South Korea’s thriving capital is also a place of great historical background, having served as the heart of the Joseon Dynasty for well over half a millennium. Five royal palaces lie like precious heirlooms in the center, along with ancient shrines and gates. A city wall once surrounded them, but Seoul long ago burst beyond these boundaries and became one of the most densely populated urban centers in the world, with a population of about 10 million. It is also the epicenter of the Korean Wave – also known as the K-culture Wave or Hallyu – the cultural export that spreads around the world. So whether you’re fascinated by history or keen to experience its modern side, here’s how to get the most out of this exciting city.
Explore historical sites
Seoul is steeped in history, with five Joseon-era (1392–1910) palaces to explore. Most popular with visitors are the 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest and most colorfully painted, and the 15th-century Changdeokgung Palace, home to the beautifully secluded Secret Garden. Both palaces have tree-lined paths and beautiful reflecting ponds. You will see many palace visitors, both Korean and non-Korean, wearing it hanbokSouth Korean traditional two-piece clothing. Do the same and you can visit all the palaces for free; there are plenty of rental locations in the city.
Other Joseon Dynasty landmarks include the gigantic city gates of Sungnyemun and Dongdaemun, which stand proudly on what was once the edge of old Seoul. They look beautiful during the day, but they are perhaps even more beautiful at night. The city walls connect the two gates and wind through parks and over mountains. If you’re feeling energetic, you can walk around Old Seoul piece by piece, or even try to complete the whole loop.
Just south of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces, the Insa-dong district offers a real taste of Korean tradition, plus great examples of traditional wooden dwellings (known as ‘hanok’ in Korean) along the countless alleys. You will find many Hanok home restaurants that serve delicious Korean food. There are more traditional tearooms than cafes in Insa-dong – try an ice-cold cup of refreshing, bright pink omija-cha (five flavors of tea) or something warming saenggang-cha (ginger tea). Art galleries have also sprung up all over the area, along with numerous art shops.
Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the five Joseon-era palaces, is often visited by people wearing the traditional South Korean hanbok. Photo by the Seoul Tourism Organization
Embrace new traditions
Next to Insa-dong, Ikseon-dong is similarly made up of zigzagging alleys, but this eclectic neighborhood offers everything that’s trendy with the city’s youth: cool cafes, craft breweries, selfie printing studios and shops selling irresistible croissants . -like salt bread.
A young generation of locals have transformed some once overlooked corners of the city into trendy hotspots. One of the first areas to be gentrified in this way was Mullae-dong, in western Seoul, where cafes, galleries and co-working spaces sprang up among factories and metal fabrications. Hannam-dong and Yeonnam-dong – previously run-down suburbs of Itaewon and Hongdae districts respectively – followed suit.
The greatest renewal has probably taken place in the Euljiro area, especially in the old printing district around the Sewoon Sangga complex, near Myeong-dong. While the printers still add their atmospheric, steamy hiss, local and international visitors now crowd the streets every evening, enjoying an ever-changing array of hip restaurants, trendy brewpubs and speakeasy bars.
Experience the modern side of the city
Despite all of Seoul’s tradition, it is a modern, high-rise city characterized by clusters of mighty skyscrapers. At 550 meters tall, the Lotte World Tower, located on the river in southern Seoul, is currently the sixth tallest building in the world. Visitors looking for a five-star experience can stay at the Signiel Seoul hotel, which has rooms on the 76th through 101st floors of the tower. For an even better view, consider hiking or taking the cable car up Namsan, central Seoul’s mini mountain, and visiting the Namsan Seoul Tower. The needle-like shape can be seen from all over the city.
Tall skyscrapers dominate Seoul’s skyline, which lights up at night, creating a spectacular and colorful cityscape. Photo by the Seoul Tourism Organization
Seoul’s original skyscraper district rose on Yeouido, an island in the Han River. In addition to being a center of business and politics, Yeouido is also home to the golden, 250-meter-high 63 square tower, as well as the popular Hyundai Seoul shopping center. The mall houses South Korea’s largest food hall and regularly hosts pop-ups featuring many notable K-pop stars.
Take a ride on the nearby Seouldal, a moon-shaped tethered balloon (the “dal” of the name means “moon” in Korean), to look at the Han River from high above. For the best views, go at night, when Seoul’s skyscrapers will shine brightly.
Enjoy abundant natural beauty
Bukhansan, the country’s most visited national park, is just a short journey north (just half an hour) by bus, metro or taxi from the capital’s palace district. Of course, part of Bukhansan’s popularity comes from having a megacity like Seoul on its doorstep, but the park’s numerous trails are great for walking. Make your way up through pine trees to admire the city from granite cliffs, passing remote Buddhist temples and hermitages along the way. Visitors can rent hiking equipment, such as boots and jackets, for a small fee from one of the two Seoul Hiking Tourism Centers.
Baegundae Peak stands out in the colorful Bukhansan National Park, where scenic hiking trails abound. Photo by the Seoul Tourism Organization
You can also drive south from the palace district and eventually you will reach Seoul’s main river, the Hangang. Over half a mile wide, it has little river traffic and lends itself to many water activities, such as kayaking and sailing. Park-like edges on both the north and south banks are also popular with joggers and cyclists. The Hangang is crossed by more than 30 bridges, but one that is particularly popular with visitors is the Banpodaegyo Bridge. Spectacular ‘rainbow fountain shows’ take place between April and October, an ideal way to spend an evening in the city.
Top three activities to do in Seoul
1. Try K-beauty products and experiences
Join a K-beauty class and test popular products for free at Beauty Play in Myeongdong – just make sure you reserve your spot in advance. Or head to Amore Seongsu in Seongsu-dong for a personal color analysis to help you create your own foundation and lipstick. To find all the K-beauty products that are currently popular, visit K-beauty giant Olive Young, which has stores across Seoul.
2. Visit a contemporary Korean teahouse
The South Korean tea brand Osulloc has teahouses spread across Seoul that are definitely worth a visit. Each location serves tea, as well as lattes, cakes and more – and many of the options are made with green tea grown on Osulloc’s own plantation, further south on Jeju Island. Experience an authentic Korean afternoon tea or, for something more practical, take part in a blending-your-own tea class.
3. Get your K-pop groove on
K-pop has become a global phenomenon, and a large portion of Seoul’s international visitors travel to the city for this very reason. There are plenty of places where you can learn K-pop dance moves, including 1Million Dance Studio, east of central Seoul in Seongsu-dong. K-fans can also catch a glimpse of some of their K-pop idols outside their desks, like Hybe.
This paid content article was created for the Seoul Tourism Organization. It does not necessarily reflect the views of National Geographic, National Geographic Traveler (UK) or their editors.
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