Seoul Travel Guide
Weather, best time to visit, and the best food, culture, nature and activities.
Typical prices
- Budget meal₩9,000≈ $5.99
- Mid-range meal₩25,000≈ $16.63
- Cappuccino₩4,500≈ $2.99
- Domestic beer₩5,000≈ $3.33
- Taxi (per km)₩1,000≈ $0.67
- Public transport ticket₩1,500≈ $1.00
- Museum entry₩5,000≈ $3.33
- Mid-range hotel (night)₩140,000≈ $93.15
Food & Drink
- Gwangjang MarketKorean street food · $
Historic covered market famous for bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) and mayak gimbap (tiny seaweed rice rolls) sold at communal food stalls dating back to 1905.
- Tosokchon SamgyetangKorean · $$
Long-running restaurant near Gyeongbokgung palace serving ginseng chicken soup in a traditional hanok setting, a favorite of former presidents.
- Myeongdong KyojaKorean noodles · $
Decades-old noodle house in Myeongdong known for its hand-cut kalguksu noodle soup and mandu dumplings.
- JungsikModern Korean fine dining · $$$$
Two-Michelin-starred restaurant reinterpreting Korean cuisine with modern techniques, tasting menus built around dishes like bibimbap risotto.
- NeungnamuKorean BBQ · $$
Charcoal-grilled samgyeopsal specialist in Mapo-gu known for thick-cut pork belly and side banchan spreads.
- Poongwon GalbiKorean BBQ · $$$
Established Gangnam-area barbecue restaurant specializing in premium marinated galbi (short ribs) grilled tableside.
- Itaewon Class Street
Itaewon's main strip mixes rooftop bars, international pubs, and late-night clubs popular with both locals and expats.
- Hongdae Club District
Streets around Hongik University packed with indie clubs, EDM venues, and buskers, the center of Seoul's youth nightlife.
- Le Chamber
Speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden behind a bookshelf entrance in Itaewon, themed like a Victorian prison cell.
Culture & History
- National Museum of Korea
One of the largest museums in Asia, housing the Baekje Golden Incense Burner and a dedicated children's museum, set on the Yongsan Family Park grounds.
- Leeum Museum of Art
Samsung-founded museum combining Korean traditional art and international contemporary works in buildings designed by Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel, and Rem Koolhaas.
- War Memorial of Korea
Extensive museum covering Korean military history including the Korean War, with outdoor aircraft and tank exhibits.
- National Folk Museum of Korea
Located within Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds, recreating traditional Korean daily life through the seasons and life-cycle rituals.
- CGV Yongsan
Flagship multiplex with an IMAX and 4DX screen near Yongsan Station, one of Korea's largest cinema chains.
- Megabox COEX
Multiplex inside the COEX Mall complex in Gangnam, known for its large-format Dolby Cinema screen.
- Seoul International Fireworks Festival
Major fireworks competition held along the Han River at Yeouido, drawing huge crowds to riverside parks.
- Boryeong Mud Festival
Though held in nearby Boryeong, many Seoul travel agencies run day trips to this mud-themed beach festival each July.
- Hi Seoul Festival
City-wide cultural festival with performances and events across public spaces including the Han River and Gwanghwamun Square.
Nature & Outdoors
- Bukhansan National Park
Granite peaks on the northern edge of the city offering popular day hikes to Baegundae Peak, a UNESCO-recognized park within a capital city.
- Namsan Mountain
Central hill topped by N Seoul Tower, reachable by cable car or a walking trail through the city's love-lock fence.
Active & Fun
- Anytime Fitness Gangnam
24-hour international gym chain with multiple branches across Gangnam offering standard weight and cardio equipment.
- Jamsil Seoul Sports Complex Pool
Public swimming facility within the Jamsil sports complex used for both training and public swim sessions.
- Lotte World
Massive indoor-outdoor theme park in Jamsil with an indoor ice rink, Magic Island on an artificial lake, and Korea's tallest building, Lotte World Tower, next door.
- Everland
Korea's largest theme park, located in nearby Yongin, featuring the T Express wooden roller coaster and a zoo with liger cubs.