Best Things To Do In The Stupendous Seoul

It could be its attractive K-pop music that instantly sticks in your head, or maybe those mind-boggling Korean series on Netflix keep you on the edge of your seat, or the Oscar-winning films that surprised us all…… or perhaps it is something else. While we may not know the reason behind its insanely growing popularity, we know for sure that South Korea is kind of big news these days.

With its increasing fame, South Korea has become a fixture on the bucket list of many travellers worldwide, especially its capital, Seoul. Take an in-depth look into the country’s largest metropolis, Seoul, which is full of amusing things to do and places to visit.

While you may not run into your favourite character from the popular Netflix series Squid Game while walking around the city, we assure you that you will be pleased with the other great things and people you will encounter while in Seoul. Covering all the must-do things and must-visit places in the city, here is our list of the best things to do and places to visit in Seoul.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

If you are new to South Korean history, here is a small introduction: In ancient times, the country was ruled by different dynasties. The most famous dynasty would probably be the Joseon dynasty, which ruled the region for around five centuries. There is a long list of architectural masterpieces that belonged to the Joseon dynasty, but the Gyeongbokgung Palace rests at the top of that list.

The Gyeongbokgung Palace complex was the royal residence for over 200 years in ancient times. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best-preserved of the five remaining Joseon palaces in Seoul.

After breathing in the beauty of the palace’s view, make sure to snap a good photo of its wood and stone pillars, pagodas, and buildings, which will sweep you off your feet with their stunning appearance.

Next on the list while you are at the Gyeongbokgung Palace is paying a visit to the National Fold Museum, housed within the palace’s grounds. A visit to the museum will take you on a journey to the past with the exhibited replicas of artefacts that present the daily life of ancient Korean people who lived under the rule of the Joseon dynasty. Another must-visit location inside the palace is its secret garden with its breathtaking landscaped lawns, lotus pond, and ornate pavilions. Visiting the Gyeongbokgung Palace is a must in Seoul; it’s a beautiful place with a profound old-world charm.

Next Stop: The Bongeunsa Temple

With a delicate grace and tranquil ambience that you sense from the moment you step on its ground, you immediately know that the Bongeunsa Temple is a mesmerizing place. It is one of the top things to do while visiting the city of Seoul. The temple was built in the region of Wonseong of Silla, the 38th ruler of the Korean kingdom of Silla, around the year 794, and it was known as the Gyeonseongsa Temple at that time.

Years later, specifically in 1498, Queen Jeonghyeon, Queen consort of Joseon, ordered the temple’s renovation and changed its name to the Bongeunsa Temple. The Buddhist temple is positioned on the slope of Sudo Mountain, near the COEX Mall.

Besides admiring the temple’s brilliant facade, we recommend enlisting in the Temple Stay program, which the temple offers. The program lets you experience the life of a monk and many other traditions related to the temple’s history. It is an incredible experience that you won’t regret.

However, please don’t end your tour without taking a good shot of the Elephant in the room, AKA the grand Buddha statue and its smaller companions, which decorate the circular arena. You can end your tour with a great view of the temple from one of the many restaurants nearby, where you can enjoy an authentic Korean meal.

Bukchon Hanok Village….

With a strategic location on the top of a hill between Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace, and Jongmyo Royal Shrine, the traditional Korean village Bukchon Hanok Village is a must-visit in Seoul.  A visit to Bukchon Hanok Village is a guaranteed trip to another world. Reminding us of that old neighbourhood in famous Korean dramas, the Bukchon Hanok village is the home of hundreds of traditional houses that date back to the Joseon dynasty.

Many of the village’s houses have turned into guesthouses, cultural centres, tea houses, and restaurants, which provide visitors with an opportunity to learn, experience, and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture. Something to consider: The village is still an actual neighbourhood with people’s homes, so respect that while you have your tour and enjoy the place.

Oppa Gangnam Style

Whether it is the song that made you hear about the neighbourhood or the place’s high-class reputation, Gangnam is a place you just have to visit while in Seoul. To clarify this district’s importance, let’s put it this way…… Gangnam is Seoul’s Upper West Side.

Gangnam is the third largest district and the central business district of Seoul. The neighbourhood is as upscaling and modern as a district could be. In most upper-class district streets, you will find skyscrapers and designer brands. The district is also the home of the famous Starfield COEX Mall. Inside the mall, you will find some vast convention centres and exhibition halls that host many international expos and conferences.

