Where are the best places to visit in Seoul?

So many times, I get the question, “What are things to do in Seoul?”

There are the conventional things, like visiting palaces and shopping in Myeong-dong. Yet Seoul is still new to many travel radars. You need an insider’s view on what is worth seeing, doing, and eating, so you don’t feel like you missed something that was right under your nose.

I’ve organized this list into levels, from first-timers to experts. The top level is really for people who actually live in the Seoul area. Click the links to get more details about each item.

Regarding the “Eats” section, I’m listing the big guns and the food neighborhoods. I’m working on a separate list of “Must-eat” foods along with the best restaurants to eat them.

The list is regularly updated with additions and links. If you want to keep track of new additions and the latest tourism news, festivals, and events, join our newsletter.

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Level 1 – First Timer

This is your first time touring South Korea. You want to hit the main tourist spots to get them out of the way.

See

• First Palace
  • Gyeongbokgung
    • Changing of the guards
    • Folk Museum
    • ’70s Village
  • Changdeokgung
    • Secret Garden
  • Deoksugung
    • Changing of the guards
  • Changgyeonggung
  • Gyeonghuigung
• First Temple
  • Jogye-sa
  • Gilsang-sa
  • Bongeun-sa
• Cheonggyecheon Stream
• Gwanghwamun Square
  • King Sejong Hangeul Museum
  • Admiral Yi Sun-shin Museum
• Bukchon Hanok Village
• The DMZ with JSA (though technically not in Seoul)
• N Seoul Tower
• Tapgol Park
• Namdaemun (Sungnyemun) Gate
• National Museum of Korea
• First Fun Museum
• Watch Nanta
• Gangnam
  • Gangnam restaurants and nightlife
  • SMTOWN@coexartium
  • COEX Mall
  • Garosu-gil
• Hongdae
  • Busker Lane
  • Dessert Crawl
  • Clubs
  • Hongdae’s crazy street food alley

Do

• Use the Seoul Metro system
• The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk
• Rent a hanbok
• Learn to read Hangeul
• Night photography

Eat

• Eat Korean BBQ like Anthony Bourdain
• Chicken & Beer Pub Crawl
• Gwangjang Market
• Bibimbap
• Kimchi
• Noryangjin Fisheries Market
• Korean coffee shop
  • Bonus if it has a wacky theme
• Myeong-dong Street Food
• Kimchi Jjigae (Kimchi Stew)
• Go to a supermarket and try free samples (really, it’s fun and educational)
• Sundubu Jjigae
• Japchae (Clear Noodles Stir-fried with Pork and Vegetables)
• Doenjang Jjigae (Fermented Bean Paste Stew)
• YukHwe (Korea’s Steak Tartare)
• BindaeDdeok (Mung Bean Pancake)
• Kalguksu (Hand-cut Noodle Soup)
• Pajeon (Green Onion Pancake)
• Naengmyeon (Chilled Noodles)
• Gimbap (Seaweed Rice Rolls)
• Makgeolli (Rice Beer)
• Soju
• Mandu (Stuffed Dumplings)
• Yakult

Shop

• Namdaemun Market
• Souvenirs in Insa-dong
• Myeong-dong shopping

Level 2 – Rising Star

You caught the bug. Seoul turned out to be way more interesting than you thought. Returning to the city promises grand rewards and a chance to catch the stuff you didn’t accomplish the first time.

See

• Second Palace (check above)
• Second Temple
• Jongmyo Shrine
• Korean War Memorial
• Trick Eye Museum
• Dongdaemun Design Plaza
• Namsangol Hanok Village
• Seoullo 7017
• Seoul Fortress Walls
• Myeong-dong Cathedral
• Sejong Center
• Daehangno
• Banpo Bridge Fountain
• Watch Bibap or another non-verbal musical
• Stroll the Jeong-dong neighborhood
• 63 Building
• Seoul City Hall & Plaza
• Sinchon
• Olympic Park
• Wongudan Altar

Do

• Learn to make kimchi
• Take a Korean cooking class
• Hiking one of Seoul’s mountains with The Seoul Hike
• Use the bus system
• Ride a bike or stroll down the Han River
• Itaewon clubbing
• Take a historical private tour with Professor Mason
• Go to a festival
• Han River Cruise
• Nami Island excursion

Eat

• Tongin Market
• Patbingsu cafe
• Buddhist temple cuisine
• Traditional Tea House
• Ginseng Chicken Soup (Samgyetang) at Tosokchon
• Going crazy over Korea’s self-serve ice cream shops
• Korean Sauna (Jjimjilbang)
• Itaewon
  • Craft Beer Crawl
  • Cocktails (Southside Parlor)
  • Vatos Urban Tacos
  • Linus ‘Bama BBQ
  • Haebangchon Street
  • Gyungridan Street
• Jongno “Avenue of Youth”
• Dalkgalbi
• Saengseon Gui (Korean-style Grilled Fish)
• Beef Soup (Galbitang, Gomtang, Someori Gukbap)
• Galbi Jjim (Stewed Ribs)
• Janchi Guksu (Thin Noodles in a Seaweed Broth with Condiments)
• BoSsam (Steamed Marinated Pork with Lettuce Wraps)
• Boribap (Mixed Barley Rice and Vegetables)
• Budae Jjigae (“Army Base” Stew, traditionally including hot dogs and Spam)
• Ramyeon (Ramen Noodles) in a Tin Pot
• Jjim Dalk (Andong-style Braised Chicken)
• Bokbunja (Raspberry Wine)
• Yogurt Soju Cocktail

Shop

• Apgujeong Shopping
• Shopping and cafes along Samcheong-dong

Level 3 – Kimchi Pro

You’re a regular now. You’re starting to avoid the crowds of tourists and go more local. You have a stronger interest in Korean history, and you find yourself starting to crave kimchi.

