Seoul was the 2nd city I visited in Asia. After spending 5 days in Tokyo, I was looking forward to South Korea. Seoul is a big city, and it had a different feel and speed compared to Tokyo. With only a few days in Seoul, I was determined to make the most of my stay.
I stayed at Golden Tulip M Hotel which was affordable, and the location was perfect. It is located in Jung-gu which is a great neighborhood for tourists. The room was clean, and the whole room was controlled by a remote control which I thought was really cool. I did not want to leave!
The reason why I chose Seoul was because I had a specific list of things I wanted to do in the city. I wanted to ski (it was my first time), and watching their famous comedic theatrical show JUMP. Here are the things I did in Seoul in 72 hours:
Coex Mall and Aquarium
I read up so much about Coex mall before visiting Seoul. I was aware it had an aquarium and decided to pay the aquarium a visit on my first day. Coex mall has a variety of stores and it is located in the Gangnam district of Seoul. I like aquariums because of the colorful display of fish and I was impressed with Coex aquarium. The aquarium displays a variety of fish, eels, crabs, jelly fish and other sea creatures. The Coex mall is big and boasts a number of stores. It was close to Christmas when I visited so, some stored had sales which I took advantage of.
The fish look so much colorful with flash
Colorful fish at Coex Aquarium
Fun fact: In 2010, the G20 Seoul summit was held in Gangnam.
Myeong-Dong
Busy street at Myeong-dong
Myeong-dong is a shopping district located in Jung-gu. It is a commercial area which attracts a lot of tourists and locals on a daily basis. South Korea is known as a major cosmetic hub therefore, a large number of South Korea’s most popular cosmetics can be found in this popular district.
Day trip to Vivaldi Ski Park
I booked a day trip to Vivaldi Ski park to experience skiing in South Korea. I bought the ticket for the day trip to Vivaldi on klook. The bus left from Seoul around 8AM and it took about 2 hours to get to Vivaldi from Seoul.
I should have probably taken some classes prior to taking a cable car to the top of the mountain and trying to ski down the slopes. Skiing looked so easy on TV and I felt I could get by easily. I was in for such a surprise because I was so bad at skiing. After falling several times, I was afraid I would roll all the way down to the base of the mountain. The paramedic helped me get to the bottom of the mountain by dragging me with his sled. It was both funny and embarrassing.
Tickets to sled
I ended up spending the rest of the day sledding instead since skiing just was not working out. I had a blast sledding down the slopes at Vivaldi.
Mount Namsan
Cable car to the peak of the mountain
The visit to Mount Namsan was so much fun. Mount Namsan is a very popular attraction in Seoul and it must not be missed. A cable car took me from the base of the mountain to observatory at the mountain peak. The observatory is very similar to Tokyo SkyTree as they both offer panoramic views of the city.
The observatory at the peak of Mount Namsan
There is an option for hiking up and down the mountain for those who are up for the challenge. Additionally, at the base of the mountain, there are people who rent out traditional Korean attire (Hanbok) for a small fee and visitors are able to take pictures in the attire.
Streets of Seoul
The streets of Seoul also have a lot of historical monuments which pose for great pictures. The Namdaemun gate is one of the Eight gates in the fortress wall of Seoul. It is also the largest among all 8 gates.
The streets of Seoul have so much to offer including food, clothes and also underground shopping malls. The underground malls are below the city, and Seoul has a lot of them. There are a multitude of restaurants in the streets of Seoul, including restaurants that offer the famous Korean barbecue.
Handmade ties
Underground shopping mall
Jump Theater
Jump is a comedic Korean show which stars a grandfather and his family. The show featured comedic skits and Korean martial arts. The show was hilarious and I will definitely go back to jump theater next time I visit Seoul. Pictures are not allowed in the theater during the show, however, I was able to take a picture of the stage at the end of the show.
There was a break in the middle of the show which was interactive and the show kept me at the edge of my seat throughout. Jump theater should definitely not be missed in Seoul and the theater offers great seats regardless of the price spent on the ticket. I advise purchasing the cheaper tickets since they are farther up in the venue, and provide a great view.
Insights
1) Compared to Tokyo, some locals speak English in Seoul.
2) Seoul also has a bakery shop in every corner, the most popular being Paris Baguette or Tous les Jours.
3) Seoul has a very vibrant lifestyle. South Koreans are known to enjoy a drink or two in their down time so the night life in Seoul was interesting to say the least. I tried Korean whiskey and much to my surprise; it had a light body and went down smoothly.
4) Mount Namsan was cheaper than Tokyo SkyTree and I was able to buy the ticket in advance on klook.
5) Three days is nearly not enough time to enjoy this city and I plan to go back to spend more time in Seoul and hopefully visit Busan and Jeju Island.
Do you plan to visit Seoul soon?
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The post How I spent 72 hours in Seoul appeared first on The Stylish Trotter.
