12 TOP places in Seoul
In the next post, I’ll go into more detail about the places I visited, and today we’ll start right away with the capital - SEOUL. It’s huge! Nearly 10 million people live here, so even in two weeks we wouldn’t be able to see everything. I’ll try to give you at least a brief overview, without getting too bogged down in details, and instead I’ll share some photos so you can get a sense of it for yourselves.
Transport from the airport
I outlined our experiences with transportation in Korea and using the T-Money card in my previous article, so here I’ll just explain the most convenient way to get to downtown Seoul.
- from INCHEON - the largest airport in Korea, located west of Seoul. The fastest option is the Arex train, which has two lines. The Orange Express takes you directly to Seoul Station in the city center in 43 minutes without a single stop. A ticket costs 13,000 won and can be purchased with a card at the airport. The slower version of the Arex is the Blue Line; it stops at every station, so the ride takes about an hour. However, it costs only 4,750 won (or even less with T-Money).
- from GIMPO - this airport is located closer to the city center; from here, you can also take the blue AREX line or hop directly onto subway lines 5 and 9.
Where to stay in Seoul?
So where should you stay in a city of ten million people? Where’s the best place to set out on excursions without breaking the bank? Because of the crowds, I ruled out Myeongdong and Gangnam, even though they’re recommended everywhere. Pushing through crowds with two kids (and a stroller) just isn’t high on my list of priorities. At the same time, however, I focused my attention on the central part of Seoul and, most importantly... on being close to the subway.
In the end, we decided to stay in the Jongno district for three nights, specifically Amare Hotel Jongno, and it was great! Nice, modern, and spacious rooms within walking distance of many interesting places. The price of 96 € per night for a triple room also included a simple breakfast (eggs, sausages, toast, vegetables, jam), which is pretty good for Seoul. We spent our last night in Korea in an apartment Binna Stay in the Itaewon area, where we enjoyed a bit more privacy with two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a rooftop terrace. The owner’s incredibly helpful attitude is also worth mentioning, so for 104 €/night, we were completely satisfied. Alternatively, check out some of my other recommendations:
- cheaper: In the Jongno district, you can get by on as little as 80 €, for example
Rian Hotel or The Prima Hotel Jongno, In the more touristy Myeongdong, expect to pay around 100 €,
for example Stanford Hotel or Metro Hotel
- more expensive: try one of the classic hotel rooms Marriott Executive Apartment or Westin Josun Seoul Hotel, and if you want a real treat, check out Nostalgia Hanok Hotel or Josun Palace
What should you not miss in Seoul?
1. Gyeongbokgung - there are five main royal palaces in Seoul, but be warned—they have some pretty tongue-twisting names: Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Gyeonghuigung, Changdeokgung, and Gyeongbokgung. The last two are the most visited, as both feature the regular changing of the guard. I recommend timing your visit so you can witness this—it’s a very nice spectacle, complete with commentary. Otherwise, in my opinion, unless you’re particularly fond of palaces, seeing just one is enough, because—as silly as it may sound—they’re very similar. Gyeongbokgung is officially the main palace (closed on Tuesdays), Changdeokgung the secondary one (closed on Mondays), but the latter has even made it onto the UNESCO list, and with a special ticket, you can also access the area known as the Secret Garden.
|
|
From a practical standpoint, we chose Gyeongbokgung because the Folk Museum, which was our next stop, is right next door. Admission costs just 3,000 won (about 2 €), which I think is negligible given how vast the palace grounds are. Alternatively, if you’re wearing a hanbok - the traditional Korean costume - you get in for free. You can rent hanboks at popular tourist spots, like around the palaces or in Bukchon. Renting such a dress starts at around 15,000 won; the rest depends on your specific choice - whether you want to get your hair done, rent a handbag, shoes, etc. Strolling around and taking photos in hanbok is definitely one of the most popular activities in Seoul.
