Seoul is South Korea’s bustling capital overflowing with culture and tradition and technology. Be prepared to be stunned as you’re surrounded by flashing neon lights and sky-high towers, pumping K-pop, enticing street food, stunning natural getaways, and all the shops in Seoul.
Want to know the essential attractions when you travel to South Korea? Here are the 18 best things to do in Seoul:
- Experience the world’s largest indoor amusement park - Lotte World!
- Go on a nature getaway to Nami Island
- Experience wearing traditional Korean clothing
- Dive into an underwater world at Coex Aquarium
- Go on an epic pub crawl
- Become a K-pop star for a day and record your own album
- Bust a move and join a K-pop dance class
- Visit Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Explore Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul’s largest palace
- Grab a drink at Itaewon
- Check out the city from N Seoul Tower
- Visit one of the largest museums in Asia: the National Museum of Korea
- Live it up at Lotte World Tower
- Hangout at the trendy Hongdae
- Check out the traditional wooden houses at Bukchon Hanok Village
- Visit Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, where traditional meets contemporary
- Try the streetfood at Gwangjang Market
- Check out the flora and fauna of Seoul Grand Park
1. Experience the world’s largest indoor amusement park - Lotte World!
Lotte World is a rain or shine attraction, thanks to its indoor and outdoor sections! Credits: @xuicx_c on Instagram
Visiting Lotte World is one of the best things to do in Seoul. This one-of-a-kind amusement park is comprised of an indoor and outdoor section. Its outdoor park, called Magic Island, features adrenaline-pumping rides such as Gyro Swing, a pendulum ride that not only swings you back and forth at crazy angles but also spins at 360°. The indoor park, Lotte World Adventure, features the French Revolution, a fully-indoor roller coaster with a heart-pumping 360° loop-de-loop.
Learn everything you need to know about Lotte World for your first visit:
2. Go on a nature getaway to Nami Island
Take a stroll through Nami Island’s tree-lined landscape. Credits: @hbjp_ on Instagram
Nami Island is one of Seoul’s most famous attractions, thanks to being a filming location for the drama Winter Sonata and having picturesque avenues framed by trees. Explore it on the Nami Island Day tour, where you can also opt to go to other nearby attractions. Stop by Petit France (a highly instagrammable colourful village), Garden of the Morning Calm (a scenic, well-manicured garden perfect for strolls), and more!
3. Experience wearing traditional Korean clothing
Don the colourful traditional garment of Korea: the hanbok. Credits: @phyllisphuaa on Instagram
One of the best things to do in Seoul is to immerse yourself in Korean culture, especially by wearing the traditional hanbok and styling your hair in the classic bun or braids. Choose from hundreds of designs of various colours that suit you most. After your hanbok experience, you can visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the five remaining Joseon-era palaces.
4. Dive into an underwater world at Coex Aquarium
Check out the 40,000 sea creatures of Coex Aquarium! Credits: @banabangs on Instagram
Love marine life? Then you’re due to visit Seoul’s largest aquarium: Coex Aquarium, which boasts the most number and species of sharks in Korea. Coex has various theme zones that house over 40,000 sea creatures. You’ll find Humboldt Penguins, Moon Jellyfish, Sand Tiger Sharks, sinister piranhas, and more!
5. Go on an epic pub crawl
Make the most out of Seoul’s nightlife and go on a pub crawl.
With its lively nightlife, pub crawls are one of the best things to do in Seoul. If you want to party and have a boozy night out, this Seoul Pub Crawl is a must-try! Here, you’ll visit three bars and one club and get complimentary drinks from each one. Meet new friends, enjoy discount privileges and VIP access, and, more importantly, have fun!
6. Become a K-pop star for a day and record your own album
Sing where stars like VIXX and Park Hyo Shin made hits on this K-pop recording experience.
Getting the K-pop star experience is a bucket list item for your Seoul trip! In this K-pop recording experience, you will visit a recording studio, check out their equipment, do a soundcheck, select songs to record, and sing your heart out. Feel like a pro in the studio where K-pop stars VIXX, Park Hyo Shin, and more made hits!
Want more bucket list ideas for your trip? Check out our ultimate South Korea bucket list:
7. Bust a move and join a K-pop dance class
Complete your K-pop experience by learning the moves from the masters.
Dancing in the motherland of K-pop is definitely an essential thing to do in South Korea. Learn the choreography of the latest hits in this K-pop dance class, bust a move to the tunes of megastars such as IU and Super Junior, and learn the steps from masterful English instructions.
