The 10 Best Things To Do At Starfield COEX Mall
Starfield COEX Mall ( 스타필드 코엑스몰), the largest underground shopping mall in the world featuring the eye-capturing Starfield Library, is located right in Seoul, Korea and is a great thing to do when you travel to Seoul whether you want to shop til you drop or see something interesting.
A jack-of-all-trades mall, COEX has numerous opportunities to enjoy yourself with plenty of things to do in one place. With an aquarium, hole-in-the-wall public art, and even airport check-in facilities to make travel easier in Seoul, you will have few problems filling up your schedule when you arrive.
Looking for things to do when it rains in Seoul? Or maybe a place to go to cool off in the summer in Seoul? Well, this is it. You can and should visit year round though as exhibitions change, the famous Starfield Library exhibition rotates, and various expos are hosted.
Plan an amazing trip to COEX now:
- How to get to COEX
- Basic Info
- Where To Stay
- How big is Starfield COEX Mall?
- The Top 10 Things To Do At COEX Mall
- What To Do Nearby
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How to get there
Address: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 강남구 영동대로 513)
By Public Transportation: You can find COEX Mall from Samseong Subway Station, exit 5 or 6. Or, go out of Bongeunsa Subway Station, exit 7.
Basic Info
Days: Open year round
Hours: 10:30pm ~ 10:00pm
Amenities: Infant lounges for feeding are available as well as baby strollers are available for rental. Wheelchairs are also available for rental.
Parking Information: Car: W3,000 per 30 mins/ W1,500 per 15 minutes.
Where To Stay
If you’re headed to Starfield COEX Mall for a convention or just want to stay in the area, you can. We recently stayed there when we spent the day at Lotte World and then wanted to make a weekend of it in the area but wanted to enjoy the Starfield Library and eats inside COEX.
Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas
This IHG Hotel is a beautifully furnished and has spacious rooms that are a treat to stay in. Take a swim at the indoor swimming pool or dine in the hotels 5-star restaurants and bars that serve international cuisine like contemporary French dishes and extravagant Japanese meals. This is the place to stay if you want to treat yourself.
Book a stay at Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
InterContinental Seoul COEX
This IHG Hotel is a 5-star luxury hotel in Seoul’s World Trade Center just 350 meters from COEX. There are five dining options and all of the luxuries you would expect in such a nice hotel. There’s also a golf practice room and casino if you want a bit extra. My favorite spot is the outdoor spa pool, but also they have an indoor pool too.
Book a stay at InterContinental Seoul COEX on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Oakwood Premier COEX Center
This is a 5-star modern serviced residence and is perfect if you are staying a bit longer, or have business in the area. There is an indoor pool and indoor screen golf, but more than that, all studios and apartments are equipped with a fully equipped kitchen and open counter space as well as a washing machine. It’s perfect if you’ll be staying a bit longer and want to be able to cook for yourself and clean your clothes at your whim.
Book a stay at the Oakwood Premier COEX Center on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
How big is Starfield COEX Mall?
Starfield COEX Mall has an area of 154,000 square meters of which 144,000 square meters are on a single underground floor. Suffice to say, you should wear good walking shoes if you plan to visit.
The Top 10 Things To Do At COEX Mall
When you hear the word ‘mall’ you might think that all there is to do is shop. And yes, you can absolutely spend the day shopping at Starfield COEX Mall, but there is also way more to do than just shop as well. Have a group that has different ideas of fun?
Head to COEX, you’re bound to make everyone happy. The Starfield COEX Mall is also a great option to check out when it rains in Seoul or it is summer in Seoul and the heat is overbearing. Or if it’s too cold in the winter, go to COEX. It’s a great indoor option suffice to say.
Fish Watch at COEX Aquarium
There are some fantastic aquariums in Korea, and COEX has one of them! With the largest number of sharks in Korea spanning from the humid Caribbean to the salty Pacific and Indian Oceans, the COEX Aquarium (코엑스 아쿠아리움) is the perfect hot spot for any of your marine mammal and fish/shark needs. 183 display tanks and 90 breeding tanks should be enough to assure you how massive and intricate this aquarium is.
If you have kids with you, this is a fantastic activity to do at the mall. With 650 different species, boredom will be a thing of the past for anyone that visits. Don’t miss out on this indoor exotic exhibition of Earth’s last unexplored frontiers.
