Seoul is a city like no other, with enough stuff to do to keep you occupied for months. I thought I would share the musts of what the city has to offer. Have a look before you go 😀 Here are my personal tips for you to make the most of your experience ; )

Bukhansan National Park

Bukhansan is one of Korea’s 21 National Parks and by far the closest to Seoul. It is the perfect place to indulge in one of the biggest Korean pastimes: HIKING! You can enter from either the west or the east of the park, but I recommend the former as it is a more picturesque walk. There is also a cool hike that leads to a fortress gate that was part of a fortification during the Joseon era.

The Bukchon Hanok Village

The Bukchon Hanok Village is one of my favourite photo spots in Seoul. The traditional hanok houses found here date all the way back to the Joseon Dynasty, and people actually live in them! This picturesque residential area is nestled in the heart of the city between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace, and from atop the hill you can see a background of modern buildings in the distance.

The Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace

When visiting the Gyeongbokgung Palace, don’t miss out on observing the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony or the Gwanghwamun Gate Guard-on-Duty Performance. Either one happens every hour between 10am to 4pm at the Gyeongbokgung Palace, every day except Tuesdays.

Never go hungry again

You should never go hungry in Seoul, especially when there’s plenty of yummy street food everywhere! Some must-try street food in Seoul include tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), hotteok (sweet pancakes), kimbap (seaweed rice rolls) and of course, the classic chicken skewers!

The Cheonggyecheon Stream

Just a short walk from DDP is the Cheonggyecheon Stream. It provides an easily accessible retreat – my favourite one – from the surrounding city. On hot summer days, locals gather under the bridges and dip their feet in the cool water ! It is actually possible to walk and run along the length of the stream, which spans 10.9 kilometres. Along the way, you can make detours to continue visit the city !

DMZ

There are several companies that operate DMZ tours. As much as I despise group tours, you can only visit the DMZ with a tour, as it has restricted civilian access and requires a mandatory military escort. the JSA is the closest point a tourist can get to North Korea. At this spot, you’ll have a chance to physically stand in North Korea itself. This area is occupied by the South Korean and US military, and is complete with a gift shop selling original items from North Korea

Hongdae

Hongdae is a neighborhood very famous for its youthful ambiance and underground culture. It is filled with cafes, galleries, accessory stores, fashion shops, clubs and art markets, making the place very popular hang-out for locals and a fascinating place to walk around! These unique places plus the cultural events, street performances, and festivals held here make Hongdae an area that is always packed with people and excitement ! Go at night and you’ll never want to go leave from the area.

The N-Tower

The tower offers the most beautiful views of the city. The tower’s main attractions include multi-colored digital art projected onto the tower at night, a digital observatory, a roof terrace, the HanCook restaurant, the n.Grill restaurant, and the Haneul (Sky) Restroom. Namsan Seoul Tower’s mountain surroundings on Namsan Mountain.

xoxo,

Coralie.