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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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 Seoul Travel Guide: Best Things to Do, Eat, and Buy in the Traditional Korean Arts District
Insadong is one of Seoul’s most famous cultural neighborhoods, known for its traditional Korean arts, crafts, tea houses, and street food. Located near Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, it’s a must-visit destination for travelers looking to explore Korea’s heritage in a walkable tourist-friendly area. 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 as well as beautiful Korean mother of pearl products, utensils and beautiful decor items. The area…
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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…
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10 Aquariums To Visit With Kids In Korea
Most people, especially kids, have some interest in exploring the world around them and that includes the depths of the seas. What better way to cultivate that interest and learn about our sea friends than to visit a nearby aquarium? There are aquariums around Korea and they are pretty easy to tack on to most itineraries and really provide hours of fun for children and the adults that they bring along. Need something to do indoors during monsoon season or looking for what to do during winter in Korea? This is it. Want something fun to do in Seoul? Something fun to do in Busan? Something fun to do in…
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When & Where To Find Flowers In & Around Seoul, Korea
Flowers bloom in Seoul from April to November. Spring flowers, summer blooms, and autumn flowers make for stunning photos here in Korea. Want to know where to find flowers in Seoul? Here’s a guide to get you started. I’m just about a professional flower hunter in Korea and I want to help you find the flowers, too. Make the most of spring in Korea and get out to see the dazzling display that Mother Nature provides. She certainly does not disappoint in Korea. Beat the heat this summer in Korea with the beauty that nature provides and end the warmer months with the gorgeous fields of cosmos, pampas and pink…
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Bukchon Hanok Village: What To See, Where To Go & What To Do + A Map!
Bukchon Hanok Village is one of the most visited areas of Seoul, Korea. The neighborhood of Bukchon is special due to the numerous traditional Korean homes, or Hanoks, that are located there. The neighborhood was originally home to high-ranking government officials and nobility so you would be right in assuming that these Hanok estates are rather nice. Bukchon is a neighborhood that sits to the east of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace in the capital city of Seoul, and west of Changdeokgung Palace, known for its gorgeous secret garden. The neighborhood to the west of the main palace, while not as traditional in architecture, is also a great spot to find…
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The Peace Culture Bunker: Once Military, Now Communal
It’s not uncommon to travel around Seoul, or Korea for that matter, and find military bases and bunkers. Usually they’re surrounded by barbed wire and fences because civilians, like myself, cannot enter. They’re starting to get converted into community spaces though as they become unnecessary. The Peace Culture Bunker (평화문화진지), once a tank bunker is one of those places and it’s now a very cool community space. More and more these bunkers and bases are being given back to the community at large and they are being given back in some awesome ways. Don’t miss the new spaces to find around the city. Is Korea still at war? Technically yes,…
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Ski In Korea: A Guide For Where To Go & How To Get There
When I first came to Korea a decade ago, I packed my bags and that included a snowboard. I remember reading about how mountainous the peninsular country was and after searching “where to ski in Korea” “can I ski in Korea” and “how close to Seoul can I ski?”, I saw numerous options. Korea is very mountainous if you didn’t know and there are plenty of places to go skiing in Korea. Here are the Korean slopes, the Korean ski resorts, and the Korean mountains to check out this winter, where they are, and how to get to them. Plan to stay at some of the awesome ski resorts in…
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Changgyeonggung: The Hidden Palace In Seoul
There are five palaces in Seoul and not all of them attract equal attention. This is good to know if you want to walk around a gorgeous Korean palace WITHOUT all of the crowds. As far as Korean palaces go, Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace in Seoul, and Changdeokgung featuring the Secret Garden always seem to top the lists but if you were to ask me, I’d say visiting Changgyeonggung (창경궁) is even better… for a number of reasons. Different palaces for different feels I guess. I do love Gyeongbokgung from time to time and always take short term tourists there, but if I want to visit a palace and…
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The Seoul Botanic Park: Find Nature In Seoul
Whether or not you enjoy gardens or botany, the gorgeous architecture of the large greenhouse is definitely a draw at this new hot spot in Seoul. The Seoul Botanic Park (서울식물원) was opened in Magok in the Gangseo-gu district which was an interesting choice for the massive park. This area of Seoul has been getting a lot of development and even has an Ando Tadao building now, the LG Art Center. This is THE spot to visit in spring in Seoul or even summer in Seoul. We love parks and if you do too, this is definitely one you can’t miss here in Seoul, Korea. Here is where you’ll find…
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Why Namsan Tower Is A Must See In Seoul
If you’re a tourist headed to Seoul, South Korea, chances are you’ve heard of the iconic N Seoul Tower. Nestled atop Namsan Mountain, this observatory offers unforgettable views of Seoul. As one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, this towering structure boasts not only breathtaking panoramic views of the sprawling metropolis but also a rich cultural significance and should definitely be on your Seoul itinerary even if you’re in the city for a short time. Plan your trip to N Seoul Tower now: (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…
