As my children are beginning to enter adulthood, they spend less time with us – the parents. It became an annual goal of the family to bond in a vacation that they wouldn’t want to miss. We went to Seoul during winter of 2018 and spent 14 days. Alright. You don’t need to stay that long, too. I just don’t like a tight schedule, specially when I travel with my parents and children. That’s why instead of sharing an actual itinerary, I picked 24 cool things that you can do in Seoul. Not all of the items though are sights. Some are random discoveries or everyday things we did pretending like locals.
Enjoy reading!
1. Buy a T-Money card
Before anything else, secure a transportation card from any convenience store or train station as it will be vital to your trip. Seoul is one of the easiest cities to get around via public transportation. T-Money card is valid on pretty much all modes of transportation in the city – train, bus and taxi. It can also be used as a debit card when paying in shops or restaurants. Load the amount that you think you’ll need and off you go. Note that the card is reloadable anytime.
2. Download the app Naver Map
While Google Map is brilliant in most countries, it’s not the case in South Korea. It is because their government didn’t allow for the storage of topographical data on foreign-based servers. As suggested on my research, I used Naver Map and it was indeed helpful.
3. Get a hug in a mug
We arrived in our hotel ahead of check in time from a late night flight. So we looked for a cafe to have something to drink. It was a blessing in disguise that we discovered Oliver Brown Belgian Chocolate Cafe. Under a subzero (celcius) temperature, sipping a rich and smooth hot drink is heavenly.
4. Eat KFC
Korean Fried Chicken has become a food phenomenon for a time in the Philippines. It may have ended but our love towards KFC continues.
KyoChon is known as one of the best Korean Fried Chicken in South Korea. At one point it was known as the ‘Lee Min Ho’ fried chicken, because he used to endorse the food chain. Their chicken has less batter with crispy skin and soft meat.
Aside from KyoChon, there are a lot of other brands of chicken in Seoul. We have tried BHC which is at par with KyoChon. They serve chicken as a whole, so it’s better to dine as a group. The chicken skin is crispier and they have more variety of flavor.
The branch of KyoChon and BHC that we dined in were both in Gangnam. But they have other outlets around Seoul. It’s hard to avoid comparing the two and for me, I loved the chicken in BHC.
Note that we tried to look for BonChon, but there was none 😜
5. Enjoy KBBQ
A trip to Seoul won’t also be complete without eating Korean Meat Barbecue. This is an experience that shouldn’t be missed. It’s better to cook the meat yourself. That tender and juicy beef wrapped in lettuce and paired with a lot of side dishes! Oh so yummy 😋 It really felt local as Koreans were seated near our table. How can you miss this. To complete that K-drama scene, have a bottle of soju.
6. Shop your heart out
Prepare your wallet as you stroll in Myeongdong. You’ll find popular shops, international and local alike, clustered on the streets and alleyways. Not to be missed are skin care products. If you’re lucky, you might come across sale items at very good deal. This is the place you’ll want to go to get all sorts of souvenirs and gifts to bring back for friends and family.
Common Korean street food are sold here too. But because it’s a tourist destination, they are a bit pricey. But hey! You’re on a holiday. So splurge.
Warning: The train station near Myeongdong where the Uniqlo building is has shops as well. But for me, it’s a tourist trap.
7. Read a book at Starfield Library COEX Mall
Entrance is free to this instagrammable library. It is conveniently located inside a mall. So if you just want to snap some photos, you may eat or shop after. Over 50,000 books are stacked across a two-storey high book shelves. Try to look for a nice to read piece.
8. Visit the COEX Aquarium
While you’re in the COEX mall, the aquarium is worth a visit especially if you’re with children. Marine life is interesting for my eldest son, so a visit to an aquarium was a must. Since COEX mall is just a few steps from where we stayed (AirBnb), we chose the COEX Aquarium. The aquarium is not very big, but it has the biggest shark habitat in Korea. You can finish it in an hour. It has unique displays that were hit with us. My favorite sections are the Story of Korean Fish and Marine Touch LAB. Enjoy nature in the city and spend time with such beautiful creatures.
