A Guide to Seoul, South Korea

As Korean culture, music and food becomes more and more popular across the globe, South Korea is rising to be one of the hottest places to visit in East Asia. Last summer, I got to visit the country with my boyfriend and most of our time was dedicated to exploring its bustling and eclectic capital, Seoul. I have listed down some of the things we did during our trip to give you some ideas if you’re visiting the city for the first time. 

Visit the palaces 

Seoul is the home of five grand palaces from the Joseon Period and visiting at least one of them should definitely be in your to do list when in the city. We were only able to see two of these palaces, Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung. Complete the experience by renting out and wearing a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) to the palaces which will secure you a free entry! 

City views from N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower)

There’s a few ways to get to the top of Namsan such as getting there using the cable car but we decided to hike all the way to the top instead which honestly wasn’t that bad! In fact, the sunset view was amazing. Meanwhile, going to the top of the tower will give you spectacular 360 view of the whole city. 

Stroll along the Han river

Another quintessential thing to do when visiting South Korea which will certainly make you feel like a local. You should also try making your own ramyeon at one of the stores by the river. The locals we met during our stroll were so friendly and kept talking to us even though we couldn't understand a word!

A glimpse of the past at Bukchon Hanok village 

Tucked away within the hustle of bustle of the city is remnants of the past. One of the traditional Korean villages which still exists in Seoul, Bukchon Hanok Village is free to visit but take into account that this is still a residential area. Respect the privacy of the residents, take photos discreetly and be quiet as much as possible!

Learn History at the Museums 

I always enjoy visiting museums as they allow a peek into a country’s history and heritage. I was glad that the National Museum and its neighbour the Hangeul Museum were free for visitors. Not only will you learn plenty in these museums, they also have pretty aesthetic corners for photos!

Relax and nap in a jimjilbang (korean sauna) 

This was something we definitely did not want to miss. We visited Siloam Sauna which is essentially a therapeutic wonderland offering various sauna rooms of different temperatures and and medicinal features. I must admit, it was a bit tricky finding the place at first, especially in the evening, but it was truly worth it and we wished we could go back again. We spent only a couple hours here but some people, especially locals, come to these places to nap or even stay overnight! 

Get cozy in a traditional Hanok tea house 

For this experience we visited Shin Old Tea house tucked away in Insadong. It was such a relaxing experience, we nearly slept there on the spot. Alongside a variety of herbal and fruit teas, they also offered traditional sweets and rice cakes for you to sample. 

Visit a university 

If your searching for locations that are definitely IG worthy, why not pop into one of the universities in the city. We decided to visit Ewha’s women university which is currently the largest female educational institution in the world. 

Try a Hanbok 

I already mentioned that renting out a Hanbok will get you into the palaces for free but if you’re not willing to pay for the rental fee or will be visiting when it's too hot to wear one, did you know you can try it for free? We visited the Seoul Global Cultural Center in Myeongdong which allows tourists to try the Hanbok and take photos for free. You’re only given a few minutes which is plenty enough for photos but try and get there early to avoid queuing.

There was so much to do in Seoul and even our ten days in the city was not enough to cover everything. I hope the list helps any of you visiting the city for the first time and that you enjoy your travels!

Follow my instagram @ofpeople_andplaces to see our IGTV featuring the things we did in Seoul!