recommendations and detailed tips. I will post a short version of this blog here.
First things first, and I cannot stress this enough,
You want to keep in mind 3 important things:
1. how much walking you are used to
2. having balanced Korean food and foreign food
3. what season it is
Reason 1: My family is American and their lifestyles involve driving to all of their destinations. They are not used to walking whatsoever! You might get extremely tired fast and your legs will be sore after the first day. The last thing you want to do is waste time commuting long distances back and forth, so I highly suggest planning your days accordingly for each region of Seoul.
Every train station has stairs. The public transportation is great, but it can take up to an hour one way to get to the other side of the city. I will suggest things to do and eat, and I've kept in mind to make wiggle room for you to freely do other things too, like go back to your stay and rest until dinner. Or check out K-pop birthday cafe events, pop-ups, and seasonal festivals!
Reason 2: You might be saying to yourself, "I only want to eat Korean food-- I want to try all the Korean foods!" What a great idea that is! But keep in mind, your stomach is used to what it's used to. It's perfectly okay to eat foreign foods in Seoul. We have the greatest restaurants from all over the world here. Sometimes your taste buds might not be used to the sweetness or the spiciness in Korean food, or things might just not sit well.
So many times when people have come to visit me, they start disliking Korean food other than pork belly because all I've brought them to were Korean restaurants. They end up almost starving themselves and then devouring a burger after days of holding off on foreign foods. When they finally ate that burger, great.. but they felt so guilty about it! The entire time that they've been trying to hold off on foreign foods, a resentment towards Korean food grew but it's honestly because your taste buds won't adjust to the flavors here just because you've landed in Korea. Once I made visitors balance foreign and Korean food, they enjoyed absolutely everything.
Reason 3: What season it will be by the time you are visiting matters a lot because of seasonal events, as well as the daytime being shorter in the colder months! It gets dark by 5 pm in the fall and winter, so this is a major detail people forget about. Some places look best only in the day or night. Catching a glimpse of a place both day and night is something to think about with observatories, too!
* If you cannot eat pork or meat, I suggest looking up separate recommendations apart from my blog post. I'm sorry! I haven't researched enough about vegetarian/halal yet.
Now I will start off by giving you a day-to-day itinerary for 12 days. Please download the app Naver Maps and the Korean Hangul keyboard on your phone, as I will be posting the names of the locations and addresses here. The app is mostly in English.
Seoul 12-Day Itinerary Table of Contents
Day 0: Arrival Date: Eat Jeju Black Pig KBBQ
Day 1: Rent Hanboks and Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace & Bukchon Hanok Village
Day 2: Hongdae Cafes and Shopping, Nightlife, Yeouido Han River Park
Day 3: Ikseondong, Dongdaemun Plaza, Gwangjang Market (Cheonggyecheon Stream), Gwanghwamun Plaza
Day 4: Itaewon: Haebangchon, Namsan Tower, Myeongdong
Day 5: COEX Mall, Bongeunsa Temple, HYBE INSIGHT 2023, Gangnam, Banpo Bridge Park
Day 6: Seongsu, Seoul Forest, Ttukseom Han River Park
Day 7: Songpa-gu: Seokchon Lake, Lotte World Mall, Lotte Tower Observatory, Lotte World Amusement Park, BTS Jin's Brother Joong's Restaurant
Day 8: Flea Markets, Changdeokgung Palace, Marronnier Park, Naksan Fortress Wall, BTS Jungkook & Jimin's Fave KBBQ
Day 9: The Hyundai Seoul, IFC Mall, Times Square, 63 Building, Yeouido Park
Day 10: BTS Tour, Sinsa Garousugil, Cheongdam, Apgujeong Nightlife
Day 11: The Blue House, Tongin Market, Daeo Bookstore (BTS RM), Gwanghwamun Plaza, HiKR Ground, Jeongseon Raw Crab Meat Restaurant
Here is my public Naver Maps folder curated especially for you, made by me. Everything I've mentioned, plus more that I find cool, is in this Seoulful Diaries Public Naver Maps Collection. I truly hope you appreciate my itinerary!
Day 0: Arrival Into Korea: Jeju Black Pig for Dinner
1. Jeju Black Domestic Pig Dinner
If you're arriving early, then great, but you might be super tired and adjusting to the time zone and whatnot! I think taking it easy the first night is ideal. Usually, the airlines feed you very well before coming, so you might not feel hungry until the meat is sizzling in front of you!
I have always brought family members to eat Jeju Black Domestic Pig pork belly ("heuk-dwae-ji") on the first night because it's really fatty and will give you a good night's rest! Plus the presentation looks great. And, you can never go wrong with starting off with KBBQ.
Black pig almost tastes as meaty as a steak. Black Pig is Jeju's domestic breed so it's not commonly found anywhere outside of Korea.
RECOMMENDATION: Depending on where you are staying, there are lots of restaurant choices. A famous franchise called 제줏간 Jejutgan has a few branches all around Seoul. Here, you will find a tasteful interior imitating Jeju Island and a great presentation of the food.
If there is none near you, type in Naver Maps "흑돼지" for black pig, and all of the restaurants that specialize in Jeju Black Pork will pop up!
Jejutgan in Guro Digital Complex Station
Day 1: Rent Hanboks & Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace
& Bukchon Hanok Village
1. Gyeongbokgung Palace: 10am Guards Change Show at the Front Gates
Your first day in Seoul should be at the heart of Seoul, the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Today will be very cultural with beautiful photos and a lot of walking, but take your time! Everything you will do today is in one area.
LOCATION: The station brings you right outside the front gates of the palace (Gyeongbokgung Station Line 3 Exit 5). So, we usually check out the 10am show of the guards changing first. I suggest doing this first, so you don't rush your first meal and hanbok rental.
2. 청수정 Cheongsujeong: (11 am opening) Lunch at a Famous Korean Restaurant
If you are hungry and haven't eaten breakfast or lunch yet, I suggest this highly popular traditional Korean restaurant that's been featured on TV twice. Getting here from the palace takes you through the cute streets on the other side of the exit from the station. In the Autumn season, all the yellow ginkgo trees make this place look so magical!
There is always a line out the door, so arriving early is best. They open at 11 am, so coming here after the 10 am guards changing show from the Gyeongbokgung Palace and before renting hanboks is ideal!
You can get a whole set meal for ₩19,000.
LOCATION: 청수정 (restaurant name)
서울 종로구 삼청로 91
3. Renting Hanboks
After brunch, head straight to the Hanbok rentals! They are everywhere. I've been in a Hanbok 3x last year (2022: summer, autumn, winter), and I went somewhere different each time. Here is a short review of all 3:
Geumjundang: (금준당 서울특별시 조노구 소격동 30) a higher-end rental place of beautiful hanboks with traditional socks and shoes for men and women plus hairstyling (good for colder months as there are so many thick layers)
In Korea Hanbok:(서울특별시 종로구 적선동 19) mid-range hanbok rental place with lots of selection for sizes and length, maxed out at 4 hours for men and women plus hairstyling
2nd Floor Ollaoseyo Hanbok: (서울 종로구 사간동 126-6) cheapest rental place for all day until closing (6 pm) with a beautiful selection for men and women plus hairstyling
There are a lot of Hanbok rental places all around the palace and in Bukchon Hanok Village with relatively all the same amenities! They all have lockers for you to leave your things in until you return.
