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Latest update: 13 November 2025
Seoul: modern metropolis or overwhelming concrete jungle? From traditional palaces to hypermodern neighborhoods, from busy markets to serene temples. Discover what you can do in Seoul. I’ve got more than 20 Seoul tips for you!
Seoul: overwhelmingly big
Seoul is the capital of South Korea. But you probably already knew that. Around ten million people live in Seoul, so it’s absolutely not comparable to my city, which has a population of just under a million, Amsterdam. Seoul is truly a megacity. So, if you’re taking a trip through South Korea, be sure to set aside enough time for Seoul and make choices. Because to really get to know the city, a few days is way too short.
Is Seoul a nice city?
Yes! Seoul is really an experience. It’s big, busy, and so much is happening. If you enjoy big cities with always something to do, you’ll be happy here. They’re pretty fond of high-rises (which makes sense with so many people), so don’t be surprised by a hundred-story building. Almost every building has a little shop, restaurant, coffee café, or drugstore on the ground floor. All promoted by colorful signs and neon advertising.
What also strikes me is how modern and well-organized everything is. The buses and metro run perfectly on time, and it’s clean and safe. And between the skyscrapers, you’ll find traditional palaces and small neighborhoods with hanok houses (traditional Korean houses) full of shops and coffee cafés. That gives the city character. Plus: the coffee culture is fantastic, throughout all of South Korea, actually.
What should you definitely do in Seoul?
Like I said: Seoul is huge. You absolutely can’t see everything in a few days. So I’m not going to pretend I know all the ins and outs of the city, but I can tell you what I did and saw in 3 days in Seoul. Quite a lot!
Food tour at Gwangjang Market
One thing you should definitely do in Seoul is book a food tour. I go out with Secret Food Tours, and our guide Jae is super helpful. In a small group, we walk through Gwangjang Market, passing by various food stalls. The market is pretty overwhelming. There are so many stalls, and so many unknown things. And many stalls have a sign saying ‘known from TV’ or even ‘known from Netflix’. So it’s really helpful that Jae literally and figuratively guides us through.
I think this is the perfect intro to Korean food culture. And I benefit from it my entire stay in South Korea, because now I at least know a few things and know what I can order with confidence. But I also know what I don’t want to order: those live octopus pieces? Nakji Tangtangi. Fun to try, but not for me. Way too chewy, I have to chew forever.
We finish up at a traditional teahouse, and afterwards we receive an email with a group photo, restaurant tips, and an overview of everything we ate. So thoughtful! If you have the opportunity, I’d definitely book a food tour in Seoul. I can highly recommend the one from Secret Food Tours!
Unhyeongung Palace
One of the attractions I visit is Unhyeongung Palace. It’s free to enter, and you mainly see beautiful woodwork. In some rooms, you can look inside from a distance. Unhyeon means something like ‘cloud hills’, and ‘gung’ makes it clear that it’s a residence of a royal family member. Around 1864, Unhyeongung Palace was significantly larger than it is now, but over the years, it was divided into smaller parts.
In the background, harp music plays throughout the entire complex with the tune of Beauty and the Beast. Actually, piano music plays over loudspeakers in many public places in Seoul. Probably completely normal for Koreans, but it stands out for me.
Bukchon Hanok Village
A hanok house is a typical traditional Korean house. It’s built from wood and stone and features a clever type of floor heating (ondol) that used to work with firewood, later with coal, and now with boilers. The first ones were built in the 14th century. In various places in South Korea, entire neighborhoods or villages with hanok houses still remain.
In Seoul too. Go to Bukchon Hanok Village, for example. Here, you’ll find old streets lined with hanok houses featuring characteristic Korean roofs. Modern cafés and shops surround them, so the mix of old and new is clearly visible. At a café, two guys even stand dressed as demons from the Netflix hit K-Pop Demon Hunters to take photos with, complete with loud music from the film. Very Seoul.
Gyeongbokgung Palace: the largest palace complex
Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest and oldest royal palace complex in Seoul. The complex consists of multiple buildings, including those where kings were crowned, for example. There are two museums on the grounds, too.
