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.)
-
Ikseon-dong: Best Restaurants, Cafes and Things To Do In Seoul’s Oldest Hanok Village
Ikseon-dong has become one of the most popular little Hanok villages in downtown Seoul, and if you understand the difference between this neighborhood and Bukchon, you’ll have a much better visit to both. People go to Bukchon Hanok Village to see the traditional Hanok homes in their grandeur. People go to Ikseon-dong to eat, drink makgeolli in a cozy courtyard, and stumble on something unexpected behind a door that looks like every other door on the alley. The shops and restaurants here pay homage to the history of the area while doing something a bit more creative with it. Old Hanoks become fog-filled hot pot restaurants, salt bread bakeries with…
-
Personalized Experiences At The Monami Concept Stores In Seoul
I was once gifted a Monami pen at a beauty event in Seoul. It was a beautiful pen with a light pink metal casing with perfect heft and it even had my name on it. It was one of those pens that I made people hold so they could also understand the appeal and so they could understand why I wouldn’t let them just walk away with my pen. Some years later it was stolen, and so I went out of my way to find another to replace it and that’s when I discovered the fun to be had in the Monami Concept Stores in Seoul, Korea. If you find…
-
Learn About Korean Food and Alcohol At HANSIK Space E:eum
A visit to the Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul, Korea is a must and always included on basic Seoul itineraries. When you get there though, it’s easy to wander and wander and wonder what’s worth a stop in. I recently visited the HANSIK Space E:eum (한식문화공간이음) and can say it’s definitely worth a stop in, especially for those interested in Korean food culture and traditional Korean alcohol. Learn about Korean food and join a class in Bukchon Hanok Village: (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…
-
Hongje Stream: Light Art, a Waterfall, and a Secret Walk Beneath Seoul
I used to pass through Hongje on a bus every day as I’d traverse from Eunpyeong-gu to a school in Seodaemun-gu. The area doesn’t seem like it’s changed much, but if you went through every day like I did, you’d notice small changes around the Yujin Arcade, the Inwang Market, and the Naebu Expressway area. After teaching one day I traipsed up the mountainside to find the Ant Mural Village, and in the past couple of years there were more changes when the tunnels beneath the intersection were finally opened up and even renovated with light art. Hongje Stream is a beautiful place to walk or ride a bike in…
-
Butter Shop Myeongdong: One Of The Cutest Stores In Seoul (+ Where Else To Find One)
Walk down the streets of Seoul and you’ll find all kinds of lifestyle stores and stationary shops and one of the cutest ones to find is absolutely Butter Shop (버터샵). The store’s iconic feature, a grandiose cat doll stationed at the entrance, serves as an endearing mascot, beckoning visitors to a world of cutesy wonder. Now, most of the Butter Shops aren’t so done up though still offer the cutest of souvenirs and lifestyle goods, but if you want one that’s got photo-zones and all of the goods, definitely visit the Butter Shop in Myeongdong. You, and the kids you might be toting along, will love it! (This post contains…
-
The National Aviation Museum of Korea With Kids: Fun With Flight
If you’re like me, always on the lookout for exciting yet educational outings for your little ones in Seoul, look no further. Today, we’re taking a thrilling journey through aviation history at the National Aviation Museum of Korea (국립항공박물관), fittingly located near Gimpo International Airport. Buckle up, because this adventure is going to be a soaring good time for both you and your kids. This is one of the newest national museums in Korea, opened in 2020, and like other national museums in Korea, it’s completely free. We love visiting the national museums of Korea. They do a fantastic job with installations and exhibitions. Looking for budget friendly fun? Check…
-
Navigating Seoul with Ease: Your Ultimate Guide to the Seoul Subway System
Are you planning a visit to the bustling city of Seoul, South Korea? When you start to plan and really start getting down to the nitty gritty of transportation, you’ll come to the Seoul subway system, probably look at a map, and do a few double takes trying to sort out how it all works. Don’t be overwhelmed though. Let me walk you through it, focus on the lines you’ll actually use, and explain what to do when you get on going the wrong direction. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Seoul Subway, from its history to fares to using the T-money card for seamless…
-
Cooking Classes In Seoul: From Kimchi to Bulgogi
Whether you want to learn how to make kimchi or if you want to learn how to make bibimbap, there’s a cooking class in Seoul for you. Cooking classes are a fantastic way to learn more about a culture and with a local guide, you can ask some of those questions about Korean dining etiquette and dining in Korea that you’ve wondered about. I’ve taken a number of Korean cooking classes over the years because, well food, but also, the opportunity to learn how to make some of my favorite Korean food is awesome. I’ve learned how to make a lot of dishes from my Korean mother-in-law, but if you’ve…
