15 things To do in Seoul: the best of Korea’s capital

If you’re planning a trip to South Korea, chances are you’ll be spending some time in Seoul. The capital is absolutely the center of the action, as nearly half of the country’s population lives in the metro area. With about 25 million people, it’s the 4th largest metropolitan area in the world.

A visit to Seoul is a bit like being in a real-life version of “Back to the Future.” One minute you’re walking around an ancient palace and the next you’re gazing up at a futuristic shopping mall. On your way to explore a Confucian shrine, you’ll see Koreans fixated on their smartphone, enjoying lightning-fast WiFi on the subway.

There’s absolutely an interesting mix of tradition and modernity here.

While standard hanbok clothing is still around, the youth of Seoul have their own special fashion sense. Vendors still cook up classic Korean dishes, but you’ll also find Western fast-food chains around every corner. 

There are plenty of fun things to do in Seoul to keep you busy. The city boasts some excellent museums, bustling markets, charming parks, and some pretty wild nightlife. here you can take pleasure in a hike up in the mountains during the day and kick back in a massive day spa complex at night. 

I nearly moved to Seoul. It came down to the Korean capital or Beijing, and I opted for the latter so I could check out the 2008 Olympics and study Chinese. We checked out Seoul a few times when we were living in China and had a blast on each trip.

It’s absolutely one of my favorite cities in Asia, and I’m actually returning in 2020 to explore a lot more of the awesome places to visit in the city. 

For a in-depth look at what to do in Seoul, read on for some of the very best things to do in South Korea’s capital.

Sisällysluettelo
1. explore ancient Palaces
2. visit The Jongmyo Shrine
3. Hike around Namsan Park and N Seoul Tower
4. See standard Hanok Homes
5. indulge in Korean Cuisine
6. walk Along The Cheonggye Stream
7. visit a Jimjilbang (one of the most relaxing things to do in Seoul!)
8. snap photos at Ihwa Mural Village
9. visit the national museum of Korea
10. try Soju
11. peruse local Markets
12. walk Along Seoullo 7017
13. fun on the River
14. explore Bukhansan national Park
15. Experience the Nightlife
Ready for the fantastic things to do in Seoul?
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1. explore ancient Palaces

We’ll begin our journey around Seoul by stepping into the city’s past. The Joseon Dynasty was the last kingdom in Korea, enduring from 1392 up until 1910. Over the centuries, the Joseon kings built several palaces here. checking out a few of the five Grand Palaces must be atop your list of things to do in Seoul.

There are five different palaces that you can visit — Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, and Gyeonghuigung. I provided them in buy from the most excellent to the smallest. Gyeongbokgung is absolutely the grandest of them all, while Gyeonghuigung is normally overlooked. 

How lots of of the palaces you decide to see depends entirely on how long you have in Seoul and what your interests are. At the very least, you must absolutely check out Gyeongbokgung. The name indicates “Palace Greatly blessed by Heaven,” and it’s a beautiful place to explore. 

Those who have a strong interest in Korean history and culture would do well to add a few a lot more palaces to their itinerary. Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung are ideal next door to each other so it’s easy to hit both in half a day. The former is especially great to visit thanks to its tranquil “secret garden.” 

Gyeongbokgung is open every day (except for Tuesday) from 9:00 AM to either 5:00 or 6:30 PM. between 11:00 and 3:00pm, they do a changing of the guard ceremony every hour on the hour. There are also complimentary excursions in English that start at 11:00, 1:30 and 3:30. Tickets cost about $2.50.

They’re both open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00-5:30 or 6:30. Tickets cost $2.50 for Changdeokgung and an extra $4 or so to visit the gardens. Meanwhile, Changgyeonggung costs less than a dollar. You can also snag combination tickets that grant you access to all of the palaces plus the Jongmyo Shrine for about $8.50.

For a guided morning walking tour, which includes a visit to Gyeongbokgung, click here, or the image below to learn more.

2. visit The Jongmyo Shrine

Next on our list of things to do in Seoul is this Confucian shrine. It’s a UNESCO world Heritage site and an crucial part of the city’s history.

During the Joseon Dynasty, this was a place of worship for the kings. Here, they would do a memorial ritual known as Jongmyo Jaerye for the deceased royalty. These conTähän päivään asti tavanomaisen musiikin ja tanssin mukana. Sanotaan, että musiikki kutsuu heidän henkensä palaamaan taivaista.

