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.)

  • Seoul’s Innovation Park (서울혁산파크), Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    6 Things To See In Eunpyeong-gu You Probably Didn’t Know About

    Eunpyeong-gu is a district in the northwest of Seoul that most people drive through as they’re headed to Goyang. Having been a resident for a bit now, I was so surprised when I realized how many cool things there were in Eunpyeong-gu that so many people didn’t know about. While it might not be a huge tourist draw (yet), it should be on your list of areas to see in Seoul. From traditional villages to arts, culture, and eco-friendly parks, there’s a lot to do in Eunpyeong-gu.  Eunpyeong-gu has some surprises. Are you ready to explore northwest Seoul? (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage…

  • Room Excape, escape room, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    Room Excape: An Escape Room In Seoul

    Looking for something fun and maybe mentally-taxing for you and your friends while you’re in Seoul? Well, then trying out one of the many Seoul escape rooms in Hongdae is the way to go! We tried out Breakout Seoul recently and now it was time to try out Room Excape! At the white point address of Room Excape, my group and I decided to become astronauts for a day by delving into the B-POLLO-17 escape room. If you like escape rooms but don’t speak Korean, fear not, there are options. Get a group of friends together and have fun in Seoul this weekend at an escape room. Which theme would…

  • Hongdae, Hongik, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    Hongdae Seoul Guide: Best Things To Do, Shopping, Cafes & Nightlife

    Hongdae is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Seoul for shopping, street performances, cafes, nightlife, and youth culture. Centered around Hongik University, the area is known for its creative energy, buskers, indie roots, and busy walking streets packed with fashion stores, restaurants, and things to do from morning until… well, the next morning. Hongdae is more than nightlife though, it’s one of the most energetic neighborhoods in Seoul and one of the most popular areas for visitors for good reason. I lived in the neighborhoods around Hongdae for more than a decade and watched it change a lot. It used to feel a bit more grungy and indie than…

  • Bugak Pavilion, Bugak Skyway, Seoul, Korea: Traditional Korean pavilion
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    Bugak Skyway: Where To Get Panoramic Views of Seoul

    Are you looking to take in panoramic views of downtown Seoul, Korea? Want to have a bit of coffee and take in the views out over Seoul as the sun sets and the lights flicker on across the city? You’re probably picturing a spot like Namsan Tower or Seoul Sky Observatory for those kinds of views, but there’s one more spot that doesn’t require a fee at all and offers just beautiful views from a beautifully vividly colored traditional Korean pavilion. Take a drive on the most beautiful road in Seoul, Bugak Skyway (북악스카이), and stop off at Bugak Pavilion (북악팔각정) for some impressive views. You’ll see… Get ready to…

  • Hanbok rental, where to rent a Hanbok in Seoul, Unhyeonggung Residence, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험),  Travel Planning (여행 계획)

    Best Hanbok Rental In Seoul: Where To Rent Near Gyeongbokgung & Bukchon

    You might think renting a Hanbok in Seoul is just for tourists, but honestly, it’s something even locals love to do too. I’ve seen couples on dates, families with kids, and groups of friends all dressed up wandering through palaces like they’ve stepped straight into the Joseon Dynasty. And I get it. The moment you put one on, everything feels a bit more magical. If you’re wondering where to rent a Hanbok in Seoul, especially near places like Gyeongbokgung Palace or Bukchon Hanok Village, you’re in the right place. After years of living here (and yes, wearing Hanboks myself for my wedding and plenty of photo days), I’ve put together…

  • Seoul K-Medi Center, Yangnyeongsi Market, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    Seoul K-Medi Center: Learn About Traditional Korean Medicine

    Are you interested to learn about traditional Korean medicine? Ever wonder where you should go in Seoul to get learn more about holistic Korean medicine? If you haven’t heard of the Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Market, then now is the time. Specifically for this post though, we’re going to delve into the Seoul K-Medi Center (서울한방진흥센터), a space built purposefully in the pursuit of teaching more about the traditional Korean medicines so locals and tourists can learn more about holistic medicine. I had visited Yangnyeongsi Market years ago before this center was established and I did not know what I was looking at at all. This center is really impressive and…

  • Lotte World, Seoul, Korea: Korean theme park
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    Lotte World Seoul: Discount Tickets, Magic Passes and How To Make The Most Of It

    Lotte World (롯데월드 어드벤처) in Seoul is one of the largest indoor theme parks in the world, and it’s open 365 days a year, which means rain, heat, cold, and every Korean holiday is fair game. Right outside Jamsil Station, it’s one of the easiest theme parks to reach by public transport in the country, and a full day here covers everything from gentle carousel rides for toddlers to a pendulum swing that spins 360 degrees and a drop ride from 70 meters up. My husband and I were brought here by a very enthusiastic child who wanted a theme park birthday, and we ended up enjoying it considerably more…

  • National Hangeul Museum (국립한글박물관), Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    The Hangeul Museum: Where To Learn About The Korean Language

    Do you want to learn more about Hangul, also written Hangeul, the Korean language? You’re in luck if you’re visiting Seoul, Korea as you can find the National Hangeul Museum (국립한글박물관) easily situated just south of the National Museum of Korea. This museum is one of the many free things to do in Seoul and it’s also got a great children’s museum as well. Should you visit the Hangeul Museum on Hangeul Day though? I would really not recommend it. Here’s what you can look forward to when you do visit though. Get ready to learn about Hangul: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage…