And I’m lucky: because of a big Korean festival week (Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving), entry is free. That also means it’s insanely crowded, so maybe I’m unlucky after all. Many Koreans come here specifically to take photos in traditional clothing. Around the palace, you can rent these by the hour. The palace complex is beautiful and impressive, but due to the crowds, I don’t really get the chance to let it sink in peacefully. It’s all a bit much, so I ‘escape’ the grounds pretty quickly.
If you’re in Seoul at a quieter time, it’s worth visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace at 10 AM or 2 PM, as that’s when the changing of the guard takes place.
Note: closed on Tuesdays!
Yeollin Songhyeon Square
If you still have some energy after the palace, walk to Yeollin Songhyeon Square. Not so long ago, this was just a large grass field with nothing, but during my visit, there is an art project. And it’s set up so grandly that I think it might be permanent. The art project “Walls of Public Life” is an ode to the daily lives of Seoul’s residents. They’re literally walls on which stories from public life are recorded – a kind of social documentation of the city.
The project is about the small and large moments that make life in Seoul what it is. Stories from ordinary people, about their day, their city, their dreams. It’s a way to make the often invisible daily life visible and preserve it.
Another part of the square is a flower park, where you can walk through peacefully, and where people love to come and take photos.
Seoul Sky for the view
Seoul Sky, located in Lotte Tower, is one of the city’s highest viewpoints, standing at 1,821 feet (555 meters) high. I buy my ticket through Klook, which turns out cheaper than buying directly. Handy: you select a day, and your ticket is valid all day. You can arrive at any time and skip the line. Feels very VIP.
Unfortunately, it’s very cloudy during my visit and the observatory deck is closed, so we have to stay inside. You can enjoy the view from a few floors, have a drink, dine in the lounge, and of course, take photos (or have them taken). There’s a special photo spot with a glass floor. With my fear of heights I bravely put my first foot on it, but then don’t dare go further – to the great amusement of other people waiting in line.
As you can see from my photos, it was a quite rainy and misty day. Still, the visit was worth it. I couldn’t see very far, but even what was closer was beautiful from this height.
Seen the view? Then, you can shop at Lotte World Mall or visit Lotte World amusement park.
Walking along Seokchon Lake
Right next to Seoul Sky is Seokchon Lake. Nice for a walk around the lake, just over 1.2 miles (2 km). Lotte World Magic Island park is situated in the lake as well. There are food and drink stands by the water, making it perfect for recovering after the city bustle. From here, you also have a good view of Lotte Tower with Seoul Sky, making it a great spot for a photo of the tower itself. 😉
Olympic Park: sculpture garden and greenery
From Seokchon Lake, you can walk to Olympic Park via the food alley (here). The entrance gate is in scaffolding during my visit. A shame, because actually that’s one of the nicest things to see here. The sculpture garden is accessible, though, and it’s a nice place to walk around. There are several museums in the area, as well as sports complexes, including the Olympic swimming pool and baseball stadium.
Bongeunsa Temple: zen between the skyscrapers
Bongeunsa Temple is a traditional Korean Buddhist temple complex with a 75-foot (23-meter) high statue of Maitreya Buddha. What’s special is that it’s situated right in the heart of the city, between high-rise buildings and construction sites. A strange sensation, but precisely because of that, it’s interesting too. It’s fairly quiet here, especially compared to the busy palaces.
Gang Nam Style Sculpture
Yes, that Gangnam. From the PSY song. There’s a statue of two hands making the gesture from the famous song. Gangnam is the more expensive business district in Seoul, and the statue attracts many people who want photos with it. Strangely enough, nobody feels called to do the dance. Me neither, haha.
No DMZ?!
Maybe you’ve already noticed, but the DMZ isn’t on this list. I decided to skip it. The DMZ is the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea. And you can visit it on a tour. I’ve read quite a bit about it online, and my conclusion is that the tours are too touristy and there’s actually not that much to see. As I understand it, you travel by bus with a guide to the DMZ, make a mandatory stop at tourist shops, and can enter a tunnel. Additionally, you can observe North Korea with binoculars. Such a tour easily takes half a day or more, and I’d rather spend that time in the city.