4. Gyeongbokgung Palace: Photos & Touring Around!
Head back to the palace! Wearing a hanbok gets you into the main palace areas free of charge, and no matter the season, you will look beautiful in your traditional Korean clothes (men and women). The guards change at 10 am and 2 pm, so keep this in mind when getting into the area. You don't need to pay to watch the guards change as they do this at the entrance gates of the palace (if you go before Hanbok rentals).
Once you are back at the palace, explore the whole area! The Gyeongbokgung Palace has many photo opportunities all throughout! While seeing where the King and the royal family stayed, you can stop and take photos anywhere. The beautiful colors of the palace roofs, gates, walls, and pillars contrast beautifully with the light sand ground and seasonal nature.
5. Bukchon Hanok Village
Make your way to Bukchon Hanok Village from the Gyeongbokgung Palace in your Hanbok! It's the thing to do, and surely you wouldn't be the only one walking in your traditional clothing.
LOCATION: 서울특별시 종로구 북촌로11가길 21
Getting to the specific area where all the pretty hanoks (traditional Korean-style homes) are is marked by that address above. It's just one main street for photos. There is a museum (Kkokdu & Hanok) midway up the hill that you can check out too.
TIP: Many tourists take photos at the top of the hill, but there are always so many people on this street. I highly suggest going to the street over, because you can see the Namsan Tower and the street also curves, giving you a beautiful view of the hanoks and walls that are alongside the street without getting people in the background. Just turn left once you get to the top of the main street, and it will be the first left after.
Photos are a little gray in the colder months, so try not to come too late into the day! The top of the street faces south, and no sunlight peeks over to this hanok street from the east.
6. Optional: Photo Studio
Photo booths are super popular in Korea. They are everywhere! But The Film has a location near the palace that is different than the rest. Here, you will be able to print out transparent photo strips. These are super unique and cute. I usually head here after everything on the itinerary is done, before returning my hanbok.
The Film Bukchon
서울 종로구 팔판동 70번지
7. Dinner at Halmae Jip 할매집 Michelin Star 2023 Restaurant
Good job today! Reward yourself with gamjatang, a pork back-bone spicy Korean stew after returning your hanboks. This gem is in the alleyways by exit 7 of Gyeongbokgung Palace. Halmae Jib or "Grandma's House" runs by Grandmother Moon. She has been running Halmae Jip for 45 years.
Gamjatang (2 people) ₩28,000 / (3 people) ₩35,000
LOCATION: 서울 종로구 사직로12길 1-5
Day 2: Hongdae Cafes, Shopping, Nightlife,
Yeouido Han River Park
1. Lunch at Bukchangdong Soft Tofu (Hongik-ro Univ. Branch) 북창동순두부 홍대점
Start your day at this popular sundubu restaurant that has a variety of different sundubu jiggae. Sundubu is a hot, spicy Korean stew with soft tofu with seafood or meat. At this restaurant, you can also get mackerel, sweet and sour pork, bulgogi, galbi-flavored grilled pork neck, and oysters. We got a set menu that had almost all of the mentioned.
Hongdae area is known for places to find foreign foods as well, but if you're wanting to only eat Korean food, they also have numerous Korean BBQ restaurants on the main street.
2. Hongdae/Yeonnam-dong Cafes
Hongdae is the home of trendy cafes, shopping, and nightlife. Since yesterday we did cultural things, let's explore the trendy things. Here are my favorite cafes to show people!
CAFE RECOMMENDATIONS:
-Musinsa Terrace Cafe: at the 17th floor of the AK& Mall, you get to see all of Seoul in
an observatory-like cafe. Musinsa is an online shop that made a beautiful
architectural space where people get to unwind and relax.
-Geurim Cafe: the popular 2D cafe from To All The Boys I've Loved
-Thanks Nature Cafe: Meet Hakuna and Maratha, the most beautiful sheep in Seoul
-Sanrio Lovers Cafe: for all Sanrio Lovers
-Mint Heim: for all mint-flavored lovers
-Harry Potter Cafe (943 Kings Cross CAFE): for Harry Potter lovers
-Mieokaet Friends: meet meerkats and a fat raccoon
3. Hongdae/Yeonnam-dong Activities
Hongdae isn't all just cafes with coffee and desserts, there are cafes that are filled with activities and classes. If you have a NAVER account, you can book reservations through Naver Maps by searching the locations. If you don't have a Naver account, you can try calling the establishments beforehand.
CAFE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Naemam Daerim Phone Case (내맘대로 폰케이스 홓대점): make your own phone cases
Soma Drawing Cafe (소마드로잉카페 홍대점): take a 120min painting class
Cafe Neulbo (카페늘보): make your own shrinky-dinks
R.E.C Real Escape Challenge (리얼이스케이프첼린지): escape rooms in English
4. Hongdae Shopping
Hongdae isn't just cafes and activities, but also SHOPPING! Shopping is all around you in Hongdae. You have Yeonnam-dong (if you decide on the 2D cafe, you go through here) out of exit 3, the AK& Mall (Musinsa Terrace Cafe) out of exit 4, Line Friends, 7 Floor Daiso, and all over on the main streets of Hongdae out of exits 8 and 9 of Hongik University Station.
There is a street full of shops down by Nana Piercing & 711. Some people don't go down this road and miss out on Hongdae shopping street!
5. Iberico KBBQ Dinner at Hyeong Nim Jeoyo 형님저요
If you're looking for a dinner place to eat in the heart of Hongdae's busking street, I highly recommend Hyeong Nim Jeoyo 형님저요. Out of all the KBBQ places, I really like this one for its Iberico (Spanish) pork neck. The pigs are raised by eating only grass, acorn, and grains raised in open sunny fields! I get menu #2 "이베리코꽃등심 (neck loin)! I also would get naengmyeon (cold ice noodles) to pair with it!
6. Nightlife in Hongdae
Hongdae isn't just cafes, activities, and shopping. We got the best nightlife here! You can explore streets in Yeonnam-dong and the main strip of Hongdae between exit 9 of Hongik University to Sangsu Station.
NIGHTLIFE RECOMMENDATIONS:
I am not much of a nightlife person, but here are my friend's recommendations!
Clubs: Atension, XX, Sinkhole (there are 3), Club Awesome, Cake Pop
Pocha Bars: Battery 88 Pocha (main street = pink)
Bars: La Luz, Underground, T12
7. Yeouido Han River Park/Banpo Bridge Park
If you want to skip out on the nightlife, take a short bus ride over the bridge to Yeouido Park and see the city skyline at night to end your day. You can get a beautiful view of the famous 63 Building from there, too.
If you want to see the Banpo Bridge LED Water Fountain show, which happens at Banpo Bridge Park, is a further trip away. Taking the bus or the subway will be about 1 hour, or a taxi about 20 minutes depending on traffic.
**This Yeouido destination is also in Day 10's itinerary if you decide to omit**
**This Banpo Bridge Park destination is also in Day 5's itinerary if you decide to omit**
Day 3: Ikseondong, Dongdaemun Plaza,
Gwangjang Market (Cheonggyecheon Stream),
Gwanghwamun Plaza
1. Ikseondong Cafe Hanok Village
Ikseondong is the cutest little area with trendy cafes and shopping. It's in the center of Seoul with aesthetic brunch restaurants and cafes. You can find cute shops and the cafe content always turn out beautiful.
