2024 Seoul Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in November)
With its cutting-edge coolness and deep-rooted traditions, South Korea’s capital Seoul rivals other major Asian cities in culture, innovation, and as being one of the top tourist destinations in the region.Situated in the northwest of South Korea, Seoul developed into a megacity on the banks of the Han River. As the largest city in the country, it is also one of East Asia's most important cultural and financial centers. The capital has a population of nearly 10 million people that provides the workforce for the 17th richest cities in the world by GDP (in 2020). There are 25 districts where Jung-gu is the central district, Seocho-gu is ranked as the second richest district in South Korea, and Gangnam-gu is known for its concentrated wealth and very high standard of living.While today Seoul is the cultural, economic, and political center of South Korea, it had been the capital of Korea from 1394 until the formal division of the country into North (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and South Korea (the Republic of Korea) in 1948. In fact, the name Seoul means “capital” in the Korean language. The size of the capital has expanded dramatically in recent decades, now the northwestern edge lies only about 40 km (25 miles) from the demilitarized zone that divides North and South Korea.There are so many first-rate scenic spots on offer in Seoul and it is impossible to see them all if you only have a few days. Attractions in the city have a perfect mix of modern and ancient, tranquil and vibrant, well suited for tourists of all ages. Make sure you admire the amazing architectural design of the Gyeongbokgung Palace, chill out at the Cheonggyecheon stream, get dressed up in traditional clothing at Bukchon Hanok Village, and sample everything in Dongjin Market. And when you want to escape all the urban hustle and bustle, you can have a relaxing picnic at Hangang Park, take a stroll in the Seoul forest, and breathe the fresh air in Haneul Park.Visitors flying into Seoul have the luxury of choosing from two international airports, Incheon International Airport and Gimpo International Airport. Both airports are linked to downtown by the AREX trains which only take 40-60 minutes to reach Seoul Station in the city center. The fast and affordable Seoul Metro system has 10 lines, all with user-friendly multilingual signs making navigating the city easy for tourists.
Today's Weather
Intermittent clouds 6-18℃
Popular Attractions
Namsan Mountain Park
N Seoul Tower
Everland
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Myeong-dong
Hot Spots in Myeong-dong for Foreigners
Many foreign tourists visit Myeong-dong for shopping! Recently, a popular spot in Myeong-dong is the Butter Shop, which has many cute and charming items.
It is a great place to find souvenirs or gifts, with reasonable prices that make it highly recommended.
📌 Location: 1st Floor, Taeheung Building, 55 Myeong-dong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
⏰️ Hours: 10 AM - 11 PM
Come to Seoul Forest and enjoy an art experience that refreshes all five senses!
Sumsei Terrarium (섬세이테라리움) is located on the busiest street of Seoul Forest. This five-story art experience space is meticulously crafted by the famous Korean creative brand 'SUMSEI (섬세이)'.
Each floor combines different natural elements to create a unique sensory atmosphere, allowing visitors to reawaken their perception of the world through these sensory experiences. From stones, sand, air, trees, water, to light, each element brings different sensory stimuli, enabling us to let go of our preconceived notions and rediscover the charm of nature. Among the many experiences, my favorite is the 'Black Out' experience on the first floor. Here, we are required to let go of our usual senses and explore in the dark, which is both a bit scary and thrilling. After visiting all the floors, you can head to the rest area on the fourth floor to redeem a cup of tea and some snacks.
Throughout the experience, as there are not many people, you can leisurely take in every detail and slowly take photos to document everything. I highly recommend this place to everyone. If you want to enjoy a unique sensory journey, this place is definitely not to be missed.
You need to make an online reservation in advance (reservations open 7 days prior), so plan your time accordingly. Online reservations are made through a Google form. Once your reservation is successful, a staff member will confirm via email. Payment is made on-site.
////////////////////////// Store Information ///////////////////////////
Sumsei Terrarium (섬세이테라리움)
@sumseiofficial
📍 Address: 44-1 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
⏰ Business Hours: Tue-Fri 12:00 - 21:30; Sat-Sun 11:00 - 21:30 (Closed on Mondays)
🚇 Seoul Forest Station or Ttukseom Station
The most famous hanok village in Seoul
Bukchon hanok Village is in iconic historical site in Seoul. It is basically a district made of traditional Korean houses. The place is pretty big, and you can easily stroll for a few solid hours there. Area is spotted with restaurants and traditional tea houses to rest after a long long stroll.
