Over the Summer, I took my first ever international trip to Seoul, South Korea. The trip was a really cool experience. There were a lot of things I learned about myself on this trip – mainly, I’m a lot braver than I think. Also, ordering food for yourself in a foreign language for the first time feels extremely embarrassing (everyone was nice to me for trying, which helped. I can only imagine my terrible pronunciation!)
I am taking a stab at travel writing – and my first attempt is to show you some Seoul highlights you won’t want to miss. Seoul is a HUGE city, and there are so many cultural, historical and artsy places that we didn’t even scratch the surface. But, whether this is your first introduction to Seoul – or if you’re actually interested in a trip yourself – these are some of my favorite sites I saw on my trip, or things I’d recommend for anyone visiting the city.
Culture & History
Bukchon Hanok Village
This area was probably my favorite neighborhood in Seoul. It feels like walking back in time compared to the metropolitan high rises that make up the busier parts of the city. Bukchon translates to “northern village”, and hanok are traditional houses. This fully functional, normally traversed neighborhood has preserved the historical architecture of the Joseon dynasty – the last kingdom in Korea.
There is a culture center where you can walk through a hanok, and a mini museum inside that explains the history. But other than this museum, the neighborhood is still a normal, lived-in neighborhood. Travellers are advised to be respectful of the traffic and the noise level, but you are welcome to roam through the hills and streets to see more of the hanok architecture and take in some views of the city.
I would also recommend coming here to eat or stop in at a cafe. There are tons of restaurants nearby (funny enough, this is where my friend and I ate at an Italian restaurant with some weirdly good pizza,) and several shops along the way as well.
The hanok village is a great mixture of past and present, and it’s meant to meander through and enjoy. I stopped into a storefront of an artist who sells prints and puzzles of views around this neighborhood. There was one certain view of one of the side streets that was the coolest in the city (in my opinion) – the traditional architecture was the focus, but Namsan Tower (another icon of Seoul that was right next to where we stayed,) was in the background. I liked the print so much that I bought it as a memento of my trip.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Another one of my favorites, visiting the Gyeongbokgung grounds was literally like stepping back in time. This was one of the first things we did on our trip, and some of the views still don’t feel real.
The palace was built in 1395, and despite fires and natural decay, it has stood the test of time. The grounds are HUGE – I don’t think we even explored them all because it was so hot (going to Korea in June is NOT for the feint of heart… or humidity averse!) Take your time to see the whole grounds, but also explore the green spaces over behind the outer pavilions. There are beautiful views, and several places to sit and take in the scenery in the shade.
Operating hours depend on the season, but the palace is open every day except for Tuesdays. There are changing of the guard ceremonies that take place twice a day outside the entrance, (if you are inside, you can still go out to view – just make sure to get your ticket stamped by an attendant before you go out the gate!) and tours are provided in a couple of languages (English & Chinese for certain,) during different points of the day.
A cool feature of the palace, (along with several of the other traditional sites in Seoul,) is that people will rent traditional Korean clothes, called hanbok, to wear! If that is something that interests you, I know there are shops close to the palace and the hanok village. You can probably see some in the background of these photos!
Gwanghwamun Square
Only a few blocks away from the Bukchon village, and directly outside the entrance of Gyeongbokgung Place is Gwanghwamun Square. This square houses statues and mini-museums, celebrating key figures in Korea’s history. There are picturesque views with the mountains in the background, and you are right next to the entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Another cool feature of this area is that it’s a part of ‘Embassy Row’! The US Embassy is right next to the statue of King Sejong. There are a lot of cool things close to this area, including several museums and a performing arts center.
Cheonggyecheon Stream
To relax, take a stroll, or just take in the scenery, spend some time at this lengthy stream and walkway right through the middle of the city. If you go during the hot months, you can dip your hands in the stream to cool off, or find a spot in the shade under one of the many bridges across the stream.
I would recommend visiting this area in the evening. We didn’t do this, but I have seen so many cool videos and pictures of people visiting at night.
Pro Tip: grab a drink or an ice cream at a convenience store close by, and then hunker down and people watch by the water!
Tourist Sites
N. Seoul Tower & Namsan Park
Like a north star anywhere you go in Seoul, N. Seoul Tower is probably the #1 tourist attraction in the city – and for good reason! This plaza and tower give you 360 views of Seoul, and they are gorgeous! We went later in the day, and I think seeing Seoul lit in a golden-hour glow was incredible – I’d recommend going later and waiting for that sunset glow to explore.
You can pay to go in the tower for additional views, but it’s not necessary to soak up the sites. There are also places to grab snacks and ice cream up top, as well as a gift shop, and vending machines to buy locks, because ‘lovers locks’ are clamped across all the fencing and gates around the park.
To get up to the summit, I recommend taking the cable car with a round-trip ticket. You CAN walk up to the top, but this is a literal mountain you’d be climbing, and it’s a straight stair-climb to the top. However, the scenery around this area was pretty, so if you want to explore that too, you could always get a one-way ticket and walk back down to the base.