I put this first because today's itinerary will have Gwangjang Market, which looks best at nighttime with all the lights. Also, I do want to note that even if you plan to eat a lot at Gwangjang Market, usually it doesn't happen for tourists or even residents like me. Sometimes people (from experience) end up not liking a lot of things, not wanting to try everything, or just eating a little bit of this and that.
So especially if you're a picky eater or your only favorite food is KBBQ, I usually recommend filling up on foreign food here in Ikseondong first. With that being said if you want to eat a heavy Western brunch at Ikseondong and have some desserts, go for it! You won't regret it. We will walk it off going to Dongdaemun and later, back to Gwangjang Market.
CAFE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Some of the cutest cafes at Ikseondong:
-Madang Flower Cafe (cafe, light brunch)
-Nakson Station Cafe
-Seoul Coffee Ikseondong Branch (fluffy pancakes- desserts)
-Cheongsudang (cafe, dessert)
-Peullipeoseu Ikseon Branch (fluffy pancakes cafe, dessert)
Some of the places to eat with more food options than cafe food:
-Paris Gaok (French food)
-Ikseondong Japbang (brunch food)
-Ikseondong Dimibang (Western food)
-L Kkareunittaseu Ikseondong Branch (Mexican, South American food)
-Le Bullansuk (French food)
2. Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Now we're going to see the more modern side of Seoul! The beautiful architecture of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. DDP hosts Seoul Fashion Week along with numerous famous exhibitions like Tim Burton, Disney, and BTS Connect. There are many areas to get lost in and just wander around at. Take your time and enjoy one of the gems of Seoul. If you happen to stay here until the sun sets, the outside of the building is even more beautiful at night with its panels lit up. This is one landmark that I suggest seeing in both daylight and nighttime.
LOCATION: get off at Dongdaemun Design Plaza Station
and go out of exit 1
3. Gwangjang Market
After exploring DDP, head back towards Ikseondong to get to Gwangjang Market. If you walk from the DDP, it's a 15-minute walk. But you can take the metro to Jongro 5-ga Station exit 7, but keep in mind the stairs you've been trekking through already today using the metro.
LOCATION:
from subway: 종로5가역7번출구 Jongro 5-ga Station exit 7
then to 광장시장동문 Gwangjang Market East Gate
from DDP on foot: 광장시장남1문 Gwangjang Market South Gate
The market looks best at night with all of its lights against the hundreds of little flags that cover the area. Gwangjang Market is a Korean traditional street marketplace. It's one of the oldest and largest in South Korea!
It might be very overwhelming at first because it's been extremely packed these days now that tourism has opened back up since COVID. Don't worry though, because this is one of the top tourist destinations and the people are all used to foreigners visiting. You can just take a seat wherever it is open, point to something you want to try, and pay in cash.
Things to try at Gwangjang Market:
파전: Korean scallion pancakes also known as "Korean pizza
육회: raw beef
꼬마김밥: mini kimbap rolls
산낙지: fresh octopus that still wiggles when dead because of the nerves
칼국수: rice cut noodle soup featured on Netflix
만두: Korean dumplings
빈대떡: mung bean pancake with vegetables and meat
떡볶이: Korean rice cakes with spicy sauce
쑨대: blood sausage made by steaming cow or pig's intestines stuffed with vegetables and clear noodles. usually eaten with tteokbokki
꽈배기: Korean twisted doughnuts
호떡: Korean honey brown sugar pancake dessert
If you get thirsty, the stalls sell soda but you have to ask or look hard for the signs. I always need a Coke, but everyone also drinks soju here while they eat. There are also fresh fruit drink stands. I don't remember where exactly, but one of them has a really nice woman who speaks fluent English.
Check out my Imokase experience here in Gwangjang Market from April 2023:
4. Cheonggyecheon Stream
While you are here in the area, you can check out the Cheonggyecheon Stream nearby! It's really pretty at night when the lights of the buildings reflect on the water. Even better if there's a festival going on! You probably crossed it to get to one of the exits for Gwangjang Market if you came from the DDP, but if you go towards Jongno 3(sam)ga Station/Euljiro 3 (sam)ga Station, you can walk along the stream by going down any one of the stairs. It's a beautiful stroll to the very end. The main entrance/end of this is pinned as Cheonggye Plaza by City Hall, Gwanghwamun, Jonggak, and Euljiro 1(il)ga Station.
5. Gwanghwamun Plaza
Nearby the pin (end of Cheonggyecheon Stream) Cheonggye Plaza, Gwanghwamun Plaza is nearby! You might have recognized this area from being around Gyeongbokgung Palace. It holds the statue of King Sejong, one of the most respected kings in Korean history for creating the Hangul (Korean alphabet). There are also seasonal markets or festivals held here, too. Be sure to use Instagram for the latest news!
**Since this is a heavy day of a lot of walking, you may omit
the Gwanghwamun Plaza as I've also put it in Day 11's itinerary**
Day 4: Itaewon HBC, Namsan Tower, Myeongdong
1. Itaewon's Haebangchon Foreigner Neighborhood
Head to HBC to get a taste of an ex-pat community full of entrepreneurs that have opened up restaurants and bars. Although COVID and recent accidents have harshly affected Itaewon, stopping here for brunch instead of nightlife can still check off a box of the must-visit areas in Seoul.
LOCATION: Make your way to Noksapyeong Station and head out of exit 1.
From exit 1, make your way to the overpass on the left,
and there you will see a beautiful view of the Namsan Tower.
If you watched Itaewon Class, then you will recognize this view!
Ok, now make your way back where you started and go around exit 1,
pass exit 2, and head straight.
2. Brunch at One of HBC's Greatest Spots
I would not skip out on eating a meal before heading to the Namsan Tower. Itaewon holds a lot of foreign-owned restaurants and pubs! They also have Korean food too. But the views of the many cafes and brunch restaurants are unlike any other in Seoul. Itaewon's Haebangchon area is very hilly with narrow streets. There's such a cool city vibe to this area that is different than the other regions on this itinerary. We will be doing a lot of walking today, so it's best to eat a good meal before dinner.
CAFE RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Royal Food & Drink: western brunch food
Jeonju Nambu Market Sausage and Rice Soup: 순대, 순댓국
The Bakers Table: popular brunch without walking up a hill (on the main street)
Comme Moa: Michelin Star French restaurant
Oasis Haebang Chon: dog friendly cafe
Some other things to do in Itaewon/Noksapyeong:
-Silver Kit House: Make jewelry where Jimin from BTS went
-Acorn: a popular cafe that has a Studio Ghibli vibe
-Gucci Osteria Seoul
2. Namsan Cable Car ----> Namsan Tower
After brunch, make your way to the Namsan Tower's Cable Car if you don't want to hike or take the bus up to the top. It will take about 20 minutes (walking + bus 402 + walking) to get here from The Royal Food & Drink. You can also use a taxi.
Namsan Cable Car
LOCATION: 서울특별시 중구 회현동1가 1-19
Cable car prices are ₩14,000 per person round trip.
The cable car will take you to the very top of the hill where you will get off right before a set of stairs. If your legs are aching or tired after these first few days, sorry. These stairs might be rough for you. It isn't a lot, but for those with bad knees just keep in mind that there are more stairs.
There are many areas to explore with a view of the city once you get to the top of the stairs. Sometimes there are little shows going on and professional photographers to take photos for you. You can also put a lock on a guard rail all around this area with a cute message.
