What to do in Seoul? — 17+ top, must & best things to do in Seoul

Dubbed the tourist paradise and one of the most attractive tourist destinations of South Korea, the modern city but also very ancient Seoul welcomes millions of tourists every year. There are many old, new and exciting things waiting for you in this beautiful city. Let’s take a look at the top things to try when coming here with Living Nomads so that you won’t regret it. So, what to do in Seoul (Seoul things to do)? Let’s check out our suggested +17 top things to do in Seoul including best things to do in Seoul, must things to do in Seoul (must do in Seoul), cool things to do in Seoul, fun things to do in Seoul to help you planning a memorial trip to the capital of the land of kimchi as follows!

Best things to do in Seoul: Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace

Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 9AM–6PM/Tuesday: Closed

Top of our list of best things to do in seoul is to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace. Gyeongbokgung is also known as the Northern Palace. One thing is for sure, any foreign visitor coming to Seoul must visit this palace.

Gyeongbokgung Palace was historically the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. This entire massive structure is located on the northern land of Seoul city. This is one of the greatest and most magnificent buildings in Korea. It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the symbols of the city and the land of kimchi.

When coming here, visitors will be amazed at the talent of ancient architects and builders. Every detail of the building is kept almost intact to this day. What is more special, this palace has one pavilion built on a beautiful artificial island. Surrounding it is a clear blue lake. To get to it, we can go on one of the three stone bridges across the lake.

Read more: Royal palace Seoul — How to visit 5 grand palaces in Seoul?

What to do in Seoul: Try once wearing Korean traditional costumes

Of course, if we’ve come to Seoul, there’s no reason why don’t we try wear Korean traditional hanbok costume, right? Traditional Korean costumes are still preserved and are worn by the people to this day. To make a complete hanbok requires a lot of effort and meticulousness. Therefore, Koreans cherish, respect this type of costume very much.

Hanboks are sold and rented in most tourist spots in Seoul. You can choose to rent costumes to try out new experiences at a much lower price. However, if you like, you can absolutely buy a set as a souvenir or give it to your loved ones.

The texture of a hanbok would be much more complex than today’s modern clothing. Therefore, ask the salesperson to introduce and guide you on how to wear the dress. Once you’ve put on the amazing traditional costume, don’t forget to save this beautiful memory by taking stunning photos. You should choose places with highlights like Gyeongbokgung Palace, for example.

Shopping at Namdaemun Market

Address: 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 9AM–9PM/Sunday:11AM–8PM

One thing is for sure, you will discover many interesting things at Namdaemun Market. In Korea, the market is officially recognized as the country’s largest traditional market.

Currently, in the market there are more than 10,000 shops selling a variety of products. Small merchants gather here to buy and sell, exchange all kinds of daily necessities and local products. We may encounter napa cabbage, giant radishes, or strange local vegetables. All form a vivid picture of life and people here.

You will be immersed in the Korean atmosphere with the atmosphere of the market. Enjoy the excitement, bustling, vibrant and enthusiasm of the sales ladies and gentlemen. Choose for yourself delicious fresh vegetables or buy a tonic medicine such as ginseng and its related products to bring back to give to your loved ones. Moreover, do not forget to enjoy countless snacks sold around the market at extremely affordable prices.

Enjoy fresh seafood at Noryangjin Fish Market

Address: 674 Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, 서울특별시 South Korea
Hours: Open 24 hours

Favored by nature, Korea is a country with both mountains and sea. Therefore, the food source of this country also has an abundance of fresh seafood. One of the places you should go if you love the taste of the sea is Noryangjin Market.

In Seoul, the Noryangjin Fish Market is the city’s oldest and largest place. Currently, the market is the trading center of more than 700 suppliers, large and small. The products in the market are seafood caught during the day. The source of goods here is extremely diverse from fish, squid, abalone, octopus, crustaceans to mollusks.

Tourists can visit the market at any time of the day. However, to be able to fully experience the bustle, come here as soon as possible. In the early morning, the fishing boats come back from the far sea, heavy with seafood. Buyers and sellers eagerly participate in seafood auctions. After that, they busily shipped the goods to the retail stores.

One of the most difficult dishes to eat in Korea is raw octopus. Coming to Noryangjin, visitors have the opportunity to taste this dish with their own mouth. This is a dish for the brave because you have to put a whole live octopus in your mouth. When eating, its tentacles will still move and sometimes suck on your mouth. Those who know how to enjoy it say that this dish is extremely delicious because it retains the freshness and sweetness of the octopus meat. Are you brave enough to try?

Otherwise, you can eat more “safer” seafood at the market. Don’t forget to buy yourself the freshest fish or dried seafood to bring home. You can completely enjoy it on the spot at the restaurants. About the menu, there are various types of processing from sashimi, mixing salad seafood, steaming, soup, deep frying, grilling, etc. What could be better than tasting delicious pieces of fresh meat and seafood right at the place of sale?

Top things to do in Seoul: Go to N Seoul Tower

In the journey to discover beautiful and modern Seoul, you definitely cannot ignore this experience. N Seoul Tower is located in Yongsan-gu of the city. This is one of the most romantic places that everyone wants to visit, especially couples who want to give each other the best things.

N Seoul Tower is the place to see the beautiful skyline of the city by the romantic Hangang River. Currently, the government is conducting multimedia projects right at the tower. Coming here, you will be satisfied with the shimmering performance of natural and artificial light shows. Enjoy the romantic atmosphere at sunset and a warm dinner here.

Best things to do in Seoul: Visit Bukchon Hanok Village

Address: South Korea, Seoul, Jongno-gu, 계동길 37
Hours: Open 24 hours

One of the outstanding features of Korean tradition in general and of Seoul city in particular is the Hanok architecture. To have the opportunity to discover this unique architecture firsthand, do not miss Bukchon Hanok Village – a village of ancient houses.

Bukchon Hanok Village is located on the north side of Cheonggyecheon Stream, Jongno-gu. This is a place to preserve ancient architectural houses that dating back more than 600 years old. Besides, the Bukchon Traditional Culture Center also preserves the traditional cultural features of Korea. The ancient mossy grey roof tiles, the distinctive motifs and patterns are the best evidences for the prosperous Joseon dynasty. Coming here, in the fresh and peaceful atmosphere, you will feel completely relaxed. Definitely, visitors will have an great cultural experience when visiting Bukchon village.

Top things to do in Seoul: Visit Korea Furniture Museum

Address: 121 Daesagwan-ro, Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea

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