Top markets in Seoul — 7 best street food markets & best markets in Seoul

South Korea is a tourist destination that harmoniously combines modern beauty, the development of large buildings, and commercial centers, and the unique culture and history of ancient architectural areas, and villages built in the past hundred years. The most interesting thing is the street food of famous nightlife areas in Seoul, which is simple, bustling, and attractive. So, where to go shopping as well as trying best street food in Seoul? Let’s check out our suggested top markets in Seoul with the list of 7 Seoul best markets (best food markets in Seoul, best markets in Seoul) including best street food market in Seoul to find out the answer!

If you are keen to discover the cuisine of the kimchi country in the greatest way, let’s check out these markets on where to buy the best things for your exciting trip to Seoul.

Namdaemun Market (#best markets in seoul)

Location: 21 Namdaemunsijang 4-Gil, Jung-Gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Phone: +82 2-753-2805

Being famous for products such as branded clothes, cosmetics, electronics, ginseng, fungi (Ganoderma), handicrafts, and shopping in Korea, visitors do not just think about shopping malls and supermarkets, especially traditional markets. Namdaemun is the largest and oldest traditional Korean market in Seoul, founded in the early 1400s, you can shop for products at affordable prices, as well as fresh, local fruits and vegetables.

The best thing about this market is that most sellers offer wholesale prices. Therefore, you will find all styles of clothing and food at affordable prices. Furthermore, many food vendors in Namdaemun offer the chance to try a variety of local snacks while you shop.

The opening hours are all day and night with thousands of shops and crowded patrons. You can experience the purchasing atmosphere and find the items you need at any time with nearly 1,700 different items for your free selection.

Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market (#best markets in seoul)

Location: 674, Nodeul-Ro, Dongjak-Gu, South Korea
Opening hours: 24/24
Phone: +82 2-2254-8000

Apart from grilled meat, the famous cheesy chicken, seafood is one of the delicious delicacies in South Korea that you must try. Noryangjin is the largest fisheries market in South Korea, which has a business history of over 80 years. The market has an area of about 66,115 m2, including an auction area, a parking lot with a capacity of 1,200 units, frozen storage, an ice factory, a wastewater treatment facility, and more. Although it is a market, Noryangjin is extremely clean and tidy.

Visitors will find a lot of fresh fisheries here, from fish, clams, and snails, to oysters, octopus, etc., even Alaskan crabs, and king crabs. The stores are large enough for wholesale as well as for restaurants. This market is open almost 24/24. However, for your full enjoyment, we recommend visiting early in the morning when the market officially begins. There are about 800 small traders and vendors doing business here.

At this market, visitors can buy and enjoy delicious fisheries in restaurants. It is why Noryangjin attracts so many locals and tourists.

Dongdaemun Market (#best food markets in seoul)

Location: 272 Jong-Ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 8:00 am – 2:00 am
Phone: +82 2-2262-0114

Dongdaemun is the largest shopping area in Korea and 26 retail shopping malls, 30,000 specialty stores, and 50,000 manufacturers. It consists of many galleries, parks, plazas, and fashion markets, known as an attractive place for international guests and will be your occupation. Tourists visiting Dongdaemun will take at least one to two hours, but if you want to review and experience the many delights of this place, it can take up to a day.

A tip for visitors who are eager to explore world-class Korean fashion, and experience the vibrant and bustling atmosphere, please attend Seoul Fashion Week which takes place every March and October. In addition, you can also participate in many other important events at this Dongdaemun Design Plaza. This place attracts a huge number of tourists and cannot miss when you come to Seoul.

Hongdae Free Market (#best food markets in seoul)

Location: 19-3 Wausan-Ro 21-Gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Phone: +82 2-325-8553

Every Saturday from March to November, at Hongik Children’s Park in front of the main gate of Hongik University, visitors will discover exhibitions and sales of crafts, indie music/performance, art workshops, street portraits, and caricatures. The stalls in Wenchuang allow writers to showcase their works at close range while hosting independent musical performances or opening a flea market.

The best thing about the Hongdae Free market is the relaxed atmosphere that allows visitors to access local vendors and performers and learn their stories and the background of their products. If you have ever watched the Korean drama “Marry Outing”, you will have an impression of this attraction. Visitors will have a great experience if they have the opportunity to visit Seoul on that Saturday.

Yangjae Flower Market (#top markets in seoul)

Location: Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Phone: +82 2-579-9644

Be in front of the city road connecting to the boulevard you will encounter a strip of greenhouses with gray pointed roofs mixed with green as the largest flower market in South Korea. The Yangjae Flower Market is one of the hidden attractions in the city few people know about, is very tidy up. The market first opened in 1991 and started selling cut flowers. Potted plants and flowers are available in two greenhouses, and flower baskets or other ornamental flowers are sold in underground buildings.