Ticket prices:
- Adult KRW 17,500 (PHP 760)
- Child KRW 11,000 (PHP 477)
9. Stroll along the K🌟Star Road
If you’re a K-POP fan, immerse yourself into the wave. This road is home to some of K-POP’s entertainment buildings, HOOK Entertainment, FNC Entertainment, AROUND US Entertainment, and SM Entertainment. It’s the place to go if you’re hoping to spot your favorite idol. The street is also lined with luxury brand stores, hence another reason it’s often frequented by celebrities. We weren’t lucky enough though to catch a K-POP star. But, there are art toy statues lined up on the road representing different K-POP groups. You may have your photos taken with them instead 😊
10. Spend some time at DDP
Once the most Instagram tagged location in Korea, Dongdaemun Design Plaza is a unique building designed by Iraqi born architect Zaha Hadid. My first impression was it looked like a spaceship. It was a beautiful evening when we came. We may haven’t explored it but it surely is worth a visit. It is a piece of architecture that you’d want to see.
DDP is comprised of 5 halls: Art Hall, Museum, Design Lab, Design Market, and Dongdaemun History and Culture Park. The next time I’m visiting Seoul, I’ll go during the day and hopefully check out some if not all of the structures inside.
11. Day trip to see the Northern Limit Line
The Northern Limit Line is a disputed maritime border in the Yellow (West) Sea between North and South Korea. I booked our tour through Klook for PHP 5,292 (KRW 121,753) per person. A separate write up about our experience is available for your reference.
At the Ganghwa Peace Observatory, you can catch a glimpse of a village and farm fields of North Korea.
12. Eat the Korean way
What better way to immerse yourself into one’s culture than to eat the way the locals do it. Koreans traditionally eat sitting on the floor around a short table. It’s generally communal. Dishes are set out simultaneously and shared amongst others. On a typical table, you’ll find rice, a main protein, a soup or stew, and two to ten side dishes one of which is always kimchi. Remember to have a bite from one of each, not one by one. Do take your time and enjoy.
13. Outlet shopping
Yeoju Premium Outlets is Korea’s first outlet mall and Asia’s second largest outlet next to Japan’s Gotemba. The mall has over 270 outlets featuring well known brands.
Unlike most shopping outlets I’ve been to wherein the route is straight from the starting point either a bus terminal or a train station to the mall, this one isn’t like that. We had to take a bus from Gangnam Express Bus Terminal to Yeoju Intercity Bus Terminal. The ride took about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Then we hailed a taxi going to the outlet which was roughly 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can take the bus no. 912 or 912-1 just across the bus terminal.
14. Explore the Changdeokgung Palace
Changdeokgung Palace was made as a secondary palace of the Joseon Dynasty. It is advantageous in many ways when you explore with less tourists. I didn’t regret that we chose this over the bigger, more famous Gyeongbok Palace. Because I can’t compare, suffice to say that it was loved more by the kings because of the spacious and beautiful garden in the back. It is said to be the most unique Korean palace.
Ticket prices:
- Palace – Adult KRW 3,000 (PHP 130)/Child KRW 1,500 (PHP 65)
- Free entrance when you’re wearing Hanbok, but not to the Secret Garden
- Secret Garden – Adult KRW 5,000 (PHP 217)/Child KRW 2,500 (PHP 109)
Operating hours:
- February – May, September – October 09:00 to 18:00
- June – August 09:00 to 18:30
- November – January 09:00 to 17:30
- Closed on Mondays
15. Visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace
Because we entered inside the Changdeokgung Palace, we decided not to explore the Gyeongbok Palace. This palace was constructed during the Joseon Dynasty which was the last kingdom in Korea. There are four entrances in the palace. Tickets can be purchased at the office within the Yongchumun gate.
Fortunately, we happened to witness the changing of the guards ceremony. This I must say is grandeur!
Tips:
- Entrance to palaces in Seoul is free if you are wearing the traditional clothing Hanbok.
- Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
16. Meet King Sejong
From Gyeongbuk Palace, exit through the main gate Gwanghwamun and walk your way towards Gwanghwamun Square.
First you’ll come across a very emotional piece of art titled We Are One. Yi Chul Hee was inspired after the meeting of the leaders from South and North Korea on 2018. The two faces express hope for peace.
King Sejong introduced Hangul, the native phonetic writing system for the Korean language. In my opinion, it’s worth a quick visit.