  • Oh Happy Day, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    39 Free Things To Do In Seoul: Museums, Palaces, and Hidden Gems

    Seoul can be expensive if you approach it a certain way, clubs, tourist-facing restaurants, taxis, K-pop concerts. But once you know where to look, there are more free things to do in this city than almost anywhere else. Most major historical and cultural attractions cost nothing or less than ₩5,000 to enter. Several of the best museums in the country are completely free. Some of the most memorable experiences, a free observatory over a palace, a K-pop video studio, a museum hidden beneath a famous statue, cost exactly nothing. This list works as a standalone day plan or as a way to balance a trip where you’ve splurged elsewhere. If…

  • Michael Craig-Martin Exhibition. Seoul Arts Center (예술의전당), Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    The Seoul Arts Center: Enjoy Art, Musicals, and Performances

    Coming up on its 30 year anniversary, the Seoul Arts Center (예술의전당) is what to check out if you’re interested in art exhibitions, plays, musicals, operas, and more. It’s a place that hosts musicals in its grand colosseum-like opera house, exhibits from artists from around the world, and performances by Korean artists. There is also a deluge of places to eat at from your typical Paris Croissant to full-on restaurants like Dam. Spend a day in and around the Seoul Arts Center in the Seocho-gu district of Seoul and feel the artsy vibes of the city. Plan a trip to the Seoul Arts Center: (This post contains affiliate links, which…

  • Seoul Design Expo, Starfield COEX Mall, Gangnam, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    The 10 Best Things To Do At Starfield COEX Mall

    Starfield COEX Mall (스타필드 코엑스몰) is one of the largest underground shopping malls in the world and it sits right in the heart of Gangnam in Seoul. But calling it just a shopping mall is like calling Gyeongbokgung Palace just a building, technically accurate and entirely missing the point. A jack-of-all-trades mall, COEX has an aquarium, a stunning library that is one of the most photographed spots in Seoul, a cinema, airport check-in facilities, a casino open to foreigners, changing exhibitions, public art, and directly across the street, one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in the city. It works equally well as a planned half-day destination or as a…

  • Seoul Museum of Craft Art (서울공예박물관), Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    Seoul Museum of Craft Art: Free, Family-Friendly, and Worth Every Minute

    It would be easy to walk right past the Seoul Museum of Craft Art (서울공예박물관) for popular nearby spots like the historical district of the Bukchon Hanok Village and the cultural district of Insadong, but this fantastic museum opened in 2021 deserves a stop too. Not only good for adults, it’s great for kids and like most of my favorite museums in Seoul, it’s completely free. It’s a really great museum in Seoul to visit and would be especially great when it’s raining or too hot in the summer in Seoul or if you appreciate the history and depth of Korean crafting, which is really interesting. From the lacquerware of…

  • Sanrio Lover's Club Pop-Up (산리오 러버스 클럽), Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    Sanrio Is Trending In Seoul: The Sanrio Cafes To Visit Now!

    If you’re a fan of the company Sanrio and their many cute characters, then you’re in for a treat in Seoul right now. From the Sanrio Lover’s Club Café to the Cinnamoroll Cafe, there are pop-ups and more just for the Sanrio lovers out there. Though Sanrio is all about the most kawaii (cute) characters of Japanese pop culture, this trend is not just for children. People in the 20s are jumping on it too. It seems that nostalgia is trending in Korea and anything that is a couple decades old or older is coming back in with a fun and cute vengeance. Are you ready for the revival? Or…

  • Seoul, Korea, night view
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    The Best Things To Do At Night in Seoul

    The city of Seoul is vibrant at night. Neon lights brighten the view everywhere you look and the nightlife in Seoul is amazing. I had never been in a place where things just don’t close before arriving here. From night markets to noraebangs, or karaoke rooms, there is so much to do at night in Seoul, Korea. Are you a night owl? An insomniac? This is the city for you. You can take night walks in Seoul along the Seoul Fortress Wall or go to a night market in Seoul to eat all of the delicious food. Where do you think you’ll go first? Things to know about going out…

  • Breakout Seoul, Escape Room, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    Breakout Seoul: A Fun Escape Room in Hongdae

    Are you looking for a fun activity in Seoul to do with a group in Seoul? There are some great English-speaker friendly escape rooms to try. Escape rooms are a great team-building exercise, whether it be for work, school, family, or friends. There are varying levels of difficulty to them too, so you can find one that matches your style, whether it’s your first escape room or you’re a total pro. Looking for something fun to do in Hongdae? While you can do all kinds of things from eating to shopping in Hongdae, there is plenty in between. Breakout Seoul (브레이크아웃 이스케이프) is one such escape room in the Hongdae…

  • Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House) 청와대, Seoul, Korea
    Explore Seoul (서울탐험)

    Cheongwadae: A Complete Guide To Seoul’s Blue House

    Important notice — current status: Cheongwadae (청와대), Seoul’s Blue House, is closed to the public as of August 1, 2025. Following the election of a new president, the presidential residence has been reclaimed and the public access that began in 2022 has ended. This guide covers the history of the complex, what visitors saw during the three years it was open, and what remains accessible in the surrounding area. Between May 2022 and August 2025, something remarkable happened in Seoul. For the first time in 74 years, the gates of Cheongwadae, the Blue House, Korea’s presidential compound, opened to the public. Over three years and 8.5 million visitors later, it…

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