Places to Visit in Seoul

Seoul is a lively city that offers a lot of attractions and entertainment since it has a plethora of art galleries, bars, boutiques, as well as cinemas dotted around the area. Locals are also in touch with their history, which means that you can easily learn and experience the traditional Korean culture. You will also get the chance to find a lot of cultural and traditional spots in the area such as theaters and palaces that are usually considered as some of the best places to visit in Seoul.

With that, here are some of the top Seoul tourist attractions which you should visit once you travel to the city.

COEX Aquarium

Located in the underground COEX Mall is the COEX Aquarium which is one of the best places to visit in Seoul; you will find it close to the cinema complex, various restaurants as well as the many stores in the area. Furthermore, the hotel has about 100 water tanks which are filled with different types of colorful aquatic creatures and you will see around six hundred marine species on display.

Han River

The Han River or Hangang, one of the famous Seoul tourist attractions and is also among South Korea’s most significant rivers. It stretches over five hundred kilometers, plus both tourists and locals who go here enjoy some of the best things to do in Seoul such as fishing, jogging, jet skiing, or simply hanging out in one of the cafes in the area.

Hotels In Seoul

Korean Furniture Museum

The Korean Furniture Museum, one of the famous places to visit in Seoul, is housed within preserved in the traditional Korean houses that are present in the area. It contains a collection of over two thousand furniture pieces from the Joseon Dynasty which were collected by Chyung Mi-Sook, the owner of the private museum. The museum’s grounds has been highly maintained and kept private to keep a sense of history and authenticity, which makes touring in this place feel like traveling through time.

Shinheungsa Temple

Shinhuengsa Temple is the country’s oldest Zen temple and was built in 652 AD by a traveling Shilla monk named Jajang Yulsa. The temple has also been destroyed by fire and has been rebuilt several times. One of the best things to do in Seoul is to have a more in-depth temple experience and partake in the Sainhuengsa’s Temple Stay Program, which allows travelers spend two to three days in the temple following the lifestyle of a Korean Buddhist monk.

Gwangjang Market

This place is the city’s first and oldest covered market and is one of the well-known places to visit in Seoul to purchase traditional Korean clothing items such as the hanbok. It specializes in textiles and has also become one of Seoul’s largest hot spots for street food where travelers can try out various types of Korean cuisine.

Yeouido Park

Seoul is divided into two by the Han River, and one of the best green areas is the Yeouido Park which sits on an island in the middle of the river. Opened in 1999, the park is one of the favorite Seoul tourist attractions among locals who love biking, jogging, taking a walk, and playing outdoor sports.

Seodaemun Prison History Hall

This was constructed in 1908 and was used during the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945 in order to imprison Korean activists and patriots. This was also used during the regime of post-war Korean dictators until it was closed in 1987. Today, visitors can view the prison cells, an execution room, a watchtower, and exhibitions featuring photographs of the prison, reenactment of torture scenes, as well as some video footage.

Gate Gwanghwamun

Gwanghwamun, this serves as the main gate of Gyeongbukgung Palace, which is the largest among the five palaces of the Joseon Dynasty. The granite gate stood until 1952 during the Japanese invasion, when the gate and the palace were burned and abandoned until the next two hundred and fifty years.

Jeongdong Theater

The Jeongdong Theater has been staging a variety of modern and traditional works ever since it has been built. “Miso” or smile is a long-running traditional performance featured in this theater, presented by long-lived Korean art forms such as instrumental performances as well Korean dance and songs. One of the best things to do in Seoul is to visit the theater to witness the dazzling performances here.

Noryangjin Fish Market

One of the best places to visit in Seoul to get to know the Korean food culture is the Noryangjin Fish Market. It is one of the biggest seafood markets in the country and has been operating in the same location since 1927