My first time in Seoul was a success! I visited Seoul for 9 days, and I was able to experience this city and its beauty. Seoul is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea, and it is a city that you need to add to your bucket list. The beautiful culture, unique architecture, amazing food, many shopping districts, and incredible nightlife scenes are some of the reasons why you should visit Seoul. The plane ticket to Seoul can be a little pricey, but once you get there, public transportation, food, and housing are a lot cheaper than in other countries like the U.S. or Japan. This vibrant city is also one of the most technologically advanced countries but is filled with rich culture and traditions. I can’t forget to mention that Seoul is also the birthplace of Kpop and K-dramas that we all know and love like BTS, Squid Game, and more. Visiting Seoul felt like a dream come true, and here are my recommendations for places and things you should do when visiting Seoul!
1. Bukchon Hanok Village
Built over 600 years ago, Bukchon Hanok Village is a traditional Korean village in Seoul that is home to over 900 hanoks, or traditional Korean houses. Their unique and stunning architecture is what draws people to visit, and its beauty remains pristine to this day. The village also provides a great picture-worthy spot where you can get a view of the hanoks and downtown Seoul in the background. It is still a residential area to many Koreans, so make sure to be respectful and not enter anyone’s homes when visiting.
There is no fee to enter the village, and you can take a stroll and walk through the neighborhood. There are other activities you can do like visit the Baek In-je House (a museum in the village), book a stay at one of the guesthouses, or wear a hanbok. A hanbok is a beautiful traditional Korean dress, and you can wear it to experience Korean culture. Wearing the hanbok can also grant you free admission to all 5 palaces in Seoul, Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung, and there are many places near the palaces where you can rent a hanbok!
2. Bongeunsa Temple
Bongeunsa Temple is the oldest and most popular temple in Seoul! The temple incorporates traditional designs from its beautiful architecture to the many lanterns sprung all over the temple. There is also a giant Buddha in the courtyard that you can’t miss. The temple has over 1,200 years of history and was the largest temple in Seoul during the Joseon Dynasty.
You can also stay overnight at the Bongeunsa Temple. If you’re looking for a place to self-reflect or experience Buddhist culture, you can book a stay here and engage in the daily activities and programs that they offer. Their temple stay program includes a Buddhist service, meditation, tea ceremony, and more!
3. Starfield Library
The Starfield library has got to be one of the most stunning libraries I’ve ever seen! It is located in the COEX mall and is free to visit. This 2-story library has over 50,000 books, and visitors are welcome to read and relax in any of their sitting areas. If you’re not much of a reader, this library provides plenty of photo spots, and you can also eat, shop, drink, watch a movie at the Megabox Cinema, or go to the COEX aquarium inside of the COEX Mall! Outside of the mall also lies the bronze Gangnam Style statue that commemorates the song that broke the internet (the first YouTube video to hit 1 billion views!)
4. Namsan Seoul Tower
N Seoul Tower is an iconic landmark in South Korea and is the second tallest building in Seoul. The tower offers amazing panoramic views of the entire city. It was also South Korea’s first general wave tower in Korea and still broadcasts signals for FM, KBS, MBC, and other media outlets.
To get to the N Seoul Tower, you can ride the bus or take a cable car in Namsan Mountain. I loved taking the cable car because there are gorgeous views of Namsan Park and the city. The N Seoul Tower has several attractions: N Seoul Tower Observatory, Hanbok Culture Experience Center, love padlocks, Namsan Park, and many restaurants. At the observatory, you can see 360 views of the city and look through the telescopes for a closer look at the city. The Hanbok Culture Experience Center is where you can dress up in a hanbok and take pictures in their designated photo zones. N Seoul Tower also has love padlocks where couples attach their locks with names to the fence as a symbol of their love. Namsan Park is a large park that offers incredible views of Seoul while also having a botanical garden, library, pond, sporting facilities, and hiking trails. Lastly, there are many dining options like the n.Grill, HANCOOK, THE PLACE Dining, Cheiljemyunso, N Burger, N TERRACE, and N Sweet Bar if you’re hungry while you’re there!
5. Roam the streets of Hongdae, Itaewon, and Myeongdong
Hongdae, Itaewon, and Myeongdong are some of the most popular neighborhoods to visit in Seoul. Hongdae is known as a college town since it is home to Hongik University. There are many fun things to do like shop, visit unique cafes, see quirky museums, grab a quick bite, and enjoy the nightlife at bars and clubs.
Itaewon is great for people visiting Seoul and features international restaurants, shops, bars, and clubs. This neighborhood is very diverse with cuisines from Italy, Turkey, Pakistan, the Czech Republic, and more. Not only is it multicultural but it is also LGBTQ friendly, and this neighborhood makes you feel welcomed.
Lastly, Myeongdong is an extremely popular neighborhood and has one of the best shopping experiences in Seoul. It is home to a lot of stores, including skincare and cosmetic shops with over 1,000 Korean Brands. It also has lots of restaurants, cafes, and street food. I stayed at Myeongdong when I visited, and I loved it. The streets of Myeongdong are lined up with street food vendors during the day and at night. This is one of the reasons why I for staying in Myeongdong, and I was a happy girl stuffing myself every day. Some of my favorite food to eat in Myeongdong is the hotteok, Korean fried chicken, egg bread, gimbap, mandu, odeng, tteokbokki, and more. Something you must also do in Seoul is getting chimaek which is the pairing of fried chicken and beer. I tried lots of Korean fried chicken, and my favorite in Myeongdong was Better & Happier Choice Chicken (BHC Chicken) which even Cheon Song Yi, a famous actress, endorses. Another fun activity I did was go to the cat cafe! It is a cat lover’s dream, and I was so happy to play with the cutest cats. If you’re visiting Seoul for the first time, I highly recommend staying in Myeongdong!
