SEOUL | Korean culture has taken the world by storm over the past decade. K-Pop and K-Dramas are popular all over the world, Korean food is becoming known for much more than just Korean Barbecue, and Korean brands are ubiquitous in many of our lives. As you’d expect, this has led to an increase in tourism to Korea. In particular, the capital, Seoul.
Seoul is a large city, and there are a lot of things to do for first-time, and return visitors. The city is relatively affordable compared to other, similar large developed cities, and is full of history and wonder. From traditional to modern architecture, traditional and contemporary food, shopping, natural beauty, and more, Seoul’s diverse neighbourhoods are packed with things to do.
Below, you’ll find a list of the best things to do in Seoul. Let me know if there are any ‘must do’ things that you like doing in Seoul that you think should be on the list.
Admire Traditional Hanok Architecture
Seoul’s unique traditional houses, known as hanoks, are rapidly disappearing from the city as it develops and modernises. Dating back to the 14th century, during the Joseon dynasty, hanoks are noted for their use of natural materials like soil, timber, and rock. They feature distinctive curved, tiled roofs, and wooden beams.
Bukchon Hanok Village is a residential neighbourhood in Seoul that’s popular with visitors for its many restored hanoks. Other areas with great examples of the architecture are Seochon, and Ikseon-dong. The latter is my favourite of the three, filled with lots of great little eateries and bars.
Bring Cash
Most of what you’ll want to do in Seoul can be paid for using Apple Pay or Google Pay, or your physical credit card. If you plan to use the (excellent) public transport system though, you’re out of luck. Seoul has only recently started moving towards accepting card payments for public transport, and at the moment it’s restricted to a few specific local bank cards. If you want to top up your “T-money” public transport card, you’ll need cash.
Check Out The City’s Diverse Neighbourhoods
Seoul is a large, very densely populated city without a true centre as such. Most visitors will base themselves in the city’s historic centre, Jongno-gu, or the adjoining retail and entertainment district of Myeong-dong. They’re both great areas for first-time visitors to the city, but be sure to not restrict yourself to this part of town.
Getting around to other neighbourhoods is quick and easy using the metro system. Four of my favourite parts of Seoul are the upscale, fashionable, retail, dining, and entertainment district of Gangnam (yes, the one from the song); the youthful, creative, artistic former industrial neighbourhood, Seongsu-dong; the student, nightlife area, Hongdae; and the international, expat hub, Itaewon. Each one of these neighbourhoods has a distinct vibe, and is well worth a visit.
Download The Naver Maps App
Google Maps exists in Korea, but it’s not particularly useful. For reasons I won’t bore you with, turn-by-turn navigation is essentially useless. On top of that, since it’s mostly Westerners that use the app, you’ll find Google reviews that appear for food venues in particular, aren’t reflective of what locals think is good, making the even more unhelpful than usual.
Thankfully, there are English versions of the local apps available. Naver and Kakao are the two main Google Maps alternatives in Korea. While the English implementation on both isn’t perfect, Naver is the easier to use of the two for English speakers. You’ll get useful turn-by-turn navigation using the app, and the reviews of food spots are more in line with what locals think is good.
A tip that I found useful was to map all of the places that I wanted to see in a Google Maps list, then when I wanted to visit, to copy the Korean translation of the name into Naver Maps.
See The City From Namsan Mountain
Yes, it’s quite a touristy thing to do, but heading to the top of Namsan Mountain, is well worth doing for a spectacular view of the city. Namsan Park is a beautiful park, and the city’s largest. Many people choose to head further up, to the top of N Seoul Tower, but I think the view that you get from the top of the mountain is all you need, without having to wait in line or pay for the tower.
You can get a cable car to the top of Namsan Mountain, but be warned that the line for this can get quite long. Instead, plan ahead and go for a nice walk up to the top, through the park, or catch one of the regular busses that heads to the peak.
Eat Outdoor Korean Barbeque
There’s a lot more to Korean cuisine than barbeque (more on that in the next section), but there’s a reason why Korean barbeque is so popular around the world. It’s communal, fun, delicious, and accessible. You can mix and match ingredients to suit any taste, from marinated meats like bulgogi and galbi, to vegetables, and assorted banchan (sides) like rice, kimchi, and pickles.
If you want a barbeque experience that’s a bit different from the usual, head to the Ikseon-dong Hanok Village. Here’s you’ll find a large, open outdoor area with blocked-off roads and side-streets, filled with makeshift tables and seats filled with people enjoying barbecue. It’s a great vibe.
Enjoy The Region’s Delicious Cuisine
Korean cuisine traditionally centres around rice, vegetables, and seafood. Banchan (side dishes) are also a key component of many Korean meals. There’s a wide variety of soups (guk), stews (jjigae), noodles dishes (guksu), and desserts. From street food, to unassuming family-run hole in the wall spots, to Micheling starred restaurants and World’s Top 50 listed bars, Seoul has something for everyone, at all price levels.
