Seoul Travel Guide

INTERACTIVE TRAVEL GUIDE

SEOUL Seoul Metropolitan’s Official Interactive Travel Guide: The Quick and Dirty on Getting Around, Staying Safe, and Having Fun.

KOREA

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. Navigating the City

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. Safety Essentials

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. Hot Spots

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1.

Navigating the City

Seoul can be a daunting city to navigate and explore especially if you’re from the Western hemisphere -- the city is one of the largest in the world and its rapid development has led it to become an urban jungle that continues to fascinate and intrigue outside visitors.

Although the city has made substantial improvements to orient English-speakers, getting around it could still present a challenge for the uninitiated -- so here are some insider tips to getting around our beloved city.

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Getting from Incheon International Airport to Seoul You have several options: A’REX, an express train that will get you to central Seoul in 43 minutes, “limousine” buses that will take you closer to your accommodation, and finally, taxis.

Getting connected

You can rent a smart phone directly from the Incheon International Airport when you arrive. If you already have a smart phone, you can opt to get it connected through the city’s Wi-Fi system via Olleh, operated by Korea Telecom. It is the most reliable way to remain connected during your trip.

Although you may find information on the web that says that free Wi-Fi is guaranteed through the city, in practice it falls short of expectations as you move about; so the connection fees are well-worth the cost. If you didn’t have a chance to subscribe to the service at the Incheon International Airport, you can walk into any Olleh shop in Seoul.

Getting around the city

Depending on how frequently you intend to travel through the day, you may want to purchase a Seoul Citypass, or the T-Money Mpass.

Both smart cards allow you to use

Citypass

Seoul’s subway and buses up to twenty times a day at a discount. In addition, you get reduced admissions and discounts to Seoul’s attractions.

If you’re not planning to use Seoul’s subways or buses twenty times a day, a smarter option is to buy a T-Money card. It gives you a ten percent reduction on standard Seoul transit costs and you can also use it to pay taxis. You can top it up at any subway station or simply at any convenience stores such as 7/11 or G-25 as you go.

Maps T-money

Do not use the map of the Seoul subway system to plan your tour. Repeat. Do not use the map of Seoul subway system to plan your tour or get around the city. The Seoul subway map is a two dimen-

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Search real-time bus schedules and routes online routes online SeoulBus apps for the smartphone

sional representation of the complex transit system, and is NOT representative of the city’s topography. Instead, use our English version of the map of the city, or alternatively, use Google’s. You can also stop by a tourist information center, including at the Incheon International Airport, to pick up free maps. We also have a free map of the city online which you can download.

Subway

The subway system in Seoul is vast and what’s more confusing is that it is operated by more than one company, meaning there is a lack of standardization at some stations.

However all of the stations are both in English and Korean, and the Seoul Metropolitan

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The best way to tour the city is through using the city buses, as they run frequently and continuously (last boarding at around midnight).

Government is progressively adding Chinese and Japanese to the transit system.

In my humble and honest opinion, the subway is an inefficient means to tour through the city as you will spend needless time on it, rather than outside of it. It takes fifteen minutes to get to Myeongdong from Itaewon on bus, but it will take you 45 minutes via the subway. My advice? Don’t plan your Seoul tour around the subway if you can help it.

Buses

The best way to tour the city is through using the city buses, as they run frequently and continuously (last boarding at around midnight). (This is assuming that you want to plan your own tour - a guided bus tour is also offered by Seoul City.) However, most of the bus

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Taxis: Regular, delux, jumbo, or international “Taxis come in different colors and propose different services, (including English-speaking taxis) so it’s a good idea to read ahead if you plan on taking cabs around the city.” stops and signs are not marked in English as of yet, although many of them will announce bus stops in English on-board. If you’re lost and want to get back on the subway, take the green “village” (maeul) buses; they will take you to the nearest subway station.

