Traveling to the other side of the world will take some planning. As I said last week (here), South Korea is a good place to be spontaneous, but I always find it helpful to have a bucket list to get me started.
If you go to South Korea, you will almost assuredly spend some amount of time in Seoul. Seoul literally means, “capital,” which it is. It ranks among the world’s largest cities, but as a city dweller myself, I find it to be surprisingly quiet. If Seoul is your only stop in Korea, you can still get a good variety of Korea’s history, politics, culture, and trends with just a few days here.
For a short list of recommendations I’d say:
1. Visit a palace. Gyeonbokgung is the largest, Changdeokgung has a secret garden that’s very pretty (a tour is required), and Changgyeonggung is open the latest, if you want some royal night views. There are 2 more, but they are much smaller. Pro tip: if you dress in hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) you get in for free. For this reason, there are countless hanbok rental shops near the palaces that give you the chance to enjoy this experience. I will say, it’s pretty fun, even on a hot summer’s day. Plus, it gives the palace authentic vibes to have most of the guests in traditional clothes. It makes us part of the history and not just tourists.
2. Explore some neighborhoods. There are hundreds in Seoul, but Ikseondong is at the top of my list. It’s a neighborhood of short buildings and winding alleys. Great food at every step. Many cute shops that are great for unique and traditional souvenirs. And countless selfie photo booths to capture the night. I like to stay in this neighborhood as it’s a good place to come back to for dinner after a day of exploring. My second place is probably Hongdae, although I’m probably getting too old for it! Hongdae is close to Hongik University, so there are countless college kids roaming the streets until all hours of the day and night, especially on the weekend. But I like it for it’s plethora of food options, street performers, people watching, and access to the airport train. It’s a great neighborhood to stay in if you only have a night or two and have an early morning flight. If you are feeling a little adventurous, I recommend jumping into a ‘Coin Karaoke Room.’ It’s basically private karaoke, where you get to belt out your favorite pop songs through an autotuned mic, with just your friends. Don’t worry, they have English options as well. Some places even offer food options. Just look for 노래방 (Noraebang) on the signs.
Other popular neighborhoods include: Gangnam (the inspiration for ‘Gangnam Style’) which is popular for shopping and plastic surgery. I recommend Coex Mall as it has more mid-priced options, a beautiful library in the middle, and a very well done aquarium if you are looking to kill some time. I haven’t dabbled in plastic surgery yet, but I did take a pottery class in the area that I highly recommend, just ask! Myeongdong is another popular shopping destination, but has more street shopping and less malls. It’s a good place to go for street food, as vendors line the street every night. Itaewon is known to be Seoul’s most ‘foreigner friendly’ neighborhood, which I think means that local expats gather here. It’s a neighborhood built into a mountainside, with steep (Did I say steep?) winding roads, lots of good food, and shops. Similar to Hongdae, it tends to gather a younger crowd I think.
3. Go somewhere scenic. Seoul is a city of mountains so you won’t have to go far to have a nice view. Seoul Tower and Lotte Tower (the world’s 6th tallest building) are both great options for towering skyline views. I also recommend a walk along the city wall in Naksan Park, a walk along Cheonggyecheon stream, or an evening along the Han River if you want some nature mixed in. The Banpo Bridge Park offers evening street food and a water and lights show, if you’re not sure where to start. If you are feeling especially adventurous, hiking Namsan Mountain or Bukhansan are both excellent options.
4. Visit the DMZ- if you dare. South Korea’s neighbors to the north are closer than you think! But also, not that close. 🙂 The DMZ, or demilitarized zone, between North and South Korea is 2.5 miles thick and entrance to it is well chaperoned. At this time I don’t think you can actually cross into North Korea, but the tours are very, very interesting, helping to wrap your head around the juxtaposition it is to be at war, passively, for 70 years. One part that really stuck with me was seeing into North Korea and watching distant people get in their cars, drive around, and go about their day.
5. Take a day trip. There are so, so many interesting destinations within an hour or two of the city, by train. Maybe I’ll write a post about that one day? For now I’ll say, Suwon Fortress and Nami Island are probably my favorite I’ve done so far.
6. Eat. Some of my favorite foods ever are Korean foods. So much of their flavor palate is comforting and light. I’d say bbq (table side grilled meats served with veggie sides and sauces) is a must- especially since it’s WAY cheaper there than in the US, if you like beef- the galbi is a must. Bibimbap (rice, meat, and veggie bowl), pajeon (savory pancake), and Korean beef are also high on my list. I also recommend street food, especially ‘kimbap‘ (seaweed wrapped rice, veggies, and meat), ‘tteokbokki‘ (spicy rice cakes), ‘mandu‘ (dumplings) and Korean corn dogs (served with sugar). They also do brunch and pastries really well. And similarly to Japan, convenience stores abound, making quick food and drinks available almost anywhere. In Korea it feels like, no matter what I eat, I will eat well. Bonus: Korea has a no tip culture, which I find makes eating out more fun!
In summary, there is more to do in Seoul than you’ll have time for, so I recommend picking a few things from each category to get a full picture of the city.
If this post has inspired you to travel, let me know what other topics I should cover! If you think traveling with me sounds like your jam, check out my summer 2024 group trips! If you think traveling with me in Korea sounds even better, I’d love for you to join me!
Trips by Camille 