A few dishes that I recommend you try, and where to try them, are:
- San-nakji is a korean delicacy that consists of long arm octopus, that is served raw. Try it at Hyeongje Yukhoe, inside the Gwangjang Market. The most popular order is nakji tangtangi, which gets you a serve of san-nakji atop yukhoe (beef tartare) and a raw egg yolk. It’s seasoned with sesame seeds, sesame oil, and pine nut powder. You also get a soy-based dipping sauce, a sweet dipping sauce, and light soup
- Established in 1966, Myeongdong Kyoja specialises in dumplings and noodle soup. The four options, all of which you should order, are
- Bibimguksu: Mixed noodles with kimchi and soy sauce
- Kalguksu: Knife-cut noodles with chicken broth
- Mandu: Steamed pork, vegetable, and leek dumplings with sesame oil
- Kongguksu: Cold soy milk noodle soup
- Juk is a savoury rice-based porridge. You might know the Chinese version, congee. A bowl of the signature abalone juk from popular chain, Bonjuk, is a great option. You get a big bowl of creamy abalone juk that’s relatively unseasoned on its own. It’s served with a variety of seasonings and sides so you can customise each mouthful to your liking. There’s also options like braised beef, pine mushrooms, and seafood.
- Traditional Set Lunch: Visit Cheonggukjang Bap, where you can get a hearty, steaming bowl of cheonggukjang (a vegetable, tofu, and fermented soybean stew), vegetable bibimbap (steamed rice with additions to mix in), banchan, and your choice of protein. I opted for a spicy sauced whole-fried mackerel.
- Tteokbokki. There’s a stall at Gwangjang market, unmistakable with a big vat of tteokbokki being stirred in bubbling red sauce. The brilliant, dense, springy, tteokbokki, is served with crunchy radish and shredded turnip. It’s swimming in sweet and moderately spicy gochujang, and is divine. Go for the upgraded version which also contains assorted twigims. Twigims are lightly battered bites, akin to tempura. The version here contains shrimp, gimmari (glass noodle seaweed rolls), and sweet potato. I also highly recommend getting a serve of the saucy, deep-fried sundae (Korean blood sausage).
- Jokbal is a Korean dish of pigs trotters that have been slow cooked with soy sauce and spices. It evolved from braised pork, in Korea’s Pyongan and Hwanghae provinces, and eventually spread across the nation. The meat is super tender, and the fat melts in your mouth. Comvined with the soft, gelatinous skin, its a taste sensation. Paired with bossam (slow cooked pork belly), and enjoyed with pickles (including beondegi- crunchy silkworm pupae) and veg wrapped in perilla and lettuce leaves, it’s next level. A great place to try it is Manjok Oh Huang Jokbal. I visited the original Hongdae location, but they have three other locations around town. The complimentary dumpling soup is too notch, as is the popular Korean cold noodle salad side, bibim guksu.
- Seolleongtang (설렁탕) is a light rice and noodle soup made using ox bones, brisket and other beef cuts. You should try it a hole-in-the-wall, spot, Pungnyeonok Seolleongtang. Seasoning is seasoned at the table by adding salt, and ground black pepper. Everyone gets a serve of Pungnyeonok Seolleongtang’s wonderfully garlicy and spicy kimchi. Be sure to grab the two side options as well – flavour packed slow boiled, thin sliced head meat, and bindae-tteok (fried mung bean pancake).
Head Out To The DMZ
Yes, it’s not in Seoul as a such, but at only 1-1.5 hours drive away depending on traffic, the Korean Demilitarised Zone (“DMZ”) is definitely something that first timers to Korea should do. The DMZ is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula which intersects the 38th parallel north. It was established to serve as a buffer zone between North and South Korea under the provisions of the Korean Armistice Agreement in 1953.
You can do tours that range anywhere from a half day, to a full day. I did a “DMZ Essential Course (Half Day Tour)“, which departed Seoul at 8am, and was back in Seoul by 2pm.
The tour was in English, and the guide, Jenny, was very informative. The tour starts at Imjingak Park, which contains several monuments and memorials, and active reminders of the Korean War and it lasting impact. Things like closed off bridges with bullet holes, ruined rail lines that used to connect to two Koreas, and more. It’s the first place where you can look across barbed-wire fences and see North Korea.
Next, you enter the DMZ proper. After passing through security checkpoints, you can walk through a small museum, before heading down into one of the several infiltration tunnels built by North Korea, as part of a secret invasion plan after the Korean War. At the sealed-off end of the tunnel, you’re a mere 170 metres from the border.
Finally, it’s a short drive to Dora Observatory, where you can use binoculars to see across to North Korea. There’s a small industrial area, and a North Korean ‘propaganda village’ which are quite interesting. It’s a short snack and drinks break after this, before heading back to Seoul.
