Attractions
Seoul attractions include historic temples and palaces, as well
as some natural and cultural highlights. The preferred seasons for
sightseeing in Seoul are spring and autumn, with comfortable
temperatures and blue skies, but in winter the city is covered in
snow and can be quite beautiful.
The Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in 1395, and is home to the
National Folk Museum of Korea, a great Seoul attraction. The
Namsangol Hanok Village is also a good stop, featuring traditional
Korean homes from the Joseon Dynasty. The Bongeunsa, a Buddhist
temple founded in 794 AD, offers a 'Temple Stay Program' for
visitors.
Just out of town, visitors can ride the Namsan Park cable car to
the summit of the mountain to see the maritime aquarium and
botanical gardens. Lotte World is the largest indoor theme park in
the world, one of the most exciting Seoul attractions, while the
1988 Olympic Park and Stadium is another. There are lovely antique
shops and art galleries to be browsed in the Insa-dong
alleyways.
Gyeongbokgung
The jewel of Seoul's five historic palaces, Gyeongbokgung was
built in 1395 by Lee Seong-Gye, founder of the Joseon Dynasty, who
established the city as the capital of Korea. The magnificent
rectangular palace, which now contains the National Folk Museum of
Korea, features Royal...
see full detailsNamsangol Hanok Village
Set among the skyscrapers, the Namsangol traditional Korean
village comes as a pleasant surprise. Centred on five restored
Korean historical homes depicting various social levels from the
Joseon Dynasty, the village is a time capsule in the midst of the
city with its peaceful...
see full detailsLotte World
Fun and thrills are the order of the day at Seoul's main theme
park, which draws about six million visitors annually. According to
the Guinness Book of World Records, Lotte is the largest indoor
theme park in the world. The park is divided...
see full detailsInsadong
No visit to Seoul is complete without exploring the capital's
heart and artistic soul: the alleyways of the Insadong district,
known colloquially as 'Mary's Alley'. More than 100 antique shops
and countless art galleries are tucked away here, delighting
collectors and casual browsers alike....
see full detailsNamsan Park
Namsan, the mountain that stands sentinel in the centre of
Seoul, is a popular recreational feature in the city. A cable car,
and stairway, takes visitors to the summit, where there are several
attractions to enjoy, including the Maritime Aquarium, botanical
gardens, fountains and...
see full detailsMyeong-dong
Paradise for shoppers, Myeong-dong is Seoul's retail haven
covering a vast area that spreads out from the Myeong-dong subway
station. Massive department stores, boutiques, restaurants,
fast-food outlets and malls are crammed into this buzzing district.
Brand name clothing and accessories can be had at...
see full detailsBongeunsa
Bongeunsa is a Buddhist temple in Gangnam-gu and was founded in
794 AD by Yeon-hoe, the highest-ranking monk of Silla at the time.
The temple was reconstructed in 1498 and became the main temple of
the Korean Seon (Zen) sect of Buddhism. Today...
see full detailsChangdeokgung
One of the 'Five Grand Palaces' built by the kings of the Joseon
Dynasty, Changdeokgung is set within a large park in Jongno-gu and
the whole complex has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage
list. Located east of Gyeongbok, Changdeokgung is also...
see full detailsOlympic Park and Stadium
The Seoul Olympic Park, or Olpark, was built to host the 1988
Summer Games, located in Songpa-gu, Bangi-dong. It is home to
Jamsil Olympic Stadium, the main stadium built for the summer
games. The arena occasionally hosts shows, such as the Michael
Jackson concert,...
see full detailsJogyesa
Jogyesa is the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean
Buddhism. First established in 1395, Jogyesa is located in
Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, in central Seoul. In 1998, Jogyesa made
international news when several monks occupied the temple for over
40 days in a power...
see full detailsJongmyo Shrine
Jongmyo Shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is heralded
as Korea's foremost cultural treasure. Visitors to Seoul will be
hard-pressed not to visit the Jongmyo Shrine. Built in 1394, the
shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine in the world and
ceremonies,...
see full detailsGalbi Restaurants
A quintessential Korean pastime - and a good everyday option for
budget-conscious travellers - Galbi Restaurants are immensely
popular places, full every night of the week with locals,
expatriate workers in Korea and tourists alike. The basic concept
of Galbi is simple: you and...
see full detailsItaewon
Without doubt the most popular area of Seoul for foreign
visitors, the gritty neighbourhood of Itaewon is one of Korea's
coolest, most cosmopolitan urban enclaves. Located near the US Army
base in Seoul, Itaewon is full of great bars, restaurants, clubs
and shops, while...
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