Just remember that this is residential area and people live there, so please be respectful and quiet.
This area may get extremely crowded, so it's better to Get there in the morning. And this is one of the most famous spots to take pictures in traditional handbook dress in Seoul.
#travelgram #100waysoftravel #southkorea #seoul
Extremely Instagramable Buddhist Temple in Downtown of Seoul
Jogyesa Buddhist Temple is extremely vibrant and beautiful place to visit while strolling around Seoul downtown.
It is an active temple, so please be respectful to people who came to pray.
Complex consists of many buildings and lots of outdoor statues and garden arrangements. There are so many beautiful details - you can easily take lots of beautiful pictures.
People are very friendly, vibe is very tranquil.
#travelgram #100waysoftravel #southkorea #seoul
Seoul so good.
Seoul is always a good idea. No matter how many times I visit, I never get bored. Every trip is fun and every trip costs me a lot of money, haha.
This time, I booked my tickets with Trip.com, opting for the One Price round-trip from Don Mueang to Incheon with Air Asia X for 6,990 THB. This price includes 25 kg of luggage both ways. Another pleasant surprise was that both flights were on old Singapore Airlines planes, which are definitely more comfortable than Air Asia's own planes.
I had no issues with immigration this time.
I didn't do much sightseeing on this trip. The main highlight was visiting Namsan Tower, thanks to a flash sale ticket from Trip.com.
The highlight of this trip was definitely trying Korean-style grilled eel in Goyang. It was incredibly delicious and quite different from the Japanese style. Highly recommended!
Must-Visit Instagram-Worthy Café in Seongsu!
《NUDAKE Seongsu Main Store》
This super popular café is a pilgrimage spot for many tourists visiting Korea. This time, we took the subway directly to Seongsu Station to visit the main store. The interior is mainly decorated in black and dark tones. Inside, a giant round table displays a variety of original desserts with a strong sense of design, giving the feeling of admiring artworks in a museum. On weekdays around 2 PM, there are usually seats available.
1️⃣ Matcha Lava Croissant ₩28,000
👉 The signature dish of the store and the MVP of this meal 👑
👉 Shaped like a volcanic crater, the black croissant at the bottom gets its color from squid ink, and it has a creamy aroma
👉 The middle is filled with matcha lava cream, which has a rich matcha and fresh cream flavor without being overly sweet. Dipping the croissant in the cream is truly irresistible!
2️⃣ Cream Croissant ₩28,000
👉 The base is the same as the Matcha Lava Croissant
👉 The middle is filled with mascarpone cheese and fresh cream. Although it doesn't flow like lava when cut, it has a rich creamy flavor that isn't overwhelming even if you eat a lot
3️⃣ Tomato 2 ₩12,000
👉 Looks like a tomato on the outside
👉 The outer layer is a jelly made from pomegranate and cranberry juice, giving it a sweet and sour taste
👉 The core's outer shell is hard white chocolate that needs to be cracked open. Inside, there's orange and lemon jelly with a bit of lemon zest, making it quite tangy
4️⃣ Peak Green Latte ₩8,000
👉 The bottom is matcha latte, topped with matcha cream
👉 The whole drink is full of matcha flavor, a must-order for matcha lovers, though it is slightly on the sweeter side
A glimpse of sunset at Hangang, Seoul Wave Art Centre
#bestsunset #100waysoftravel
It was a nice and comfortable evening in the autumn and I was cycling around the Han River to catch the sunset. When I reached Seoul Wave Art Centre the sun is about to set, so I just dismount my bicycle and waited and snap several nice sunset pictures. The sunset captured is really surreal with the buildings behind as the backdrop, and Seoul Wave Art Centre adds on to the nice picture. There is a Starbucks inside the Art Centre so I went in, grab a coffee and just enjoy the nice moment of sunset reflecting on my daily life, with a nice Staurday spent before I head off for dinner.
