If you are planning to visit Korea, you can look forward to a lot of places to see and attractions to visit. Most of them are located in Seoul, but if you visit other regions (or so called provinces), you’ll experience a lot of other places woth to see. Assuming you are doing a short trip, here are some ideas to start off with. Many of them are in Seoul, but for some you would need to travel.
Myeongdong
Myeongdong is a shopping district most suitable for younger people. Unlike Dongdaemun you won’t find market clothing but international brands, at affordable prices. You will also notice a price premium compared to European/US prices, however Asian-based brands are cheap. Myeongdong has a lot of Japanese food to offer.
National Museum of Korea
For everyone who’s interested about Korean history, this is the place to go first. The exhibition starts with the prehistorical reliefs, goes on with mankind’s settelements, royal dynasties and ends with premodern history as well as Korean Arts. Sometimes, special exhibitions are shown. Basically a visit is for free, but please inform yourself at the thir website here. A second National Museum can be found when you stroll in Gyeongju. Unsurprisingly most exhibits were transferred to Seoul. Directions: Line 4, Icheon station exit 2.
Namdaemun Market
The Namdaemun market is pretty well accessible even for foreigners and tourists. A lot of clothing (some even fake), medical food like ginseng, souvenirs and other grocery is sold in big inside markets or outside at their shops. Many street food vendors tempt for snacks. There is an interesting covered market where some jewelery vendors have setlled (though not selling the super expensive things). Normally you deal with the vendors, who speak English and Japanese pretty well.
Namsan Tower
Sometimes also refereed as N Seoul Tower, like any metropolis in the world Seoul posseses an important landmark in the form of a tourist platform. Like the Tour d’Eiffel or Shanghainese Jinmao Towers the view at dawn fascinates tourists and both couples. A lot of love locks as well as polaroids taken by them can be seen outside on love lock “trees” which has accumulated over time. Inside of the tower there’s a café and a museum. If you don’t want to put up a lock, get a tile and write your name on it!
Directions: Get off at Hyehwa station (light blue line) and either take a bus up to the platform or take the cable car. If you take the cable car plus tower entry, it costs you about 15,000 Won.
Cheonggyecheon
At this place there was once a big city highway. Because slum-style houses have been built around this area and pollution increased, it was not in favor of the Metropolitan Government, which decided to tear down the road and recultivate the small stream. It’s nowadays popular for company workers around that place to have their lunch there, for taking a walk or conduct festivals at this place. The stream itself is about 6.5 km long, so riding a bike is an toption, though we recommend to go to Yeouido or Hangang Park for that activity. Especially at night the stream unleashes a very unique nuance….
Gyeongbukgung
Gyeongbukgung Palace is in front of the Gwanghwamun Square. According to many locals it has the most beautiful garden. Indeed you shouldn’t omit this place when you visit Seoul. It’s a very historical place where e.g. Queen Myeongseong (Queen Min) was assassinated, a fierce anti-japanese reign. You should plan around 2 to 3hrs for the visit due to its size. Try to avoid weekend visits too. You can get a combination ticket for other palaces too.
Seoraksan National Park
Seoraksan National Park lies in Gangwon-do to the east and is 4hrs away from Seoul. Many domestic tourists go here for hiking and enjoying Makgeolli on the top. You can also climb up some mountains, gear is rentable. There are some things to see here, though you should go here for enjoying the view in summer or even better in Fall. A cable car leads to a top of one mountain, where you can still climb up a little bit and pose in front of a Korean National Flag or buy a souvenir that you ‘dominated’ that mountain… Sleeping over in Sokcho is not bad, it’s a very small town with around 10,000 inhabitants and most of them don’t speak English very well, but it has a lot of seafood and a little beach. It’s only located 40mins away from Sokcho and you can easily access both places by bus.
Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon**
You should also consider this UNESCO world heritage site. It takes about 30 (train) up to 45 (subway, line 1) minutes of travel time to get here from Seoul. Having arrived here you can stroll around the fortress wall, visit a museum. Suwon itself is more like a sleeping town to Seoul. Inside of the walls there’s a palace, the museum features audio guides in English.
Insadong
Insadong is a famous quarter for arts and handicrafts. Next to Gwanghwamun Square and Samcheong-dong it’s famous to buy souvenirs here. Ssamziegi itself has three stories full with art shops, but there’s also the official government run art shop on that street. You can make your own stamp there or buy Korean paper dolls. Near the restaurants there are also men wo make sweets out of rice flour, honey and peanut filling just by spinning super thin threads. Worth a look and not expensive!. Directions: Jonggak station, exit 3
Gyeongju
The old and former capital is worth a visit for all culturally motivated ones.Many old tombs, palaces, a (cute) observatory, temples, grottoes and even a Korean traditional village are waiting for you. At the Bomun Lake Park resort you can sometimes watch performances like in the old times of the Shilla kingdom.
Everland
Travelling with children? Try Everland or Lotte World. Everland is just 45mins far way from Seoul and can be reached by taking a red bus from Gangnam station. Entrance was about 40.000 Won, you can get discounts as a group or on national holidays. It’s full at Chuseok, so watch out. Everland has two rollercoasters, a wooden one and a highspeed one with loops and and spins. But it’s really good for children. They alsodo parades and every night there’s a fireworks. You can get priority waiting tickets for free, too. There are enough restaurants, though charging the amusement park premium.