Everyone makes their own choice, of course, and there are plenty of tours available if you find it interesting. Even tours where you can briefly talk with a North Korean, but that seemed like a rather staged, non-authentic conversation to me. If you have other experiences, definitely share them in the comments!
Ikseon-dong: the hip neighborhood
Ikseon-dong is one of the nicer little neighborhoods in Seoul. Here you’ll find traditional hanok houses that have been transformed into hip cafés, shops, and restaurants. At the beginning of the afternoon, it’s still nice and quiet, but the later it gets, the busier it gets. Then it’s really shuffling through the narrow streets. My tip is to arrive earlier in the day to browse around and then dive into one of the hip eating cafés or coffee shops.
Like Rain Report, where they’ve created permanent rain in the small inner courtyard, and people love to do entire photo shoots there. Koreans are crazy about taking photos! Where I often snap a picture as quickly as possible and move on, they take all the time to make the perfect selfie.
However, you’ll also find plenty of street food at the market stalls in Ikseon-Dong, where it gets swamped around dinnertime. And you can also enjoy terraces with Korean BBQ. In other words, you won’t go hungry in Ikseon-Dong. Don’t miss the SaeSeoul arcade hall by the way, where one of the scenes in Squid Game was filmed.
Gyeongui Line Forest Park: green walk
Gyeongui Line Forest Park is a small green strip where you can take a walk. During the day, it’s pretty quiet, but around dinnertime, it fills up. It’s right next to the university in Hongdae, so you’re in a nice neighborhood full of coffee cafés and restaurants.
Hongdae: the student neighborhood
Hongdae is the neighborhood right next to the university and is clearly a very youthful area. Full of coffee shops, restaurants, and little stores. It really comes to life from 5 PM, but around 10 PM in the part where the restaurants are, it’s much quieter again. For big nights out, you apparently need to be in another part of the city.
For me, Hongdae is one of the nicest neighborhoods to stay in Seoul, especially if you enjoy a lively atmosphere and a good mix of local and hip vibes.
Souvenir from Seoul: caricature
A popular and personal souvenir from Seoul is a caricature drawing. In various cities in South Korea, you’ll find shops where you can buy such a drawing. One I often come across is Acorn Caricature, there’s a branch in the Hongdae neighborhood too. You can choose to have a drawing made of yourself or show a photo of a family member or pet. They’re then drawn in black marker, as seen here with my best friend’s cats.
Seoullo 7017: walking over an old highway
In the Namsan neighborhood is Seoullo 7017. This special walking path was once a highway. Now, various trees and plants stand there, and you walk about 0.6 miles (1 km) above Seoul’s busy roads. At various points, the glass of the balustrade is open, allowing you to easily take photos. It’s a fun experience to walk through the city like this.
Old city gate Sungnyemun Gate
One of Seoul’s old city gates is Sungnyemun Gate. You can walk under it, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be on time for the daily opening ceremony (at 10 AM and 3:30 PM if I’m right). But even without the ceremony, it’s an imposing gate that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding modern buildings. It’s not worth taking the bus or metro here just for the gate, though. Combine it with Seoullo 7017 and Namdaemun Market.
Namdaemun market
Normally, this is a busy market, but during Chuseok (the big Korean festival week), it’s pretty quiet. Many shops are closed and there are fewer stalls. However, if you visit on a ‘normal’ day, this is one of the largest traditional markets in Seoul, where you can buy and eat a wide variety of items. The market is normally open until 8 PM.
For the view: N Seoul Tower
Another observation tower. N Seoul Tower is in a small park on a hill. You can get there by cable car, but if the line is too long, you can also take bus 1. The view from the platform is already beautiful, even on a cloudy day. We decide, because of the clouds, not to visit the tower itself. Also, because the view from the platform (where the bus stops) is already very nice.
We don’t find it worth the line and money, and walk back to the city. Quite a walk, but mainly downhill. You then pass the comic street, of which we expected a bit more. But it’s remarkably unimpressive: a few paintings and that’s it. But since you have to go that way anyway for public transport, it’s fine to walk through.
