6 Best Things to Do in Seoul
One of my favorite cities that I have ever been to. I fell in love with this city because of these 6 things to see! If you experience all 6, you will love it too. Even if you don’t experience all 6, you will probably still really love it.
Myeongdong Street Shopping
The reason I loved staying in the Myeong-dong district is because of all the shopping, restaurants, and bars there are right around the corner. Like Japan’s Shinjuku area and Times Square in NYC, this area is also going to be lit up with all different colors and advertisements. Some of your best shopping can be done here. South Korea is known for its skincare and cosmetics so definitely get yourself a few options. I got a face mask and even though I couldn’t read any of the directions or ingredients, it felt amazing on my skin. This street may be swamped with tourists but it’s a place that the locals love to go to too. There are many restaurants and cafes to choose from but trying the street food here is a must as well. This street shopping is located a five-minute walk from the Myeong-dong station or the Euljiro 1-ga station. If you are exiting the Myeong-dong take exit 6 and it will be right around the corner. It is a big shopping area and is hard not to stumble upon if you are walking around the Myeong-dong district. The exact location for reference would be Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul.
If you are walking around you may already stumble upon the Myeongdong Cathedral but since you are in the area this is another beautiful sight to see. –
Insadong
Another shopping area and even though I’ve given you two already, this is much different than the two above. In Insadong you are going to have amazing street food, amazing restaurants, and tons of activities to do. Some of the things you can see in this area are the Topgol Park or the Buddhist temple Jogyesa. For my tea lovers there is also a Tea museum. This district is going to be very busy. It is said to have a long history and quite a mix between old Seoul and new Seoul. As I’ve said you can find temples and old architecture in the mindset of shopping buildings and restaurants.
The reason we went to this area and something I suggest doing is going to the Poop Cafe. No that is not a typo that is an actual cafe that is solely based on using the restroom. Don’t let the name or the idea of it steer you from the cafe, the food and coffee are good here. I highly suggest trying a waffle, they give it to you on a urinal-shaped plate and it is so cool. The coffee, lattes, and teas can all come in a toilet bowl if this is something that interests you. Make sure to ask for your drinks to be put in the toilet bowl. It is such a funny concept and we had a ball. The only bad part about this poop cafe is that it is hard to find. Don’t give up looking for it though. This cafe is so worth it because it symbolizes good luck and fortune in South Korea. The cafe is located on the top floor of a 4 story building that has a courtyard in the middle of the building. Here is the address: Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul South Korea and the market you are going to be looking for is Ddong Cafe.
Namdaemun Market
This market isn’t going to be colorful like the Myeongdong shopping and this is because it is more of a traditional market. It first opened in 1964 and allows many retailers around the world to sell their products here. I was told that these retailers all make their goods from hand and you will find great wholesale prices here. It is closed on Sundays but does have overnight hours between 11 pm to 4 am. You can find everything at this market from clothes to fine arts, and even flowers. This is the place to spend some of your money. The closest station will be Hoehyeon Station exit 5. The exact address will be 21, Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul. This is going to be the perfect place to buy souvenirs for your loved ones.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
This was honestly one of my favorite things we saw in Seoul. If you take your time and enjoy the scenery, you can easily spend half of a day here. This Palace is the biggest palace and a crowd favorite even with the locals. This palace was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. It does cost to get inside but it’s only 3000 won (2.71 USD) for adults and it’s highly worth it. Different operating hours are depending on the season but it always opens at 9 am. Take your time and enjoy all that it has to offer because it’s truly beautiful. I wouldn’t suggest going as early as possible, it was empty when we first got there but got crowded very quickly.
Bukchon Hanok Village
In the surrounding areas of the Gyeongbokgung Palace is the Bukchon Hanok Village/ This village is a traditional Korean village. Its unique buildings and true historical architecture is located at the top of the hill between Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace and Jongmyo Royal Shrine. It is very easy to find but here is its address as well: South Korea, Seoul, Jongno-gu, Gahoe-dong, 계동길 37. There are also options to book a traditional guest house to stay for a few nights which is located in the heart of the village. We didn’t stay a night but if I ever go back to Seoul, I will absolutely be doing staying at least one night here. It’s such a great way to tap into the true culture and history of Seoul.
One thing we did while in this area was go to the Tea House. It is called Cha-teul and it is the cutest place ever. Like many traditional tea houses, you will be sitting on the floor and you will have to take your shoes off at the door, truly a unique and beautiful experience. Cha-teul is located perched on a small hill and overlooks the beautiful landscape full of mountains. We ordered one green tea and one unique fancy tea with fruit and floral flavors. The address of this tea house is 26 Bukchon-ro 11na-gil, Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
N Seoul Tower
Last but not least. This Tower is going to give you the best view in Seoul. This is a communications tower that is located at the top of the Namsan mountain. This tower is centrally located and a walking distance from the Myeong-dong station. It was built in 1969 and now has an observatory deck, souvenir shop, and museum. There are a couple of options when getting to the top of the tower. You can either ride a cable car for almost 8 USD or you can walk/mostly hike up the mountain which is 2 km or 1.25 miles. The hardest part about this walk is that it’s very steep. Other than that, I highly suggest it because it’s free and it gives you incredible views along the way to the top. I highly suggest wearing comfy clothes and shoes if you plan on walking it. This tower is a very high tourist destination but the views are worth the crowd.
Pro tip grab yourself a Love Lock ahead of time or on the mountain. Write something beautiful on it and save it for when you get to the top. At the top of the Tower, you begin to see thousands upon thousands of love locks all intertwined with each other. It is so beautiful and fun way to leave your mark on such a unique and incredible city.
P.S. And one last pro tip, don’t do the hike if you are hungover or tired or didn’t bring comfortable walking shoes. It is a tough walk and like I said is an upward incline the whole way. This is me after a long night of drinking and bar hopping. I just had to share the amazing capture my husband got, THANKS dmoney.
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