo joon jae bring umbrella for covering shim cheong? thank you ^^
Hi there, I can’t be 100% sure about this piece of information but I think the footage is filmed at Girona, Spain. As for the shopping mall footages, it was probably filmed in a mall in korea but I can’t remember the name of the mall.
Hey, I’ve updated the location in my post! The famous scene where HJJ held the umbrella for her outside the ‘shopping mall’ at the end of Episode 1!
Do you know the coffee shop where they filmed ep 14. The one with a bold capital B on the tea cup? Thanks.
i have yet to watch episode 14.. will update when i find out 🙂
I went to Riverside Spa Land last week. You’re right it’s nothing special compared to Silloam Spa and Dragon Hills Spa.
Thanks for reviewing!! I guess I’ll give this place a miss when I visit Korea in a few months time..
Hi, is Riverlang spa easy to find? Is it still worth going just to go through the filming location? Do you have a pic of what the front look like so we can find it?
Hi. Do you know wheres the house in front of the beach in episode 20?
It was so beautiful
Please share it 🙂
Thank you so much
I think I found it. Updated in my post!
Hello! Do you know where is the place in Ep 20 where they were driving pass the ocean road?
Thank you so much!!
I think it is along the coast of samcheok but I’m not 100% certain about it. I’ll update when I do find out.
Thank you so much for these! But I’m wondering where was the scene when Lee Min Ho was driving by the side of the ocean with a huge wave? Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks!
Hi there, I just updated the location in my blog. I can’t be 100% certain about the place but from the photos, it looks like it.
Hi!
Do you know the location of the traffic light where Sim Cheong copied the traffic light man?
Thank you!
Hey, I’m not sure about this location.. sorry!
Oh my God… thanks for ur info. I can make my itinerary for vocation now. God bless u dear…
Glad that you enjoyed the post! Do come back and share your experience if you do visit these places!
Came here only wanting to know where they recorded the last driving scene by the ocean but WoooW This is incredible! Clearly you’ve put so much time and effort into your research! Hope you didn’t lose too much sleep! =P.
Thanks for leaving a comment and I’m glad you found my blog while researching! Yea I did lose a bit of sleep during the research but it is so rewarding when you can confirm that it is the correct place via street view maps~~ hope you get to visit these places soon!
Hi do you know what is the hotel in Mediterranean where leading actors met in episode 1?
Hello, I am unable to find information about the hotel. I only found the pool that mermaid was swimming in when she reached..
a verry beautiful place
I went to Riverside Spa Land and I don’t think it’s the filming location. The place looks so different – the walls were a give away and the boys wore blue! Even the sleeping caves were different and not near the snacks bar. Plus they have this wall of kdramas that filmed there and LOTBS was not listed. Then I found this site that claims that Red Ginseng Spa was the actual filming location however I cannot find actual pictures. So who knows. Anyway the spa itself is a bit rundown and I would not recommend.
Hi Patty, Thank you for informing me about the mistake. I’ve verified the information and I believe you are right. Here are some pictures from Red Ginseng Spa that I’ve found from some korean sites – http://blog.naver.com/xodn3919/220944728094
I will be updating the information in my blog shortly and I would like to apologize for leading you to the wrong place~~
Hello! OMG You are an MVP for looking up Naver Blogs! Thanks for being so dedicated about this. and hey no need to apologize to me, we all come and follow directions at our own risk and I’m really grateful that you put guides like this for us fellow kdrama fans. It takes a lot of work to research, screencap and put together such guide. Komawo!! 🙂
thanks for your kind comments <3 ! I'm just doing it as an hobby cause it's quite exciting to hunt down these filming locations =p
Just so you note, according to the photos, the spa clothes does not look the same in Red Ginseng Spa so probably they switched the clothes for the filming. I guess I was a bit misled by the pink/grey shirt that she wore and the wooden logs.
Yeah they switched it to generic ones cos I think that Spa is high end and that would be such a give away. 🙂
Thank you so much for this. Really. I am a fan of the drama and I am planning a trip to spain just to visit the filing locations. Your blog is so detailed with address and also the scene in the film. Exactly what I needed. Thank you once again. After I visited, I will leave a comment if there is any change.
Thanks for your comment!! You’re really lucky to be visiting Spain~ I’ll love to hear from you when you are back 😀
Just an update. I only have 3 days, so I am only going to Coruna this time (Sep 15-18), want to visit all the 4 places listed in the blog.
For those who are interested, it is actually quite affordable to fly there.