A breathtaking sunset view from Hanuel Park at Seoul
#bestsunset #100waysoftravel
Its a nice autumn and chilling autumn season again and we visited the Hanuel Park, which is located on top of Sangam dong near World Cup Stadium. Hanuel Park is well known for its wide array of Pampas Silvergrass which only grows and bloom during autumn. We strolled and took many nice pictures around until sunset, where we managed to catch some very nice and breathtaking pictures. The orange glaring sunset shines through the golden silvergrass field and gave a nice surreal drawing like picture. We could not bear to let this nice picture off so we snapped many of those, to be kept as nice memory. This will be one our best kept memory in Seoul.
Good Cafes to Visit During Autumn in Korea
If you visit Korea during the autumn season, a popular destination for viewing the changing leaves is Samcheong-dong Street. This long street is lined with many charming cafes and galleries, and ginkgo trees are planted along one side of the road. One must-visit spot during this time is Jinseon Cafe. The view from the rooftop is amazing, and it's a great place to take lots of photos.
Fresh air and smell of pine trees in Bukhansan forest
Bukhansan national park is a massive area with trails of different difficulty levels. And while you need to be relatively fit to hike up to the mountain tops - it is not necessarily at all to make outing to Bukhasan park exhausting if you not in the mood for a serious hiking day.
Lower levels are a beautiful forest area with all sorts of trees with pine trees being my personal favorite. There are numerous Buddhist temples sitting in the midst pf forest to visit.
Tip: night hiking is forbidden.
One more tip: don't forget your mosquito spray!
#forest #100waysoftravel #seoultrip #southkorea #seoul
💞Reasons to Recommend: Air is fresh, all trails are well marked, place is serene and tranquil. Lots of easy trails if you feel just like walking in a forest rather than hiking.
THE BEST LAMB SKEWERS IN SEOUL | MAEHWA LAMB HOUSE MYEONDONG
#koreatrip #100waysoftravel
This restaurant is a popular destination in Myeongdong, renowned for its delicious lamb skewers and authentic flavors. The restaurant offers a vibrant atmosphere, perfect for enjoying a variety of skewered dishes, grilled to perfection. With a focus on quality ingredients and traditional recipes also ensures a memorable dining experience. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, it’s an ideal spot to indulge in savory Chinese cuisine and experience the lively dining culture of Myeongdong.
For muslim, this is one of the best halal restaurant that u all must try in Seoul, and the price rate is affordable and it's really delicious and worth to try.
📍Address: 매화양꼬치 명동점 | Maehwa Lamb House Myeondong, Seoul-South Korea
#deliciousfood #awesomepic #mustry #reallyrecomended
A nice and price friendly Italian Restaurant in Seoul, Vincero
#traveldiaries
Its late at night and we would like to have dinner nearby Seoul Olympic Park, and we stumbled upon this nice little Italian Restaurant called Vincero. Each and every items on the menu is reasonable priced not more than 20000 won, which is a real bargain for customers. Besides, every diner is given a free garlic toast on the house, and free soft drink, which leave us pondering how on earth they can make a profit. The quality of the dishes did not compromise at all despite the cheap price, and we love the dishes especially the Vongole pasta. We enjoyed our dinner and will definitely visits again.
The oldest temple in Seoul, Bongeunsa Temple
#traveldiaries
Founded in Year 794 during the Shilla Dynasty under the reign of King Wonseong, and continue to reigned across the Goryeo Dynasty. The current structure is rebuilt in Year 1498 under Queen Jeonghyeon during the Joseon Dynasty, who revived Buddhism for a certain time. In Year 1548 Monk Bou was appointed Head of Temple but was killed by the anti-Buddhism factions. Today, it is one of the most prominent temple in Seoul offering Templestay programme to visitors. Today, Bongeunsa became the subordinate of the Jogye Order, the biggest sect of Buddhism in Korea.
A nice burger joint in Seoul, Himnanda Juicybros
#traveldiaries
We visited a nice burger joint at Starfield COEX Mall caleld Himnanda, and they served burgers with very succulent patties. We ordered a double cheeseburger, a mushroom burger with salad as sides, and they tasted very well. The patties are very nicely seasoned and the mushroom burger is also very nice and succulent. The interior is decorated to resemble a standard burger joint in the US, and we really enjoyed this place. This is being put in our radar list of best burger and we will be back again.