Jongmyo -pyhäkkö on avoinna joka päivä paitsi tiistaina. Arkisin ja sunnuntaisin voit käydä vain osana kiertuetta. Heidän englanninkieliset retkensä tapahtuvat klo 10.00, 12:00, 2:00 ja 4:00. Siirry sinne lauantaina tai kuukauden viimeisenä keskiviikkona tutkiaksesi pyhäkköä yksin.

Liput maksavat vajaat 1 dollaria Jongmyo -pyhäkköltä, jos sinulla ei ole yhdistelmäkorttia. Vierailu pyhäkkään on helppo yhdistää matkoihin läheisiin palatseihin. Napsauta tätä saadaksesi ohjeet.

3. Vaellus Namsan Parkin ja N Soulin tornin ympärillä

Huolimatta siitä, että Soul on edelleen yli 25 miljoonan megacity, se on edelleen paljon poikkeuksellisia julkisia puistoja. Kaupungin suurin puisto on Namsan (South Mountain), ja se on loistava paikka vierailla.

Etelä -korealaiset rakastavat retkeilyä, ja Namsanissa on paljon polkuja. Paeta kaupungin kadujen kaaosta hiukan ja kävele huipulle. 262 metrin korkeudessa sinulla on ilo joitain eeppisiä näkemyksiä Soulista täältä.

Vielä paremmasta näkymästä siirry N Soulin tornin yläosaan. Tämä lisää vielä 262 metriä ja toimittaa kaupungin parhaat panoraamat. Se on avoinna joka päivä klo 9–23 tai keskiyötä ja maksaa noin 9 dollaria aikuisille. Voit myös hemmotella hämmästyttävää ateriaa N Soulin tornin yläosassa napsauttamalla tätä saadaksesi tietoja siitä.

Varmista, että lisäät matkan puistoon ja tornin yläosaan reittisuunnitelmaan, tämä on yksi Soulin ylimmistä nähtävyyksistä. Puistoon pääsylle on useita sisäänkäyntejä. Tarkista kartta ohjeiden varalta.

4. Katso tavalliset Hanok -kodit

Yksi asia, jota rakastan Soulissa, on se, kuinka tyytyväinen kaupunki on menneisyydestään. On hienoa nähdä, kuinka tämä tulevaisuuden vilkas kaupunki pitää edelleen perinteitä. Namsangol Hanok -kylä on yksi parhaimmista paikoista välttää kuluneiden vuosien Souliin.

Vaikka massiiviset huoneisto- tai huoneistorakennukset hallitsevat Soulin taivaanrantaa nykyään, täällä ihmiset asuivat tavallisissa Hanok -kodeissa. Kourallinen näistä on kunnostettu ja täynnä antiikkikalusteita, taidetta ja muita taloustavaroita. Se on mielenkiintoinen kontrasti, joka kävelee kunnostettujen Hanok -kodeiden ympärillä, kun näet etäisyydessä nousevat nosturit, rakentaen huomisen Soulin.

Täältä löydät myös kaupungin tuhannen vuoden aikakapselin. Tämä haudattiin tänne vuonna 1994 Mark Soulin 600 -vuotisjuhlaan, ja se avataan vuonna 2394 vuosituhannen juhlallisuudestaan.

Hanok -kylä sijaitsee Namsanin juurella, napsauta tätä saadaksesi ohjeet. Se on avoinna tiistaista sunnuntaihin klo 9–18 tai klo 21.00 kuukaudesta riippuen. Mikä parasta, se on ehdottoman ilmaista käydä! Jos haluat yhdistää Hanok -kylän joihinkin yllä oleviin palatsiin, tutustu tähän kävelykierrokseen.

5. Hemmottele koreaa keittiötä

Jos et koskaan ole varma siitä, mitä Soulissa tehdä, lopeta vain välipala. Jokaisella kadulla on niin paljon suussa sulavaa korealaista ruokaa, joten kaivaa sisään!

Kun se liittyy korealaiseen ruokaan, Kimchi on kuningas. Tätä mausteista, käymää kaalia pidetään Korean kansallisena ruokia. Se on pöydällä jokaisessa ateriassa ja on olennainen osa korealaista kulttuuria.