- Admission: Adults: W32,000; Children: W28,000. Pre-purchase your tickets on Klook to take advantage of great discounts.
- Hours: 10:00am ~ 9:00pm
Read at Starfield Library
Mirroring the Library of Alexandria is none other than the insanely unique creation of the Starfield Library (별마당도서관). With thousands of books that stack up like mountains and spires that can seemingly reach the cosmos, you will feel like the biggest intellectual around after you come into its magnificent area of knowledge.
One could just take a breather, sit down, and enjoy something from one of their many genres like humanities, hobbies, economics, etc. With around 600 magazines, both in the local language and foreign, you will have no issues finding something as you browse. Even poetry readings, book talks, and lectures take place here periodically.
- Tip: One of the most popular photo-ops is the exhibition in the center of the Starfield Library. Throughout the year, the art exhibition in the center is changed. Each Christmas season, you’ll find gorgeous Christmas trees and in other seasons artistic pyramids of wonder. It is one of the top places to see Christmas lights in Seoul each year for this installation. Stop by for at least a photo. The Starfield Library is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Seoul.
- Admission: Free
Shop Til You Drop
COEX is home to the unique underground shopping mall full of wacky gift ships and bizarre food in its spacious world. It’s one of the best places in Seoul to shop-til-you-drop. With over 70 shops for clothing, it can be pretty daunting to find what you are looking for. Luckily, there are classics like H&M, NBA, Nike, The North Face, Levi’s, and many others you should be acquainted with. You can also try your hand at some of the less-known brands if you are feeling to mix things up as well.
Convenience stores like Seven Eleven and one of the many E-marts that are there if you are so compelled to visit too. Cookat is a great option if you need to stop by a supermarket, while Daiso and Casamia are terrific stops for furnishing your home.
Fashion accessories shops are also available with places like VANS and New Era and another 20 plus options to explore just on the first floor below the ground. Kakao Friends is even there because of course it is! Need a haircut? The Majesty Barber Shop have you covered. Phone stores and pharmacies are also available. You have nearly everything you can need at one location!
See a Movie at Megabox COEX
Have some time to kill before an event begins? Megabox is one of the largest cinema chains in South Korea. What a great chance to check out the movie theater and see a local Korean film or a foreign one that’s subtitled in Korean but still heard in its native language. There’s a VIP lounge, membership options, and discount coupons to allow you to have the best of experiences at a theater.
- Hours: 8:00am ~ 12:30am
Check-In at the COEX City Airport Terminal
Home to one of Seoul’s airport terminals, it’s a great place for a convenient check-in on your way to the Incheon airport, making everything seamless and easier than if you checked in at Incheon International Airport. If you’re staying on the east side of Seoul and don’t want to haul all of your things to the airport on your own, pop into COEX, check your bags, check in, and then hop on a limousine bus straight to the airport. It’s small and straightforward to find your way through its silver corridors.
Get Lucky at Seven Luck Casino
At Seven Luck Casino, you’ll never have to wait with 78 games tables full of classics like Black Jack, Poker, and Roulette. It also doubles as a bar and restaurant with items like soups, noodle dishes, and even abalone fried rice. Simpler creations like bulgogi quesadillas and croissants are also available.
The interesting thing about casinos in Korea is that they are only available to foreigners who are above 19 or Koreans who have migrated to other countries. Because of that, it is very foreigner friendly and a great place to meet up with others who are also there from abroad. And who knows? Perhaps you could even come together from losing large amounts of Won.
- Days: Open 365 days of the year
- Hours: 24 hours
- Website: Seven Luck Casino
Check out an Exhibition at COEX Convention
COEX is the biggest exhibition organizer in Korea with more than 20 international trade shows. You really never know what you’ll see. The pictures above were taken at the Seoul Living Design Fair. From exhibitions and installations to amazing products, there is a ton to see and learn about. The Seoul Living Design fair is an event that has happened yearly since 1994. Numerous brands from Korea and abroad all converge to display their own version of what they think is the best way to design your lifestyle through their brands. Not only is it a great place to visit for those who are interested in design products and design, but it is also a great opportunity to witness unique interior designs. With it spanning five days and averaging nearly 300,000 visitors each year, it is an event you will definitely want to check out.