Go To A Museum
There are over 100 museums in Seoul, ranging from large buildings with extensive permanent collections and exhibits, to tiny, niche spots. Whatever you’re into, you’re sure to find something that appeals.
Established in 1945, The National Museum of Korea is the premier museum of Korean history and art in South Korea. Housed over three floors, the museum focuses on archaeology, history, and art. The left of the museum represents the past, and the right represents the future. Entry is free, but there is a charge for special exhibits.
I’m a big fan of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. This museum opened in 2012, and is also free to visit. It’s dedicated to researching, preserving, and exhibiting the modern and contemporary history of South Korea. Across four permanent exhibition halls, you learn about the period from the late 19th century to the present. I found this museum to give me a lot of context and insight into things that I had only a vague understanding of, prior.
For fans of modern and contemporary art, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art is a must visit. The museum has four locations across Korea – the Seoul location is housed next to, and on, the former Military Defense Security Command building, which is architecturally interesting in its own right. The museum’s permanent exhibition presents the evolution of Korean art from the post-war period to the present. Artworks are presented and connected by them, rather than date, with information plaques that are particularly informative (and in English).
Other museums of interest include the Seoul Arts Center, which focuses on performing arts, contemporary art, plastics, and calligraphy; the Lleum Museum of Art, which contains the private collection of Samsung – mostly traditional and contemporary art; and Daelim Museum. The latter museum studies, analyses, and presents modern art through the lens of photography and holds exhibitions centred around photo media.
Stock Up On Korean Cosmetics
In recent years, Korean skincare and cosmetic products have become a worldwide phenomenon. There’s a focus on natural and organic ingredients, and the country is at the forefront of skincare research and developments. Of course, Korea is the best place in the world to stock up on Korean skincare products.
My recommendation is local chain, Olive Young. It’s Korea’s largest cosmetics, health and beauty product company, with over 1,300 stores. Seemingly everywhere you look in Seoul, there’s an Olive Young store. It’s the best place to find the biggest range of products, for the best prices.
Stroll Along Cheonggyecheon
Cheonggyecheon is a 10.9km stream and public space that runs through the heart of Seoul. An open sewer in the first half of the 20th century, it was concreted over in the 1950s, then converted into an elevated highway in the 1970s. The highway was demolished in 2003, and what followed is considered one of the most successful global urban renewal projects. The stream was restored, biodiversity increased, historic bridges were rebuilt, air quality improved, and traffic on nearby roads actually improved.
Today, Cheonggyecheon is home to native flora and fauna, art installations, spaces to relax, and more. One of my favourite parts is the world’s largest outdoor library, which started out as little outdoor spot in the plaza out the front of Seoul Metropolitan Library. Spanning both sides of a length of Cheonggyecheon, Seoul Outdoor Library contains books in Korean and English. Select one, find a spot, grab a lantern if it’s dark, read, and chill.
Visit A Fresh Produce Market
Seoul has numerous fresh produce markets, offering visitors the opportunity to not just purchase some of the best quality product in town, but to also try cooked meals at the many stalls and humble eateries that dot each market and its surrounds. Three of the most popular and accessible for first-time visitors to Seoul are Namdaemun, Dongdaemun, Gwangjang.
My favourite is Gwangjang, the first permanent market in Korea. Starting life as a small trading market, featuring regional specialities from across Korea, Gwangjang expanded to sell almost everything food-related that you could want. For visitors, the market is most known for its large selection of street food and vendors. There’s a large, open, area, with plenty of smaller areas that branch off it. You can enjoy a variety of delicacies here, including some of my recommendations in the earlier food section of this article. Come hungry, look at where the locals are eating, and be sure to try lots of things.
Wander Through Gyeongbukgung Palace
Established in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace was the first royal palace of Korea’s Joseon dynasty, and remains the largest in the country. Like Korea itself, the palace has been through a lot. Today, 89 of the almost 400 original buildings stand, painstakingly restored during the 1990s and 2000s. By 2045, the plan is for a further 90 of the original buildings to have been rebuilt, just as they originally were.
It’s one of the most significant tourist attractions in Korea, and you should be sure to dedicate at least an hour to allow yourself time to walk through the expansive site, and see all of the buildings, gardens, and grounds.
Watch A Live Baseball Match
Baseball was introduced to Korea by American missionaries in 1905, and has grown to become the most popular professional sport in Korea today. The baseball season runs from March to October, with Seoul-based teams, LG Twins, and Doosan Bears, regularly seeing attendances of over 20,000 to each home game.
The atmosphere at games is electric, with crowds being loud and boisterous, but respectful. There’s lots of singing and chanting, K-pop cheerleaders, and plenty of Korean snacks to eat. It’s a great vibe, regardless of whether or not you’re into baseball.
You can purchase tickets at the stadium, but games sell out fast. There are many services that foreigners can use to buy tickets in advance, however (the official sites only accept Korean cards).