Seoul

THINGS TO SEE & DO:

  • Gyeongbokgung Palace
  • Bukchon Hanok Village
  • Changdeokgung Palace
  • Jongmyo Shrine
  • Myeong-dong
  • Sungnyemun Gate (Namdaemun) 
  • Jogyesa Temple
  • Insadong Culture Street 
  • Gwangjang Market 
  • Cheonggyecheon 
  • Seoul Tower
  • Namsan Baekbeom Square 
  • Hongdae Shopping Street 

FOOD:

  • PIGBAR: Phenomenal Korean bbq 
  • Anguk 153: Bakery that serves a salt bun
  • Anam: Only serves Gukbap (rice pork soup)
  • Two Two Fried Chicken: Korean fried chicken
  • Garlic Boy: For a garlic bun on the go
  • 7/11: Felt really similar to Japain – try the strawberry milk!
  • Lotteria: Their version of McDonald’s
  • Seosulla-gil: A stone wall street lined with cafes and restaurants. We didn’t eat here but every place was packed and there seemed to be a wide variety of options.

PRO TIPS:

  1. Seoul Tower: Getting up to the tower is a challenge. You can buy tickets prior for the cable car or stand in a short line to buy and then stand in up to an hour line to get on the cable car, or hike up. Next time, I’d potentially look at taking a bus up. The hike down is very pleasant and worth the steps if the weather is nice.
  2. Gyeongbokgung Palace: Go early in the morning, there will be significantly less crowds
  3. Most palaces let you in for free if you are wearing traditional clothing. LOTS of people do this and there are many local places where you can rent clothes.
  4. Olive Young is the place to shop for skincare. Do some research on what prices are here in the US and what products aren’t available here so you are prepared.
  5. Apps: Naver Maps was great for navigating around. Papago was great for translating. T-Money is how we paid to ride the subway – you can download the app, add a card to your mobile wallet and refill money as needed on the go.
  6. When traveling through ICN download the ICN SmartPass App, this will save you a ton of time getting through security!
  7. We stayed near Seoul Station. We found it to be very central, easy to get to and from the airport, and there are lots of food options around.
  8. The AREX Express Train is the best way to get from ICN to Seoul Station. When we had to get to the airport before the train was running, Uber worked really well.
  9. Myeongdong is packed and incredibly touristy but their night food market is really easy and accessible so that you can try lots of things.
  10. Be on the look out for changing of the guard ceremonies at some of the gates and palaces.