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There are a couple of apps for your smart phone that will track Seoul’s hundreds of bus routes in semi-English. My advice is to get familiar with using the apps before you get to the city, as the sheer amount of information available may be overwhelming. Another

way to take advantage of the city’s bus system is to call Seoul City’s hotline at 120. An English-speaker will help you find the bus you can take to get to your destination.

Finally, you can use our map of the city and search for bus routes by clicking onTransit Directions. It includes major tourist destinations.

Taxis

Let’s take the example from Myeongdong to Itaewon. Subway, 45 minutes.

Buses, 15 minutes (but you will need to read Korean or figure out ahead of time which bus you will need to take), or the taxi, 10 minutes (give or take, depending on traffic conditions). It costs a bit more but not as much as you would expect for private transportation.

Two address systems: “The new system is closer to the Western system with street names and numbers of buildings.

However, sometimes building numbers go in the order as they were built, and don’t necessarily indicate where they are located on the street.”

Taxis come in different colors and propose different services, (including English-speaking taxis) so it’s a good idea to read ahead if you plan on taking cabs around the city. A concise brochure that includes all you need to know for using taxis has also been recently published by Seoul City in order to reduce incidents of excessive cab fares charged to tourists from the airport.

All taxis in Seoul are equipped with GPS, which can track locations by building names as well as addresses (in Korean -- see bottom of article on the Korean address system).

A deluxe taxi is black and offers premium service - bilingual drivers, air conditioning/heating, and a peace of mind, but at a higher cost.

Addresses in Seoul

Now that we have the basics covered, let’s talk about the city’s address system. There are two, the old one and the new one, and both of them are used. The old one tells you which wards and neighborhoods a building is located, but does not include the name of the street.

The new system is closer to the Western system with street names and numbers of buildings. However, sometimes the building numbers go in the order as they were built, and do not necessarily indicate where they are located on the street.

Both of them are indexed on Google Maps, as long as you can spell Korean addresses correctly into English. Romanization of Korean sounds into English is more or less standardized.

You can tell which system that the address you encounter by its color. The old one is often white and red

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and is hand-written. The new ones are blue with white letters. Most Koreans use the old system, because that’s what they’re used to, although official and government buildings will use the new system. For taxis, it’s generally easier to indicate the name of a subway station or a major landmark around your final destination. If you want to avoid confusion, take an international taxi.

The takeaway

The subway is best for getting from one corner of Seoul to another. All of the stations also display signs and maps in English.

For getting from one district such as Myeongdong to Insadong that are close to each other, take the bus or the taxi. Last boarding for buses and the subway is around midnight. After that, plan on cabbing, but minimum standard fare is higher after midnight.

If you’re lost, call our hotline at 120 (Just dial 120 from Seoul, 2-120 if you’re outside of Seoul).

Rush hours are 8am - 9am and 5:45pm - 7pm. Line 2 on the subway, and buses through major parts of town, could be a nightmare for claustro- and/or agoraphobics at this time as they are packed back-to-back.

My advice for tourists is to avoid using public transit at rush hour and do walking tours; or schedule your meals around those times.

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Free guidebooks--downloadble as pdfs or viewable as e-books Interactive map of Seoul

Click for Resources Access to the above links require internet or wi-fi access.

Or for further navigational assistance, or if you are lost, If you’re lost, call our hotline at 120. (Just dial 120 from Seoul, 2-120 if you’re outside of Seoul).

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2.

Safety Essentials

Anybody who travels a lot knows that things don’t always go as planned. Problems tend to pop up whenever you’re traveling in a foreign country, whether it’s not being used to the food and water or getting lost in a place where you don’t speak the language.

Even worse, tourists tend to be easy prey for pickpockets and thieves. This is true no matter what country you’re traveling in, even in a country like Korea where the crime rate is low. But these sorts of things shouldn’t dissuade you from traveling. The key to having a great trip is to expect that problems may occur, and to be prepared for them for when they do.