If from Asia, you can take international flights to Amsterdam Schiphol airport or Brussels airport. From there, you can take budget airline Vueling to Santiago (Coruna has its own airport, but there is only internal flights within Spain. Santiago is the closest near by airport which has flights from outside Spain). The flight is about 160 Euro round trip. From Santiago, there is bus (train is very bad in spain, bus is more frequent) to Coruna city centre, it is about 30 mins ride. Same duration if you rent a car and drive yourself.
Of course, if you are already in Spain, there is more direct flights from Madrid or Barcelona. Ryan air (a budget airline in Europe) for example fly from both locations to Coruna directly, and it costs about 70 Euro for a round trip, and duration is 1.5 to 2 hours.
You can use this website to find what flights fly http://www.low-cost-airline-guide.com/
May I know for “Plaza De Maria Pita”, which scene was it in the film that shot there?
Hi there, thanks for your comment! Hope your trip will be a success.
I can’t recall the exact scene for ‘Plaza De Maria Pita’ but if I am not wrong, it was the scene where he gave her a necklace (while trying to con her of her jade bracelet) and the background was that place. Okay I managed to google and found this link – http://koreandramaland.com/listings/atlantico-bar/ and the scene was in episode 1. After your visit, do come back and share you experience!
Thank you so much for the link. I will definitely share when I am back
Hi there,I am back. The trip proves to be really worthwhile, for a fan like me 🙂
My husband and I arrived on Friday evening in La Coruna. Sat, we visited Tower of Hercules, Maze(Laberinto Monte de San Pedro) and Plaza de Maria Pita. Sun, we drove 1.5 hour one way to Las Catedrales (yes, as the address provided in the blog, it is not exactly in the same city as the other 3 locations. and I really respect the filming crew. I mean in the drama we saw them run away from the Tower, then immediately is at the beach cliff. But the actor/actress have to remember what they shot back at the Tower and then get into that mood after the travelling.) Mon, we drove from La Coruna to Santiago De Compostella and visited the famous church there (For those who are Christian, this is a holly place, just like Mecca or Jeruzalem). Then we fly back to Amsterdam.
We were extremely lucky that Sat was a very sunny day and we got very nice view of the Tower and the sea. Oh, the sea is so beautiful there. (it is a pity that I cannot post the photo in the comment). It has a real healing ability, when you look at it.
And 2 things about the tower, 1) you can climb up from the inside of the tower, and get to a viewing platform some 50m high, which was not shown in the drama. There you have unblocked view of the entire ocean. All you see is greenish-blue sea and the sky joint at a far far place. I played the “sound of the ocean” from the OST on the viewing platform and watching that view. It is such a beautiful moment that I will never forget. There is also explanation about the architecture of the tower. The one that we see in the drama is a renovated layer built in 1800. The inside they still have the tower that was built from 2nd century. 2) I found everything that was shot in the drama, except the stones where the name “Heo Joon-Jae” was carved in. I think the film crew made those stones and then removed them after shooting.
And (just like a fan would do) I tried to get the same shot as in the film both at the Tower and close to the sea, and it didn’t worked with Tripod. I think they either used drones, or they have very long arm to hold the camera, so they can get the shots further in the air or further from the sea. Also, I think the drama was filmed at sunset time, because the lighting at morning was too strong.
The maze was about 15 mins drive from the Tower. It goes along the coast and then climb up a mountain. Actually, it is a public park that also has a restaurant, a playground and a museum. However, the maze is a little disappointing. It doesn’t look as green and lively as in the drama (some plant are really quite dead). and a lot of the shrub have overgrown, without trimming for sometime. I guess it is probably because it is September now. But anyway, we still got some interesting photos there. At the maze, you can have a very nice view of the Tower from far. I was also looking for the road where Heo Joon-Jae drove with Mermaid towards the tower and I didn’t find it. I think it is in the maze side of the town, but it must be much further away.
Plaza De Maria Pita is right in the centre of the old town. It is closer to the Tower of Hercules, like 5 mins drive or within walking distance. So if I could re-arranged the order, I may go there first, then Tower of Hercules.
I didn’t prepare my homework well, so when I reach there, I cannot remember from which angle the film was shot (it actually is at the left cornor of the main building). But it is definitely the background where Heo Joon-Jae had meal with Mermaid. All around the square there were many cafes, some open the whole day, some only open for dinner, which is 9pm. Yes, the spainish ate their dinner really late.
We were there around 6+pm on a Sat, so there were a lot of local people, both young and old, some brought their little kids to play. Right next to the square, is the most busy shopping street of the city. Small alley way, old stone building and unique boutique shops. The very typical European feeling. Then next to square, maybe 1 block away, is the harbour where private yachts are parked. It reminds me of Singapore’s Marina Bay. We watched a very beautiful sun-set sitting on the bench along the water.