Coffee culture in Seoul
Seoul has an insane coffee culture. You’ll find coffee shops everywhere, from small, local spots to hip specialty coffee bars. I even read somewhere that there are more Starbucks locations in South Korea than in the United States?! A few tips:
- Comfort (Yongsan): Beautiful view over the city from the rooftop terrace. There is also a shop on the ground floor. You can enter via the rooftop, that’s the easiest route. Google Maps location
- Rain Report (Ikseon-dong): Here, they’ve created permanent rain in the small inner courtyard where everyone loves to do photo shoots.
Google Maps location - McCoys Coffee: Small coffee shop with lots of dark wood, old records, and paintings on the wall.
Google Maps location
But honestly, you can count on good coffee pretty much anywhere in South Korea. Just pick any decent-looking coffee shop. Most are fairly minimalist in design, but some are really cozy. In three weeks, we only had coffee once, which we really couldn’t drink. Which is a good score!
And important: first find a spot, then order. We get corrected a few times when we automatically walk straight to the counter to order. Oops, sorry! People just put down their phone or bag to claim their spot and then calmly go to another room to order. We wouldn’t dare do that in the Netherlands…
Korean barbecue and more food!
Kimchi, beef bulgogi, bibimbap, and of course, Korean BBQ. I want to try it all in Seoul and more. I actually didn’t know much about Korean cuisine before leaving, but I’m sold. I ate so many delicious things – and yes, pizza once too, because I really craved it. Either way, go explore the city. Click here for my food tips for Seoul.
Public transport in Seoul
Public transport in Seoul is fantastic. Metro and buses run frequently, are clean, and easy to understand. You can buy a T-money card (a type of transit card) and use it to travel everywhere. You can top up the card at supermarkets like 7-Eleven or CU, as well as at metro stations.
Taxis are affordable and easy to access through apps like Uber as well. Handy when you don’t feel like getting on the subway.
Where to stay in Seoul?
I stay in Hongdae, and that works out fine. It’s a lively neighborhood with plenty to do, yet you can easily get everywhere. I choose Hongdae Guesthouse Pajamaparty. It’s in a quiet spot within walking distance of all the liveliness of Hongdae. The owner is incredibly friendly and has 12 rooms to choose from. We had a studio, and size-wise it was fine, we just found it very warm in the sleeping area. And the loaner umbrellas were (unfortunately) very welcome!
You can book the accommodation via Booking.
By the way, my experience is that accommodations in South Korea are often much cheaper via Trip.com, and there are different options available as well. Hongdae Guesthouse Pajamaparty isn’t listed by coincidence, but don’t forget to include Trip in your search. Can save quite a few bucks! Other good neighborhood options are:
Other good neighborhood options are:
- Myeongdong: in the middle of the shopping area, perfect if you love shopping
- Gangnam: the chic neighborhood, lots of offices but hip places too
- Insadong: more traditional, close to palaces and museums
- Itaewon: international neighborhood with many Western restaurants and bars
Is Seoul worth it?
Yes! Seoul is a great city to visit. It’s big and busy, that’s true, but precisely that energy keeps it interesting. You see the modern side of South Korea here, its coffee culture, AND the traditional palaces and temples. It’s a good start to then travel further to other places in the country.
For me, Seoul was a nice introduction to South Korea. I’m glad I took the time to discover the city and explore different neighborhoods. However, I’m also curious about the rest of the country. More about that in my other South Korea blogs!
More South Korea inspiration
Useful links for your South Korea trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com, but compare prices. Trip is often much cheaper in South Korea. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You can book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. You can book ‘free’ walking tours at Freetour and cool food tours at Secret Food Tours.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare your options at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check Expedia, Kiwi and Trip.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Check out your options at Expedia and CheapOair for example.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo. Use the code THISIS8469 for a discount.
- Train and bus. Buy your train tickets directly on the Korail site and intercity buses also directly via this site. Some trips can also be booked on
Klook or via12Go . For local transport in the city, you use a T-Money card.
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