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Lost valuables and theft

One of the cardinal rules of traveling is to never let your stuff out of sight. You should be aware of where your things are at all times.

While on the go, keep your eyes peeled for pickpockets, especially when you’re in crowded areas. Keep your cash and your passport in a place that’s hard for people to come in contact with, or store them in a separate place entirely. Don’t carry more cash around with you than you need, and store your valuables in the safety box that your hotel provides for you.

If you’re a victim of theft or lose something valuable

The first thing you should do is dial 112 and report the incident immediately to the police.

The Korean police provide a translation service that is available in several different foreign languages, including English.

You should also contact your embassy here in Korea.

If you don’t have your embassy information at hand, here is a helpful website that lists all of the foreign embassies located in Korea: http://www.embassies-

abroad.com/embassies-in/SouthKorea

Measures to take in case of theft or loss of valuables

Cash and Valuables Find the police station nearest you and fill out the “Theft and Lost Valuables” form.

Credit Card Call your credit card company immediately and cancel your card.

When reporting your lost or stolen credit card, you should provide them with your passport information and the information on the “Theft and Lost Valuables” form that you filled out at the police station. They should reissue your card after a few days.

You should already have your credit card number and expiration date written down in a safe place, separate from your card.

Traveler’s Checks Contact the customer service number of your check vendor immediately.

When reporting your lost or stolen checks, you should provide them with your passport information and the information on the “Theft and Lost Valuables”

form that you filled out at the police station, as well as any purchase information you have. They should reissue your traveler’s checks after a few days.

You should already have your traveler’s check serial numbers, date and location of purchase, and the value of the checks written down separately in a safe place.

Passport Contact the nearest embassy or consulate for assistance. You will need to complete a new passport application, and the consular officer processing your

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application must be reasonably satisfied as to your identity and citizenship before issuing the replacement.

Reissuing your passport should take about 3-10 days.

There are a few documents you will need: the “Theft and Lost Valuables” form (available at any police station), two recent photos (4.5cm×3.5cm), your identification card, and proof of your foreign nationality.

Sickness

The last thing you want when traveling in a foreign country is to get sick.

There are different ways of being sick, but all of them are equally unpleasant.

Here are a few things you should be aware of when traveling, either in

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Korea or anywhere else.

R&R Sometimes when you’re traveling, you get so caught up with seeing and doing everything that you don’t notice when your body is worn out.

Weakened bodies are prone to illness, so make sure you schedule some R&R time into that busy itinerary.

Climate The climate in Korea tends to be on the extreme side. The weather might be deceptively warm one day and be cold the next. Also, the temperature drops considerably between day and night, so make sure you bring along some layers to prevent getting sick.

over-the-counter drugs at convenience stores, supermarkets and other stores, this is not so in Korea.

You’ll find many different pharmacies in each neighborhood marked by a sign that says “약,” (“yak,” which means “medicine”).

Most pharmacies are closed on Sundays, but pharmacies located in subway stations, bus terminals, large shopping centers and other locations are open on Sundays in case you need to locate one.

Hours of operation: 24 hours/day, 365 days/year Available in 16 different languages including English, Japanese and Chinese.

Extortion

There is always the chance of a street vendor, restaurant, taxi, etc. taking advantage of the fact that you are a foreigner.

Assuming that you don’t understand the language, they might demand an unreasonable amount of payment. But there ways you can easily avoid this.

When looking for a place to What exactly will you grab a bite to eat, pick the find at the pharmacy? places that have their prices “It’s easy to Please go to our official get caught up in visibly displayed. Most food website to take a look at establishments will have the excitement some of the most common of traveling, but either a menu or their prices drugs they sell. bodies are posted on the walls, but in weakened prone to illness. the case they don’t, simply ask what the cost is prior So make sure you to buying. To avoid getting Accidents schedule some R&Rswindled by a cab, check to If you get into an time into that busy make sure that the cab meaccident... itinerary.” ter is running properly first.