The drive to Las Catedrales was very interesting. It is most high way (the road quality was very good) and inland, but you really climb up the mountains until you are around clouds. Compare to the 3 places yesterday, Las catedrales seems to be more of a tourists place. They have sign posts all along the high way and at the spot, there are car parks and 1 restaurants built just for the tourists. Otherwise, there really is nothing. Given the distance, it might be better to stay one night there. Right next to the beach, there is a camp site for people who drove with their camper (like we saw some with number plates from Netherlands). Some 5-10 mins drive further, you get to a town with hotels. The area is quite prepared for tourists, but the peak season is from May to Aug.
In the drama, Hae Joon-Jae and Mermaid first run through some maze, then arrive at the cliff. I saw the maze too, except that they are already yellow. Then the cliff was very spectacular. It reminds me of the Cliff at Punakaiki, New Zealand. But to get the same shot as in the drama, you really have to be in the water and from a high point. Therefore I conclude it is drone or some small plane. But I manage to the get the shot where H and Mermaid was standing on this 1 pillar, where they finally jump off. My husband, giving yesterday’s experience, was really quite afraid that I would ask him to jump, just like in the drama 😛 Sunday was cloudy, so the photo doesn’t look as nice, but anyway I am already very happy that Sat was good. The last scene at that area where Hae Joon-Jae lay on the sand, and Mermaid gave him the bracelet then walked into water, was also shot there. But to access the beach, you need to wait until low tide and get special permission. So we didn’t.
On Monday morning, we said good bye to La Coruna city. This place reminds me of San Francisco, Seattle and Hong Kong. A city by the sea and mountains. It is much bigger than I thought, with many flats buildings that are easily more than 10 stories.My husband will definitely remember this place because of parking on slopes with manual car (because of this, I don’t recommend driving). People just park cars on the street, and there are more cars than the parking spaces, sometimes even double parking when there is already a car by the road side. In the end, we used paid car parks and they are like 3 day for 25 Euro. The positive side is there are many eating places along the road. Any time of the day you can walk in and order some Tapas (typical spainish dishes, a bit like Korean’s side dishes). And it is not expansive, like 10 euro, we can have 3 dishes that make 2 person full. Super markets or small convenience stores are on the ground level of many buildings, Gadis is the name you see almost everywhere.
Maybe because this place is really far from the other tourist places, I didn’t meet any Asian tourists the whole 3 days. But it is really a very very beautiful place to see. I am glad that I made this trip.
Oh one last thing, if you are coming, you’d better learn some simple Spanish, like ordering food, and reading road signs. English doesn’t really work here. La Coruna has its own dialets too. So they would use local dialets and Spainish on signs.
Thanks for leaving such a long and thorough comment about your experience. It seems like you really enjoyed the trip and I really hope to visit these places some day too~ You make it sound like such an awesome vacation place!! Sadly, I think it will take a while for me to get there since it is pretty far from me. Not sure if you remember, but some of the maze footages (the one with higher walls) were filmed in mazeland in Jeju and not in Spain. The one in spain was somewhat shorter. If it doesn’t take too much effort, you can email me your photos (flyhoneystars@gmail,com) or send them to me via my facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FollowmyFootsteps9/). I would love to share the images on my blog to other drama fans! Once again, thanks for your detailed experience. It will be very useful when I (or the other readers) do make it there some day.
Hi, thank you for the suggestion. I made an album so you can share. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10159508981725459.1073741831.692715458&type=1&l=14c8791502
Just that my phone died just weeks ago and I didn’t back up all the photos, otherwise I could have shown more about the city. Enjoy.
Thank You! I’ve added the link into my blog post =)
Hey,
Thank you sooooo much for posting this 🙂
Thanks for your comment. Glad that you found the information useful!
thank you so much for all your efforts in finding the locations..great work.
can you find the pub where sim cheong went with tae ho, jo nam do and cha si ah and heo jung jae arrives to take sim cheong? pls search it
Do you know maybe where is this han river park?
From episode 4
Hi there, I believe this is the wonhyo bridge that you’re looking for. You can find more information here: https://koreandramaland.com/listings/wonhyo-bridge/
Such amazing job!
Thank you forever!
Thanks for you kind comment! Glad you found it useful.
Did you find the hotel where lee min ho stayed i Spain where they first met in ep-1
Hi there, I didn’t manage to find that hotel. It might be a private villa or something.
Thank you very much 🩶 Love from Sri lanka