6. Han River
Han River is a famous river in South Korea, and there are many activities to do there! It is the perfect place to relax, ride bikes, prepare ramen at the ramen-making machine, ride the river cruise, rent a boat, kayak, flyboard, waterski, wakeboard, camp, have a picnic, swim, light fireworks, fish, see the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, and admire the graffiti art at the Apgujeong graffiti tunnel.
One of my favorite activities was riding a bike along the Han River, and some vendors allow you to rent a bike at an affordable price (3,000-6,000 won per hour or $3-6 USD). There are bike paths along the river where you can cruise and enjoy the majestic views.
Another one of my favorite activities was making instant ramen! After seeing people do this in Korean dramas, I just had to make this a reality when I visited Seoul. There are convenience stores by the Han River where you can cook the ramen that is sold in disposable foil bowls. They have a ramen-making machine that dispenses the perfect amount of water and cooks it for the right amount of time. You can also pair your ramen with a drink from the store or customize your ramen with cheese, sausages, eggs, or any toppings you like. I had such a blast doing this, and whoever made the ramen machine is a genius.
Lastly, I also went on the river cruise which was so much fun to do. It is rated as one of the top tours to do in Seoul. There are different themed cruises you can choose from like the Story Cruise, Han River Tour Cruise, Music Cruise, Fireworks Cruise, Moon Light Cruise, Lunch Cruise, and Dinner Cruise. I chose the Fireworks Cruise because I’ve always loved seeing fireworks, and I was able to book it the same day I was there. The cruises have different paths, but the Fireworks Cruise, Dinner Cruise, and Music Cruise go through the same path to see Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain! The Fountain is the world’s longest bridge fountain that has 380 water jets and stunning multi-colored lights that glow at nighttime. The water jets move to the music and change colors, making it such a beautiful experience to witness. I also had such a fun time enjoying the fireworks from the Fireworks Cruise, and it was the cherry on top of an already amazing experience.
7. Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market
One of the best places to get fresh fish and sashimi in Seoul is at the Noryanjin Fish Market! It is a large, lively, and wet seafood center this is filled with vibrant, fresh fish. it is also one of Korea’s largest seafood markets and is very popular with tourists to visit. First, you choose your seafood from any of the vendors, and then someone will guide you to the restaurant upstairs where you eat the food. The server at the restaurant will ask you how like your fish is cooked (either raw or grilled). Afterward, don’t forget to ask for Maeuntang, a spicy boiling soup made of fish bones from the fish you selected along with vegetables.
Tip: Be aware of sellers trying to raise the prices on you because they generally do if they notice you’re a tourist. Another tip I got from my friend who lives there is to compare prices from different vendors.
When I came here I tried raw shrimp and octopus for the first time, and I enjoyed it a lot! I’m a sucker for shrimp, and raw shrimp was no exception. The octopus was interesting to try as it was still moving when it was served, and if you’re eating it, make sure to swallow quickly because their tentacles can stick to your throat if you’re not careful! I also ate a lot of fresh sashimi that was delicious, and afterward, I had the Maeuntang which was extremely yummy and was a nice ending to our meal!
8. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung is a well-known palace built in 1395 and was the main royal palace during the Joseon dynasty. It is arguably known as the most beautiful place and is the largest of all the palaces in Seoul. If you’re unsure of which palace to go to, I highly recommend going to the Gyeongbokgung Palace!
The buildings and palace grounds are all around beautiful, and they also have the changing of the guards ceremony every hour from 11 am to 3 pm. I highly recommend seeing this because it is such a unique experience that showcases South Korea’s unique culture. They also have free guided tours in English at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3:30 pm. There are a lot of buildings, halls, gates, pavilions, bridges, and museums. Some of my favorites are Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gwanghwamun Gate, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, Heungnyemun Gate, Hyangwonjeong Pavilion, National Folk Museum of Korea, National Palace Museum of Korea, Sinmumun Gate, Yeongjegyo Bridge. Admission for adults is 3,000 won ($3 USD) and 1500 for kids ($1.50 USD), and it is worth every won!
9. Cheonggyecheon
Stretching 10.9 km or 6.9mi, this public green recreation space is in the heart of Seoul. It was built as part of a restoration project, and the city wanted to bring it back to life and enhance the urban environment. It has been said that Cheonggyecheon decreased the temperature by about 3.5 degrees! It is a pedestrian and family-friendly area where you can relax, take a stroll, view local art, and eat at amazing restaurants nearby. I loved hanging out around this area and jumping on the rocks to get from one side to another. It is a great spot to relax along the banks of the stream while staring at the beautiful city architecture.
10. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
Dongdaemun Design Plaza is an urban development landmark in Seoul and is the centerpiece of Korea’s fashion hub, Dongdaemun. This plaza has a distinct neo-futuristic design and was designed to be a cultural hub that allowed Seoul to be known as a design city. This structure stands out with its unique architecture, and there is always something going on in the plaza. They host cultural events, exhibitions, fashion shows, product launches, forums, conferences, street food fairs, craft vendors, and more.
DDP is also free to enter! However, some fees may vary by event and experience programs. The plaza contains different facilities like the Art Hall, the Learning Center, the Design Lab, the Design Market, and the Dongdaemun History and Culture Plaza. The facilities have various exhibition halls, design museums, a media center, seminar rooms, a sky lounge, souvenir shops, and restaurants. I loved seeing the facilities and walking through the Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. It is the perfect place to take pictures, hang out with friends, take a stroll, and grab a bite from their outside vendors.
Have you visited Seoul? If so, what were your favorite places to visit?