17. Stroll along Bukchon Hanok Village
If you missed to wear a Hanbok, the experience is as fun as you walk in Bukchon Hanok Village in traditional Korean clothes. Hanoks are traditional Korean houses. Note that it is an actual village with real people living in these houses. So be mindful and avoid making noise.
Where we rented Hanboks
We found the rental shop incidentally after we ate lunch at this restaurant. It’s very near to Anguk Station exit 2 and 3. The shop is on the 3rd floor of the building. I couldn’t recall the exact rental fees I paid, but a regular Hanbok ranges between KRW 150,000 and 250,000 excluding the accessories. The lady was generous enough and she accessorized us without extra charge.
18. Pretend like a college student in Ewha Womens University
Ewha Womens University is the world’s largest female educational institute. Male visitors are also welcome. Here is a good place to people watch. There are shops and restaurants near the university. It’s another way to have a good look at local life.
19. Go up to N Seoul Tower
Get touristy as Namsan Seoul Tower is the most frequently visited attraction in Seoul. This is where you can get a view of Seoul as it is situated at the top of Mt. Namsan. Luckily, we got to watch the sun set.
Operating hours: 10:00 – 23:00, 365 days a year
Entrance fee: free except the observation deck
Observation deck ticket prices:
- Adult KRW 10,000 (PHP 436)
- Child KRW 8,000 (PHP 349)
20. Visit the Hello Kitty Island
Admittedly, I may have a biased opinion when it’s related to Hello Kitty. But if you’re a fan and for sure going to N Seoul Tower, then consider paying a visit to Hello Kitty Island as it is located at the basement of the tower. It’s not an actual island. Let me just show you some photos and decide from there.
Ticket prices:
- Adult KRW 8,000 (PHP 349)
- Child KRW 7,000 (PHP 305)
21. Have fun at the Lotte World
Lotte World is a shopping and entertainment complex. One of the major reasons tourists wanted to visit this place is the amusement park. Unlike Everland, Lotte World is conveniently located in the city. It is separated into an indoor, children friendly theme park and an outdoor, teens and adult friendly one.
The indoor park is called the Lotte World Adventure. It is ideal during winter season when it’s too cold to stay outside. Lotte World indoor amusement park used to be the world’s largest indoor theme park.
The outdoor park is called the Magic Island, an artificial island inside a lake linked by monorail, shopping mall, hotel, museum, sports facilities and movie theaters.
I purchased general admission tickets for PHP 1,464 (KRW 33,682.25) each through Klook. The physical tickets were collected from the office at the south gate. If you didn’t buy online, there is ticketing booth at each gate.
Operating hours:
- Sundays – Fridays 09:30 – 22:00
- Saturdays 09:30 – 23:00
- 365 days a year
22. Make your Nami Island moments
Set off early in the morning and head to Nami Island where you can stroll down the iconic tree-lined pathway. As there is no off season, expect a number of tourists. The island was named after General Nami who courageously fought in battles but died at the age of 26. With an area of 460,000 square meters, it can be overwhelming. There is a hotel in the island if you wish to spend more time.
Located 63 km from Seoul, we reached Nami Island via train and ferry.
Ticket price: KRW 13,000 (PHP 567)
As it was winter and we couldn’t stand the cold, we missed the Gapyeong Rail Bike, Petit France, and Garden of the Morning Calm. If you happen to visit during the warmer season, you should check them out.
23. Learn to ski
As a family of seven, it was convenient to hire a van, which they call it limousine, to go to Pyeongchang. We spent a couple of nights there. It’s good to experience getting out of the city.
The hotel offers free scheduled shuttle service to nearby ski resorts. I would have preferred an accommodation within the ski resort. Unfortunately, they were fully booked. This is me recommending to arrange your booking very early, like not later than three months in advance.
Specifically requested by my daughter, Alpensia Ski Resort is home to Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics. If you plan to learn to ski, it is a good choice for beginners. Service instructors are available with corresponding fee.
24. Get a Korean haircut
As Koreans wear unique hairstyles, it’s undeniably a great idea to have a Korean haircut where else but in Seoul. Be sure to have enough room for creativity so it’ll be worth your money. I can’t show you the after-haircut-photo because my daughter was too shy to have a trendy hairstyle.
Indeed, there’s so much to see and do in this vibrant city. Safe travels!
With ❤️,
Sugar
