10 Best Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea. Seoul is an incredible city to visit, rich in both ancient and modern history and culture, and packed full of things to do. However, it is a large city so it can be a bit overwhelming for first-timers. Read on for my 10 favourite things to do when visiting Seoul, the capital city of South Korea.
Top Tip: For a bit of luxury, book a private airport transfer with Welcome Pickups to make your arrival in Seoul as smooth and easy as possible.
1) Dress in a traditional Hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace
If you only do one thing when visiting Seoul, make it Gyeongbokgung Palace. You won’t be disappointed! The palace complex is absolutely stunning, with beautifully refurbished buildings dating back to the 14th century. Visitors are encouraged to hire traditional Korean dress to wear, meaning that they become part of the attraction. You can visit independently or book a guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace here.
2) Visit Bukchon Hanok Historical Village
This traditional Korean neighbourhood is home to old-style hanok, which are historical wooden houses. You’ll get a sense of what Korean life used to be like before all the high-rises. Note that people still live in this neighbourhood so please be respectful. The famous street with views over the rooftops is called Bukchon-ro 11ga-gil.
3) Sample Korean Delicacies on a Korean Food Tour
The food is Seoul is absolutely amazing, but it can be hard to try everything if you don’t know where to go. I highly recommend booking a Korean food tour so that you can try as many yummy dishes as possible. Also, it’s much easier to experience Korean BBQ as part of a group, as some restaurants will not allow solo diners (although apparently this is slowly changing).
4) Learn About Korean Modern History and People Watch in Tapgol Park
Tapgol Park, although small, is a great place to visit if you want to get a feel for Korean history, with ancient and modern combined in one place. This park was the site where the March 1 1919 Independence Movement began. There is the beautiful painted Palgakjeong Pavilion, and also statues of independence activist Son Byeong-hee and the poet Han Yong-un. For these reasons, Tapgol Park has become a symbol of resistance against the Japanese occupation of Korea.
5) Embrace Seoul’s Cafe Culture with a Good Book
I’m a firm believer that travel, even city travel, does not need to be all go go go. Sometimes it’s a treat to just sit and soak up the atmosphere as the city buzzes around you. Seoul is perfect for this as they have a really strong cafe culture. What’s more, they have a very established literary tradition, and more and more Korean books are being translated into English. On top of that, there are some amazing works written by the large Korean diaspora overseas. I can really recommend Pachinko, an epic historical novel (written in English by Korean-American author Min Jin Lee) which deals with the theme of Korean identity and the treatment of Korean immigrants in Japan. Read my full book review here.
6) Visit Starfield Library in COEX Mall
Continuing with the literary theme, you really must give Starfield Library a visit. A massive indoor library built right in the middle of a busy shopping mall, Starfield Library is as Korean as it gets! Having a library in such a busy place may sound odd, but trust me, it works. I really enjoyed my visit there and it was more peaceful than I expected. The towering shelves and escalators make a great photo opportunity too. Read my more detailed post here.
7) Eat Street Food at Myeongdong Night Market
Myeongdong Night Market is such a vibe. There you can find all sorts of foods imaginable – you won’t go hungry! There’s something for everyone, from baked cheese to friend chicken, squid snacks to flame-torched marshmallows. The area is surrounded by shops that pump out music until late at night, so this is also a good place for souvenir shopping. You can pick up K-Pop merch, cute keyrings and sunglasses for your dog. To get to Myeongdong Night Market take the subway to Euljiro 1-ga Station (Exits 5–7) or Myeongdong Station (Exits 5–8). Remember to bring cash.
8) Enjoy the Nightlife in Hongdae
The Hongdae neighbourhood is known for being fun and creative with good nightlife, due to the influence of students from Hongik University. Admire street art as you wander through streets with photobooth shops on every corner, while music pumps out of late night shops and bars. Seoul is definitely a nighttime city, and really comes to life in the evenings.
9) Visit a traditional Korean sauna: jjimjilbang
Neighbouring Japan may be famous for its Onsen baths, but South Korea also has an amazing sauna and bathing culture. This is especially great if you visit during the winter – which can be very cold! A jjimjilbang is basically a bathhouse with hot and cold baths and saunas. But it’s also a social affair – people will go there just to hang out. Usually jimjilbang have separate areas for men and women. Considering that South Korea is famous for its K-Beauty, a jjimjilbang is the perfect way to dip your toe into Korean pampering.
10) Take a day trip to the DMZ
If you have time, then a trip to one of the world’s most famous borders – the border between North and South Korea – makes a very memorable day trip. The strip of land cutting across the Korean peninsula acting as a border between North and South Korea is known as the DMZ (the Demilitarized Zone). This is best visited as part of a guided tour, so that you can learn about the historical significance of what you are seeing. Notable landmarks include the Bridge of Freedom, the Mangbaedan Altar and the Third Invasion Tunnel. Book a full-day group tour to the DMZ here.
Practical Guidance for Seoul, South Korea
Hopefully you have found this guide on 10 Best Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea useful. I have also included some practical guidance below so that you can get the boring stuff sorted and make the most of your trip!
Read my other posts about South Korea here.
Read my recommendations for books set in South Korea here.
Where to Stay in Seoul?
In order to make the most of your trip I recommend picking a central district of Seoul that has some attractions in it so that you minimise travel time (see transport in Seoul below). Some good areas are:
- Hongdae (this is where I stayed and it’s a very cool neighbourhood)
- Myeongdong (good for shopping and near Gyeongbokgung Palace)
- Gangnam (a luxury area and near Starfield Library)
- Itaewon (near lots of good restaurants and cafes)
- Insadong (another good area for culture)
Transport in Seoul
Seoul is a very easy city to get around. I highly recommend using the metro / subway system as it’s clean and efficient. Most of the signs are in both Korean and English. The metro runs from 5:30am until midnight. You’re best off buying a transportation card that you can then top up as much as you need. Note that you will need physical cash (Korean Won). I purchased mine at the airport subway station before getting the train into the city. It is also possible to buy single journey tickets but this will end up more expensive and time consuming.
Withdrawing Cash in Seoul in Korean Won (KRW)
To withdraw cash at the best rates, I highly recommend getting a WISE card before you go. This allows you to convert money into Korean Won (or any other currency!) at the best rates and then withdraw cash in Korea without hidden fees. Wise is a UK-based financial services company (available in most countries worldwide) and is highly regulated in the various regions it operates in (in the UK it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority).
Get your WISE card here.
Travel Insurance
Make sure that you have travel insurance to cover you for your trip. I can highly recommend Heymondo. I use them to cover me for all my trips and their app is very easy to use.
Purchase Heymondo travel insurance here.
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