Taking a stroll in Starfield COEX Mall
#traveldiaries
COEX is a convention centre located at Samseong, Gangnam area. Beside the convention centre there is a mall called COEX mall which is very unique. Usually when a new store overseas or outside who wanted to set foot in Seoul, Starfield COEX mall will have their first outlet in Seoul, then it will spread across other area. There are a lot of eateries, shops and outlets available and you can see many stores not available at other places in Seoul. There are also other malls called Parnas Mall and The Hyundai connected adjacent to it. There is also a Starfield Library which is a photispot for all visiting here.
The magnificient Starfield Library at COEX
#traveldiaries
There is a huge library cum bookstore at COEX Starfield Mall, and this library is the symbolic landmark of the mall. Located at the centre of the mall, you can go to everywhere direction from the library. There are various books and magazines available, and you can also take your own book to read there. This has become the photospot for every visitors visiting here. I personally like this library at night time as the crowd is much lesser, and the lights are dimmer and give us a more soothing feeling. The ambience is more suitable for reading at night as well, and the best thing is the photo looks less crowded at night.
The Gourmet Street of Starfield COEX mall
#traveldiaries
Starfield COEX mall has recently launches a gourmet street covering many restaurants such as Japanese, Chinese and local Korean, and there are so many of them to be chosen from that you need some time to pause and decide what to eat. There are 40 restaurants there for you to choose from, and everyone of them are famous. The street is decorated with plates and kitchenware features to let people having a feeling of visiting a gourmet street. A very nice concept in a mall.
Delicious Soufflé Pancakes at Andamiro Pancake.
A soufflé pancake hotspot has landed at Sungshin Women's University, and I visited it! First of all, it's really delicious! Plus, the basil tomato ade and iced Americano are also tasty! No need for any words, it's just delicious! Moreover, the calm interior makes it a great place to focus and have conversations. And the photos turn out great too! I had a very enjoyable time eating delicious food and having fun 😝
⏰Business Hours
13:00-22:00 / Last order at 21:00 ✔️Closed every Wednesday
📍Andamiro Pancake at Sungshin Women's University
22, Dongsomun-ro 20na-gil, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 1st floor
Fall colors finally showing at Bukhasan mountain!
Seoul finally starts to show fall colors and ginko trees are changing to yellow and maple trees - to red. It is perfect time for hiking cause weather is chilly but not cold yet, so sweating is tolerable when you walk uphill.
Any hike in Seoul is great but for the moment higher places are showing more colors, so Bukhasan National Park is just perfect! Absolutely stunning colorful forest as a reward for 2+ hours hiking uphill.
Park is huge with lots of trails from easy to difficult, just choose your level. Bring water and snacks. Bring a jacket cause while it is humid and warm in the forest, it is windy and cold at the tophill.
Most hikes can be done in running shoes and no special equipment needed. Just go and enjoy!
#autumnbeauty #100waysoftravel #seoul #seoultrip #southkorea
🏖️Ambiance/Facilities: just a few people during weekdays, weekends may be very crowded and not that enjoyable.
There are a few toilets here and there and resting areas with roofs to provide shelter from the rain.
Before start of the path to the peak - vending machines with drinks.
And at the entrance to the park you can get a map and stamp it.
Under the falling maple leaves 🍁
#fallcolors
#100waysoftravel #mapleleaves #seoul #korea #autumn
The autumn in Korea is never ceasing to amaze me as it just as beautiful as the heaven 😝😝 Everywhere including urban and suburban areas are full of colourful maple trees making the city a picturesque backdrop for the tourists and the citizens!!
If you are a person who like to take picture, autumn is definitely the best season as this is the most beautiful season of the year + the weather is chilling 👍🏻👍🏻
Things you wouldn't know if you didn't go to Korea...
🌈[Korea Encyclopedia]
✍️Visa Tips: Remember to apply 15 days in advance to avoid any last-minute panic!
✈️Short Flight Time: Only 2 hours away, Korea is right in front of you!
