If the usual bucket list travel destinations seem uninspiring, Seoul provides a refreshing reset. At once ancient and hyper-modern, it’s a place for restoring body and mind.
Where to Start
This city of roughly 9.6 million people can seem overwhelming. Get to know its roots with a visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, originally built in 1395. The expansive grounds include the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum. Visitors dressed in traditional hanbok attire, available for rent from nearby shops, receive free admission. Or purchase the Discover Seoul Pass to gain access to this and other sights citywide.
Destress With a Spa Day
Seoul’s beauty and wellness culture attracts spa travelers from around the world. Myeong-dong and Gangnam are home to many of the most popular clinics, offering multi-step facials, scalp therapies, injectables and other services. After your session, maintain the glow by shopping at K-beauty icons, including Olive Young, Laneige, and Innisfree.
Savor the Food Scene
From push carts to Michelin-recognized bistros, get to know the city through its cuisine. A night market food tour (bookable through Viator or Klook) is the perfect primer. At Gwangjang Market, sample kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), tteok-bokki (spicy, cylindrical rice cakes), and yukhoe (marinated raw beef). Pair these with a traditional rice wine or with soju, Korea’s signature spirit.
Devote a full day to your tastebuds by heading to Ikseon-dong Hanok Street in Jongno District. Snag a pair of freshly baked, buttery loaves from Jayeondo Salt Bread, then walk around the corner to Seoul Café for a caffeinated beverage. Spend the morning exploring alleys lined with shops in traditional hanok houses. Some of the best Japanese food outside of Japan is found in Korea, so for lunch, search out Hoho Sikdang, a Japanese comfort food spot known for salmon sashimi, steam baskets filled with beef and vegetables, and omurice, a silky omelet wrapped around fried rice. Cap the day with a classic Korean barbecue dinner at one of the many outdoor grilling tables clustered near Jongno-3 subway station.
Experiencing one of the city’s acclaimed fine-dining restaurants such as Mingles, Jungsik, Born and Bred, and A Flower Blossom on the Rice is a worthy splurge requiring reservations weeks—sometimes months—in advance through the CatchTable app.
Tea and Coffee Culture
You’ll often find a pitcher of barley tea (boricha) on the table in place of water at traditional restaurants. Attend a Korean tea ceremony at a traditional tea house and taste the delicate oolong and green teas blended with fruits, flowers and leaves. Or enjoy a pot at a modern tea cafe like Osulloc or Delphic, where throngs of Korean young people enjoy fine teas and the minimalistic vibe.
Coffee culture has exploded here in recent years, with multiple cafes on every street in popular areas. Extravagant dalgona (whipped) coffee and lattes topped with donuts (or even corn!) share the menu with traditional matcha and espresso drinks. (Note: Coffee here is considered an afternoon and evening ritual, so for an early morning java, confirm café hours in advance.)
Retail Therapy
From mega-malls to galleries and street markets, Seoul is a shopping mecca. Korean ceramics, fabric art, and hangi (traditional paper) make distinctive souvenirs. Phone bling and K-pop merchandise crowd the shelves in stalls and shops throughout Myeong-dong and other shopping areas. Attached to the Fairmont Hotel, the sleek Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido-dong houses floor after floor of designer brands. Spend a day at Lotte World Tower & Mall, a mammoth complex featuring eight floors of shopping, along with a hotel, restaurants, a movie theater, a concert hall, and an aquarium.
Further Afield
A side trip via high-speed rail to the city of Gyeong-ju will take you into the heart of the Silla Kingdom which unified the three ancient kingdoms of the Korean peninsula. Take in the serene temples, ancient burial mounds, Buddhist statuary and other archaeological wonders before returning to Seoul.
Saying Farewell
Wander near the Great Eastern Gate of Seoul City Wall in Dongdaemun District, heading east along Jong-ro thoroughfare, where the buzz of sightseers near the futuristic Design Plaza gives way to crowds of commuters heading to work—a perfect encapsulation of how this sprawling city blends its ancient, modern, and traditional elements into a seamless flow. End with a tour of Seoul by night: The I Love Seoul Tour whisks you to Gangnam’s Banpo Bridge Fountains, a multi-colored extravaganza over the Han River, followed by a hike along the Namsan section of the city wall for views of N Seoul Tower and the twinkling skyline of this unique and welcoming city.
If the usual bucket-list travel destinations seem uninspiring, Seoul provides a refreshing reset. At once ancient and hyper-modern, it’s a place for restoring body and mind.