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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Teamlab Is Finally Back In Seoul With teamlab:LIFE!
After quite the hiatus from Seoul, Korea, teamLab is finally back! If you missed it a few years ago, there was actually a long term exhibition in Jamsil’s Lotte World Tower called teamLab: World that was awesome. Unfortunately, after a couple years, it closed. Anyone in Korea hoping to visit teamLab were relegated to taking a trip to “nearby” Tokyo to see teamLab: Borderless or Shanghai’s teamLab: Borderless. If you like teamLab, you should still probably go, BUT before teamLab: World ends here in Seoul, go go go! This is NOT a long term exhibit like Borderless or World, this exhibition is only running until April so NOW is most…
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Pet Friendly Hotels In Seoul: The Best Places To Stay With Your Dog In Seoul
Seems like everyone has a pet these days which seems like a bit of a new phenom in Korea. I still remember when we got out cats more than a decade ago and older Koreans would tell me cats were NOT good house pets and shouldn’t be kept inside. Whether it’s cats, dogs, or a hedgehog, more and more people are jumping into pet owning and loving. While it may seem like a trend of sorts though, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind any would-be pet owners that owning a pet is not something you should do on a whim and it does cost money. They will become…
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Where To Stay In Hongdae: From Hotels To Guesthouses & AirBnbs Too!
Hongdae is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Seoul, Korea and it is one of the best areas to stay in Seoul too. There's nightlife, things to do at all hours, plenty of places to eat and fun too. Here are the hotels in Hongdae, guesthouses, and Airbnbs you should check out if you're coming to Seoul.
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The Seoul City Tour Bus Guide: What To See & Do When You Hop On Hop Off
If you’ve never joined a City Tour Bus, Seoul is the place to do it. City Tour Buses are a great way to see a city and not have to worry about transportation. See the hot spots of Seoul from the upper level of a bright red bus. I rode my first City Tour Bus in New York City and absolutely loved the experience. It’s just something that is so touristic and fun. Don’t waste money on taxi fares and buses. Don’t get confused in the subway. For your first trip to Seoul, take the time to ride this bus and get views of the city while getting a lay…
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Dalgona Coffee: What It Is, Where It Came From, & Why What You’re Making, Isn’t It!
When you could just make a cup of coffee in less than five minutes, why not spend the next twenty to thirty making dalgona coffee? While Koreans know what dalgona is and where it started, most foreigners don’t despite the challenge’s viral success. I was recently invited out to a cafe in Seoul that makes legit dalgona coffee based off of real Korean dalgona and, surprise!, it is NOT what you’re making at home. They wanted to get the word out about dalgona and asked me to help. Spoiler: The coffee you’re whipping is actually based off an Indian coffee drink, not Korean at all. Mind blown? Yeah, let’s get…
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Seoul Station: What To See Nearby, Where To Eat, & So Much More!
How many times have you visited Seoul Station (서울역) in the heart of the city of Seoul, Korea? Whether you’re just passing through or heading to the KTX train to get out of the city, or just want a lively area to shop and eat, Seoul Station is a pretty good stop to make. Coming into Seoul from Incheon International Airport? You’re probably headed here. There’s way more to do around the station that is the central hub for the Seoul subway system though and I wanted to share some of the oft missed places so the next time you’re in the area, you won’t miss all of the fun,…
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Where To See Cherry Blossoms In Korea 2024
Spring in Korea doesn’t really begin until those beautiful light pink cherry blossoms bloom. At least in my opinion. Are you looking for the cherry blossom blooming forecast? You’ve come to the right place. Let’s see cherry blossoms this spring. There are numerous places to see cherry blossoms in Seoul and around Korea with some being more popular than others. You could really walk down the most mundane neighborhood and see cherry blossoms though so while you should and probably will seek to find some of the more major spots, also just keep your eyes peeled for trees along the way. Last year, the first blossoms I noticed were down…
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ShuShu and Sassy: The Kid Friendly Skincare Brand & The Kids Beauty Salons In Seoul
There are kids’ cafes all over Korea but now there are also kids’ spas and beauty salons too! If you’re looking for the cutest most Instagrammable places to take your kids in Seoul, it has to be ShuShu and Sassy (슈슈앤쎄씨). When our little lady was younger we visited the Tayo Kids Cafe and the Pororo Kids Cafe but she is quickly getting too old for all of that madness it seems. One of the hottest trends in Korea right now is taking kids to get their own manicures, pedicures and glittery hair extensions and my daughter really jumped right onto that bandwagon. Children wanting to mimic their parents is…
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Did You Know There Is A Golden Temple In Seoul? Find Suguksa Temple
