About This Site: Curating up-to-date official travel information, including popular attractions and a travel hotline for visitors to Seoul, Korea.

Planning a trip to Seoul, Korea?

We see, hear, and taste. We also smell and feel.
These stimuli can bring about changes in mood, thoughts, and actions. Sometimes they trigger creativity and problem-solving ability, and at other times, they refresh the mind and spirit. That’s why we actively seek to escape from the routine of daily life, akin to embarking on a journey.

Come visit Seoul. It is a place filled with countless Eastern and modern cultural stimuli.

In January 2024, the prestigious British daily, The Times, introduced Seoul and Busan in Korea as the ‘Tourist Destinations of the Year.’ The article highlighted that “Seoul and Busan are safe, with affordable and delicious food, coexisting past and present. Seoul’s subway fares are cheap and clean, and the orderly lines formed by passengers before the train arrives are impressive. There is no street crime or harassment, making it very safe for women to travel alone.” You can read the full article here.

Features of Seoul as a Tourist Attraction

Despite being a bustling metropolis adorned with towering skyscrapers, Seoul is full of natural and ecological travel destinations such as forests, rivers, and mountains.
Seoul’s cultural heritage, including that of the Chosun Dynasty, is well-preserved throughout the city, offering a glimpse into Korea’s rich history. The unique beauty of Korea, with its cultural charm, promises to inspire.
Modern Seoul boasts first-class shopping facilities, a variety of artistic spaces, and a plethora of cultural events. It’s no wonder K-POP originated here.
The public transportation system operates with cleanliness, organization, and friendliness, making it remarkably impressive.
It is one of the safest places in the world. Even if you were to leave your credit card in a McDonald’s, no one would take advantage of it. You can also feel secure returning home in the dark. That’s Seoul, Korea.

Seoul’s Past and Present

From the early 15th century, during the height of the Hundred Years’ War between France and England, and approximately 600 years ago, Seoul became the capital of this country. About a century later, Columbus discovered the New World.
With a history spanning over 5,000 years, Korea has developed a unique East Asian culture by integrating the influences of both continental and maritime powers. Seoul, as the capital for over 600 years, has preserved the essence of Korean culture on this land and is diligently safeguarding its unparalleled cultural heritage. It continues to foster future cultural creations, making a distinctive contribution to the world.

The map below depicts present-day Seoul. The elongated red circle in the center represents the old city wall, known as the “Doseong,” which used to encircle ancient Seoul. The Doseong had four major gates, indicated on the map by red dots: Heunginjimun (East Gate, also known as Dongdaemun), Donuimun (West Gate, also known as Seodaemun), Sungnyemun (South Gate, also known as Namdaemun), and Sukjeongmun (North Gate, also known as Bukdaemun). The transparent green circle points to Namsan (meaning: a mountain in the south), and due to the elevation of this mountain, Namdaemun is positioned slightly to the west. The central blue dot marks Gyeongbokgung Palace, where the king carried out his official duties.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Sungnyemun, Namsan, and Heunginjimun are among the most visited landmarks by foreign tourists in Seoul. The W-shaped river intersecting present-day Seoul on the map is the Han River. Both the Han River and the southern area of Gangnam offer numerous spots to experience Seoul, the capital of an advanced nation. Popular locations among young international travelers, as evidenced by the top five search terms on Google for Korea, include Starfield COEX, Gangnam Station, and others.

Handpicked Places for Visitors to Seoul

Following in the footsteps of tourists traveling in Seoul, we have selected about 40 places.
Many of these places are located inside the Hanyang-Doseong, marked by the red line on the map above. This is true even if they are modern buildings or institutions. Therefore, I will list them by separating those located inside the Hanyang-Doseong and those outside. (Hanyang is the old name of Seoul.)

Within the Hanyang-Doseong

We’ve marked the places we selected on a map that highlights the Hanyang-Doseong area, as shown below. Most of these places are accessible by subway, and you can visit several of them in one trip.

1.Gyeongbokgung Palace 2.Seochon Hanok Village 3.Sejong Village Food Street 4.Suseong-dong Valley 5.Inwangsan Mountain 6.Gyeonghuigung Palace 7.Seoul Museum of History 8.Deoksugung Palace 9.Seoul Museum of Art 10.National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art 11.Jogyesa Temple 12.Cheonggyecheon Stream 13.Samcheong-dong Cafe Street 14.Bukchon Hanok Village 15.Insadong 16.Unhyeongung Palace 17.Changdeokgung Palace 18.Changgyeonggung Palace 19.Jongmyo Shrine 20.Ikseon-dong 21.Gwangjang Market 22.Daehak-ro 23.Naksan Park 24.Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) 25.Myeong-dong Street 26.Namsangol Hanok Village 27.Namsan N Seoul Tower 28.Hanyang-Doseong Trail

Outside the Hanyang-Doseong

Places outside the Hanyang-Doseong are as follows.

1.Baeksasil Valley 2.Buam-dong Food Street 3.Hongdae Street 4.Mangwon Market 5.Mapo Sky Park 6.Mapo Sunset Park 7.War Memorial of Korea 8.Itaewon 9.Sebitseom (Floating Islands) 10.Banpo Hangang Park 11.Seorae Village Cafe Street 12.Gangnam Station Area 13.Seongsu-dong Cafe Street 14.Bongeunsa Temple 15.Starfield COEX Mall 16.Lotte World Adventure 17.Lotte World Tower