Photo by Ciaran O'Brien on Unsplash

The Ultimate Seoul Travel Guide

The best must-visit food, activities, and places in Seoul, South Korea.

Discover the best of Seoul, South Korea with the ultimate travel guide! I’ve compiled the best top-rated restaurants, vibrant dance clubs, karaoke spots, unique activities, delicious street food, high-end shopping, intriguing art destinations, charming cafes, delightful desserts and more. I’ve also provided a ton of helpful tips for travelling in Seoul and explanations of the major neighborhoods.

Resources:

Full list (master Google Doc) of all the best must-visit food, activities, and places in Seoul.

Naver Maps (Premade Lists):

• Restaurants
• Activities
• Cafes
• Shopping
• Nightlife
• Desserts
• Markets
• Places

The major neighborhoods of Seoul:

1. Myeongdong: A bustling shopping district known for its trendy fashion boutiques, cosmetics stores, and street food stalls. It’s a popular destination for both locals and tourists.
2. Hongdae: Located near Hongik University, Hongdae is known for its youthful and artistic vibe. It offers a vibrant nightlife scene, live music performances, street art, and unique shopping experiences.
3. Gangnam: An upscale district famous for its luxurious shopping, high-end fashion brands, and stylish boutiques. Gangnam is also known for its modern architecture, trendy nightclubs, and entertainment venues.
4. Insadong: This neighborhood is a hub for traditional Korean culture and art. Insadong is lined with art galleries, antique shops, tea houses, and stores selling traditional crafts and souvenirs.
5. Itaewon: Itaewon is known for its diverse international community and vibrant culinary scene. The neighborhood offers a wide range of international restaurants, trendy cafes, and unique shops. It’s also a popular nightlife spot.
6. Jongno: Located in the heart of Seoul, Jongno is rich in history and cultural landmarks. It is home to historic palaces like Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, as well as important sites like Bukchon Hanok Village and Jogyesa Temple.
7. Gwanghwamun: The main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace is located in Gwanghwamun, which is also a significant historical and cultural area. The neighborhood houses important landmarks such as Gwanghwamun Square and the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
8. Dongdaemun: A shopping haven, Dongdaemun is famous for its vast array of wholesale markets, department stores, and fashion malls. It is a go-to destination for fashion enthusiasts and those seeking the latest trends.
9. Ehwa Women’s University: Located near Ewha Womans University, this area is known for its youthful and trendy atmosphere. It offers an extensive selection of fashion boutiques, cafes, and cosmetic stores catering to a younger crowd.
10. Garosugil: Found in the Sinsa-dong area, Garosugil is a charming tree-lined street known for its boutique shops, stylish cafes, and upscale restaurants. It is a popular spot for fashion-forward individuals and those seeking a sophisticated shopping and dining experience.

Apps:

Transportation: Seoul offers excellent transportation options for getting around the city. Two essential apps for navigating Seoul are Naver Maps and Kakao Maps. These apps provide reliable and up-to-date information on public transportation routes, including subways, buses, and walking directions. You can easily find the fastest and most convenient routes to your destination. If you need to hail a taxi, Kakao T is a convenient app to call a taxi with just a few taps on your phone.

Language Assistance: While English is not widely spoken in Seoul, you can overcome language barriers with the help of Naver Papago. This translation app allows you to translate text, speech, and even images in real-time, making it easier to communicate with locals. It’s a useful tool for navigating menus, signs, and having basic conversations.

Discovering Local Cuisine: To explore Seoul’s vibrant food scene, consider using the app “요기요” (Yogiyo). Similar to Yelp, this app helps you discover and order food from a wide range of restaurants. You can browse through menus, read reviews, and have delicious meals delivered right to your doorstep. It’s a fantastic way to explore and sample the diverse culinary offerings of Seoul.

Tips:

• Stand on the right side of escalators, the left side is reserved for running down/up
• At department stores like Lotte and Shinsegae, the casual, inexpensive clothing stores are often all located in the basement floor levels (e.g. B1)
• Korea is a lot of walking! Bring your most comfortable shoes
• Make sure you pack a power adaptor, the voltage levels differ from the standards in the US
• Hidden cameras are mostly overblown, they aren’t much of an issue these days
• Offer and receive items with both hands: When offering or receiving items, especially money or gifts, use both hands as a sign of respect and politeness
• Public trash cans are pretty rare in Seoul, try to either be mindful / plan ahead regarding throwing away waste or bring a small bag around
• Don’t convert currency in the airport, you can oftentimes find better rates in other neighborhoods like Insadong\
• Bring a portable phone charger
• Buy Discover Seoul Pass and use it to do the following activities for free / at a discount:

Discover Seoul Pass Activities:

1. COCONUT BOX
2. Sealala Sauna
3. COEX Aquarium
4. Lotte World Adventure
5. Mokdong Icerink
6. Gwangmyeong Cave
7. ODT MODE
8. Zoolung Zoolung
9. N Seoul Tower
10. Colorpool

Master List

Restaurants:

1. BBQ:

• Daedo Sikdang
• Manimal Smokehouse
• Saemaeul Sikdang
• Yangmiok
• Maple Tree House (Gangnam station)
• Gombawi
• Podo Sikdang (Apgujeong)
• Jobagjip
• Hanmiok
• Donsubaek
• Daehan Gopchang
• Nolran Gobchang
• Yang Gopchang

2. Dishes:

• Jjajangmyun
• Cheese fondue dip with meat and rice

3. Street Food:

• Namdaemun Kalguksu Alley
• Gamekol Son Wang Mandu
• Chungmuro Jjukkumi Bulgogi

Activities:

1. Dance Clubs in Seoul:

• Club Octagon (Gangnam)
• Boom bar
• B One Lounge Club
• Arena
• Cakeshop
• Dstar
• Club Avenue
• Soap
• Club Answer
• NB2

2. Karaoke:

• Helicon
• Su Noraebang

3. Misc

• Archery
• Jjimjilbang (Korean sauna)
• Dragonhill Spa
• Tea house
• Baseball batting cage
• Indoor golf range
• Convenience Stores
• Workshops
• Arcades
• Dog Cafe

Aesthetic Places for Pics/Scenery:

1. Design/Art-related:

• DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza)
• Starfield Library
• Seoul Metro Museum of Art

2. Parks:

• Yeouido Hangang Park
• Haneul Park
• Banpo Bridge
• Hangang Bridge
• Namsan Tower
• Hanoe Village
• Songdo Central Park

3. Markets:

• Namdaemun Market
• Gwangjang Market
• Myeongdong Night Market
• Jagalchi Markets
• Mangwon Market
• Halmaejip

Shopping:

1. Lotte World Mall
2. Hyundai Seoul
3. COEX Mall
4. Mimi Mimi (Jewelry)
5. Gangnam District
6. Artbox
7. Spao (underground for cheap clothes)
8. Depound
9. Marithe Francois Girbaud
10. Fallett
11. Aver Studio
12. Prosign/Griptok
13. ALAND
14. Freitag
15. Custom Nike
16. Lucky Factory (Hongdae)
17. Stylenanda

Cafes:

1. Café Onion
2. Café 연남동 223–14 (A 2D designed cafe)
3. Fritz Coffee Company
4. Kakao Cafe
5. Angels In Us
6. A Twosome Place
7. Café hopping in 성수동, 익선동, 가로수길, 한남동
8. Kitchen 205
9. Soft tree