💰Currency Strategy: Exchange KRW in advance, you can also exchange it locally, so you can travel stress-free!
📷Must-visit Attractions
✅N Seoul Tower🛕: Filming location for "My Love from the Star", a landmark building in Seoul
✅Comic Street: Lots of cute graffiti, very healing
✅Itaewon: A popular spot for watching the sunset🌅
✅Hongdae: A gathering place for young Koreans, street culture, shopping🛍️, food🥙, if you want to experience the nightlife, remember to go (bring your passport)
✅Myeongdong: A street for food and shopping🛍️, although there are many tourists, it's still worth a visit
✅Bukchon Hanok Village: A representative traditional residential area in Seoul
✅Seongsu-dong: Niche brands, pop-up stores, second-hand stores, coffee☕️ shops, fashionistas and coffee lovers, close your eyes and go
✅Dongdaemun: If you want to buy clothes👚, you can spend more time picking and choosing, although many are made in China, the styles are really great
Navigation🧭: Download Naver and Subway in advance, not only can you navigate, but you can also check subway and bus routes and arrival times very clearly
Bus🚌: You can buy a T-money or wowpass card in advance on Taobao or at a convenience store in Seoul, you can use it directly on the bus or subway, which is very convenient
🏨Accommodation: Myeongdong, Itaewon, and Gangnam are all very convenient, choose according to your budget
Food: Spine soup, fried chicken (bhc, bbq are both very good) Korean soup rice, grilled beef intestines, soy sauce crab; street stir-fried rice cake is my favorite
⚠️tips：
Be sure to bring a conversion plug
Eating is not allowed on buses and subways in Korea
If you choose a takeaway cup in a Korean coffee shop, you can't sit in the shop
Starfield Library in Seoul
Starfield Library is a highly popular spot in Seoul, South Korea. This dreamy library has been featured in many Korean dramas, making it a pilgrimage site for K-drama fans.
Located within the Coex Mall in Seoul, the library is very conveniently situated. You can easily reach it by taking the subway to Samseong Station and following the signs.
Upon entering the library, you'll be amazed by the towering bookshelves and the high ceilings. The natural light pouring in from the ceiling creates a beautiful scene. Immersed in the world of books, you can occasionally look up to admire the interior, and you'll be captivated by the grandeur and atmosphere of the place.
The light through the ceiling changes with time, making both day and night equally charming and perfect for photos. When I visited during the day, even though the books were in Korean and I couldn't read them, I felt the warm atmosphere of everyone reading under the sunlight.
📍Starfield Library
Address: Starfield COEX Mall, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Seoul Myeong-dong Premium Cafe Recommendation — Coffee Island
Coffee Island is located in Myeong-dong, Seoul, near Exit 3 of Myeong-dong Station.
📍Address: 1st Floor, 10 Toegye-ro 18-gil, Myeong-dong, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Coffee Island is a cafe primarily designed with wooden decor, offering a very comfortable environment with spacious seating. The design here makes you feel relaxed, making it an ideal place to enjoy coffee.✔️🫶🏻
In addition to coffee, they also offer a variety of desserts, especially their matcha pudding, which has a moderate sweetness and unique texture, perfectly complementing the coffee.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Recommendation Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Capture the autumn vibes with photos at Sky Park.
For those looking for a place filled with autumn atmosphere and silver grass, we recommend 'Sky Park'. It's a famous spot for silver grass, sunrise, and sunset.
Visit around 5 PM to take photos with the silver grass, enjoy the sunset, and see the night view of the Han River. It's a perfect way to complete your day. The silver grass is beautiful, and there are many photo zones where you can take amazing pictures.
🇰🇷 Fall for Autumn
#fallcolors #100WaysOfTravel
This Daiso outlet in Hongdae is very famous among tourists because it is an entire building selling Daiso items. You will have to take lift to go all the way up then take the stairs down to shop at different levels. There are many outlets around Seoul and if an item is sold out then you can easily hunt for it at another outlet. Daiso in Seoul is always refreshing their decoration and popular items since there are different seasons here so they have to sell the trending items. Their decorations for fall season is very well stocked and you can transfer any areas to have a nicer and fuller colours for fall. So instead of waiting for the trees to change colour, you can come over to Daiso and get related items to set up decorations.