See

• Third Palace (check above)
• Third Temple
• Seoul Museum of History
• Cheong Wa Dae (The Blue House)
• Lotte World Tower
• Gyeongui Line Forest Park
• Ihwa Mural Village
• Leeum Samsung Museum of Art
• Hwaseong Fortress (Suwon)
• Children’s Grand Park
• Yongin Korean Folk Village
• Buam-dong
• National Museum of Contemporary Art
• Seongbuk-dong
• Seongnagwon Garden
• Seoul Forest
• World Cup Park

Do

• Learn to make makgeolli
• Baseball, soccer, or other pro sports game
• K-Pop concert
• Lotte World Theme Park
• Take selfies at Gangnam Style filming locations
• Do something seasonal
  • Cherry blossoms at Yeouido Park
  • Seoul City Hall Ice Rink
  • Visit a swimming pool on the Han River
  • Cool off in a wading pool on Seollo 7017
  • Take the Seoul Hike: Sunset Trail during the height of autumn colors
• K-Pop Dance Lessons
• Watch a Korean football (soccer) game
• Performance at the Seoul Arts Center

Eat

• Eat something really spicy
• Shindang-dong Ddeokbokki Town
• Fried Chicken Street (Suwon)
• Meat, meat, meat at Majang Meat Market
• Sujebi (Rustic Dumpling Soup)
• Mapo Restaurant Street
• Sejong Village Food Culture Alley
• Seoul Joongang Market
• Eat something a little daring (San Nakji, Chicken Feet, Silkworm Larvae)
• Jeyuk Bokkeum (Spicy Stir-fried Pork)
• Kimchi Jjim (Braised Kimchi with Tofu)
• GeJang (Raw Soy Pickled Crabs)
• Raw Ginseng or anything with Ginseng in it
• Lotteria’s Shrimp Burger
• Andong Soju
• Jogae Gui (Grilled Shellfish)
• Shake-’em-up Dosirak

Shop

• Dongdaemun Night Market
• Ehwa University Shopping Street

Level 4 – Travel Master

Seoul. Yeah, been there. Done that.

Hold on there, pardner. It’s time to explore the outskirts of the city. Delve into the satellite suburbs to find the things even locals don’t know about.

See

• Fourth Palace (check above)
• Seoul Museum of Art
• Unhyeongung
• Something poop related
• Seonyudo Park
• Korea Furniture Museum
• Central Asia Village (Dongdaemun)
• Boramae Park
• Seoul Central Mosque
• National Assembly Building
• Yanghwajin Foreigners’ Cemetery
• Jeoldusan Catholic Martyrs’ Shrine (mentioned in The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walk)
• Yangjae Citizens’ Forest
• Seoul Grand Park
• Wawoonjeong-sa Temple
• Ilsan Lake Park

Do

• Everland Theme Park
• Pull an all-nighter
• Seoul Land Theme Park & Seoul Zoo
• Temple Stay
• Watch an E-games tournament
• Charcoal Sauna

Eat

• Have snacks and drinks at a table outside a convenience store
• Filipino Market
• Sillim Soondae Town (Stir-fried Blood Sausage)
• Cheonho-dong Jjukkumi Street (Spicy Baby Octopus)
• Changpyung Market Gukbap Alley
• Spicy Stewed Hairtail Fish in Namdaemun Market
• Korean upscale dining (Jung Sik Dang, Amamm, Mingles)
• Cheonggukjang (Stinky Fermented Bean Paste Stew)
• Seonji Haejangguk (Hangover Stew with Clotted Cow Blood)
• Deodeok Root
• MulHui (Chilled Sashimi Soup)

Shop

• Dongmyo Flea Market
• Common Ground
• Dongjin Market
• Seoul Herbal Medicine Market
• Tailor-made suit in Itaewon
• Yongsan Electronics Market

Level 5 – Seoul City Guru

You basically live in Seoul. You’re not only a member of Restaurant Buzz Seoul, you’re a regular contributor. You walk into Phillies, and everyone yells your name. Some of these places are hard to get into.

See

• Fifth Palace
• Yun Dong-ju Literature Museum
• Oil Tank Culture Park
• Ansan Asia Town
• Paju and Paju Book City
• Ganghwa Island
• Cheonan Independence Hall
• Incheon Fairytale Village

Do

• Camping
• Hike Gwanaksan Mountain
• Go to a horse race at the Seoul Racecourse Park
• Experience a Mudang (Shaman) ritual
• British Embassy Pub
• Riding a subway line from end to end

Eat

• Jangchung-dong Jokbal Street
• Garak Wholesale Food Market
• The original Jjajangmyeon at Incheon Chinatown
• Royal Court Cuisine
• Gobchang Gui (Grilled Beef Intestines)
• Hongeo (Fermented Skate)
• Nakji Gguri (Grilled Octopus Skewers)

Shop

• Nagwon Arcade’s Musicians’ Paradise
• Icheon Ceramics Village