How to enjoy Seoul

Overview

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Best thing is to see what kind of traditions and life style we have. Since we have over 5000 years history, surely there are so many interesting traditions as well as food. If you are staying for a few days, then visit one of the beautiful palaces in the city center, which is Kyungbok-kung(palace) and Duksu-Kung. And try to stroll around Insa-dong area where you can find many antique shops, traditional Korean food restaurants, souverier shops, tea houses, Hanbok (Korean traditional costume) boutiques and a lot more. This street is no-car street in Sundays and there are many small festivals over the weekend. For the nightlife and fusion foods, visit Chungdam-dong and Apkujong-don...Read More

Best thing is to see what kind of traditions and life style we have. Since we have over 5000 years history, surely there are so many interesting traditions as well as food.

If you are staying for a few days, then visit one of the beautiful palaces in the city center, which is Kyungbok-kung(palace) and Duksu-Kung. And try to stroll around Insa-dong area where you can find many antique shops, traditional Korean food restaurants, souverier shops, tea houses, Hanbok (Korean traditional costume) boutiques and a lot more. This street is no-car street in Sundays and there are many small festivals over the weekend.

For the nightlife and fusion foods, visit Chungdam-dong and Apkujong-dong, so called 'Beverly Hills of Korea'. Lots of trendy bars and restaurants are in these areas.

For cheap shopping, visit Dongdaemun market. It is the shopping mecca of the Asia and you will shop almost 24 hours and quality and design of the clothes are very good.

Quick Tips:

If you have some time to explore other than Seoul in Korea, then I strongly recommend you go to one of the mountains in Korea. Mountains occupy more than 70% of our land and there are so many beautiful mountains. My favorite one is Solak-san(mountain) in Kangwon-do on the east coast of Korea. If you want nice relaxing holiday destinations, then go to Cheju Island, it is called the Hawaii of Korea. I have visited several times already but I never get tired of going there. It has fantastic beaches, highest mountain in South Korea in the middle, folk villages, camping grounds, many waterfalls and beautiful landscapes.

Best Way To Get Around:

Within Seoul, Subway is the best way of getting around without being caught in a traffic jam. And also the cheapest way.

Number 1 foreign visitor`s complaint is always about the taxi drivers. It is mainly because they cannot communicate with them. However some of the taxies have started to use the translation service recently, so if you want to be sure, you can find the taxi with `Foreign Language Service` sticker or the normal one.

However, don`t be surprised even if the taxi driver accepts another passenger after you sit in the back. It is still normal in Korea to share a taxi with the people having similar destinations. If you don`t like it then, find the black taxi with the yellow cab on. It is more expensive but it doesn't do cab sharings. Read Less

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Sokparang

Restaurant

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If you are in Korea, I would like to recommend you have Bulgogi (Marinated beef), Bibimbab (steamed rice mixed with many vegitables) and Kimchi (This is the favorite side dish of Korea. It has so much variety but it`s all nice if you can bear some hot food generally - there is white Kimchi as well which is not hot at all) At Sokparang, it is all the set course menu starting from 28,000 won to 65,000. All food is traditional court food. I am sure that you can try many famous dishes of Korea. But I don`t think that you can taste Bibimbab in the course meal. You can try that at some other places. If you are flying with Korean Air, then try Bibimbab for the meal. It is very excellent...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on July 18, 2000

Sokparang
125 Hongji-dong, Chongro-Ku
Seoul, South Korea
395-2500

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Street Vendors

Restaurant

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Local Vendor snacks are excellent! You should try at least one or two. Most famous one is for Ddukbokggi which is the rice cake boiled in chilly paste and powder. Sounds hot, huh? Menu is varied from Boiled Seafood cake with hot soup ('0deng'), Sizzled chicken sticks, roasted cuttle fish, baked bun in Goldfish shape ('Pulbbang.'), Fried Sweet Potato sticks, Rolled rice (Kimbab), Hot bread with sweet syrup inside ('Hodduk'), Sugar Candy (Popkki), Egg bread and so on. You can see that how many kind of snacks are selling in the street. Visit one of crowded streets for young people such as Chongro-2-ga, Daehakro and Kangnamyuk, then you will see many of them. I will try to take photos ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 29, 2000

Street Vendors

Seoul, South Korea

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Lotte World

Attraction

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If you are with Kids, try to visit Lotte World. It has a amusement park and it is regarded as the best one in Seoul. It has famous Vikings, roller coasters, and many many others. Also it as many reataurants where you can eat.

It also has a little museum where you can have a look of old Korean way of life. It has a wonderful miniatures of Korean traditional buildings and palaces, too.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on July 18, 2000

Lotte World
40-1 Jamsil-dong Songpa-ku
Seoul, South Korea 138-721
82 (0)2 411 2000

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Dongdaemun Market

Attraction | "Dongdaemun & Namdaemun Market"

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Seoul is known as the Shopping Mecca in the Asian Countries. Dongdaemun is especially famous for its specialty for apparel. It nearly opens 24 hours and buyers are coming from near countries such as Japan, China, Hong Kong and Russia. It is cheap in price and very good in quality. I often shop there and most famous shopping mall is Milliore and Doota in Dongdaemun. Kwanghee market is specialized in leather clothes. Try to shop there while you are in Seoul. You will be more than satisfied. In many shops you can pay with your credit cards, however, still cash is most welcome in here. Try to bargain when you buy, but bargain isn't deep here. Nameaemun is also another huge local market in Seoul...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 23, 2000

Dongdaemun Market
Jongno 5-ga
Seoul, South Korea 110-125
+82 (0)2 814 9894 (K

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Tips

Story/Tip

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1) Don`t be mad when people touch you and never say `I am sorry.` You know if you are living in a crowded city like Seoul, it is hardly impossible to be somewhere without bumping into someone. But in that case, we Koreans usually don`t say `I am sorry.` since it`s happening all the time. But I know that foreigners think that Koreans are rude because of that. So, please understand this if you are facing it. *^ ^*
2) I think you would be better to know some basic Koreans.
Hello! = `An-nyung-ha-se-yo! or An-nyung.`
Thank you! = `Gam-sa-hab-ni-da.`
How much? = `Earl-ma-ye-yoh?`
Where is...? = `.... o-di-ye-yo?`
Subway = `Jun-Cheol`

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Seoul City Tour Bus

Story/Tip

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Recently, Seoul Metropolitan Government started to operate a Seoul City Tour Bus. It covers major touristic attractions. So, if you are here in Seoul for a short visit, try to hop in this bus line. You can buy the tickets in Hotels, DFS, and even inside the bus. Fee is varied depends on the purpose and the ticket. And you can get the bus every 25 minutes. Introdutions are played in 4 languages, Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese) Fees One time ticket Adult : 1,200 won (About 1US$) Student : 1,000 won Children : 800 won Day Course Ticket (Runs from 8:00a.m. to 18:00 p.m.) 5,000 won for all ages Night Course Ticke...Read More

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Seoul Journals

How to enjoy Seoul