Visitors can see a strong preference for bright flowers such as tulips, etc. The market is also sold gardening-related items and vases in the south. Otherwise, the west building specializes in selling flowers on the first floor, planters and artificial flowers on the second floor, gardening tools, and garden decoration statues from nude Greek goddess statues to giraffe statues are in the northwest corner of the market. The surrounding area is quiet and the air is fresh and cool.

It is a candy shop for a flower lover, but if you do not have a lot of hobbies and interests, this is also a beautiful space to admire.

Gwangjang Market (#seoul best markets)

Location: 88, Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 8:30 am – 11:00 pm (hours vary by shop)
Phone: +82 2-2267-0291

It would be a pity if visitors missed the Gwangjang market during the trip to Seoul. This is the first permanent market in Korea, dating back to 1905. An initial offer is only agricultural, seafood, and fisheries products, then it is more known for its extensive selection of local delicates, silk, satin, and bed sheets.

An attraction to both locals and tourists is found as the market is possibly the best place for foodies to try all sorts of Korean street food. The ground floor has food stalls and restaurants, where you can enjoy authentic traditional Korean dishes from savory dishes to desserts while shopping at Gwangjang Market. Many food stalls in the market sell mainly Bindaetteok (mung bean cake), bibimbap, gimbap, sundae, Tokbokki, and noodles. The savory cuisine of Gwangjang and the bustling atmosphere of all the restaurants will help you have an unforgettable experience.

There are also some tailor shops on the first floor where you can buy handmade hanbok (Korean folk clothing) at reasonable prices. Over 5,000 stores dominate the market with affordable prices and high-quality products even though they are unbranded, Gwangjang Market is already a must-visit in Seoul.

Tongin Market (#best street food market in seoul)

Location: 18 Jahamun-Ro 15-Gil, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 7:00 am – 9:00 pm (hours vary by shop)
Phone: +82 2-722-0911

Tongin, a market famous for its lunch boxes and the most delicious, nutritious, and cheap coffee shops; is a place that can also be said to be quite old. Built on the west side of Gyeongbokgung Palace in the 1941s, it was reserved for the Japanese who lived near the Hyoja-dong area when the Japanese invaded South Korea. Slowly, the population explosion combined with the increase in products and shopping demands has accelerated the development of Tongin. Up to now, the market has had about 75 large and small shops.

Although the products are various, the items on sale are mainly unique street dishes, of which the most is probably the famous Tteokbokki. The most interesting thing for visitors is that the Tongin market is using old Korean coins. To buy and sell and facilitate exchange, anyone must transact with coins. Those who do not have one can exchange it from won for coins, the location of the money exchange area is also very easy to see, either right at the entrance to the market or in the middle on the second floor. To encourage money exchange, you can also get money.

Comes with a plastic tray for easy selection of multiple dishes at the same time. The use of coins not only serves the purpose of traditional shopping but also partly refreshes the experience of visitors when you are in Tongin.

Today, Seoul is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia and Korean cuisine is also famous for street food. With the famous nightlife streets in Seoul mentioned above, hope you have had more ideal stops for your trip. Enjoy that wonderful moment with your family, relatives, or friends.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Seoul you can refer to

• Private Incheon International Airport Transfers (ICN) for Seoul
• Private Incheon Airport Transfers (ICN) for Seoul
• Incheon International Airport (ICN) Limousine Bus Transfers for Seoul (Gangnam District)
• Klook Exclusive Seoul 5 Day Pass
• Discover Seoul Pass (BTS Edition Available)
• [SALE] Instant Ticket! Korea Rail Pass (KR PASS) 2/3/4/5 Days to travel around the cities in Korea
• Private Incheon Airport (ICN) and Gimpo Airport (GMP) Transfers for Seoul by S.A Tour
• Everland Private Car Charter with Admission Ticket by Wondertrip
• KAL Limousine Bus Ticket for Seoul
• [Limited Offer] AREX Incheon Airport Express Train One Way Ticket in Seoul
• Bukchon Oneday Hanbok Rental Experience (4/24 Hrs)
• Nami Island, Petite France, Garden of Morning Calm, and Gangchon Rail Bike Day Tour from Seoul
• Seoul City Sightseeing Bus (Downtown Palace Namsan Course/Seoul Panorama Course)
• [Limited Offer] Incheon International Airport (ICN) Luggage Services (Between Airport and Hotel) by Safex
• 4G Prepaid SIM Card (SK Airports Pick Up) for South Korea
• [Sale] Hanbok Experience (Hanboknam Gyeongbokgung Store) with Korean Hairstyling
• [SALE] South Korea 4G Pocket WiFi (KR Airports Pick Up) from KT Olleh
• 4G WiFi (MY Airport Pick Up) for South Korea (Unlimited Data)
• 4G Portable WiFi for South Korea from Uroaming (Unlimited Data)

Are you finding more top things to do in Seoul: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.