Explore Seoul (서울탐험)
Top things to see in Seoul. The best things to do in Seoul. Best cafes and restaurants to find in Seoul. Mountains, parks, and more things to do in Seoul, Korea. (서울에서 볼 수 있는 최고의 물건들. 서울에서 할 수 있는 가장 좋은 일들. 서울에서 찾을 수 있는 최고의 카페와 식당. 산, 공원, 그리고 한국의 서울에서 할 수 있는 더 많은 것들이 있다.)
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Saying Goodbye to Summer with Blooming Cosmos
The winds have shifted and the cooler breezes have been blowing in to say autumn is here and winter is on its way. With autumn comes some amazingly colorful mountain views but also to delight, the cosmos bloom. It’s a flower that holds on until the end and seems to wave goodbye to summer and welcomes us in to autumn. It’s one of the last flowers to enjoy before the plants begin to wilt and turn brown winter ice and snow make their own beautiful scenes to view.The pinks and white of the blooms conjure up memories of the recent spring and summer fun we had frolicking outside with bare feet…
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Seokguram Grotto: Seoul’s Version
Seokguram Hermitage (경주 석굴암) is one of those places that makes it onto every list of top 10 temples, Buddhist sites or wondrous views while in Korea. If you haven’t heard about it yet, head over to my friend Dale’s website and read more about it there. As I’ve read the name and heard it again and again, though haven’t yet been the site myself, I recognized it when I came across the name in Korean as I sat on the side of Mt. Inwang in Seoul. Seokguram… Seokguram (인왕산 석굴암), when I realized why I recognized the name it made me all the more confused as to why there…
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Tongin Market: Eat On A Budget Near Gyeongbokgung Palace
Traditional markets dot the map of Seoul with some becoming more popular than others either due to a central location, the size, or a delicacy or item you just won’t get anywhere else. Tongin Market (통인시장) probably became famous due to it’s location in the high traffic area just west of Gyeongbukgung Palace, but over the years it has become popular with tourists for another reason. Tongin Market offers a fun and budget friendly place to try a plethora of Korean eats in small portion sizes perfect for tourists and locals who want a little everything when it comes to Korean cuisine. Want a unique experience in downtown Seoul? Head…
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A Landscape Revealed
At the foot of Mt. Inwang (인왕산수성동계곡) an interesting thing happened a few years ago. During demolition of the Ogin Sibeom Apartments in 2008, a scene very similar to that of the artist Gyeomjae Jeong Seon’s (1676 – 1759) in his “Eight Scenes of Jang-dong” appeared. During the rapid growth and industrialization of the area, the scene on the side of the mountain had been covered over with an apartment building in 1971 and wasn’t viewed again for more than 30 years. Upon razing the building a stone bridge was uncovered and the city, which had bought the land back for reclamation, decided to turn the area back into the beautiful natural…
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Tapgol Park: A Respite In Seoul’s Historical District
There’s a park at the southern end of the popular street in Insadong that features a gorgeous pavilion and other historical artifacts. Tapgol Park (탑골공원) is a popular place for older Koreans to gather, chat, and play games and tourists meander in from time to time as well. This is also where the bus picks up to take tourists out to Nami Island so it’s a good spot to know the location of in downtown Seoul. More than that though, it’s an important historical stop to learn about the independence movement in South Korea. Learn more about Tapgol Park in Seoul: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive…
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The Bukchon Hanok Village: Where To Start
Picking a direction and beginning a self guided tour is how most approach the traditional area of Bukchon in the historic center of Seoul, Korea. As a longtime resident of the capital of Korea, I’ve visited the Bukchon Hanok Village numerous times, but I still remember that first time I went and felt like I didn’t really “see” anything. To make your time in the historic city center of Seoul memorable, there’s a lot you can do, and a lot I’ve covered in this guide to the Bukchon Hanok Village if you want to plan your own day in the area. If it’s your first time though, stick around because…
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Gangseo Marsh Ecological Park: On The Han River
The westernmost of the 11 Hangang Parks is the boggy and bird friendly Gangseo Marsh Ecological Park (강서습지생태공원). There are some really popular parks on the Han River and and some that you only find if you’ve rented bikes, or have a bike, and are passing through. Don’t miss this Han River Park and maybe take a picnic with you to enjoy an afternoon in Gangseo-gu. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. These funds go to maintain the site. Thank you for your support.) How To Get There Address: 279-23 27-gil Yangcheon-ro Gangseo-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 강서구…
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Flowers In Jongno
This past Sunday the sun was shining, parka weather said goodbye and a warm breeze was blowing so naturally I couldn’t help but head out for a walk. I headed to Jongno to see what was going on and for the most part I found a lot of people planning their gardens and purchasing seeds, plants and fertilizers, which got me oh so excited for my rooftop garden. I haven’t tilled the dirt that the owners before us left up there just yet so I’m not quite ready for the seeds, so instead I enjoyed the scene and purchased some succulents for inside the abode. While I was out I…
