Places to visit in Seoul

House of KPOP and KDrama, the land of Oppas or the cradle of LOL stars, South Korea is both amazing and unique. Continue reading to find out the best places to visit in Seoul in my second adventure in the country. Gaja! Ppalli Ppalli!!

Nami Island and Petite France

If you are a fan of K-Drama, then Nami Island is the place to go. Housed one of the most famous Korean soap operas, Winter Sonata, Nami island is filled with romantic and instagram worthy spot to take photos and create memories.

To go there it will take you a whole day, the best would be book one of the many day tour offered online, we booked A Day Tour To Petite France & Nami Island from KKday a week in advance.

Wake up early and pack your warmest and thickest clothes because the place is freezing like hell! No joke! Used to the Malaysian warm weather we had to embrace temperatures below -10 degrees celsius! Would recommend you to avoid visiting the island between November and February to be safe tho!

Despite the cold weather, the trip was 100% worth the money.

First, we stopped in “le Petite France”, a French-inspired village that that will teleport you back in time reminiscing of the old tales. This fairy tale-ish town is also a theme park with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s most famous work and best-selling book, “Le Petit Prince”.

Next, we continued our excursion exploring Nami and its surroundings. Just walking around the island was a pleasure for the senses. Being this my second trip to the island, I can ensure that it is equally beautiful in Summer as it is in Winter, just ensure that you are able to deal with low temperatures since Winter in South Korea is pretty rough.

Our last stop of the day was Gapyeong Rail Park, an 8km ride that will show you a different part of Korea, a Korea repleted with natural scenery, away from the image of a supermassive city we have.

If you want to know more about our trip to Nami Island do check Belle’s Round Trip To Nami Island From Seoul During Winter😉

Nami Island and Petite France

Another one of the important places to visit in Seoul is the Namsan Tower. Dubbed as the place “where your love comes true”, it is a must visit for all the tourists who want to get the best views of the city. Standing at 236 meters it is the second highest point in Seoul, just behind Lotte Tower (555 meters). And thanks to is 360 degrees design it allows all visitors to have a perfect panoramic view of the megacity.

It is also famous for its “love padlocks”. For those of you who don’t know, “love padlocks” is a common couple activity that consists of buying a padlock and write their name with some romantic message on it. After doing that, the couple will secure the padlock on a fence as a symbol of their eternal love. In a poll of nearly 2,000 foreign visitors conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in November 2011, 16 percent stated that hanging named padlocks on the Tower fence as a symbol of love was their favorite activity in Seoul.

Nami Island and Petite France

For many, the best places to visit in Seoul. Where the old meets the new. A place where old houses and ancient palaces blend together with a supercity of the 21st century.

The name Bukchon, which literally translates to “northern village,” came about as the neighborhood lies north of two significant Seoul landmarks, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jongno. Today, many of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants, and tea houses, providing visitors with an opportunity to experience, learn and immerse themselves in traditional Korean culture. We especially loved the atmosphere at Cha Masineun Tteu Teahouse.

Gyeongbokgung Palace & the National Folk Museum of Korea

Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is also commonly referred to as the Northern Palace because its location is the furthest north when compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeonghuigung (Western Palace) Palace. Destroyed due to a fire in the 16th century was abandoned for over 200 years! After being restored in the 19th century, it was again destroyed by the Japanese. Finally to our luck, since then the palace has been gradually restored and remains as the most beautiful and largest of all five palaces.

Located inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea presents historical artifacts that were used in the daily lives of Korean people in the past. Through the displays, visitors can learn about the domestic and agricultural lifestyles, as well as Korea’s cultural beliefs.

Since I already visited the museum and we were sort of time, we decided to skip it. Nonetheless, the admission fee is free so you might as well want to pay it a visit if you have enough time 😉

Remind that only the museum is free! You will have to pay for the Palace. In addition, this last one is closed on Tuesdays. You can always find more information on visitkorea.or.kr

Itaewon, Insadong, and Myeondong

Last but not least, what would Seoul be without its picturesque neighborhoods? In these 3 districts, you will find by far the weirdest places to visit in Seoul. Are you looking for cheap souvenirs and local food? Or perhaps the latest and most exclusive beauty product just launched? A 4-stories hotel-themed cosmetic shop (StyleNanda boutique hotel)? Or maybe a meerkat cafe? All that and much more can be found in these districts.

It is also worth mentioning Dongdaemun and its iconic building, DDP, major urban development landmark in the city, the centerpiece of South Korea’s fashion hub characterized by the “powerful, curving forms of elongated structures”.