#southkorea #seoul #liveyourdreams #takethattrip
London Bagels are a hit in Korea.
🗓️Recommended Itinerary: London Bagel Museum
Address: 33 Eonju-ro 168-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Business Hours: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Transportation: Seoul Subway Suin-Bundang Line, Apgujeong Rodeo Station, Exit 5
I ordered the sweet onion cream cheese and some plain bagels (with additional spreads). The spreads and soups are highly recommended, but the portions are too large to finish. Although the sweet onion cream cheese is a signature item, I personally think you can only eat a quarter of it at a time, otherwise it gets a bit overwhelming.
World Heritage Site Changdeokgung Palace and Secret garden (shhhh!)
Changgyeonggung and Changdeokgung Palaces and Secret garden will be free entrance if you wear a traditional hanbok (which you surely should cause I think I enjoyed hanbok experience more than the palaces themselves,.. girls be girls I guess!)
The place is massive and can easily take a few hours to explore. This complex is much less crowded than Gyeongbokgung Palace, so it is much more pleasant to my liking (architecture wise if you aren't an anthropologist or historian - you'll see very little difference).
It is said online that Secret Garden is by reservation only but lady at the entrance just waved us in once she saw us in hanboks.
There is a vending machine for drinks at one place but Id recommend to take some water and even snacks with you.
Tip: these palaces and Secret Garden are closed on Monday!
Id say this one will be my first choice to what palace to visit in Seoul.
#koreatrip #100waysoftravel #southkorea #seoul #travel
Seoul Shop Exploration: Seochon - The Café Even Timothée Chalamet Visits
Seoul. Seochon｜Edition Denmark
This time, I made sure to visit the café that even Timothée Chalamet made a special trip to when he was in Seoul — Edition Denmark in Seochon. The entire store features a minimalist design with Nordic white and wood tones, creating a fresh and comfortable atmosphere. The seating is limited, but this small and exquisite space makes it feel especially cozy. They also have their own brand, Edition Kenya Original, which offers a variety of beautiful and highly purchasable merchandise 😊
I took away a cup of fruit tea from A.C. Perch’s Thehandel this time. The taste was really great, with a light fruit flavor that was neither bitter nor astringent.
If you enjoy spending a relaxing afternoon in a sunlit environment, this place is definitely worth a visit!
////////////////////////// Store Information ///////////////////////////
Edition Denmark 에디션덴마크
@editiondenmark
📍 Address: 24 Jahamun-ro 9-gil, 1st Floor, Jongno-gu, Seoul
⏰ Business Hours: 09:30-18:00 Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace in a Korean traditional dress
One of the things that I normally would deem as "way too touristy " and yet happy that I did in Seoul - is visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace while wearing traditional Korean clothing called hanbok.
This promotes by the government and those who rent a hanbok may enter palaces in Seoul for free - so, it is indeed a cultural thing here.
There are plenty of hambok rentals around Gyeongbokgung Palace, so it is a no brainer.
The palace itself is beautiful and quite crowded by the main entrance. However, if you walk a bit further from the main gates - it becomes quite empty and enjoyable... And perfect to take lots of pictures in hanbok without any strangers in the frame!
Tip 1: hanbok is made of polyester, so it's hot. Save this experience for moderate weather.
Tip 2: there is not much shade at Gyeongbokgung Palace, so take an umbrella or use lots of sunscreen if it's sunny.
Tip 3: there is a coffee place right at the premises with quite decent tea options.
#koreatrip #100waysoftravel #seoul #southkorea
The most beautiful season of the year 🍁🍂
#fallcolors
#100waysoftravel #seoul #korea #autumn
These pictures were taken 2 years ago in the city centre of Korea during the autumn season!!!
After experiencing the spring, summer and autumn, i would say autumn is my favourite at the moment as the whole city is just so colourful with the maple leaves and ginkgo tree regardless where you go!! From the street side, bustling centre, to some famous spots, it just everywhere making it as picturesque backdrop!!
Highly recommend to visit Korea around end of Oct to Nov for this season ❤️❤️🍁
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