With more than 10 million residents, Seoul provides all the action of a world-class city with plenty of ways to escape the rush and convene with nature. The Korean capital is home to an abundance of charming temples and historic palaces, major features of an ancient culture that is still very much a part of daily life.
Surrounding the ancient architecture are modern skyscrapers showcasing panoramic views. Century-old markets exist alongside contemporary malls and spellbinding buildings that seem to defy the rules of engineering. While at any point, you can jump on the metro to explore nearby national parks, where granite rocks soar towards the heaven.
Before you dive deep into modern day Seoul, it helps to enjoy a glimpse into traditional Korean heritage and culture. The well-preserved village comprises a number of districts that combine to take you back over 600 years. Add in its location in the center of the city, and you have one of the best things to do in Seoul.
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The village splits two major palaces, Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung. Bukchon’s thin streets are lined with beguiling ancient architecture, including hanoks. These are traditional homes that showcase early life in the city. Their colorful walls and unique roofs create a vibrant location, that is a pleasure to explore on foot.
The highlight of the experience, however, is making your way into some of the hanoks, which have become cultural hubs in their own right. Here, you can further explore the history of the neighborhood, along with learning traditional art and crafts. Some hanoks are also homestays, for a memorable experience in central Seoul.
Seoul has a total of five royal palaces. The biggest of them all is Gyeongbokgung, built towards the end of the 14
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Century. The grand palace strikes an imposing presence in front of a mountainous landscape and represents the height of the historic Joseon dynasty.
Since it was completed in 1395, the palace has suffered immense damage on several occasions and was renovated post World War Two. But it’s only been since the 1990s that Gyeongbokgung Palace has returned to perfection, leaving travelers in a fortunate position.
Today, you can wander inside the enormous palace and explore such sites as the historic pavilion, the Throne Hall, Hyangwonjeong Pond and the King’s Quarters. At one point in your visit, you must witness the changing of the guard at the palace’s southern gate. This occurs every hour from 10am to 3pm.
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Within the palace, visitors will also be able to pay a visit to the National Palace Museum and the Folk Museum of Korea.
In the heart of Seoul, Mount Namsan, is an 800-foot (243m) landmark that can be seen wherever you go in the city. But rising from the peak of the mountain, is a broadcast tower offering striking views from her heady heights. From the top, you’ll be standing just shy of 1650 feet (500m) above sea level, with the bustling city spread out below.
Getting to the tower is also an adventure. A cable car will carry you up from the foothills to the summit, leaving nothing but a few steps between you and the tower. Keep in mind that the cable car ticket does not include the tower experience.
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As the elevator whisks you up to the heavens, you’ll have just a matter of seconds to pick between one of the four observations decks. For an elevated, pun intended, experience and a memorable date night, pick the rotating restaurant serving French cuisine on T5. Travelers will also find a regular eatery on T1, a wishing pond on T2 and a masterful multimedia display showcasing Korean culture and history on T3.
Most travelers get taken in by the sparkling presence of the radio tower on the mountain’s peak, and who could blame them. But there’s more to Seoul’s central mountain, that just a marvelous piece of engineering. Within the park, you’ll find serene walking trails that lead to beautiful vistas and more than enough fascinating attractions.
Through the centuries, Namsan Mountain played an important role in the strategic defense of the city from potential invaders. Today, you can still visit the five chimneys that would send smoke signals to leaders down in the valley. The park’s well-marked trails will lead you to this site, known as Mongmyeoksan Bongsudae, with the chimney’s elevated platform granting you with views of the city skyline. You’ll also find further viewpoints at the nearby ancient pavilion.
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Namsan Park was home to a city wall through the Jonseon Dynasty, but was left in ruin after the Japanese occupation. You can still see parts of the wall, which are undergoing reconstruction, along the path that brings you to Baekbeom Square.
One of the largest museums in all of Asia, the National Museum of Korea, is a thorough journey into the stories that shaped Korea into the nation it is today. Comprising three floors packed to the rafters with thousands of captivating artifacts, the museum is an experience that starts strong and keeps your attention all the way through.
The National Museum of Korea focuses on three major themes: art, history and archaeology. The curators blend the three to create a superb journey. Along the way, you’ll find relics dating back thousands of years, from ancient calligraphy to buncheong ceramics. The collection is immense, but if you have just a short time to explore, then make a beeline for the museum’s treasures.
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Century that was found in the tomb of Hwangnamdaechong. To take a break along the way, head to the outdoor area to relax. Here, you’ll find pagodas, ornate gardens and even waterfalls.
If you’re someone who likes to wander, then you’ll stumble upon many markets in Seoul. As popular now as they were way back when, the hundreds of local markets bring together the community and help travelers experience Seoul like a local. But if you’re after the best market in the city, then you can pass up a night at Namdaemun.
Between Seoul Station and City Hall, this market is as traditional as it gets. While not trendy and/or modern, it’s easy to find authentic cuisine. The market is a true culinary adventure. With the addition of a language barrier, it can be a tricky experience. But if you’re open to trying new things, then you’ll be glad you took the plunge.
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As you wander along, you’ll spot vendors showcasing the health benefits of their homemade ginseng. Young professionals cramp into tight spots to get a post-work feed and families try to grab a bargain at one of the many clothing and electronics stalls. Start and end at Foodie Alley, where you can try the full range of Korean staples from hair-tail fish stew to hotteok.
After taking a crash course in Korean cuisine at the boisterous and chaotic Namdaemun, spend some time honing your skills at a local cooking class. Korean food is largely based on rice and vegetables. The latter of which showcases the nation’s veritable obsession with kimchi, fermented cabbage.
Modern Korean cuisine descends from the favorite eats of local royalty from years past. As you try more and more authentic dishes, you’ll discover the lovely balance the cuisine has between spice and sweetness. Such is the pride locals have in their food, you won’t have a hard time finding delicious eats whether that be at a 5-star restaurant or down a narrow alley.
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Aside from kimchi, some of the most popular dishes in Korean cuisine include red rice cakes, bibimbap and the world-renowned bulgogi. But you could spend a whole week in the city and barely scratch the surface. So, to continue your culinary adventure back home, sign up for this cooking class. Tour a local market, a learn four dishes alongside your chef-guide.
One of the most interesting experiences to be had in Korea is to head out of Seoul to the nation’s demilitarized zone. The DMZ is located between South and North Korea, and is a strongly protected area. So much so that the only way to explore it is on a certified tour.
The experience will essentially bring you to no-man’s-land. The eerie gap between the nations is 2.5 miles (4km) and spreads across the Korean Peninsula for over 150 miles (250km). A highlight of the experience is entering the Third Tunnel. This mile-long passageway was excavated by North Korea to prepare for a possible invasion. Later, head to the DMZ Theater, where you can learn about this tunnel that was only discovered in 1978 after the South was tipped off by a northern defector. Finish the day trip by heading to the summit of Mount Dora. From your elevated viewpoint, you’ll be able to gaze over the DMZ into North Korea.
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A recent addition to Seoul’s splendid skyline is the Lotte World Tower. Upon its completion, it became the tallest building in the nation and one of the tallest on earth. The Lotte World Tower reaches over 1, 600 feet (500m) above seal level and its unique design was inspired by traditional Korean ceramics.
It almost doubles the height of the next tallest building in Seoul, Parc1 Tower A, hovering over the city like a proud parent.
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