I have lived in Seoul, Korea for quite awhile and I have seen a lot of Buddhist temples here. I love a visit to a temples in South Korea. They are peaceful and calming and beautiful. Often set up on the mountain or in forests, the views are good and the ambiance lovely. Most temples in Korea are painted reds and greens and maybe there’s a bit of yellow and white in the artwork. That’s pretty standard so when I saw a glimmer of gold as I drove down the street near my house and saw a sign for a temple, I was intrigued. After visiting Suguksa Temple (수국사), I…
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Insadong: A Guide To The Traditional Artsy Fun Neighborhood In Downtown Seoul
Insadong is a popular neighborhood in Seoul, Korea that is known for its mix of traditional and contemporary and being near must see spots like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village means it’s easy to find and caters to tourists as well as locals in downtown Seoul. There are traditional tea houses and art galleries, fun photo-zone spots and restaurants galore. Whenever I have a visitor we invariably end up in Insadong at some point and it’s definitely the district to buy all of those Korean souvenirs if that’s what you need to take home. Some popular souvenirs include the traditional masks that you can see worn in Andong, Korea…
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Deoksugung Palace: The Most Unique Palace In Seoul
Deoksugung Palace in Seoul, Korea is the smallest of the five palaces in the capital but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be visited. It’s the most unique palace with various architectural styles and is the only palace to feature a western style garden, fountain and building. Deoksugung Palace means ‘palace of virtue and longevity’ and it is a beautiful palace to visit in downtown Seoul. If you’re in downtown Seoul, it’s easy to visit sitting centrally located and right next to a subway station. It’s a where to see a changing of the guard ceremony if that’s what you’re looking for as so many often are. Looking for some specific…
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Cool Architecture To See In & Around Seoul, Korea
There are new and improved buildings around Seoul and Korea being built all of the time. Not all of them are beautiful or interesting. In fact, most of them are high rise apartments BUT, there are some that are quite distinctive and for all of the right reasons. If you’re coming to Seoul and want to find the architectural highlights, the buildings that embrace the future with sleek lines, interesting facades, and staircases for days, here is a great start to making an awesome itinerary with the architecture highlights. Want to take some epic photos in Seoul? Don’t miss these Instagrammable places in Seoul. These are some of the must…
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The Hangang Parks: A Guide To The 11 Han River Parks In Seoul, Korea
The Han River, also called the Hangang, is a symbol of Seoul, Korea and a popular place to spend a day for most Seoulites especially during the hot hot summer. Year round, visitors can be found biking, walking, running, picnicking, or just enjoying the view. The Seoul City Government has done a lot to make the parks that line the river all the more visitor friendly in the past decade and there are now art installations to be found, skateboard parks to be enjoyed, outdoor concert venues, museums and just sooo much more to do, aside from the fantastic swimming pools that are also there. One of the questions I…
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Gangnam, Seoul: What To See, Do, Eat & Where To Stay
Gangnam is an area of Seoul known for being home to the wealthy, celebrities, and it’s not uncommon to see people walking around with bandages on after they’ve gone to one of the high-end cosmetic surgery spots in the district. Literally meaning “south of the river”, Gangnam gained international attention in 2012 when Psy released his hugely popular song “Gangnam Style”. The area is actually rather new compared to other districts in Seoul having only been built up and developed in the 80s, and while I’ve most often frequented the west side of Seoul, I have gone to Gangnam from time to time throughout the years and thought it was…
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Greenhouse Cafes Are Trending In Seoul
Trends can come and go pretty quickly in Seoul, Korea and they’re often at the whim of whichever K-drama is hot at the moment or a sudden burst of attention on Instagram, but I, for one, am hoping the newest trend of greenhouse cafes continues. I’m not sure if it’s due to the higher than normal dust levels the city of Seoul has suffered over the past year, or if it’s just an aesthetically pleasing design that was bound to happen at some point, but greenhouse cafes are trending big time around Korea right now. I went to a few last year and now they’re just getting bigger, better, and…
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Gongdeok District In Seoul May Surprise You
There are some districts of Seoul that seem like straight forward business districts and nothing more. Gongdeok has always been one of those areas for me. I’d pass through the area on the way from Hongdae to Itaewon or visit when I was going down to Yeouido to see the annual fireworks festival, but until last year when I was working in Gongdeok, I hadn’t really stopped to look around. Glad I did though. While there are a ton of businesses in the area, there are also cool cafes, reclaimed spaces, and some good good good eats. So, if you are around and want to try something different, don’t hesitate…