If you want to go into the observatory at the top of the tower, it's an additional 11,000won. You can buy tickets nearby the entrance to the tower.
If you don't care to go up to the top inside the tower, it's not a complete waste to just wander around in the free areas. My mom and my cousin didn't mind it, and we still got to see amazing views and pass a lot of areas that had cafes and fun random things outside/inside. I enjoyed the Oreo churros. Plus, this gives you more time to explore Myeongdong.
TIP: A nice trick to do to take photos of the tower and yourself is putting your phone sideways and using the panorama mode and tilting up until the tip of the tower.
3. Myeongdong
Make your way back to the cable car loading area if you've purchased a roundtrip cable car ticket. Arriving back at the bottom of the mountain, there is an elevator outside that takes you down to the main city road. There are also stairs. Make your way to Myeongdong on foot. It isn't a far walk.
LOCATION: You can enter Myeongdong from a few places but from the cable car,
my best recommendation is to go to Myeongdong Station exit 6.
Going down this street out of Myeongdong Station's exit 6, you will pass through a lot of food vendors and so many stores! Go crazy!
Once you reach the end of this street, get ready to see even more food carts.
If you go towards the right, there is the Myeongdong Cathedral and the big 2-floor Olive Young. This Olive Young Branch carries Beauty by Jeoseon, if you were wondering (it's not a popular brand in Korea but is for Westerners, so therefore it isn't in every Olive Young).
In the opposite direction, you will see the Lotte Department Store Main Branch on the other side of the street, along with the Young Plaza which holds a K-pop store in the basement level. During the holidays, these areas are fully decorated with lights! The department stores have luxury brands and an awesome food court on the basement level.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
-Star Avenue Lotte Department Store check out a big exhibit on K-Pop stars like BTS!
-New 12-story DAISO!!!!
-Laneige Show Room Store: has a robot that can make a customized foundation
-Myeongdong Station Underground Mall
-Urban Plant: a cafe with so many different photo opportunity rooms
-Giant 2-Floor Olive Young
-Nike Store: customize clothes and shoes
-Lotte Dept. Store Main Branch Avenuel (I love the grocery store and food court)
-Lotte Young Plaza: K-pop store basement level
-The Plain: giant viral jewelry store
@ Olive Young, Myeongdong, 2nd Floor
4. Dinner at Myeongdong Kyoja
You can try the trending restaurant Myeongdong Kyoja which has two branches on the same street in Myeongdong. People get confused about it being Michelin Star from Michelin Guided, but it doesn't really matter. It's still a great restaurant for Kalguksu and mandu (knife-cut wheat noodle soup and Korean dumplings). I went a long time ago and remembered it being just as popular, and they want you up and out because there are limited items on the menu and a long wait always (even before it was trending).
Myeongdong Kyoja
(popular branch because it has the Michelin Guide plaques here):
서울 중구 명동10길 29
Other Myeongdong Kyoja
(down the same street without the Michelin Guide plaques):
서울 중구 명동10길 10 명동교자
Day 5: COEX Mall (Starfield Library), Bongeunsa Temple, HYBE INSIGHT 2023, Gangnam, Banpo Bridge Park
Today we will explore Gangnam! Gangnam is the heart of the fancy side of Seoul. It holds a lot of entertainment businesses, and luxury neighborhoods, and is pretty much the most expensive area to reside in. Let's first head to Starfield COEX Mall.
1. COEX Mall: Starfield Library
Go to either Samseong Station (line 2) or Bongeunsa Station (line 9) to get to COEX Mall if you are taking the subway.
Starfield Library is one of the top things to see in Seoul. It's not a tourist destination, as in, it's not intended to be a tourist destination, so expect a library. Because it's a library. People come here to study and check-out books.
This library is absolutely beautiful during both daytime and nighttime. Enjoy people watching as tourists and locals come here often. There's also a Starbucks conveniently in here so take a look at Starbucks Korea's seasonal merchandise and drinks.
2. Eat lunch at one of the many restaurants
There are so many restaurants in COEX. I've always eaten a great meal at any of the restaurants here, but I cannot tell you any real recommendations because there are so many I've tried. There are restaurants all throughout different sections of this mall.
You can definitely get lost in this mall so take your time exploring! But keep in mind that this mall is mainly restaurants and stores like any mall. There are not that many *touristy* things besides the public library.
Now is also the perfect time to try McDonald's Korea if you haven't already. McDonald's Korea has its own selection of burgers exclusively sold only here. It is on the outside section of the mall on the way to the big 3DX screen and near Samseong Station.
Some must-try menu items are:
Egg Bulgogi Burger
Shrimp Beef Burger
McChicken Mozzarella
(chicken + mozzarella sticks with tomato sauce)
McCrispy Deluxe/Classic Burger
(New Jeans promotion-special cajun sauce)
3. COEX 3D Screen
There's this big 3DX TV screen that everyone loves seeing. Sometimes it has really cool graphics on there that make everything look super 3D, but oftentimes I've only seen things that were flat 2D... but you should still go! XD (There's another new one by the Gwanghwamun Square that shows 3D graphics of dogs much more often)
4. Bongeunsa Temple
Right outside of COEX is the Bongeunsa Temple. If you come around May during Buddha's Birthday, the entire temple is decorated with brightly colored lanterns and it's absolutely beautiful. If you are also visiting during the Seoul Lotus Lantern Festival, there is a celebration here during the weekend of the festival, too! It's one destination that is even a worthy shortstop.
LOCATION: 서울 강남구 봉은사로 531
photo by my friend Jordan Pearson :)
5. HYBE's New Exhibition
As of May 8th, 2023, HYBE just announced that their next exhibition is being held at HYBE Insight's new location in Gangnam. It used to be in Yongsan until they announced they were moving in January 2023. HYBE's new location is right next to COEX and the Bongeunsa Temple.
Book your reservations here:
LOCATION: 서울특별시 강남구 봉은사로 606
6. Gangnam Station
Gangnam is the center of modern Seoul with an upscale lifestyle. Head to Gangnam Station (line 2) from Samseong Station (accessible through the mall). It's only two stops away! Outside of exit 11, you can take a photo with the PSY Gangnam Style statues.
Gangnam Station has a busy underground mall with the latest fashion trends that are much trendier than in Myeongdong. If you didn't do too much shopping at COEX, Gangnam is definitely a top-recommended place to shop like Hongdae! Just note that almost everything is one size fits all, but they have a lot of accessories, dog fashion, replica fashion, and cosmetics.
Now make your way outside exit 10 or 11, and you're in the heart of Gangnam. It's always changing and improving for tourists here. You can really see where they put their money. The streets now have giant screens and there are two areas outside of Exit 11 that showcase pop-ups for Netflix, K-pop Idol Groups, technology brands, and other Korean brands like alcohol or cosmetics. Gangnam is just pretty to wander around and explore what new things they have for a limited time.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Some places to shop in Gangnam:
-Gangnam Station Underground Mall
-Tomato (out of exit 10)
-Kakao Friends/Line Friends
-MIXXO/Spao/Shoopen
-Aladin Secondhand Bookstore/K=pop Store
-Nail Mall (Korean nail supply store)
Other recommended things to do:
Muse Clinic - beauty clinic: facial treatments, facials, botox & filler,
and obesity diet pills (affordable! Contact through KakaoTalk)
5. Dinner: 60 Years Traditional Grilled Beef Tripe
Tripe is the stomach lining that is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. You can find many gopchang restaurants in Seoul, but being in the heart of Gangnam, this popular restaurant has 60 years under its belt and is the oldest business in South Korea. Gopchang, tripe/intestines, is personally one of my favorite types of KBBQ. Towards the end of finishing almost all that's on the grill, you can make the rest into kimchi fried rice!