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The National Museum of Korea: Why You Need To Visit
Since it’s establishment in Yongsan in 2005, the National Museum of Korea has had more than 20 million visitors. You should be one too! Come spring and summer in Seoul the rain will inevitably start to fall and when it does people start to look for things to do inside. Or maybe it’s winter in Korea and you’d rather have some indoor time. The National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관) is not only a great thing to do when it’s too cold or too wet to venture out, but it’s also one of the FREE things to do in Seoul. These days, we’ve also got a major issue with fine dust…
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The Seodaemun Prison & Independence Park In Seoul Are A Must See
There are numerous museums in the capital city of Seoul in Korea with some devoted to the arts, history, and science, but there are also museums devoted to the numerous wars that have befallen the country. Whether you’re a tourist or someone coming to live in Korea for even a short amount of time, you’ll hear about the wars and if you want to learn more about what happened in Korea, there are a few great places to check out. The War Memorial of Korea is a huge and FREE museum in central Seoul that showcases over 13,000 pieces of war artifacts and memorabilia but there is also a smaller…
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7 Places To Learn About War in Korea
Most people that spend any amount of time in Korea, visiting or living, will at some point hear references made to war, commonly the Korean War and WWII or any number of wars with Japan. Signs at historical sites will remind people that the historic site was burnt down during some Japanese invasion before being rebuilt and political turmoil between North and South Korea is a constant reminder of the Korean War. Before jumping headfirst into conversation with a Korean about said wars, it’s best to take the time to learn and get some perspective. Want to learn about the Korean War in Korea? Want to learn about the comfort…
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The War Memorial of Korea: A Must Visit & FREE Museum In Seoul
Where once the Korean Infantry held their headquarters now sits the War Memorial of Korea (전쟁기념관), a museum that is free for the public to appreciate and learn. Not only is this a great stop for the budget minded traveler to Seoul, Korea, but it’s really a must visit for anyone that wants to learn more about the history of the country with specific regards to war. The memorial and museum have a TON of information and it’s an easy stop to make just down the street from the popular Itaewon district of Seoul. (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if…
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Best Winter Hike In Seoul: The Seoul Fortress Wall on Bugaksan Mountain
Huge flakes of snow were falling from the sky and to most it would have seemed an inopportune time to head out to hike along the Seoul Fortress Wall on Bugaksan Mountain (북악산), but plans had been made and the hiking club members, no strangers to adverse hiking conditions, suited up to head out into the cold. If you’re looking for one of the best hikes in Seoul no matter the weather, this is it. Snow keeps many people away from the mountains, but for those that do make it out, it can be an extra special time to hike in the quiet after the snow and the calm surroundings…
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Garak Market: The Costco Of Seoul
Garak Market (가락시장) was opened in 1985 and was the first public bulk market of it’s kind. It was the Costco of Korea, before Costco came to Korea. It’s huge and there are warehouses divided into different sections including fruits, vegetables, fish, dried foods, meat and more. Located in Songpa-gu, this market is where restaurants get their produce and fresh ingredients, but you can go too and eat it up! (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.) How To Get There Address: 600 Garak-dong Songpa-gu, Seoul (서울특별시…
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Seoul’s MMCA: Beautiful Design and Art Art Art!
It’s not as easy to say as MOMA and sounds more like you’re thinking and then making a sudden burst of sound, but it’s here: The Seoul Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, or MMCA (국립현대미술관 서울관)! The building, or buildings that make up the complex, sits on the eastern side of Gyeongbukgung Palace near the popular Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong district. The entrance looks more like an old school with brick walls and old windows with iron separating the panes of glass but leads to various buildings that span Korea’s history from the traditional red and green Hanok in the exterior to the more modern building in the center.…
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Hongdae & The Street Art To Find There
Blank walls and boring shutters are just asking to be painted when they’re near a university known for art students. Ask anyone about Hongik University in Seoul and they’ll be sure to mention art. The surrounding area, Hongdae, is generally known as the go to place for a good time in the evening and an ideal place to find live music, but another highlight of the neighborhood is that there is street art and graffiti all over the walls and it is constantly being redone so it never really has time to get old. While it’s not as popular as the Ihwa Mural Village but a bit more known than…