Shopping at the luxury shops of Gangnam is undoubtedly something you must do. As for night lovers, then Gangnam is your city! When the night comes, the fashionable district hosts the country’s best DJs at its many VIP nightclubs.

Leeum Samsung Museum of Art

The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art is not your typical museum where you see some old works of art…… No, not here! The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art combines ancient and contemporary works from local Korean and international artists.

The museum features three structures designed by the architectural stars Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas. It has something for everyone and surely deserves a visit. Of all the things we have seen in the museum, we fell in love with the sculpture garden; make sure to visit this one….it is spectacular!

N Seoul Tower

Offering the best panorama of the city, N Seoul Tower is a gorgeous town in Seoul, famous for its pointy summit and wrap-around observatory tower. At 480 m above sea level, you will have Seoul at your feet while standing on the top of N Seoul Tower’s summit.

It doesn’t take much to know that the whole area around the tower is an excellent spot for lovers with romance everywhere around. Speaking of which, couples can leave behind actual proof of their love around the tower’s base. Around the tower’s base, you will find the Locks of Love area, where couples and friends leave their locks, hoping for a long-lasting relationship…… Just like in the film To All The Boys I Loved Before…. How cute!

After leaving your lock, stop at the bedazzling Palgakjeong Pavilion, where you will enjoy one of the best views ever. We highly recommend going there to watch the sunset…… Oh, how beautiful!

Seoul Animation Center

This is a dream come true for all comic fanatics! Located in downtown Seoul, the Seoul Animation Center is a cultural complex of animation and cartoons with a Comics Café and Ani Picnic. On the first floor, you will find the Comics Café, which offers content from more than 30,000 of the latest and old comics, both from South Korea and international ones.

On the second floor is the Ani Picnic, an experiential zone offering visitors the chance to meet famous characters from Korean comic series customized to a theme of travelling in Seoul. You will encounter Some of the characters from well-known shows like Super Wings, Pororo, Slow Sloth Neul, Turning Mecard, and Alice in Wonderland.

A trip to the Seoul Animation Center is so much fun for you and your children, and it is one of the top things to do while visiting Seoul.

The Seoul Forest

If it is not the viral cultural attractions that made you think of Seoul as a vacation destination, then it is most probably a photo of its glorious forest that you must have seen somewhere. The Seoul Forest is a vast park that houses over 400,000 trees and 100 different animals. The forest has outdoor classrooms, including the Experiential Learning Park and the Marsh Plant Garden.

The forest also includes an Ecological Forest where you can see elks, ducks, chipmunks, and moorhens, with an observatory for closer viewing. As for family activities, there is the Cultural Art Park, the right place for activities for children like skateboarding and water play. Offering a peaceful and pleasant atmosphere, the Seoul Forest is one of the best places to visit in Seoul.

The Guinness Book of World Records’ Bukhansan National Park

When a place gets listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the highest place to have visitors per year, you know this is a place you must visit. The Bukhansan National Park is on the Guinness Book of World Records list for a breaking 5 million visitors per year, and once you step inside the park, you will know why this is well-deserved!

The beautiful Bukhansan National Park is 79.92 km2 and famous for its forested areas, granite peaks, and temples. The park is popular with hikers and Seoul residents, and we highly recommend hiking there during your stay. It is one of the most amazing things to do in Seoul—so relaxing!

Time for Some Thrill!

Seoul has three big amusement parks, which absolutely deserve a visit. The first one is Lotte World, which has the world’s largest indoor theme park, in addition to another outdoor amusement park called Magic Island. Magic Island is truly magical! Magic Land is an artificial island located inside a lake tied with a monorail, a luxury hotel, shopping malls, a Korean folk museum, and movie theaters…. How cool is that?

There is also Overland Park, which is located near Seoul. Everland Park is South Korea’s largest theme park, and it is so much more than an ordinary theme park. The park is divided into five intriguing-themed zones: American Adventure, Magic Land, Global Fair, European Adventure, and Zootopia…. Nope, not the movie; there is no cute bunny officer or hustler fox here.

Fun for all ages, Everland offers its visitors a wide variety of great ride options.  On top of the list of these rides is the T-Express, Korea’s first wooden roller coaster. It is worth mentioning that the T-Express is also the world’s top 10 fastest wooden roller coaster, going at 104km/h, with the highest drop at 46m, the steepest drop at 77 degrees, and the longest at 1.64km. Speaking from experience here, the T-Express is an exciting ride you must try.