Intercharm Korea is another event that happens at COEX each year and is the largest professional beauty platform in all of Korea. It is a place people attend to improve their business through networking, matchmaking programs, and professional seminars with beauty experts. Each year, if you sign up early, you can also usually get in for free. The next time you’re headed to COEX, check out what’s going on at COEX Convention Center.
Admire the Public Art
All around COEX there are beautiful art displays that will fill you with awe. There are also funny ones and one devoted to icons and idols that have come from Korea. Even at the adjacent hotel, man-made constructs of creativity abound.
Check out the first floor of COEX to become inspired by the unique and intriguing designs. Or head out front to find one of the most famous statues in Gangnam, the Gangnam Style hands sculpture. It’ll make you want to do a jig. If you want to get some fresh air from the large underground area, inspecting and enjoying the art while sitting on a bench is a fantastic way to pass the time.
Eat Until Your Belly is FULL!
There are many different options when it comes to consuming delicacies at the mall. With a mix of both cafes and full-on restaurants, COEX should be able to cater to every type of craving. Need a burger? Well, No Brand Burger is the perfect place to stop by. Thinking of something more American, but more intriguing? Devil’s Door supplies three different grand options: Ultimate Devil’s Burger, Devil’s Fried Chicken, and its special–DD’s mean but green Chicago Pizza. Korean BBQ? Belly Button has you covered in that regard with other traditional Korean joints hanging around in the back if you so choose to delve deeper.
While there aren’t as many cafes in comparison, you have a good amount to look at, but the main ones are well-known like premium Starbucks dubbed Starbucks Reserve, Paul Basset for a different taste of coffee, and the sit-down cafe of Gabaedo or “Coffee Island” in English. Tiramisu and soft Matcha Lattes are their strong suit. So if you need a quick stop or a longer rest stop, make sure to explore one of these many delicious options.
Stop By A Bookstore
A well-known name lurks beneath the surface of COEX. It’s none other than YP Books! A place of culture, rest, and fun. They have stationery products, Korean books of all kinds, as well as foreign books so everyone can enjoy their time there. Once you have purchased something meaningful to you, feel free to sit down in the wide reading space and enjoy your time. It’s the “other” reading spot in Starfield COEX Mall and has less people taking pictures so go here if you really want to read maybe.
What To Do Nearby
If COEX isn’t quite enough, or if you just want to make sure you’re maximizing your itinerary, there are some things nearby that you should check out too.
Bongeunsa Temple (봉은사)
Just across the street from COEX providing a respite from the busy mall underground sits the breathtaking Bongeunsa Temple. Dating back to 794 and south of the Han River, while being north of COEX, Bongeunsa Temple is a splendid spot to come by once you have finished your COEX visit. It’s loaded with history and was even expanded in the 1500s and moved locations to boot.
The most interesting part about it is the 91-foot (28 meters) statue of Maitreya, the Buddha of the Future. It is one of the tallest stone statues in all of Korea. The oldest remaining building is a library from the mid-1800s that contains woodblock carvings and nearly 3,500 Buddhist scriptures. Definitely don’t miss this beautiful temple in the spring when it’s covered in lotus lanterns in celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. It’s a must-see!
- Address: 531 Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea (서울 강남구 봉은사로 531, 서울, 대한민국)
- How to get there: Take subway line 2 to Samseong Station and exit via 6
- Hours: 3:00pm ~ 10:00pm
- Admission: Free
Samneung Park (서울선릉과정릉)
A nice tranquil area in Gangnam is Samneung Park. It’s an Unesco World Heritage Site while doubling as the royal mausoleum of King Seongjong, the 9th king of the Joseon Dynasty. It is a very quiet area in parallel to the busy district of Samseong. If you want to take a nice walk around outside with some peace and quiet, this is the place nearby to go.
- How To Get There: From Seolleung Subway Station Line 2, take exit 8 to Samseongdong
- Address: 89 Samneung-ro, Jori-eup, Paju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (경기도 파주시 조리읍 삼릉로 89)
- Hours: 9:00am ~ 6:00pm
- Days: Closed Monday
- Admission: Adults: W1,000; Students: W500
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