Seoul’s sights
To get a good flavour of Seoul’s soul,
here are a few suggested highlights:
Bukchon Hanok Village
Spend a few hours wandering round
charming lanes of authentic old houses
in this picturesque, atmospheric area.
Palaces
Whilst the city is blessed with five
grand Confucian palaces, the
UNESCO-listed Changdeokgung
also boasts a serene secret garden.
Gyeongbokgung is also highly
recommended, where the hourly
changing of colourfully dressed
guards is an entertaining bonus.
National Folk Museum
This museum hosts frequent folk
performances and has hands-on
activities and games from Korean days
gone by in an outdoor setting.
DMZ (Demilitarised Zone)
History and military buffs will revel
in a day trip to the strip of land
separating South Korea from its
northern neighbour. Nearby is a
quirky art village to lift the mood.
“
Bang” culture
For a sense of modern culture, check
out a Jjimjilbang for bathing pools and
internet gaming or a Noraebang for
K-pop karaoke.
Gangnam style
Hip kids will head over the Han
River to soak up the atmosphere
Gangnam-style. Dance moves are
optional, but the south bank contains
the city’s contemporary attractions,
including the popular Lotte World
theme park and the vast Olympic
Park. It’s also got trendy boutiques,
the huge underground COEX Mall
and top restaurants.
Shop till you drop
With a myriad of malls and mega-
markets that never close, you really
can shop till you drop. Namdaemun
and Dongdaemun markets are Seoul
stalwarts, full of smells, sights and
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