Visiting Seoul? Don’t Miss Out on These Attractions - Wimdu base64Hash Visiting Seoul? Don’t Miss Out on These Attractions - Wimdu

Visiting Seoul? Don’t Miss Out on These Attractions

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South Korea’s hectic capital, The Seoul Special City (to give its official name), is a buzzing metropolis with a thrilling 24 hour culture and a fascinating history. Seoul possesses a chaotic charm. It comes from the feeling of being in the past, present and future all at once. Visitors will marvel at the sheer size of the world’s 4th largest city (by population). Seoul is packed with everything from traditional temples to modern art galleries and weird yet wonderful theatre attractions. Rounding up a megacity of 10 million people in one article is no easy feat. Here is our selection of the things not to miss when you come to stay in Seoul.

Things to do in Seoul – War Memorial of Korea

The War Memorial of Korea is actually a large museum dedicated to the country’s military history. It is located on the former site of the Korean Infantry Headquarters. The Museum is comprised of 8 different exhibits. They focus on different aspects of the country’s war history, military complex and troops. The most important part is the Hogukchumo Exhibit, which honours the spirit of those who have perished on the battlefield. The Memorial is open from 09:00 until 18:00 and closed every Monday. Entry is free and audio guides are available in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.

Things to do in Seoul – Visit a Market – Day or Night!

Like many Asian cities, Seoul is packed with outdoor and indoor markets, many of which never seem to close. Exploring a few of these fascinating microcosms is a great way to spend a day in the city. Namdaemun is Seoul’s best known market and the place to go for souvenirs. This is the tip of the iceberg. Noryangjin, Garak and Majang Markets are the best for fresh food. During the night thousands of restaurant owners descend on these to haggle over supplies. One of the best features is that you can buy a piece of meat, fish or tofu from a market stall and take it over to a restaurant, where they will cook it right in front of you. Dongdaemun night market is the best place for clothes and Korean fashion. For a local perspective Yongsan or Geumcheongyo Markets are centrally located and less frequented by tourists.

Noryangjin Fish Market

A fantastic array of weird and wonderful seafood products on sale at Noryangjin Fish Market. Photo: Seoul Korea via FlickrCC

Things to do in Seoul – Eat like a local!

South Korea takes great pride in its cuisine. No visit to the country would be complete without sampling some of the massive variety of exotic dishes on offer. You can sample the cuisine at restaurants, kiosks and markets all over Seoul. Small, friendly restaurants serving traditional ‘set menu’ meals are dotted all over the city and serve cheap, authentic food. The meals usually consist of a tasty fried pancake starter. This is followed by a curry main course and a couple of interesting ‘Banchan’ side dishes. Korean food is best consumed alongside a Makgeolli – a sweet, alcoholic drink made from fermented rice or wheat.

Things to do in Seoul – NANTA Theatre

Nanta is a lively show that was conceived in 1997 and has proved incredibly popular with locals and tourists alike. Popularity has grown so much so that Seoul now has three separate theatres dedicated to the performance. The show has a simple backstory involving three cooks trying to prepare the food for a wedding, with an incompetent supervisor slowing them down. Nanta combines traditional Korean Samul Nori music with comedy, acrobatics, magic and a bit of audience participation. There is very little speaking in the performance, and what there is is usually done in English. The most famous Nanta Theatre is located in Myeong-dong, with 2 shows at 17:00 and 20:00 every evening. There is an additional afternoon show on Saturdays.

Things to do in Seoul – The World’s Largest Indoor Theme Park

Every city needs its entry in the Guinness Book of World Records. Seoul’s is found at the Lotte World Complex. It is a complex including an indoor theme park, an outdoor theme park, shopping centre, sports facilities and more. Seasoned thrill seekers might not find the parks rollercoasters worth taking the time for. Nevertheless, Lotte World can make an excellent day out for the family. Lotte World is open 365 days a year.

Things to do in Seoul – Bukchon Hanok Village

A Hanok is a single story house, made from clay, wood and stone and topped with a curved tile roof. As recently as the 1980s, there were almost a million of these traditional homes all over the city. Seoul’s development throughout the late 20th Century led to most of these beautiful buildings being bulldozed to build skyscrapers. Bukchon Village is the only significant cluster of them remaining. The village is right next to the trendy Samcheong-dong district. A stroll around here can easily be combined with a visit to an art gallery, wine bar or restaurant.

Bukchon Hanok Village

Beautiful traditional architecture on display at one of Seoul’s last remaining Hanok villages. Photo: Seoul Korea via FlickrCC

Things to do in Seoul – Gyeongbokgung Palace

South Korea is packed with so many ancient Palaces and Temples that it’s easy to get architecture overload in Seoul. While many of them are pretty incredible to behold, beautiful buildings are not all the city has to offer. If you only visit one Palace during your stay, Gyeongbokgung is probably the best bet. The original site dates all the way back to the 13th Century. However, the Palace has been rebuilt many times in between. English tours are available, the Palace is closed every Tuesday.

Things to do in Seoul – Demilitarized Zone

South Korea’s rocky relations with its neighbour is well documented in the news these days. It is often seen as one of the most pressing global issues in modern times. Just an hour’s drive north from Seoul lies the Korean Demilitarized Zone. This is the land border between the two countries, which is the most heavily fortified in the world. Tours of the zone can easily be booked including travel to and from the capital.

Due to the strict controls in place these tours are the only way to visit most of the Demilitarized Zone. Don’t forget to bring a valid ID with you! Perhaps the highlight of the tour is Panmunjeon, or the Joint Security Area. This is a neutral ground where officials from both of the Koreas meet for diplomatic talks. Recently, birdwatchers have also flocked to zone as the lack of human presence on the 4km strip seems to have provided a great wildlife habitat.

Things to do in Seoul – Jongmyo Shrine

The Jongmyo Shrine is the oldest and best preserved Confucian Royal Shrine in the whole of Asia. The current building dates back to the 16th Century because the original, built in 1392, burnt down. The shrine was used for hundreds of years for the King and other members of the Royal Family. They used it for rituals wishing for the safety and security of the country and its people. Today just 0.2% of South Koreans identify their religion as Confucianism. While Buddhism and Christianity are the country’s main religions, the Confucian philosophy still plays an important part in their culture. Visiting the shrine is an excellent way to increase your understanding of South Korea’s history and national identity.

Things to do in Seoul – Seodaemun Prison

Korea was ruled as a colony by the Japanese from 1910 until 1945. The Seodaemun Prison stands as a testament to the brutality of this rule. The prison features lifelike exhibitions of the torture and interrogation which prisoners were subjected to. Most of the place has been left much as it was when the prison was open.

Seodaemun History Hall

The History Hall at the former Japanese run prison in Seaodaemun. Photo: Dom Brassey via FlickrCC

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