-
Where To Learn About The Korean Poet Yoon Dong Ju in Seoul
The first time I visited the Yoon Dong Ju Literature Museum (윤동주문학관) in Seoul, Korea was after I hiked along Bugaksan Mountain. I’d come down through Changuimun Gate (창의문) after hiking along the Seoul Fortress Wall and this intriguing museum sat near the bus stop. I stopped in briefly just to see what it was all about and made note to go back. A Korean poet who wrote his poems while under Japanese colonial rule to fight Korean censorship preserve the Korean language, and push for Korean independence, there was only one copy of Yoon Dong Ju’s most famous work “The Sky, the Wind, the Stars, and the Poem” (하늘과바람과별과시)…
-
Culture Station Seoul 284: Free Art Exhibitions and Experiences
In the heart of Seoul, Korea near one of the busiest, if not the busiest, station sits an old building that houses stories to tell and free exhibitions to tell them. The Culture Station Seoul 284 (문화역 서울 284) is one of my favorite places to visit and it’s just outside of the bustling Seoul Station. Passerby on nearby Seoullo 7017 over look this building while taxis and buses stop out front dropping off travelers. It’s busy around Seoul Station all of the time, and yet Culture Station Seoul 284 manages to be a hidden gem of quiet and calm. Get ready to see more in downtown Seoul. Here’s what…
-
Things To Do In Sindang, aka the ‘Hip’dang of Seoul
A mix of old-Seoul rice vendors and newtro bars and restaurants, Sindang, aka “Hipdang” has a unique mix of things to find. Centered around one of the three largest traditional markets in Seoul, Korea, young people are flocking to the old alleys of this unassuming area where it’s not so neat and tidy but that’s what makes it fun. The area around Sindang Station has a lot to find and the exteriors of most of them are gritty and will leave you wondering where the door is, but that’s what makes finding cafes, restaurants, and shops in Sindang fun. Get ready to dive in. Get ready to see more and…
-
The Korean Stone Art Museum Now Museum Wave: Statues & Media Art
It’s always fun to find the museum gems in Seoul, Korea and finding them when no one else is there. I’ve visited and love to continually visit the numerous art museums in Seoul, but recently, I made my way to the Korean Stone Art Museum (우리옛돌박물관), nestled in the picturesque Seongbuk-dong district. The museum has undergone a transformation and now there’s also a Museum Wave (뮤지엄 웨이브). From contemporary art to cultural stories and statues, this is a cool museum to find in Seoul. Set on the side of a mountain, it’s not the easiest place to find (actually, it’s easy to get to via public transportation, but it’s not…
-
Bank of Korea Money Museum in Myeongdong: A Hidden Gem
Most people go to Myeongdong for shopping or maybe for all of the delicious street food, but there are some really interesting hidden gems in Myeongdong and museums that people could easily walk by. The Bank of Korea Money Museum (한국은행 화폐박물관) is one of those hidden gems in a beautiful historical building in downtown Seoul. Learn more about the history of currency culture in Korea and abroad, how currency is made, and check out some really interesting currency design from around the world. Get ready to learn about money in Korea: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase…
-
Hongdae Shopping Guide: Korean Fashion Brands, Flagship Stores and Street Shopping Tips
Popular as a nightlife district in Seoul, Hongdae has grown into quite the shopping district for fashion enthusiasts and a hub of creativity even if you’re just looking to walk down the bustling Hongdae Shopping Street. If you’re looking to do some shopping in Seoul, definitely don’t overlook Hongdae. For fashion lovers, there are popular Korean fashion brands like Covernat, What It Isn’t, Fallett, Gentle Monster and more. There are a lot of great things to do in Hongdae from seeing buskers and street dancers to eating, drinking, and of course shopping! In this guide to shopping in Hongdae, we’ll navigate the labyrinth of Hongdae’s fashion scene, fun design stores,…
-
Korea Postage Stamp Museum: Where To Teach Kids About Old School Mail
If you’ve visited Myeongdong a bit, chances are you’ve walked right by the big Korean Post Office. It sort of seems out of place to find something so necessary for local life in such a busy and touristy area. Step inside and you can also find the small but very interesting Korea Postage Stamp Museum (우표박물관) which holds more than 6,000 stamps, envelopes, and postcards. If you’ve got kids in Korea or just want to have something to do in Myeongdong to take a break from the shopping hustle and bustle, here’s one spot you can add to your list. An hour is all you need, but it’s a nice…
-
Poop Cafe Seoul: A Hilariously Crappy Adventure
This hilarious poo-themed cafe has been around since I first got to Korea decades ago and yet I never really felt the urge to visit this quirky spot… until I had a daughter. Kids will find it hilarious and the adults with them will probably chuckle a bit too. In the heart of Seoul’s traditional Insadong district, when a family of tourists says they’re going to Insadong and asks me what to do there, I always suggest the poop cafe Seoul. It’s hilarious, fun for kids, and actually has delicious treats, but I think when you’re traveling with kids especially, you need to mix it up between serious and traditional…
