A lot of people have been completely puzzled as to why I keep visiting Korea year after year – surely there are many other countries I would much prefer exploring!
While I’ve certainly not visited all the cities in Korea, I still do enjoy spending time in Seoul. The food scene, for instance, is vibrant and exciting. And Korean food here is certainly much cheaper and more delicious that whatever I’ve had elsewhere!
That being said, if you’re not planning to eat your way through your entire vacation (but honestly, do consider it), Seoul may seem pretty boring. Other than shopping and K-pop, what else is there to do in this city?
If you’ve wondered about that or are struggling to put together a well-rounded Seoul itinerary, don’t worry! I’ve compiled some of the best things you can do in Seoul – there’s something for everyone!
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Stroll in forests & nature parks
Many travel bloggers recommend checking out the hip Seongsu-dong for its cafés and cute little shops, but the most important thing to do here is take a walk through Seoul Forest!!
Seoul Forest is immensely popular with the locals for its cherry blossoms in Spring and Ginkgo Tree Forest in Autumn.
Yeouido Hangang Park is another popular spot in Seoul for those who want a breather from city life! You can also pick from the other parks along the Han River for an equally picturesque experience.
Go hiking on the mountains
I know of a friend who made it a goal to climb as many mountains as he could during his summer school stint in Seoul.
While I’m not so much of a fanatic (and I suspect most people aren’t!), it’s still a lovely experience to take a day (or half) out of the urban area. There are a few mountains in and near Seoul that you can try out, with varying levels of difficulty.
Most tourists will try Bukhansan as it’s a pretty iconic mountain near Seoul. I found it fairly difficult because we got lost and took a bad trail, but do your research beforehand and you should be fine!
Visit museums & art galleries
Museums and art galleries are some of the best places in a city you should visit. I’m not saying this only because a lot of them provide free entry, and that a lot of them are well-sheltered (a reprieve in sweltering summers and harsh winters!).
Seoul has quite a few museums for you to check out, with my personal favourites being National Museum of Korea and Seoul Museum of Art (SEMA).
There are also quite a few paid museums and art galleries around the city, but I find them generally rather pricey. Museum Kimchikan is an exception: they do have quite interesting exhibits at a fairly reasonable price!
Explore historical palaces
It’s difficult to say you’ve been to Korea if you haven’t visited any of their palaces before. Seoul is a good place to tick that off your checklist as it’s home to a few famous and large historical palaces. This includes Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeokgung Palace.
Pro tip: While you’re at it, remember to rent and don a hanbok for free entry!
Have fun at the amusement park
Korea has no lack of amusement & theme parks, and you have one easily accessible in Seoul itself!
Lotte World Adventure is the largest indoor amusement park in the world and is frequently used as a filming site for dramas and movies.
I would definitely recommend making time to go to Lotte World for at least half a day (if you’re not very keen on taking rides). Besides the amusement park, it also houses a folk museum, a lake, accommodations, department stores and more.
You could also go a little further outside of Seoul to Everland, which is much bigger and very family-friendly.
Watch busking performances in public spaces
You might have heard by now that Hongdae is the place to go if you’re young and hip.
If you are visiting in summer, you’re in luck. When I was there during the summer, there were lots of performances going on along the whole street. It can get a little noisy, but usually the performers keep a good distance away from one another so that they don’t disturb one another.
However, do note that you won’t find many busking performances in winter!
Have fun at the arcades
I’m not sure if it’s a K-drama trope but claw machines and game arcades are surprisingly very common in Seoul, especially in youth-dominated neighbourhoods like Hongdae and Ewha Women’s Street.
It’s quite a fun experience, especially considering that you get to play with your travel companions at a fraction of the price that you’d pay for admission to an amusement park!
Learn how to make Korean cuisine
I really don’t enjoy cooking, but I do find it exciting to search for food-related workshops in the countries I’m travelling to!
I’ve yet to try a cooking or food workshop in Seoul itself, but I have tried the Tangerine Meringue Pie workshop in Jeju and really enjoyed myself!
You can find some of these Seoul food & cooking workshops on Klook and Airbnb. I personally think this Korean kimchi making workshop is quite interesting, especially if you get to bring it home!
Join unique craft workshops
Back in 2019 I attended a tea & book reading workshop by ALTDIF in Seoul, which was one of the main highlights of my trip.
Unfortunately I don’t think they offer this workshop anymore, but Airbnb and Klook still have a variety of other workshops you can attend! This includes perfume making and silver-stamping, which are great ways to spend your time in Seoul AND create your own unique souvenirs.
Musical & theatrical performances
Seoul is chockfull of high-quality theatre shows and musicals, especially their local productions!
One of the most famous ones you’ll definitely have to check out is Nanta, a non-verbal show that combines acrobatics, magic tricks, comedy, pantomime and audience participation.
If you’re keen on catching a show, you can check out this website for a list of upcoming performances in Seoul and buy tickets in advance!
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