Check market days and hours first, and the old-town alleys open up in far more dimension.
To really see Gwangju's old town, look past one shop's signature dish and pay attention to when markets run and how the surrounding alleys get used. Yangdong Market, Malbawi Market, and Namgwangju Market each have their own rhythm of goods and daily life, while Daein Market layers an arts project on top of that same market structure. The 1913 Songjeong Station Market, along with Dongmyeong-dong, Yangnim-dong, the Arts Street, and Chungjang 22, are all worth grouping together for how they show old spaces meeting new culture.
This list groups walkable anchor points by district. Market days, regular closures, and evening events vary by location and often don't run continuously, so don't just head somewhere because of its name — check daytime market hours and evening event schedules separately before you go.
