Seoul

The host city for the 1988 Summer Olympics, Seoul continues to host international events and will keep visitors busy with many shops, historic sites, parks and museums. The biggest underground shopping mall in all of Asia is Seoul’s COEX Mall. Times Square shopping mall has a Shinsegae Department Store, Marriott Hotel and a rooftop garden. Yongsan Electronics Shopping Mall is the place to go for bargain electronics. Tourists in Seoul will also want to view the many palaces, like Changdeokgung and Gyeonghuigung, and visit the parks, which include Seodaemun Independence Park and Yeouido Park. Seoul Land amusement park has many types of rides and attractions and is famous for its roller coasters.

Top 10 things to do in Seoul

1. Feast at a Korean BBQ restaurant. These are located pretty much everywhere and are generally cheap and delicious. You’ll also typically be served a large variety of kimchi and other small appetizer-like dishes, making it a great way to sample a little bit everything.

2. Shop at Namdaemun, the largest traditional outdoor market in Seoul. Nestled in the city’s center, this sprawling market also has great places to eat, a nice choice for evenings with good weather.

3. Visit Gyeongbok-gung and/or Changdeok-gung, Seoul’s finest palaces. The palace grounds at Gyeongbok-gung also houses the Korean Folk Museum, which is well worth a visit. Changdeok-gung’s most famous feature, on the other hand, is the “Secret Garden”. Both have been restored relatively recently (Gyeonbok-gung has been destroyed by the Japanese twice) but are nonetheless stunning.

4. Step back in time at Bukchon, a neighborhood in the center of Seoul that is exceptionally well preserved. One of the few places in Seoul where one can see many traditional “hanok” houses.

5. Drink soju at a hof, a Korean-style bar with its own particular flavour. Soju is a popular liquor that varies in flavor, and many Westerners find it unpalatable, but when in Rome, drink as the Romans do.

6. Check out some technology at the Yongsan Electronics Market, which is pretty overwhelming in the sheer number of devices on sale at cheap prices, often simply stacked in doorways and halls.

7. Take pictures at the World Comic Con Convention, held twice a month at the SETIC Convention Center. Even if you have no interest in Asian comics, you’re likely to get a kick out of the elaborate get-ups of the perky cosplayers.

8. Cook bulgogi at O’ngo Food Communications, perhaps the most well known of Seoul’s cooking schools. English-language classes are offered here at a reasonable price. This institute specializes in kimchi and bulgogi.

9. Learn how to make exquisite Korean pottery at the National Museum of Korea, which is worth a trip all on its own. Investigate ahead of time for class schedules and to make an appointment if necessary.

10. Spend an afternoon at Lotte World, Seoul’s largest indoor amusement park. Apart from the great rides and attractions, it also has a folk exhibit, offering you a chance to consider traditional Korean life.

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