Vaikka Kimchi on herkullinen, se on paljon enemmän sivua kuin ateria. Itse asiassa korealaisissa aterioissa on yleensä joukko puolia, jotka tunnetaan yhdessä nimellä Banchan. Kimchin lisäksi muut puolet vaihtelevat perunan pannukakkuista, rullattuista omletteista ja tofu -hautuksista soijakastikkeeseen. Yksi parhaimmista osista korealaisen ruoan syömisessä on saada monien ruokia yhdessä istunnossa tuntematta syyllisyyttä!

Siellä on niin paljon maukkaita korealaisia ​​aterioita, että tämä opas jatkuu ikuisesti, jos puhuisin niistä kaikista. Varmista ehdottomasti, että kokeile joitain bibimbapia (sekoitettua riisiä), japchaea (sekoitettuja nuudeleita) ja tietysti korealaisia ​​bbq. Osta lautanen bulgogi (marinoitua naudanlihaa), heitä se grillille ja valmistaudu poikkeukselliseen ateriaan.

Read More: how to eat Your way through South Korea on a Budget

6. walk Along The Cheonggye Stream

Since you’ll be stuffing your face with delectable Korean snacks for a few days, it’s a good idea to lace up your walking shoes. Thankfully this bustling metropolis is actually quite pedestrian-friendly. 

One of the best places to choose a stroll in Seoul is along the Cheonggye Stream. There was a stream here lots of centuries ago during the Joseon Dynasty. Makeshift homes along the stream led the city to build a road over it at one point to kick the people out.

Thankfully, Seoul has been striving towards a lot more environmentally-friendly development in recent decades. The city made a decision to restore the stream and set up a great pedestrian path along it. While it took several years and a lot of money, it’s mainly checked out as a success.

Walking along the stream feels absolutely removed from the busy city streets, as it’s a few meters below street level. It’s particularly picturesque at night when you can see a light and sound show on some of the fountains. You can head to the Cheonggye Plaza and start from there.

7. visit a Jimjilbang (one of the most relaxing things to do in Seoul!)

One of the quintessential things to do in Seoul is chilling out at a jimjilbang. “What on earth is a jimjilbang?”, you may be asking. Well, this is a little slice of heaven ideal in the middle of Seoul.

Basically, a jimjilbang is a large facility for relaxation and entertainment. They typically have a variety of pools and saunas in addition to day spa treatments, restaurants, arcades, and so much more. A trip to a jimjilbang is always high on my list of things to do in Seoul.

There are lots of premium jimjilbang across the city, but on both of our visits to Seoul, we frequented Dragon Hill. This huge complex has it all, including a full gym and a cinema. Admission is good for 12 hours here, so you can even save on a night of accommodation costs and just crash in the sleeping room.

Tickets cost $11 during the day from Monday to Friday and about $13.50 for nights, weekends, and holidays. It’s always open 24/7 so you can come anytime you like! Napsauta tätä saadaksesi ohjeet.

8. snap photos at Ihwa Mural Village

If you’re trying to find that best artsy pic to post to the ‘gram, head on over to the Ihwa Mural Village. once upon a time, this neighborhood was slated to be demolished. The city started a public art project here in 2006 to try and save the area, with about 70 artists participating.

While lots of are delighted with the results of the project, it hasn’t been all great for residents. lots of complain about the noise and litter that tourists bring with them. Some residents even painted over some of the most popular murals to try and deter visitors. Not everyone was delighted that their neighborhood unexpectedly became a vacationer attraction.

That being said, it’s still worth it to visit, especially if you take pleasure in street art and photography. just remember that this is a residential area and show the proper respect to locals. As long as you’re not poking into people’s homes and snapping pictures of them, you’ll have a pleasurable experience.

Try to speak some Korean to locals and drop into local services for a snack or drink to show your support. Ihwa Mural village is located on a hilltop near Naksan Park. Napsauta tätä saadaksesi ohjeet.

9. visit the national museum of Korea

Learning a lot more about Korean history and art is absolutely one of the best things to do in Seoul. That’s why you’ll want to be sure to include a stop at the national museum of Korea on your itinerary.

This is far and away the largest and a lot of crucial museum in the country. learn about ancient history up to early modern times as you visit exhibitions on painting, calligraphy, Asian arts, and more. 

The national museum is open every day at 10 AM. It stays open until 6 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 7 on Sunday, and 9 on Wednesday and Saturday. It’s located in Yongsan Park (click here to get directions) and is complimentary to visit the main exhibitions. 

10. try Soju

No post on what to do in Seoul would be complete without a bit of soju. Korea’s a lot of popular booze is generally distilled from rice, bar

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