Seoul, the proud capital of South Korea is an incredible city rich in culture. The exciting attractions, mouth watering food and endless shopping spots make it one of the best cities to visit in Korea.
The city can be intimidating for first-timers, to aid you in the adventure that awaits you (when the travel restrictions gets lifted hopefully) we have come up with a list of the many things you can do in Seoul on your first visit.
Poopoo Land
Seoul is home to a multitude of museums that showcases the story of Korea in the past. However, Poopoo land is the only museum about your faeces. At poopoo land, you will actually learn anything and everything about the science of poop and farts. While being extremely ‘educational’ , the fun and quirky museum exhibits are perfect for fun Instagram worthy photos.
After a long day learning about poop, you can head over to the poo-themed café at Poopoo land to unwind over a plate of curry rice served in a toilet-shaped bowl.
Location: 41 Insadong 5-gil, Gongpyeong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 10.00am – 8.00pm (Sun – Sat)
Lotte World
You have to go to Lotte World if you are in Seoul, it’s like going to Disneyland in Hong Kong, it’s a thing you just must do before you leave. Lotte World is home to the world’s largest indoor theme park, but it also has an outdoor one as well. This guarantees that you can always ride roller coasters no matter the weather. If that isn’t impressive enough, Lotte World also has aquarium which is home to 650 species of marine life, wow!
From killer rides to amazing marine life, Lotte World has it all.
Location: 240 Olympic-ro, Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 9.30am – 10.00pm (Mon – Thurs), 9.30am – 11.00pm (Fri – Sat)
Try The Famous Milkis
Okay, I know we are all familiar with soju, we have drank it in one way or another. Here is a non–alcoholic Korean drink that you absolutely must try when you are in The Land of the Morning Calm (South Korea). Milkis is a carbonated drink that is made with one ingredient we are not familiar with in soda: milk! It is an interesting combination some of us might be scared of but trust me, it will have you begging for more.
Visit Gwangjang Market
If you have a thing for food this should be the first place you should visit in Seoul. It is an all – encompassing Korean street food market. From fully packed Mayak gimbap (rice roll) to the famous face melting Tteokbokki (rice cake in spicy sauce), you can get all your favourite Korean grub here. Surprisingly enough, the market also has a store that only sells instant Ramyeon which captures a totally different taste you would get from making it yourself at home.
Location: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno 4(sa)-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm (Mon – Sun)
Visit A Jjimjilbang (Korean Bath House)
After all that walking and sightseeing, you might get tired. A relaxing day at the bath house might just be what you need. At the jjimjilbang, you can dip in a pool of water heated to the perfect temperature or sweat it out in the sauna. What makes these Korean bath houses interesting is the seshin, which is an intense cleaning process that has you soaked in hot water while getting scrubbed down with a sandpaper like towel by a ‘master’. The results? A body free of the thick gunk and accumulated dead skin, leaving you fresher than ever.
Experience imperial Korea at Gyeongbokgung palace
The palace was one of the first and largest royal palace to be built during the Joseon Dynasty. Sadly, during the Japanese colonization, the place was partly destroyed. However, the palace has been restored slowly throughout the year and is the grandest of the five palaces in the capital city.
You can’t say you have experiences Seoul if you don’t visit this palace. It is a popular site to visit for tourist and even for locals given the rich history of the site.
Location: 161 Sajik-ro, Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening hours: 9.00am – 6.00pm (Wed – Mon),
We hope that this list has helped you in one way or another, do check out our other travel articles here if you are a travel head like we are.