If you have travel acciThere are some cab drivers dent insurance coverage, that will tell you that getcontact your insurance ting to xx location will cost provider. xx amount, but it’s better Contact the police at not to utilize their services.

112 or emergency medical help at 119. If you ask for an Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit extra for a Deluxe Taxi ambulance in English, they (Mobeom Taxi in Korean) should provide one for you. just to feel assured.

Help me 119 service What will you find at a You can call 119 from pharmacy anywhere in Korea.

Rest well & stay healthy

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Food Cautions--always apply good judgement It goes without saying that travelers should always be cautious of the food they eat. Be wary of eating raw foods in the summertime, and on warm days in the fall and winter. Also, even though most of the street food in Korea is safe and delicious to eat, if you feel like the food looks unsanitary, it’s better to err on the side of caution. Same goes with any food you get at restaurants. As for water, most Koreans don’t drink from the tap, but filtered water is safe to drink. Every eating establishment provides only filtered water anyway, so there’s no need to worry. Also, try not to eat a lot of spicy food all at once. It can lead to indigestion problems.

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If you get sick...

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If you have travel medical insurance coverage, contact your insurance provider.

Consult the reception desk at your hotel. They can call an ambulance for you or tell you where the nearest hospital is located.

High-end hotels might even have a doctor that can assist you.

Take some of the medication you brought with you from home.

There are many pharmacies in Korea that you can buy medications from, but it will be difficult as a foreigner to effectively describe what symptoms and allergies you have. So it’s best to bring an assortment of medications with you from home such as cold medication, diarrhea medication, fever medication, and pain relievers

What will you find at a pharmacy?

Getting sick on vacation can certainly put a damper on your travels. In Korea, you’ll find many medical treatment center as well as many hospitals. However, if you need to purchase medicine you can only do so at a pharmacy.

Keep in mind that even if the ingredients of the medication are the same, the packaging is different, and the dosage may be different, so make sure to follow the instructions given to you by the pharmacist.

List of the most common drugs you’ll find at Korean pharmacies.

Extortion

Getting sick on vacation can certainly put a damper on your travels.

In Korea, you’ll find many medical treatment centers as well as many hospitals. However, if you need to purchase medicine you can only do so at a pharmacy. Keep in mind that even if the ingredients of the medication are the same, the packaging is different, and the dosage may be different, so make sure to follow the instructions given to you by the pharmacist.

There is always the chance of a street vendor, restaurant, taxi, etc. taking advantage of the fact that you are a foreigner. Assuming that you don’t understand the language, they might demand an unreasonable amount of payment. But there ways you can easily avoid this. When looking for a place to grab a bite to eat, pick the places that have their prices visibly displayed. Most food establishments will have either a menu or their prices posted on the walls, but in the case they don’t, simply ask what the cost is prior to buying. To avoid getting swindled by a cab, check to make sure that the cab meter is running properly first. There are some cab drivers that will tell you that getting to xx location will cost xx amount, but it’s better not to utilize their services. Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit extra for a Deluxe Taxi (Mobeom Taxi in Korean) just to feel assured.

Where to Buy In Korea, it’s illegal for drugs to be sold anywhere other than pharmacies.

While in the US, Japan, and many other countries, you can find simple,

If you’re a victim of extortion...

• Contact the police.

• When you’re taking a taxi, write down the license plate number, time and date of use, and the destination details (i.e.

Pharmacies

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Directory of Medical Services for Foreigners General hospitals with International Clinics in Seoul

Korean Tourism Organization Tourist Complaint Center Phone: ďź‹82-2-735-0101 Fax: ďź‹82-2-777-0102 Email: tourcom@mail.knto.or.kr Website: http://english.visitkorea. or.kr/enu/GK/GK_ EN_2_7_6.jsp

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Report the incident to the Korean Tourism Organization Tourist Complaint Center Operated by the Seoul National University Hospital, the International Healthcare Center provides medical assistance to international visitors.

When contacting the center you will be provided with a health professional that can speak in English, Japanese or Chinese about first-aid measures, health consultations, hospital information, etc.

Phone: 1339 Hours of operation: 24 hours/day, 365 days/year

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You can call the police at 112 or emergency medical help at 119 from anywhere in Korea at any time with services in 16 languages.

Please be safe and enjoy the city.

Accidents

If you get into an accident...

If you have travel accident insurance coverage, contact your insurance provider.

Contact the police at 112 or emergency medical help at 119. If you ask for an ambulance in English, they should provide one for you.

Help me 119 service You can call 119 from anywhere in Korea.

Hours of operation: 24 hours/day, 365 days/year Available in 16 different languages including English, Japanese and Chinese.

One last note

Female travelers should always take extra precautions when traveling no matter what country they’re in, and especially when traveling alone. If you are alone, it’s best to avoid being out at late hours of the night or taking cabs.

Just remember to keep an open mind and stay safe.

With these tips in mind, your trip to Korea is bound to be an enjoyable and memorable experience.

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3.

Local Hot Spots

If you’re coming to Korea, you will almost definitely want to find out where to shop in Seoul, where to hang out in Seoul, and some of the best places to visit in Seoul for tourists. Oh yea, and we tell you how to get there too because we’re uber helpful like that.

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Where to Shop in Seoul

1. Garosugil “Damn, you look good!”

If you want to hear that, head over to Garosugil for the latest fashion trends from global and local Korean fashion designers alike.

This has both expensive options as well as not-that expensive options for shopping in Seoul, but whatever price you pay, you’ll be sure to be rockin’ some of the latest Korean fashion trends.

How to Go to Garosugil: Sinsa Station – Line 3, exit 8 (10 minute walk) 2. Apgujeong Rodeo Drive is in LA,

and it’s also in Apgujeong. Apgujeong has a street named after the iconic LA street because of the high-end fashion that can be found at Apgujeong. Come here if you like Chanel and Luis Vuitton. But even if that’s too rich for your blood, don’t let that scare you away.

There are plenty of shopping options for all price ranges.

How to Go to Apgujeong: Apgujeong Station – Line 3, exit 2 (15 minute walk) 3. Myeongdong Pretty much the number 1 tourist attraction

in Seoul, Myeongdong is a shoppers heaven. With brand names like Zara, H&M, Forever 21, and Tommy Hilfiger, this is a great place to buy some clothes in Seoul. Myeongdong also has a whole lot of Korean make up stores for

3. Myeongdong is a shopper’s heaven.

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the ladies. And for those wondering where to buy souvenirs in Seoul, Myeongdong has a few side street vendors that sell cool and wacky Korean stuff (e.g. kpop socks!).

How to Go to Myeongdong: Myeongdong Station – Line 4, exit 6 or Euljiro 1-ga Station – Line 2, exit 6 4. Ehwa Woman’s University Korean College Girls = cheap shopping in Korea. Go here for Korean college student fashion, and tons of cafes for you to hang out like a Korean college girl. The college campus is also a pretty nice place to just hang out and chill. But Ehwa University’s most compelling feature is that it’s one of the best places to shop in Seoul if you’re a female looking to shop cheaply!

How to Go to Ehwa University: Ehwa Woman’s University Station – Line 2, exit 2 5. Coex Mall If you’re looking for places to shop in Seoul, you should probably head over to the most famous mall in Korea, Coex. There are a few brand names that you’ll recognize, but there are also a few Korean brands that you may not be familiar with. You can spend an entire day shopping in Seoul if you want.

But for your friends who get bored of shopping quickly, there are plenty of good food at the food court and an aquarium to see little fishies!

How to Go to COEX Mall: Samseong Station – Line 2, exit 5 6. Yongsan Electronics Market Electronic nerds unite here at Yongsan Electronics market. This is the place in

Seoul to go if you need cameras, video games, appliances, cell phones and anything else electronics. The vendors can be a bit pushy, and you’ll have to shop around to see the best prices, so it can be a bit of work. But it’s a market, so you might have fun with the bargaining aspect of this whole Seoul shopping experience.

How to Go to Yongsan Electronics Market: Yongsan Station – Line 1, Jungang Line, exit 2 or Sinyongsan Station – Line 4, exit 5 7. Dongdaemun Market Check out this super large scale clothing market and buy tons of Korean fashion goods on the cheap. You won’t find too many big name global brands, but there are tons of local Korean independent retailers. And it’s open super late for all the insomniac Seoul shoppers out there.

How to Go to Dongdaemun Market: Dongdaemun Station – Line 1, Line 4, exit 8 or 9

Where to Hang Out in Seoul

8. Hongdae Hongdae is clubs & bars, cafes, art & design and everything in between.

This is a mega popular area for all forms of hanging out in Seoul. Come here to see the epitome of Korean sub culture. There’s tons of street performances, street food, clubbing, bars, restaurants, and shopping! Hongdae’s got pretty much anything you need to hang out in Seoul!

How to go to Hongdae: Hongik University Station – Line 2, exit 9 or

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Sangsu Station – Line 6, exit 1 9. Gangnam Station Gangnam Station is a popular spot for Korean college students who live below the Han river. With tons of bars, restaurants, and cafes, Gangnam Station is a central destination for people who just need to hang out with their friends!

Also, it’s pretty easy to get to most places in Seoul with all the buses that run in and out of the place.

How to go to Gangnam: Gangnam Station – Line 2, exit 10, 11 or Sinnonhyeon Station – Line 9, exit 5, 6

Koreans by the day, making this an awesome place to meet foreigners and Koreans alike!

Come here if you like international foods, such as Thai, Bulgarian, Spanish, etc. It’s also good if you’re looking for a western style bar, lounge, or club in Seoul.

How to Go to Itaewon: Itaewon Station – Line 6, any exit

12. Lotte World Although the Jamsil area can also be included in the shopping section of this list, Lotte World gets its own section as it’s probably the most popular amusement park in Seoul.

It’s a great place to go for a date or even with a group of friends. Rides, games and ice skating make this a great place to spend an entire day in Seoul.

How to Go to Lotte World: Jamsil Station – Line 2, Line 8, exit 4

11. Sinchon Located centrally among three major universities, Sinchon is a popular Korean college town watering hole.

Mostly filled with bars, a 13. Yeouido Park little bit of shopping and Located next Seoul’s some entertainment options, Sinchon is a great place to just tallest building, the 63 building, Yeouido Park is a great outdoor place to hang out in Seoul. The park has nice gardens that are good for picnics, and sporty There is a activities, like rollerbladpopular joke saying that international residents may ing, bike riding, and even not know Seoul, but they know Itaewon, as it is a some outdoor basketball destination for internationals to enjoy a diversity of hoops. Come here if you’re culture, shopping, and entertainment experiences. a Mountain Dew chugging sports fanatic!

How to Go to Yeouido Park: Yeouido Station – Line 5, exit 3 or Yeouinaru Station – Line 5, exit 1 10. Itaewon kick back with your friends.

This is the foreigner Oh yea, and pretty good Ko- 14. Samcheong-dong district of Seoul. This place This is a more refined rean food options for the nice used to be dominated by price of college-town cheap! option for hanging out in U.S. soldiers, but recently How to go to Sinchon: Sin- Seoul. It has some of the this Seoul hotspot has chon Station – Line 2, exit 2 nicest cafes in Seoul, and it attracted more and more

10. Itaewon.

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Above to clockwise: 12. Lotte World, 9. Gangnam Station, 14. Samcheong-dong, 13. Yeouido Park, 15. Insadong, 11. Sinchon

14. Samcheong-dong Samcheong-dong is famous for its Bukchon Hanok (Korean traditional houses) Village, as well as home to distinctive cafĂŠs, shops, and galleries.