Namsan Park is situated more around the base of the mountain, but includes N. Seoul Tower & the plaza surrounding it. If you want your nature fix in the middle of the bustling city, this is the place to explore! There are several festivals held during the year, and if you want to visit during Cherry Blossom Season, this is an iconic place to come and view the blooms.
Walk Around Shinsegae & Lotte Department Stores
If you want your shopping fix…well, EVERYWHERE in Seoul can help you quench it. However, these two department stores in the middle of Myeongdong, (and literal streets away from the exit to the N. Seoul Tower cable car station,) are a great place to start.
Both are full of luxury designers, mid-tier brands we know and love, Korean streetwear, K-Pop shops and levels of Duty-Free stores. I loved walking around Korean bookstores, just because it was neat to see some of my favorites books printed in another language. But, my favorite part was the food court in the basement of the Lotte Department store – if you come hungry, you can sample everything from traditional Korean fare to udon, burgers, macarons, and much more!
Myeongdong Street Market
While you don’t necessarily have to come to this specific market, (there are plenty of street markets that might have more options to choose from,) the street market in Myeongdong was a fun stop.
As the lights go down, tons of vendors will pull up carts with everything from Korean corndogs to japchae, various meats, mandu and desserts lining the streets. You can walk through and sample all kinds of things – or grab a snack after eating dinner and shopping nearby.
Seoul really just gets a brand new personality at night, and markets and pop ups like this allow you to see people gathering, hanging out, and eating – which is a fun part of Korean culture!
Take a Break
These are a few things we did that I didn’t expect to do, but REALLY enjoyed. Besides grabbing food or coffee, these are also items that are either free, or can be done with no planning required.
Walk Along the Han River
The Han River stretches right through the middle of Seoul, and there are so many parks and walkways that are built up right against it. The first day we were in Seoul, one of the first things we did was walk along the Han – and when I tell you these paths are so safe and so manicured – they are a dream! Complete with benches, parks, rec courts and bathrooms (easy to find in Seoul, mainly thanks to the subway system and these open park areas.)
There are so many good places to stroll and take in the sites, and get away from the crowds if you need a break from feeling like you’re in the heart of the city. Just open a map and try to find the river, and I’m sure you’ll stumble across a green space or a walkway to enjoy for as long as you need a break.
Seoul Forest
Seoul Forest is essentially the Seoul equivalent of Central Park. It’s lush, big, and complete with several different areas for walking, relaxing, or working out. It was so beautiful – with pathways of lush greens, vibrant flowers, and statues and art pieces to peruse as you walked.
There are maps located all around to guide you – there is a tulip field I was hunting for that is an iconic photo spot, but since we were exploring on a 94 degree day, I was happy to retire after a mile loop around the park.
I can only imagine how long I would’ve explored if it had been a cooler day (maybe go adventure around in the fall / spring and report back to me if you do.) If you need your flower fix – this is the place to explore! (I’ll also add that the Forest is right next to SM Entertainment, one of the leading K-Pop companies. So, if you want to stop in the lobby or visit the company store, you could do that while you’re in the area.)
Got to a Convenience Store for Snacks, Coffee or Ramen
Convenience stores are a fun staple in Korea. You’ll most likely find 3 on any street – and all of them are equipped with fun snacks, coffees, unique drinks, and ramen that you can make right there in store.
While you can do this in the states, it doesn’t feel, uh, clean or fun all the time? But in Korea, there are so many neat options and you don’t feel sketchy going into the convenience store because it’s so accessible and routine.
Visit a Cafe
Speaking of coffee, the best way to take a break in Seoul – especially if you are a coffee or matcha fan – is to go to a cafe. Similar to convenience stores, you’re going to see cafes everywhere. Sure, you can hunt down a specific one if there is an aesthetic that fits your vibe or something, but other than a Harry Potter themed cafe we wanted to find, all the cafes we went to were just because we walked by them and decided to go in.
My favorite was probably the cafe right next to our hotel in Myeongdong called the Spot Fabulous – the interior was all dark wood, with large windows all along the back wall and a coffee bar as the centerpiece to the lounge area. It was gorgeous – but the desserts were delicious and unique. I got a matcha and red bean cheesecake to go with my iced Americano – it was a great treat for a hot day.
Cafes will all have fun treats to try and unique drinks – or your typical americano and matcha latte. After going in the summer, I understand the love for Iced Americanos in Korea – I probably drank 5 on my trip, and I can guarantee I wouldn’t order that here. But for a caffeine boost to beat the heat, or to pair with a rich desert, it was worth it!
In Summary…
While this list couldn’t possibly cover the vast array of cool sites in Seoul, I think it encapsulates what I’d recommend to any friend based off of my experience. Seoul is such a large city with so many options – the best thing is, in my opinion, you really can’t go wrong (especially where food or shopping is concerned.)
If you have any questions, or think there’s a site I missed, please leave a comment as an addendum for my list of must do’s!
안녕히 가세요! | (Goodbye for now!)
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