|
|
2. Folk Museum of Korea - A museum showcasing the life of the Korean people throughout the centuries. It’s very well done, but I won’t go into too much detail—just the essentials: admission is free, and you can find information on opening hours here. And if you’re in Korea with kids, be sure to check out the children’s section - the Children’s Museum. It has its own entrance, operates on a timed-entry basis, and is also free. Essentially, it’s a playroom with a variety of activities (for preschoolers); in 2025, one room was themed around bunnies and the other around nightlife—both were absolutely awesome.
|
|
|
|
You can get to the top by cable car (info and prices here) or by bus, or you can hike up on your own. In addition to the views, you’ll also find plenty of places to grab a bite to eat, a large arcade with slot machines, and the chance to leave a memento of your visit to Seoul in the form of a padlock on the railing. A padlock vending machine is, of course, available :)
|
|
4. Bukchon Hanok Village - A neighborhood with traditional Korean houses - hanoks - which, by the way, are still inhabited, so a little consideration is definitely in order. Many of them now house various tea houses, cafes, or small shops, but overall, it’s a lovely sight. Just be prepared for crowds, because Bukchon is considered a must-see when visiting Seoul. This is where you’ll find tons of people posing in hanbok, but if you venture off the “main” street, you’re sure to find some quieter spots.
|
|
There are plenty of access routes and trails; you can find detailed descriptions here or in this PDF. We chose the entrance near the Muakdong Community Service Center and then combined it with the Seonbawi Trail so we could see the rock formations and walk along the city walls. A short distance from this entrance is a playground, and from here you can connect to the Seoul City Trail (156.5 km) or the Seoul City Wall Trail (18.6 km), which runs along the aforementioned defensive walls, with Inwangsan Mountain being one of several sections. You can hike all these trails in Seoul completely free of charge, just keep in mind that they’re closed on Mondays. Yes, even the forest takes a break on Mondays in Korea :)
|
|
6. Insadong - A plethora of tea houses, cafés, restaurants, souvenir shops, and vendors selling Korean taffy-ta-ra - thin strands of honey and malt wrapped around nuts or chocolate. The highest concentration of these spots awaits you on Insadong Culture Street, but there are plenty of other places nearby that would be a shame to miss. Here are just a few of them:
- Unhyeongung Palace - a royal residence with completely free admission. We really liked it here because you can at least peek into many of the rooms, which isn’t usually possible in royal palaces. Oh, and we were pretty much alone here, too :)
|
|
|
|
- Ssamzigil - A small, nicely decorated shopping center that’s packed with little “craft” shops. Think of all sorts of original, designer, and personalized pouches, trinkets, charms, pictures, and more.
|
|
- Ikseodong Hanok village - hanoks are back in action! There are plenty of modern and themed spots here, most of them with beautiful outdoor seating areas - like a café where it’s always raining (Rain Report), or a café that feels like a train station (Nakwonst), and so on.
.jpg)
|
|
- Jogyesa temple -A beautiful Buddhist temple whose history dates back to the 14th century. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by - there are lanterns hanging all around, and the whole place has such a peaceful atmosphere.
|
|
- Color Pool Museum - a colorful museum with a few rooms filled with plastic balls and various photo spots. It’s located right inside the Anyoung Insadong shopping complex, and you can find their official website here. Anyway, this was primarily an outing for Nina and Jonáš, who were thrilled, but I wouldn’t really recommend going there on your own as adults, because there isn’t much to do, and it’s definitely not worth the money, especially since a lot of the attractions weren’t even working.
|
|
|
|
- Tapgol Park - have you seen The Squid Game? If so, you might remember the scene where the recruiter is signing up new players and offers them either a winning lottery ticket or bread if they win - that scene was filmed right here. And aside from the show, you can also see the massive ten-story pagoda and pavilion here.
7. Cheonggyecheon - The nearly 11-kilometer-long stream flowing down from Inwangsan and through the city center. Originally, it was more like a sewer, whose condition continued to deteriorate until it was eventually covered over by a road. It wasn’t until 2003 that the local mayor decided to remove the concrete and restore the stream basin... which was a success, and greenery returned to Seoul. From a practical standpoint, I especially recommend a visit on sweltering summer days, when you can enjoy a pleasant walk in the shade, plus the chance to dip your feet in the water, watch the fish... or hop around on the rocks :)
|
|
8. HiKR Ground - a cultural center dedicated to K-pop, where you can check out modern exhibits or even create your own singing or dancing video. The floor with themed rooms is also popular here, as it’s perfect for taking photos - for example, a Korean laundromat, the Seoul subway, a space shuttle, and more. And here’s a bonus for you - HiKR is free. During our visit, it was closed due to an event, but the branch at the airport was open, where the kids had a blast with various screenings and a photo booth full of props. Check out the official website here.
