Seoul 2014, Spring: 15 things to do in Seoul

Seoul, a city that captured my heart that I was determined to head back for another visit soon. Influenced by the Hallyu wave, we reached Seoul to discover the beauty of the city.  A blend of ancient traditions and modern technology, Seoul is a city filled with stark contrasts. There are simply too many activities to do in the vibrant city, so here is my personal take on 15 things to do in Seoul.

1. Biking along Hangang (한강)

 

Instead of a river cruise, we rented a bike and spent a couple of hours cycling along Hangang (Han River). While we had to conquer riding up-slopes along some of the trails, the changing scenery well made up for the exercise. The diversity of the parks offer different scenes, depending on which cycling route you embarked on. There are plenty of bicycle rental shops in the park - so, hop on and ride! 

2. Eat at a pojangmacha (포장마차) and make some friends 

 

Pojangmacha is very much of Korean culture, where locals go for meals and drinks after work. We had our first experience with a bunch of new-found Singaporean and Korean friends. The group of us were just making merry in the pojangmacha, washing down food with bottles and bottles of soju!

3. Day trip to Nami Island 

If you have watched Winter Sonata, you will definitely pay a visit to Nami Island. This place, famous for its beautiful tree lined roads, is the shooting location of the drama. Stroll along the road and reminisce the scenes from the drama. Head for the bench (which has since moved!) where Bae Yong-joon and Choi Jiwoo shared their first kiss.

4. Cosmetic shopping at Myeongdong

   

 Myeongdong is the shopping paradise for cosmetics. Most of the beauty brands - Etude House, Innisfree, The Face Shop - have several shops located in the area. Promoters will stand in front of the shop, hand out free samples to passer-bys (especially girls!) and literally "drag" you inside the shop. Be prepared to part with (a significant amount of) your cash whenever you step into one :)

5. Hanbok (한복) experience

 

A trip to Korea is never complete without putting on Hanbok, the traditional costumes of Korea. Children wear hanbok for their 1st birthday and adults wear it for special occasions. I love the vibrant colours of the costumes, where the fabric is dyed using natural dyes.

6. N Seoul Tower & N-Grill Restaurant

 

N Seoul Tower at Nansam Park marks the highest point in Seoul. Couples flock to the Roof Terrace where they will put a padlock of love on the railings, a symbol of interlocking their fate with each other. Make a stop to N Grill, a french restaurant located at the highest point of the tower, boasting the best view. 

7. Ginseng chicken soup (Samgaetang) 

One of the must-try dishes in Korea, the highly-raved Ginseng Chicken Soup. Stuffed with glutinous rice, this dish is well-liked by young and old. Drink this with a small cup of ginseng wine and feel the heat rush through your body.

8. Stand and eat at a roadside stall

 

I have a special liking towards roadside stalls with their wide variety of snacks that is enough to curb my hunger pangs. My top 2 choices go to tteokbokki and fishcakes. They are my comfort food in the cold weather :) 

9. Korean Folk Village(한국민속촌)

 

Head to the Korean Folk Village for a glimpse of traditional Korean life. There are various traditional houses reminiscent of the late Joseon Dynasty, where visitors are transported back to the olden days. This is also the filming location for various K-drama, such as Moon embracing the Sun, My Love from another Star and Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Be sure to catch some of the events, like traditional folk dances or acrobatics at the performance area.

10. Do a drama-filming-location trail

 

Fans of K-drama will not miss a chance to visit the filming locations of the dramas. These places added a sense of familiarity as I'll recall the scenes from the dramas. This was taken at Petite France, at the spot of the famous flying kiss scene between Do Min Joon & Cheon Song Yi from the drama, My Love from Another Star.

11. Ihwa Mural Village (이화 벽화마을)

 

You can find lots of murals and artworks littered around the whole village. Spend a couple of hours combing the alleys, look for interesting pieces that are worth a shot or two. Visitors are welcome to take as many pictures as possible, but do be mindful to keep your voices down as this is a residential area. Enjoy a cuppa of coffee and chill out at one of the many cafes in the village.

12. DMZ tour

 Venturing into the DMZ zone was one of the to-do list during this trip. We booked ourselves on a half-day DMZ tour and went on an interesting history lesson, courtesy of our tour guide. Stretching over 240km across the Korean Peninsula, the DMZ zone offers visitors an insight on the history and culture of the country.

13. Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을)

Home to hundreds of traditional houses dating back to the Joseon Dynasty, this village is best explored on foot. Be sure to wear good walking shoes to scale the steep slopes. Try and see if you can spot the house that was used in the drama "Personal Taste" in this village!

 14. Visit one of the many palaces

 

5 palaces are located within the heart of Seoul, which make it easier to explore. There are guided tours in different languages and timings for tourists, allowing us to learn more about Korean history. With Mount Bugaksan as the backdrop, Gyeongbokgung is the main and largest palace amongst the five palaces. Explore the palace surroundings and head towards the main gate for the guard-changing ceremony.

15. Witness the guard-changing ceremony

The guard changing ceremony is a reenactment of the original ceremony which dates back to ancient times. You can catch the ceremony at either Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gwanghwamun Gate 3 times a day (apart from Tuesday). Take a picture with the guards on duty after the ceremony.

Psst .... detailed posts will be linked once completed, stay tuned!