8. Visit Changdeokgung Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Marvel traditional Korean architecture and aesthetics at the Changdeokgung Palace. Credits: @baipor.t on Instagram
Explore the majestic Changdeokgung Palace and its striking traditional architecture and design, and see what makes it a UNESCO World Heritage Site with your own eyes. It was the primary royal residence for over 200 years, and it still maintains its opulence through its majestic secret garden, pavilions, and lotus ponds.
9. Explore Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul’s largest palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace is another attraction that lets you experience historical Korea. Credits: @daehan_hanbok on Instagram
Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the five grand palaces in Seoul, known for its hundreds of edifices. The Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (one of the biggest pavilions in Korea by floor area), Hyangwonjeong Pond (filled with lotus flowers and carp), and Geunjeongjeo (the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace) are among its most famous sights. You can also watch the ceremonial changing of guards every hour from 10 AM to 3 PM.
10. Grab a drink at Itaewon
Itaewon is a must-visit for night owls and party-goers. Credits: @captain_lee__7733 on Instagram
Itaewon has made a name for itself for being a hotspot for lovers of fine dining and nightlife. There are plenty of nightclubs, upscale restaurants, shops, and more that are bustling with life in this area. If you want the best night out in Seoul, Itaewon is the place to be.
11. Check out the city from N Seoul Tower
Have a great vantage point of Seoul from the N Seoul Tower. Credits: Joshua Delica on Unsplash
On top of being situated on the 243-metre Namsam Mountain, N Seoul Tower stands at a whopping 236 metres! That means a trip there will bring you up to almost 480 metres above sea level, giving you fantastic views of Seoul below. You can also check out the digital observatory and peek through its telescopes.
12. Visit one of the largest museums in Asia: the National Museum of Korea
Art lovers will find a haven in the National Museum of Korea. Credits: @jeong_jun_chul on Instagram
The National Museum of Korea is the biggest in the country and is home to numerous artefacts that date back to prehistoric times. There are also sculptures, paintings, and highly valuable calligraphy. Among its most renowned pieces is Maitreya in Meditation, a statue made of gilt bronze depicting Maitreya, the future Buddha, in meditation.
13. Live it up at Lotte World Tower
Enjoy Seoul’s city skyline from South Korea’s tallest building. Credits: @huni_1214 on Instagram
Another sky-high Seoul attraction is Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in South Korea and the fifth tallest in the world, standing at a mindblowing 555.7 metres! Here, you’ll find the highest glass-bottom observatory in the world, which ensures fantastic views. You can also enjoy the tower’s cinema, aquarium and food hall.
14. Hangout at the trendy Hongdae
Explore the shops, cafes and clubs of Hongdae. Credits: @ladynan26 on Instagram
Like Itaewon, Hongdae is a trendy part of Seoul, but with a dash of art and creativity. It has a thriving indie music scene and an assortment of quirky shops, cafes, clubs and galleries. Listen to live music, pose at Hongdae Mural Street, and sing your heart out in a Noraebang or Korean karaoke place.
15. Check out the traditional wooden houses at Bukchon Hanok Village
Pose with the traditional houses of South Korea at Bukchon Hanok Village. Credits: @gozdepisiren on Instagram
Want to bless your IG feed? Then Bukchon Hanok Village is a must-visit! This quaint village showcases alleys filled with well-preserved traditional wooden houses called hanok. Its distinct architectural features include the upturned corners and grey roof tiles, which transport you back to old-time Korea.
16. Visit Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, where traditional meets contemporary
Contemporary or traditional? No need to choose at the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art. Credits: @keywitness67 on Instagram
Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art houses traditional and contemporary art collections. Here you’ll find numerous Korean art and antiquities, 36 of which are designated National Treasures. You can also view works of Rothko, Warhol, Yves Klein, Damien Hirst, and more.
17. Try the streetfood at Gwangjang Market
Go on a food trip and try Gwangjang Market’s delectable street food. Credits: @sji_koreabackpacker on Instagram
Gwangjang Market is Korea’s first permanent market, dating back to 1905. Now, it has a famous food alley with numerous hawkers where you can get delectable street food. Absolute must-tries include jeon, or Korean pancake,s and tteokbokki, or spicy rice cakes!
18. Check out the flora and fauna of Seoul Grand Park
Nature lovers will enjoy a trip to Seoul Grand Park’s botanical garden and zoo. Credits: @southkorea.explores on Instagram
Seoul is a bustling Metropolitan, so it’s always nice to have a breath of fresh air in its gardens and parks. One of the best places to enjoy it is Seoul Grand Park, home to Korea’s largest botanical garden. It also boasts of Korea’s biggest zoo, home to 3,000 animals from all over the world.
Want to explore more of Korea? Then check out our ultimate five-day Seoul itinerary:
Written by: Rohana Monzon
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