9. War Memorial of Korea - a war memorial and museum commemorating Korean history. In addition to six indoor exhibition halls, the site features a very extensive open-air exhibition that includes airplanes, helicopters, heavy machinery, and even a battleship. You can touch most of the exhibits or climb right inside them - a feature that’s sure to delight visitors of all ages. Admission to all exhibits is free; comprehensive information can be found on the official website here.
What’s more, just like the Folk Museum, the War Memorial also has a children’s section, which we naturally couldn’t pass up. Once again, admission is by time slot, and visitors walk through several rooms with different themes. And if your little ones still haven’t had their fill, there’s a nice playground right next to the entrance to the children’s museum.
|
|
10. Hongdae - ladies and gentlemen, this is the only place where we really encountered crowds of people. This vibrant neighborhood is best known for shopping, fashion, culture, and street art. Hongik University is located here, so you mostly see younger people, and for me, it offers a pretty interesting glimpse into Korean society. We were particularly drawn to the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, a strip of greenery where a railway line used to run; now it’s a really loooong park lined with shops and cafés. Oh, and the kids were most excited about the Kakao Friends store in Hongdae—I recommend it to adults, too. Besides the cute stuffed animals, there’s also a themed café on the top floor.
|
|
|
|
11. Seoul Forest - an oasis of calm in the middle of the city—there’s really no other way to describe it. Picnic areas, benches, a pond, sports fields, a deer enclosure, a playground, bike rentals, a stream to dip your feet in, or even outdoor gyms - which, by the way, are actually used in Korea (especially by retirees!) - you’ll find it all here. So if you’re looking for a change from the bustling streets, this is a great choice.
|
|
12. Suwon - last but not least, I’d recommend a day trip to Suwon, which is about 30 km away. The advantage is that you can easily get there by subway directly from downtown Seoul, so you don’t need to buy any special tickets. And now, here’s why you should visit. The main reason is definitely Hwasong Fortress and the city walls, since Suwon is the only city in Korea with completely preserved fortifications. Thanks to this, it has even made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage List. A walk around the walls (or along them) is absolutely easy, and it’s entirely up to you how far you walk. While you’re in the city center, I recommend popping over to the famous Chicken Street, where you won’t have to worry about what to have for lunch. The choice is clear - FRIED chicken (not grilled). I didn’t have time to take a picture; it was really good :)
|
|
|
|
But there was one other place in Suwon that really caught my attention - the Starfield Library. There’s also a branch in Seoul’s Gangnam district, but I’ve heard the one in Suwon is even nicer. You’ll find the library at the Hwaseo subway station, inside a shopping mall where it spans several floors. As far as I’m concerned, it was one huge “wow”!
|
|
|
|
Accommodation in Suwon - In this city, we spent the night in a two-bedroom apartment, whose biggest advantage was its location near the city walls. So when we woke up in the morning, we were right in the heart of the action. The place is called Stay Warm and it came to 72 €. Alternatively, here are some other accommodation recommendations near the city walls, but keep in mind that Suwon doesn’t have nearly as many options as Seoul, so it’s best to book well in advance:
- cheaper: Yeoyeoje - for me, a beautiful, stylish hanok would be the obvious choice, or Suwon Sunstar Hotel, both options cost less than 80 € per night
- more expensive: Haenggung stay Dalno or Stay Hosa - beautiful and reasonably priced apartments
That wraps up our coverage of Seoul, and now you can join us as we head further south - to the coastal city of BUSAN. If this information has helped you save some time or money or both, you can "invite me for a coffee" and contribute to the running of Travel with Donuts :) account number / QR code: 1257951017/3030
Žádné komentáře: