15 Best Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea

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With over 25 million people living in Seoul and its surrounding area, Seoul is one of the largest cities in the world. And when travelling to South Korea, you are also most likely to start off your trip in Seoul by flying into Incheon (ICN) Airport, which is South Korea’s biggest airport. It is about an hour away from downtown Seoul by bus.

You can easily spend multiple days in Seoul and never run out of things to do, but if you have some more time, there are also some great day trips from Seoul.

Seoul is an incredible city; there is so much to see and do, the food is incredible and public transportation makes it super convenient to travel across the city. While studying abroad in Busan, I have spent a couple of days in Seoul over the Chuseok holiday, which is the Korean Thanksgiving. Here are just 15 of the many things to do in Seoul!

1. Go up the N Seoul Tower

Visiting the Namsan Seoul Tower is one of the best things to do in Seoul. From the observation deck, you can get some stunning views of Seoul, especially during sunset.

Opening times are 10 am to 10:30 pm on weekdays and 10 am to 11 pm on weekends.

Tickets can be purchased on site, but if you want to avoid the queues, you can also purchase your N Seoul Tower ticket in advance.

2. Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)

Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in 1395, is the largest and most beautiful of the five palaces in Seoul. It is also the most popular palace to visit in the city, so if you have one day in Seoul, make sure to visit the beautiful temple grounds. It is always incredibly busy once you enter, but the further you make your way into the gardens, the less busy it gets.

The palace is open from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, 5:30 PM, or 6:00 PM, depending on the time of year. It is closed on Tuesdays. The entry fee is 3000 KRW.

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3. Rent a Hanbok

Hanbok is traditional Korean clothing and around Gyeongbokgung Palace you can find many places renting out Hanboks. You can rent them for just an hour or even an entire day and wear them when visiting the palace.

If you wear traditional clothing, you also don’t need to pay the 3000 KRW entrance fee. It’s a great experience; the Hanboks are so beautiful, and it’s absolutely one of the best things to do in Seoul.

4. Eat your way around Myeongdong district

5. Visit the beautiful Starfield library

The Starfield library is a beautiful public library located in the COEX mall in Gangnam. If you are in the area anyway, it’s a great place to look around, take in your surroundings, and take a break.

However, you won’t need to spend much time at the library, as you can see it in a couple of minutes. But COEX Mall is also certainly worth exploring, especially on a rainy day in Seoul.

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6. Discover Gangnam

If you are visiting COEX Mall in Gangnam anyway, be sure to visit the Gangnam Style statue, right in front of one of the mall’s entrances. From there, it’s also a very quick walk to Bongeusa Temple!

7. Discover Hongdae District

Hongdae is one of the busiest and most popular areas in Seoul. You’ll find lots of students here, and it is one of the main places to go out in Seoul. There are plenty of bars, clubs, and karaoke places.

Even if you don’t care about going out, Hongdae is still a fun area to visit! You can do a lot of shopping here, and a lot of brands have their flagship store in the area, such as Kakao Friends. Other than shopping, you can find street food, great restaurants, and many cute cafés.

8. Visit Banpo Bridge at night

From April to October, you can enjoy a water show at Banpo Bridge, which crosses the Han River. The show lasts about 20 minutes, and during that time the bridge lights up in all colours of the rainbow. Here you can find more details on the schedule.

9. Get a Colour Analysis

Getting a colour analysis in Korea has become a very popular activity. During this process, you will get recommendations on what colours suit you best, and most importantly, which colour shades, or if you should wear warm or cool makeup.

During my colour analysis in Seoul, I also learned about my ideal hair colour, and if I should wear gold or silver jewellery. You can also bring your own makeup and have that analysed.

It’s a unique experience, and I would highly recommend it if you are in Seoul anyway. Book your colour analysis!

10. Visit the War Memorial of Korea

Visiting the War Memorial Museum is one of the best things to do in Seoul, especially if the weather isn’t the nicest. It is free to enter, and the museum covers everything you need to know about the Korean wars and the history of Korea. It’s definitely worth a visit!

Keep in mind that the museum is closed on Mondays.

11. Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village is another of Seoul’s most famous attractions and should be included in any South Korea itinerary. It is located within walking distance of Gyeongbokgung Palace, so it makes sense to visit both places on the same day.

Here you can find hundreds of traditional Korean houses, called Hanoks. Some now house tea houses, restaurants, or cultural centres. However, some houses are still lived in, so please don’t make too much noise.

Bukchon Hanok Village is free to visit and open Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.

12. Rent bikes and take a tour along the Han River

Take Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station and get off at Exit 3. You can follow a 15km route with several stops along the way, such as Mapo Bridge, Seoul Marina, or Seonyudo Park.

This tour took us about 3 hours and was a nice way of experiencing Seoul, especially if the weather is nice.

13. Visit Deoksugung Palace

Deoksugung is one of Seoul’s five impressive palaces and the smallest. It is located in downtown Seoul, in one of the busiest areas. Entering the palace grounds costs 1000 KRW. Deoksugung Palace is closed on Mondays.

14. Walk along the Cheonggyecheon Stream

Cheonggyecheon Stream is a 10.9-kilometre-long stream in downtown Seoul, and a great place to go for an evening walk or just sit by the water for a bit. There used to be an express highway here, which was dismantled, and the stream was restored, finishing in 2005.

Taking down the highway actually improved traffic in Seoul, and the stream is now a popular destination for both tourists and residents.

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