LOCATION: 60년전통신촌황소곱창 강남역직영점 (restaurant name)
서울 강남구 강남대로100길 13
photo from Naver reviews
NIGHTLIFE RECOMMENDATIONS:
Bars & Pochas & Clubs
-Seoul Korean Pub Gangnam 서울주막강남역1호점 (great for birthdays)
-Thursday Party
-ChiChi 치치강남점
@ Seoul Korean Pub Gangnam (hunting bar great for birthdays)
5. Starbucks Seoul Wave Art Center Branch
Check out one of the coolest Starbucks in Seoul nearby Gangnam! This branch is located on top of the Han River, it's literally floating! You can get a full panoramic view of the river here. It's exceptionally beautiful during sunset. Lots of visitors come as tourists and as locals. It's one of the unique Starbucks destinations in South Korea. I recommend the Seoul mug as a souvenir. Korea has 5 special tourist mugs and they can only be bought in Korea.
FOREIGNER INSIDER INFO: Depending on when you are visiting, be on the lookout for parties during Halloween, The Great Gatsby: New Year's, or just random times in the year. Global Seoul Mates hosts giant parties where foreigners and Koreans all get together and party!! These events are usually here, at the Seoul Wave Center, or on a Yacht cruise ship on the Han River!
There is a yacht cruise party on June 3rd, 2023! Check @gsmenglish for more details:
7. Banpo Bridge Park
If you've realized by now, you're pretty much at Banpo Han River Park when you are visiting the floating Starbucks. This is the park you see in many K-dramas and Korean variety shows. Even in movies...! It's popular for its water fountain bridge that lights up at night time as it shoots out water.
There is also the Banpo Night Market & Seoul Festa that happens annually. Be on the lookout on my Instagram page for up-to-date news on these events. These are markets that have numerous food carts from established restaurants throughout Seoul for people to try. There are also many artists that sell their products here.
As of 2023, the Banpo Night Market runs every Sunday starting May 7th to June 11 from 4 pm.
Day 6: Konkuk Uni, Seongsu, Seoul Forest,
Ttukseom Han River Park
Today, let's explore Seongsu! Seongsu is a newer area of Seoul. It's located above the Cheongdam area near Konkuk University. Seongsu is known for being between Seoul Forest and Seoul Children's Grand Park with lots of trendy cafes and photo spots. This is also an area with a lot of dog-friendly establishments! Let's take a look at some things to do! (I don't have Korean food restaurant suggestions for this area.)
1. Common Ground Shipping Container Mall
Seongsu has an entire mall built from shipping containers! This trendy place is outside exit 6 of Konkuk University (line 7 and line 2). They have fashion clothing stores like Nike, Vans, Under Armour, and Converse, but also vintage thrift stores (on the pricey side). Their lifestyle stores include Butter and a library/book store. Common Ground also has a few restaurants and events related to beer festivals, cosmetics, pop-ups, art shows, etc. It's always a fun time to visit.
2. Dior Flagship Store & Trendy Areas
The Dior Flagship Store became an Instagram favorite over the past year. The glass-mirrored windows look so fancy that everyone still flocks to get a photo of themselves at the front. To get here, you pass by a lot of cute trendy cafes!
Seongsu also has so many thrift shops, cultural spaces, restaurants & cafes, bagel shops, little stores, and pop-ups. All the way from this surrounding area of the Dior Flagship Store, to the street behind Seoul Forest and Cinnabon, where there's a really cool art exhibition cultural hall, Seomsei Terarium.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Some other places to check out in Seongsu/Konkuk Uni area:
-LCDC Seoul: hip trendy cultural space
-Market In Yu Seongsu: used apparel thrifting
Seomsei Terarium: photo worthy- artsy cafe
Seongsu Baking Studio: little bread shop with BAGUETTES!
POSITEAVE: cute dessert box-trays with quality drip tea
Tasty ChaCha: enjoy variety of tea and tea dishes esquisitly by reservation
4. Seoul Forest
On both ends of the whole Seongsu area, there are huge parks: Seoul Children's Grand Park and Seoul Forest! If you're traveling with children, these parks are a great idea. Children are everywhere rollerblading and riding bicycles and scooters. Seoul Grand Park even has a zoo and amusement park rides.
Nothing is more romantic & relaxing than having a little rest on a picnic mat in the warmer months in Seoul Forest. There are cherry blossoms in late March at Seoul Children's Grand Park and Tulips at Seoul Forest in late April!
@ Seoul Forest during the late April tulip season
ARMY TIP: Look for a tunnel that Suga had a photoshoot in for Love Yourself!
4. Ttukseom Island Han River Park
Let's visit another popular park along the Han River. Here at Ttukseom Resort Station (Line 7), or Ttukseom Park, you can see the Lotte Tower on the left and Namsan Tower on the right. The Park is covered by a massive bridge, and in the summer and winter seasons, there are activities set up like flea markets or sledding/swimming pool.
There is also a big structure out here called the Ttukseom Outlook Cultural Complex. It's a 3-story structure that has a library, cafes, and study space. It's really neat inside!
Enjoy Korean fried chicken and/or ramen from the convenience store along the water and explore the history of the Han River with the cultural complex and the Arirang Han River Boat, or take a nice bike ride on the bike path!
If you are coming from Seoul Forest, taking a bus is shorter.
Refer to Naver Maps for real-time schedules and bus stops.
Day 7: Songpa-gu: Seokchon Lake, Lotte World Mall,
Lotte Tower, Lotte World, BTS Jin's Brother's Restaurant
Let's explore the famous Songpa-gu area today. I'd start off at the Lotte World Mall. Depending on if you're just in the mood to check out the mall or doing actual shopping, you could wind up spending all day here. So in my opinion, it's best to have another destination afterward (Seokchon Lake/Lotte World) to stay on track.
1. Lotte World Mall
Lotte World Mall is a really huge mall and it's definitely something to check out. The bathrooms are so fancy, and my mom loved how they all had bidets! There is a beautiful bookstore called Arc & Book, and Gordon Ramsay's Burger restaurant.
The mall also has a HUGE aquarium that I really enjoyed. Just when you think the aquarium is over, it's not. It's that big! You can see a beluga whale and a sea lion!
*These are popular stairs that change every season that people love taking photos in*
2. Have brunch at Di Life Style Kitchen Where They Shot K-drama Series: StartUp
Di Lifestyle Kitchen is such a beautiful restaurant. Iconic Instagram photos have been taken at these branches, as well as K-drama shootings like StartUp. You do need to make a reservation at least a day in advance for the one in Lotte World Mall if they are busy.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
There are also many other places to eat in Lotte World Mall :
Gordon Ramsay Burger
Cheese Room & Tasting Room 치즈룸&테이스팅룸
Sesangui Modern Achim 세상의모든아침
3. Lotte Sky Tower
If you're up for another observatory, make your way to the very top of the Lotte building! You can get there without leaving the mall. It's got transparent floors and you can even go outside to the Sky Terrace for an outdoor view of the city. If you're feeling adventurous, book a reservation for the Skybridge Tower, and walk between the two buildings where it opens at the top!!
Hours of operation:
Sky Bridge Tour: 1 pm to 7 pm
Observatory: 10.30 am to 10-11 pm
Check www.seoulsky.lotteworld.com for more information!
TIP: Most visitors suggest going before sunset so that you can catch
both daytime and nighttime views.
4. Take a walk around Seokchon Lake
After you're done exploring the mall, make your way outside to Seokchon Lake! If you're visiting during autumn, spring, or summer, the views are stunning with the fall foliage, cherry blossoms, or bright green leaves. I would walk towards the right once reaching outside the mall so that you can end up at Lotte World at the end of the stroll!
TIP: The field outside of the mall in front of Seokchon Lake frequently has festivals with live performances. markets, pop-ups, and activities.
5. Lotte World Amusement Park (optional)
Lotte World has the biggest indoor amusement park "Adventure" in the world, and their outdoor park is called "Magic Island". It's definitely a park to visit if you enjoy rides or the ambiance of an amusement park. It could get really busy on weekends and holidays, so plan accordingly!
At Lotte World, it's popular to rent a school uniform and walk around the park with it on! Girls uniforms are especially super cute and the experience is really fun. It's got historical context being that school uniforms get you in for free, so people would wear their old uniforms plus the nostalgia of being a student. Photos of uniforms in the park in front of the castle are iconic.
They have many festivals and performances throughout the year, like during Halloween and Christmas time. Catch all of the performances throughout the day, ending with a night parade! You can easily spend a day here, so keep that in mind if you'd rather omit it.
6. Dinner at Osseu Seiromusi 오쓰세이로무시 Restaurant by Joong, Brother of BTS Jin
End the day eating Japanese-style steamed meats and veggies from Joong's first restaurant branch! He is the brother of BTS Jin. AS OF JUNE, the Jamsil location has closed down permanently! He has another NEW branch in Yeouido. Reservations can be made via Catchtable!
OLD LOCATION: 서울 송파구 백제고분로45길 30
NEW LOCATION: 서울 영등포구 국제금융로2길 36 지하1층
Day 8: Flea Markets, Changdeokgung Palace, Marronnier Park, Naksan Park Fortress Wall, BTS JK & Jimin Fave Restaurant
Let's take a look into the flea market areas of Seoul! Dongmyo and Namdaemun hold the biggest area for second-hand markets. Even if you don't plan on buying anything, it's still a great area to explore. I love coming here to find all these hidden gems and support the local Korean elderly. Seoul isn't all about fancy cafes and malls, and a lot of the areas are very rural. It helps the elderly a whole lot if you can buy from them!
1. Dalguksu: Chicken Noodle Soup
Start the day off with a nice bowl of soup with Korean cut wheat noodles and a whole chicken. This is served hot, but even in the summer, Koreans eat hot soup to help overcome the fatigue from the heat. This popular restaurant has only 4 options ranging from ₩7-8,000.
LOCATION: 동묘백숙닭국수 (restaurant name)
서울 종로구 종로 372
photo from Naver reviews
2. Dongmyo/Namdaemun Flea Market
A lot of people who live here enjoy finding baking goods and sewing materials here. They also have so many vintage Nike/Adidas windbreakers here! There are always treasures to be found, and it's really fun being in places that show a more authentic side of Korean culture. It's not always fancy cafes and big malls!
LOCATION: 서울 종로구 숭인동 102-8
2. Changdeokgung Palace
Besides the Gyeongbokgung Palace (nearby), there is also another beautiful palace called the Changdeokgung Palace. It has some plum cherry blossom trees that people swarm to take photos of during the season, and it has a beautiful pond that's surrounded by the fluffiest green trees in the spring/summer. If you want amazing photos in a hanbok without the crowds, I highly suggest taking a visit here next.
LOCATION: 서울 종로구 창경궁로 185 창경궁
photo taken from Naver reviews
3. Marronnier Park (Twenty-Five Twenty-One K-Drama Filming Location)
Not so far away is Marrionnier Park. You might recognize this place in a popular K-Drama series Twenty-Five Twenty-One. This is where Na Hee Do waits for her online friend with a yellow rose.
This park is especially beautiful in the fall time with all of the foliage. Taking a nice rest here at the Plus Cafe is great for a mid-day relaxer.
LOCATION: 제주 서귀포시 일주서로 166-70
4. Gappeul [개뿔]
After a day of exploring the flea markets, the palace, and the park, make your way to the Naksan Park Fortress Wall. I suggest going to Gaeppul by sunset time. It's a museum cafe with a view of the city. They want you to purchase a drink voucher before entering, and you can use that to walk around the Lock Museum, Ito, Novak, Kitchen Museum, and other connected museums that are open. Some drinks that they offer include coffee and beer. They also have desserts.
LOCATION: [개뿔] 서울 종로구 낙산성곽서1길 26 까페 개뿔 1,2층
photo from Naver reviews
5. Naksan Park Fortress Wall
Once nightfall hits, I would then make my way to the Fortress Wall! In my opinion, it's prettier at night, with all the lights contrasting the sky. You can see the whole city light up with the mountains in the back. It's absolutely beautiful.
LOCATION: 서울 종로구 낙산길 41
photo collage by koreabyme
5. Dinner at BTS Jungkook & Jimin's Favorite KBBQ Restaurant
Tired of KBBQ? Perhaps not. Geumdwaeji Sikdang is a must if you want to try all kinds of quality KBBQ on this itinerary. BTS' Jungkook and Jimin are known to love this Michelin Guided Seoul KBBQ restaurant. It's highly popular with lines often outside the door waiting for a seat, and there are no pre-reservations possible. Why is it so popular? Just like the Hongdae's Iberico pork I mentioned, this pork here is a type of pig that isn't your average samgyupsal. YBD pigs are a hybrid of Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Durock pigs. You can even take a photo with BTS' signed autographs.
LOCATION: 금돼지식당 (restaurant name)
서울 중구 다산로 149
Day 9: The Hyundai Seoul, IFC Mall, Times Square Mall,
63 Building, Yeouido Han River Park
Get ready for another day of exploring malls in Seoul! This is great for rainy days. if you happen to get stuck during Seoul's monsoon season (mid June-mid July).
The malls in Seoul are honestly the best to explore. Aside from the already mentioned Lotte World Mall, we have the newest department store, The Hyundai Seoul, which is right across from the IFC Mall. Times Square is a short distance away, and all are honestly worth visiting!
1. The Hyundai Seoul
The Hyundai Seoul is the newest mall that was recently finished being built during COVID. This mall has so much to see. You can start off on the basement floors where they have the busiest food court along with name-brand stores like NIKE where you can customize merchandise just like the one in Myeongdong. I personally love starting off in this area because of all the different food trucks INSIDE the building. They are so cute!
They also have seasonal pop-ups in the center of one of these basement floors. They hold really cool trendy artistic clothing brand pop-ups and art exhibits too. It's always changing!
Making your way to the ground floor, you enter the floor with luxury brands and beauty stands. They have robots rolling around here just like the airport, showcasing how innovative Korea is!
They also have pop-ups on this floor (and the top floor in the indoor garden/park area). I've been to the HYBE BTS/Seventeen In The Soop pop-up here!
Enjoy the beautiful architecture of this mall because it's definitely a sight to see. The thing I love about Korea is that you can really see how they spend their money.
Make your way to the top floor and embrace the indoor park. You can get a full view from one end of the floor and take a photo with it in the background! You can also enter the indoor park area and have a coffee from Blue Bottle Coffee! They also have so many pop-ups here too. Be on the lookout on Instagram for these!
2. IFC Mall
IFC Mall is right across from The Hyundai Seoul. It's one of the average malls here, without a famous landmark (like COEX: Starfield Library, The Hyundai Seoul: Indoor Park, Lotte World Mall: Aquarium/Sky Tower). If you'd want to skip out on one of the malls because you have limited time, I would skip this one. Foreigners like this mall especially just because it has Panda Express, Zara, Charles & Keith, and is dog friendly. Other than that, there is not much to see unless they have cute holiday decorations.
3. Times Square Mall
Times Square Mall is one of my favorites as I can spend the whole day here shopping and walking around. Unlike The Hyundai Seoul, I can afford most of the stores here and the brands that I enjoy shopping in are inside this mall! As a teacher and/or tourist, you'd probably do most of your shopping in this mall for Korean-brand clothing.
My favorite part about this mall is the Shinsegae Food Market. Indulge yourself in the prettiest-looking treats, foods, and snacks. There is so much to see here. If you go further into the back, they have another food court area with more meal-like dishes from other vendors.
Usually, when my boyfriend and I come to Times Square, we have a set routine like this:
Going straight to the Shinsegae Food Market to eat
Exploring the same level & below Art Box, Olive Young, Shoopen, Charles & Keith, 8Seconds, Emart, Electromart, Modern House
Making your way to the ground floor: usually, there's an event or an interactive activity going on in the center
Getting lost in YP Bookstore (sooo much to see!)
Exploring other stores and ALL the basement floor sales!
4. 63 Building
The 63 Building is a landmark of Seoul. It used to be the tallest building in the city before the Lotte Tower. The windows are 24-carat gold-plated that look rose-gold when catching the sun. It's a beautiful building with a lot of things to see. It's another mall with an observatory, an aquarium, an IMAX theater, museums, and fancy restaurants with grand views of the city. In my opinion, The Hyundai Seoul and 63 Building would be worth going to if you only wanted to do half of this itinerary as a tourist.
5. Yeouido Han River Park
End the day at Yeouido Han River Park! Even if you've already gone, Yeouido is actually really huge. They have an area with walking water baths and if you go during the season of canola oil flowers, you can frolic around in a beautiful field of yellow in May. This is also a perfect time to do the Han River Boat Cruise which you can pre-book tickets on Trazy and Klook (pets allowed). You can take a ride on the river and see the skyline from a yacht. They have live music and end the ride with a small fireworks show.
You can walk to this park from The Hyundai Seoul & IFC Mall, or a short bus ride from Times Square Mall! You can get a beautiful view of the famous 63 Building from here.
Being around all the Seoulites and locals makes people-watching in such a beautiful city worthwhile. They have food booths open and a convenience store to make ramen, get chicken or snacks, and alcohol. I love coming here on dates or picnics with friends!
Day 10: BTS Tour, Sinsa, Cheongdam, Apgujeong Nightlife
Today, let's explore more of the luxury parts of the Gangnam area! This stretches out to the Sinsa, Apgujeong, and Cheongdam areas. If you're a BTS fan, you're going to love exploring these parts. This itinerary has both BTS-related destinations plus the Sinsa, Apgujeong, and Cheongdam areas all in one. If you are not a BTS fan, you can omit the purple titled destinations.
1. Have brunch at Yujeong Restaurant (BTS Trainee Days Restaurant)
Yujeong Restaurant is a popular destination for BTS Army. This is where the boys would eat almost every day after practices. The restaurant is filled with BTS photos and letters. It's definitely photo worthy and experience-worthy. There, you can eat a lot of Korean dishes!
LOCATION: 서울 강남구 도산대로28길 14
photo from Naver reviews
2. Visit BTS' First Dormitories
This is where the boys lived in first! The videos where the studio apartment was really small with all of them, this is it. There has been no address posted online and fans had to dig deep, but I will share it with you. The sticky notes are still there from their run episode!
LOCATION: 서울 강남구 논현로 149길 17-3
3. Visit Big Hit's First Location
It is where BigHit Entertainment was first established. There are notes written on the building in Sharpie by Army from all over the world! It’s definitely a must-see. BigHit Entertainment now goes by BigHit Music under HYBE. HYBE’s last location was in Yongsan, but they’ve just announced that they are opening in Gangnam with its newest exhibition.
LOCATION: 서울 강남구 도산대로28길 14
3. Hakdong Park
Visit the park where the boys spent all of their free time. Photos of them on the swings surface the deep internet, and other groups like TXT also always went out here after practice to practice more dance routines.
LOCATION: 서울 강남구 강남대로140길 47
4. Check out BTS' last dormitories (Turned into a cafe!)
BTS' last dormitories is in Nonhyeon. It's south of the Yujeong Restaurant, south of Sinsa, Apgujeong, and Cheongdam, so visiting this place after or before the places mentioned would be ideal if you want to save time on traveling back and forth.
Their first apartment building has turned into a cafe called Hyuga 휴가.
They have kept the cafe in a BTS theme, so don't worry! There are photographs and sticky notes everywhere for ARMY. You can walk on the same grounds where all of the members lived in. They have kept the blueprints the same and marked each room so you know who lived in them!
LOCATION: 서울 강남구 논현로119길 16
4. Sinsa's Garousu-gil Road
Garousugil is a popular upscale trendy shopping street in Sinsa. It's also known for being called the "tree street" by its yellow ginko trees in the autumn. Unlike Cheongdamdong Luxury Brands Street, these stores in Garousugil are still branded stores but affordable, so you can find yourself doing some shopping here if you aren't shopping for luxury!
photo by Matt Kelley from discoveringkorea.com
Garousugil is also known for being a very walkable area with streets that are narrow and not a lot of cars passing by. There are so many areas you can take the best Instagram photos in, looking like a real influencer. It also has, yet again, a LOT of trendy cafes to visit. The restaurants here are also amazing if you have not eaten yet, but I personally would save more room for the Apgujeong and Cheongdam areas to eat.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Sinsa's popular eatery spots:
-3.75 Signature Garosugil (brunch, dessert, cultural space)
-Cheongsudang Gallery (dessert/brunch cafe)
-Sona (dessert cafe)
-Ppiapeu (chocolate desserts)
-Randy's Donuts (doughnut cafe)
-Le Beureonswik Sinsa Branch (brunch)
5. Apgujeong Rodeo: K-Star Road
If you're following the full itinerary for this day, head to K-Star Road after Garousugil and/or Yejong Restaurant. Take a stroll down this road if you're a K-pop lover! It has bear statues with popular K-pop groups' logos painted on them from a few years ago. The artists include BTS, SHINee, and many more!