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also has very elegant restaurants. Samcheong-dong can be a bit on the pricey side, so come here if you’re looking for a place to take your date or in need of a more refined atmosphere.

How to Go to Samcheong-dong: Anguk Station – Line 3, exit 1

Places to Visit in Seoul for Tourists

15. Insadong Insadong is a must-see for the Seoul tourist. It’ll

Insadong

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be your one stop shop for cool Korean stuff from long ago (i.e. tea houses, Korean antiques, Korean fans, etc.).

And although it is a tourist mecca, rest assured that even local Koreans hang out here for the cool cafes, museums and food!

How to Go to Insadong: Anguk Station – Line 3, exit 6 16. Gwangjang Market Gwangjang Market is one of the markets in Seoul frequented by tourists because of its super local

feel and very delicious Korean street food. Some of the famous dishes here are the Korean pancakes (bindaettuk) or baby gimbap (mayakgimbap). Oh yea, and if you want to meet typical old school ajummas, check out the women vendors.

They’re very old school and very ajumma-esque!

How to Go to Gwangjang Market: Jongno 5-ga Station – Line 1, exit 8 or Euljiro 4-ga Station – Line 2, Line 5, exit 4.

17. Namdaemun Market Probably one of the most popular places to see for Seoul

tourists, Namedaemun Market has tons of random goodies including ginseng, mountain climbing gear, camera parts, and cheap eye wear. Come here if you’re not sure what gifts to get from Korea. Namdaemun Market will have tons of very Korean gifts as well as random trinkets for souvenir gift ideas from Korea. And if you like bargaining, you get the green light here!

How to Go to Namdaemun Market: Hoehyeon Station – Line 4, exit 5

Namdaemun 27

18.Gwanghwamun

This is a fantastic place to go if you’re wondering where to go sightseeing in Seoul.

This Seoul landmark is must see tourist Seoul tourist attraction for those interested in ultra old and traditional Korea stuff.

And right next to Gwanghwamun there are also the uber cool statues of King Sejong the Great and the super badass Yi Sun-sin.

Traditional Korea all in one Seoul tourist hotspot!

How to Go to Gwanghwamun: Gwanghwamun Station – Line 5, exit 2

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19. Noryangjin Market Oh man, the fish here be crazy fresh!

You literally pick out a fish from one of the tanks and about 5 minutes after you bring it to a dude with a knife, you’ll be eating some of the freshest Korean style raw fish (hwe) you can have in Seoul.

But even if you’re not into eating raw fish, it’s still a cool place to visit as you’ll be able to see really bizarre sea creatures and say “what the heck is that?!”

How to Go to Noryangjin Market: Noryangjin Station – Line 1, exit 1 20. N Seoul Tower If you want one of the best views in Seoul, check out Seoul tower. There’s a fun cable car to get up towards the top and a cool rotating restaurant that’ll give you a view of the entire city. Also, the elevator is super fast and therefore super fun. Whee!

How to Go to N Seoul Tower: Chungmuro Station – Line 3, Line 4, exit 2, transfer to Bus 2 or Bus 5 (bound for N Seoul Tower) or Itaewon Station – Line 6, exit 4, transfer to bus 3 (bound for N Seoul Tower) 21 Bukchon Hanok Village This is a super beautiful place to go in if you’re looking for awesome sightseeing in Seoul as Bukchon is one the few places in Seoul you can see traditional Korean housing. These traditional Korean homes used to belong to Korean aristocracy, and are now under protection against development. Hopefully, we’ll see these beauties last forever!

How to Go to Bukchon Hanok Village: Anguk Station – Line 3, exit 2

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