Next, one of the things to do at Everland Park is enjoy its unique Zootopia. Zootopia, again, not the movie, is a 15,000-square-foot㎡ area exhibiting 2,000 animals from 201 different species. You will enjoy seeing the animals at ease while riding on the bus, which sometimes becomes a boat to cross the river. A safari area also features lions, tigers, and bears, and you can feed the animals up close.

Another major attraction of Everland is its water park or Caribbean Bay, filled with fun and thrilling adventures for you and your whole family.

The third amusement park to consider visiting in Seoul is Seoul Land, located outside Seoul. While it is smaller than Everland, the park still offers some excellent options, with over 40 rides to choose from, including roller coasters. There are also movie theatres. The park also hosts seasonal festivals; we recommend checking if there is any seasonal festival available while you are there; you will enjoy it.

Street Food? YES, PLEASE!

One of the best things you can do while in Seoul is hunt down and try the city’s mouthwatering street food. While South Korea may have talented singers and brilliant dramas, the country also has some insanely delicious street food you will never find anywhere else. Korean street food is so good that it deserves a trip.

The perfect place to get introduced to Korean street food is the Gwangjang Market. It is one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea, and it is full of delicious foods that you just have to try.

On our list of recommendations for the food to try, well…EVERYTHING! But if we have to choose, you should start with the Tteokbokki. This is a spicy rice cake, and it is one of the most famous street foods in South Korea. Odeng, AKA Fish cake, or as we call it, is the famous food every character in almost every Korean drama we have seen has been eating! Odenge is a fish cake skewered on a stick, and it is served with broth. it is so good!

Next on the list is the yummy Gyeranppang; this is called Egg bread, it has a muffin-like appearance, with egg on top, and it is served with sweet and savory flavors. You probably know this next one: Myeongdong is a corn dog, but Korean corn dogs are unlike any other! The Koreans added their magical touch to the American dish, adding so many tasty things to the outer batter of the corn dog. In South Korea, you will find octopus corn dogs and French fries corn dogs, among others.

Another American cuisine dish is pancakes. In South Korea, there is the street food Hotteok, which is basically a stuffed pancake. With Hotteok, Koreans took the pancake to the next level! There are sweet pancakes with cinnamon, chopped peanuts, or dark brown sugar. There are also savoury pancakes, like the ones with kimchi or Japchae.

Adding their touch to the ordinary pancakes, there is a Korean street food called Pajeon, which is a savoury pancake. What makes this one different from the regular pancakes is this one’s batter, which is made of wheat flour, rice flour, eggs, and scallions. There are so many good Pajeons to try, like the bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), haemuljeon (seafood pancake), gochujeon (green chilli pepper pancake), kimchi-jeon (kimchi pancake), and soegogi-jeon (beef pancake).

Another K-drama regular is that fish-shaped cake, which they keep eating and saying how yummy it is. Well, they are right; the Bungeoppang, the fish-shaped bread, is so yummy that you cannot stop eating it. The fish-shaped pastry comes with sweet red bean paste filling and gets cooked in a fish-shaped mould until ready. We recommend trying this one with vanilla ice cream; it would be perfect!

Another food you should try while at the market is green-covered, kind-of-looking sushi, but not Kimbap. Kimbap, or seaweed rice roll, is basically the Korean take on Japanese sushi. It consists of steamed rice, vegetables, and meat fillings wrapped with a sheet of roasted seaweed. You can find lots of these in the market.

There is also the Japchae, an authentic Korean dish made of stir-fried glass noodles that are initially made of starch or, as the Koreans call it, dangmyeon. Along with the noodles, the dish also includes fried vegetables and several toppings like carrots, egg strips, spinach, mushrooms, marinated slices of beef, and then some sesame seeds.

Saving the best for last, the Yangnyeom tongdak is the Korean fried chicken. If you are a fan of K-drama, then you must already know this. How is it different from any other fried chicken? Well, this one is different because of the chicken’s crispy, paper-thin skin that will surprise you with every bite. Koreans fry their chicken twice to ensure it is extra crispy, and they know what they are doing! When eating the chicken, we recommend doing it Korean-style and pairing it with some cold beer.

Seoul is one of the most beautiful cities in all of Asia. It is more than just attractive locations in Korean dramas or K-pop music videos. Seoul is full of fun and unique things to do, and some breathtaking places that deserve the trip…… not to mention their insanely delicious food, which would leave you coming back for more and more. It would be a shame not to have the city of Seoul on your bucket list; trust us, you don’t want to miss the chance to explore this beautiful city.