LOCATION: 서울 강남구 압구정동 394
photo from Naver reviews
5. Apgujeong Rodeo and Cheongdam-dong
Apgujeong and Cheongdam are well-known spots for upscale cafes and restaurants. There is not too much sightseeing, but a lot of people want to visit luxurious areas on their trips. Locals and celebrities enjoy these areas and if you're lucky, you might recognize someone on the street.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Cheongdam/Apgujeong's popular spots:
-Mamma Mia (dessert cafe)
-Oasis Cheongdam Branch (brunch cafe)
-Daily Cheongdam (brunch cafe)
-New York Rachel O Bagels
-Cafe Knotted (doughnut cafe)
-Cafe Rami Scone Cheongdam Branch (dessert cafe)
-Minyuteu Papillon (churro cafe)
-Cafe Muni (dessert + brunch)
-Tampa Sandwich Bar (Cuban sandwiches)
-Gat It Dosan Branch (tacos)
-Dalmasian (brunch)
Mamma Mia Cafe
6. Cheongdam Luxury Brands Street
I, myself, work in Cheongdam and I've seen Son Suk Gu (male lead actor from Liberation Notes) leaving the restaurant nearby, and I also work near all the entertainment industries where BTS RM has been spotted in a cafe below us, and students have spotted EXO members at the stoplight! There are hundreds of entertainment industries in this area, so it's definitely a luxury neighborhood. Take a stroll in this area and indulge in the beautiful buildings of designer brands.
7. Nightlife in Apgujeong Rodeo
Apgujeong Rodeo is also known for all the boujee, trendy bars, and hunting bars. Hunting bars are where people go to have intentions of getting hit on or wanting to meet other singles. Coming back here to end the day for drinks is ideal if you want to experience nightlife in an upscale region of Seoul. Keep in mind that you do need to dress nicer in these parts, or you might be rejected. A lot of these places have a dress code because they are for an older, classier crowd.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
-Times 서울 압구정로 54길 25 @timesapu
-Low Key 서울 강남구 압구정로46길 75 @lowkeyseoul
-Hype 서울 강남구 선릉로157길 16 @hype_seoul
-Six Night 서울 강남구 언주로174길 13 @sixnight.seoul
Day 11: The Blue House, Tongin Market, Daeo Bookstore (BTS RM), Gwanghwamun Plaza, HiKR Ground, Jeongseon Raw Crab Meat Restaurant
1. The Blue House
Cheongwadae is known as The Blue House, where the former presidents would reside. After 74 years, they’ve finally opened it up to the public as the newest tourist attraction! So people who were always curious can now walk through all of the premises.
“The presidential residence served as the living quarters of the president and family. The area was rarely revealed in mass media as it was the most personal space in all of Cheong Wa Dae. The residential area consists of the main building, which is the living quarters; annex, used for guest reception and events; sarangchae, the guest room; and garden.” (Source: visitKorea)
LOCATION: 서울 종로구 청와대로 1
photo source: Kim Myoung-jin
2. Tongin Market
From The Blue House, take a short 4-minute walk over to Tongin Market!! This traditional market is a lot less crowded and easier to navigate through than the Gwangjang Market. So if you felt overwhelmed there, it’s not as bad here. Unless you’re going when there are school field trips and students are swarming all around you ;). But still, even being a teacher or not, you’re more with the locals!
Here, you exchange your cash into tokens. All the vendors take tokens, and they have signs for you to see the prices.
“Tongin Market dates back to June 1941 as a public market set up for Japanese residents when Korea was still under Japanese rule. After the Korean War, the country experienced a swift rise in population which led to an increase of supply and demand. So the street vendors and stores used the former Tongin Market as their public marketplace.” (Source: visitKorea)
LOCATION: 서울 종로구 자하문로15길 18
3. Daeo Bookstore
Check out the oldest known bookstore in Seoul. Its unique ambiance is a reason why celebrities like BTS RM have visited more than once! So add this to your BTS itinerary as well.
Even if you aren’t a BTS fan, it’s still a historic destination close by and worth visiting. It is a cafe as well, but if you don’t want to stay for coffee, as long as you buy a ₩3,000 souvenir, you can take a full tour of the place!
LOCATION: 서울 종로구 자하문로7길 55
4. Gwanghwamun Plaza
You might have recognized this area from being around Gyeongbokgung Palace. If you didn't have time to stop by, now is the perfect chance. It holds the statue of King Sejong, one of the most respected kings in Korean history for creating the Hangul (Korean alphabet). There are also seasonal markets or festivals held here, too. Be sure to use Instagram for the latest news! This is a newly built area during COVID so check it out.
LOCATION: 서울 종로구 세종대로 175
5. HiKR Ground
A free exhibit nearby the Gwanghwamun Square located along the Cheonggyecheon stream that features 4 floors of K-culture (K-art, K-film, K-tourism, and K-pop)! It’s a newly built tourist attraction that seeks to express the K-wave in Hallyu. We had a lot of fun here exploring the different floors and activities. They have interactive things to do!
LOCATION: 서울 중구 청계천로 40
6. Dinner in Anguk: Raw Crab Meat
End the day with trying one of my favorite Korean dishes… marinated raw crab meat! Jeongseon Halmae Gondre Rice Restaurant has been running for 20 years in a traditional Hanok. Raw crab meat is packed with the taste of the sea alongside special sauces that complement well with sucking the meat from the shells. There are many ganjang gejang restaurants in this area, but I purposely included this restaurant because of how the rice is prepared.
Jeongseon is the hometown of the traditional folk song “Jeongseon Arirang” which has its own Korail Tourist Train from Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul. The region of Jeongseon has a lot of Korean history!! In Jeongseon, they are most famous for the gondre vegetable that they include in their rice.
“Gondre is rich in nutrients such as protein, calcium, and vitamin A, which are for digestion and prevention of adult diseases. It is good for the elderly because it has a lot of rough fiber, so it is good for lowering blood cholesterol, preventing constipation, dieting, and is used for medicinal purposes. It is also good for dieting because it is low in calories and rich in fiber.”
So if you don’t have time to visit the Jeongseon region, then your perfect opportunity is to visit Jeongseon Halmae Gondre Rice.
LOCATION: 정선할매곤드레밥본점 (restaurant name)
서울 종로구 인사동8길 16 1층
Summary of Seoulful Diaries' Seoul 12-Day Itinerary:
Regions of Seoul covered:
Other neighborhoods that might interest you:
Mangwon-dong, Insadong Street, Daerim Chinatown, Mullae Creative Town, and surrounding areas of universities in Seoul: Ewha Women's University, Konkuk University (Seongsu), Yonsei University (Sinchon), Seoul National University (Silim)...
Welp! That is all for my suggested Seoul itinerary for 12 days and 11 nights. I've tried to include as many must-haves to do, but this modern city is always changing and there are always new trendy places to visit alongside the traditional places.
You can easily spend two weeks (14 days) and more in just Seoul, but I've stopped myself from adding more to this itinerary because it's an estimated 40-minute read LOL.
A MESSAGE FROM @SEOULFULDIARIES:
This blog post has taken me quite a long time, about 6 months to be exact.
From the very first About Me blog post on this website, is when I started this blog post!
I've been really wanting to move all of my videos in written-out format on this new blog, but it's been really challenging trying to carry out all these projects as my genuine hobbies. There just aren't enough hours in the day to curate and post everything I want for new travelers to South Korea. I strongly advise you to follow my Instagram and Youtube for more up-to-date information!
I've been working on this itinerary on and off in between my content creation for Instagram and YouTube while working full-time as an English teacher. If I have helped you greatly and you would like to show your appreciation, I would be very, very thankful.
Please leave me a comment, send me a DM, or if you have the means to,
I would really benefit from donations!!
Paypal: seoulfuldiaries@gmail.com
Thank you so much for your support! I really hope my itinerary helps you!!
-Sharen Hau