Tour South Korea (5) | Tips for Seoul

around the country South Korea to get to know it, it is best to make a large tour. This is part 5 of my South Korea tour. I started with the island Jeju Do and after this I flew to the city of millions Busan to travel further by public transport to Gyeongju en Daegu. I went north from there to the most famous national park from South Korea, Seoraksan National Park, and the nearby town Sokcho. I end my tour in the capital and metropolis Seoul. You can read all about it in this article.

More blogs from Eline about South Korea:

• Preparation South Korea | Practical information and travel tips
• Round trip South Korea (1) | Island of Jeju-Do
• Round trip South Korea (2) | City of Millions Busan
• Tour South Korea (3) | Gyeongju and Daegu
• Tour South Korea (4) | Sokcho and Seoraksan National Park

About Seoul

The capital is located in the north of the country of South Korea and in the middle of the peninsula of Korea Seoul. This city of millions is big, especially very busy and there is always something to do. There is no clear center. It is more divided into different districts.

Because the distances within the city are very large, it is best to use public transport to discover the city. The air quality is generally moderate to poor and smog is unfortunately often visible. Fortunately, there are so many interesting things to do in Seoul! For the sake of clarity, I will name the most important sights per district.

Gyeongbokgung

In the north of the city is a neighborhood where many tourists start their visit to Seoul. Here are two royal palaces close to each other and also the world famous Hanok Village can be found here. Take the subway to Gyeongbokgung (Location here), you can spend a whole day on foot to visit the various highlights.

Tip:: As you are used to from us, many Google Maps locations of the specific sights will be shared in this article so that you can save them in your own Google Maps account. Use it to your advantage!

Gyeongbokgung palace

This is the largest, but also the most beautiful of the five royal palaces still standing in Seoul (location here). It is nicknamed the Northernmost Palace. The palace was built in 1395 and has been rebuilt and restored over the years, so that the palace remains authentic. A visit to this palace is free if you have one hanbok wears. That is the traditional clothing of Korea. You see a lot of people walking around here. There are several shops around the palace where you can rent these and where you can get matching hair decorations. If you want to enter without a hanbok, you pay an entrance fee of 2.400 Won (about € 1,80) for an adult.

A visit to the entire palace takes about half a day. So come as early as possible. Pay close attention to the opening hours in connection with holidays. You can also do an English-language tour of the palace. These start at different times from the entrance.

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village (Location here) is located between the palaces. These traditional Korean houses are very photogenic and have become famous from Instagram. People still live here and people are asked to be quiet.

A walking route has been set up through the district, where you get to see all the beautiful viewpoints. Be aware that it is a lot of uphill walking. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for stops at restaurants or bars along the way.

Changgyeonggung palace

Called the royal palace Changgyeonggung Palace is located next to Hanok Village. Just like it Gyeongbokgung palace you can enter for free if you wear a Hanbok. The entrance fee also includes a tour through the Secret Garden included. You can also only visit this with the tour. This is highly recommended. The garden is well maintained and there are often only a handful of people, just from the tour. This is a strange sensation in a city of millions.

hongdae

hongdae (Location here) is one of the most famous districts of Seoul, partly due to the nightlife and street performances that take place in Hongdae. There are many restaurants, cafes and shops in every street, so you will need an entire afternoon and evening to discover the neighborhood.

Going out

It is also a nightlife district with many bars and clubs. You will find many tourists and locals there. There are also karaoke bars and photo booths with different themes and accessories.

World Cup Park

Near the entertainment part of the district hongdae, you can make it beautiful World Cup Park (Location here) containing the stadium of the same name. Major events take place here. On Sundays there are mainly families in the park. There is a viewpoint in the park from where you can see a whole part of the city.

Gangnam

Gangnam (Location here) is not only known from the song G. The center of the district is located around the metro station. It is very busy here in the evenings and weekends, because many people are on their way to the neighborhood to eat or drink here. During the day, Gangnam is the place to go shopping and certainly the mall Starfield Coex Mall it's worth it.

Starfield Library

De Starfield Library is located in the famous Starfield Coex Mall and mostly known through social media. Great to see and even more beautiful to walk through. The restaurant next door is perfect place for viewing library and all the people who come here.

Itaewon

The district Itaewon (Location here) is a neighborhood where, just like Hongdae, many people can be found who are not originally from South Korea. Here are many restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs, which are completely full in the evenings and on weekends. For a night out this is the place to go. There are also some shops to be found.

Korean War Memorial

The War Memorial of Korea Museum (Location here) is a must-see before visiting the DMZ Zone or if you want to know more about the history of the country. Everything is explained in English and it gives a good look at the war that is still going on between North and South Korea. Even without prior knowledge it is easy to follow and it is very impressive.

National Museum of Korea

Close to it War Memorial Museum is it national museum of korea. It is especially interesting if you are interested in works of art by well-known Korean artists. The building of the museum is impressive in itself!

Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain

Banpo Bridge (Location here) is best visited around sunset and this can be done from the park under the bridge or from a boat that takes you to the bridge during the light show. Several times a day there is a light and fountain show of about 15 minutes.

Downtown Seoul (Dongdaemum)

This is the center of Seoul and the older part of the city. From here you can reach many sights.

Deoksugung Palace

This palace (location here) was not conceived in history as a royal palace, but it eventually became one. Located in the heart of Seoul city, it is highly frequented and has many shady areas.

Seoul City Hall

Beside it Deoksugung Palace is the big one Seoul City Hall with a large square (location here), where in the summer the children play in the fountains. The building itself is modern and clearly one of the newer buildings among the older buildings in this part of town.

Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market (Location here) is known worldwide. They mainly serve local dishes and there are also spices and other products for sale. It can be very busy here, especially around dinner time.

DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza)

In the building (location here) there are various exhibitions, various museums, a park and shops. The buildings in themselves are worth visiting and seeing. It was designed by a world famous architect and therefore a paradise for architects or architectural photographers.

Seoullo 7017

Seoullo 7017 (Location here) is another landmark that has become known through social media. This park, which goes over the roads and where you can walk, has attracted many visitors. You can walk in several directions from Seoul train station. This way you can safely cross the streets via the footbridge at a height of 17 meters.

Namsan Cable Car and Park

The best access to it Nasan Park (Location here) is by cable car. The park is located on a hill in the city. If you want to hike up, you will have to climb quite a bit. In the park you have a beautiful view of the city on all sides. Especially around sunset this is a good place!

N Seoul Tower

The most famous statue near the city of Seoul, N Seoul Tower (location here), is in it Nasan Park and gives a nice view over the whole city. You will need to buy entrance tickets well in advance. This tower is always visible in the Seoul skyline.

Outside of Seoul

There are many things to do and see outside the city. Here is a selection of things to do in the area, if you have time left.

DMZ Zone

The famous Demilitarized Zone is the zone near the border with North and South Korea. This can easily be visited from Seoul in a day tour with various tour operators.

Incheon

Incheon (Location here) is the city where you will most likely arrive, since the international airport is located here. It is a large city close to Seoul and the cities are well connected.

Bukhansan National Park

Located a few kilometers north of the city Bukhansan National Park (Location here) where you can make a day trip. From the city, this is connected to public transport and you can hike well where you have good views over the city of Seoul. Take enough food and drink with you, because that is not obtainable on the way.