Travel- Seoul in 1 Day (or 2)

Travel- Seoul in one day… or two.

Seoul is the largest metropolis of South Korea. If you are travelling on a tight schedule, follow our route and finish 10 attractions in a day or two.

1. Namdaemun Market ->2. Namdaemun -> 3. Gyeongbokgung Palace -> 4. National Folk Museum of Korea -> 5. Bukchon Hanok Village -> 6. Kwangjang Market/ Gwangjang Market -> 7. Cheonggyecheon River -> 8. Dongdaemun Design Plaza -> 9. Dongdaemun shopping district -> 10. Garosu-gil

Namdaemun Market street food

Start your day visiting Namdaemun Market, one of the biggest and oldest traditional market in South Korea. The market is composed of numerous retailers and street vendors. Try some local street food from one of the food vendors. Most of them sell exactly the same food items. Shop for some knock-offs just for laughs. Retailers are closed on Sundays, however the street vendors still operate.

Check out the Namdaemun (Great South Gate) located just beside the market. Namdaemun is South Korea’s first national treasure built in the Joseon Dynasty.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, a royal palace also built in the Joseon Dynasty. Its royal throne hall, Keunjeong-jeon/ Geunjeong-jeon, where seven of the twelve kings were enthroned, is South Korea‘s largest remaining wooden structure. Check out the National Folk Museum of Korea located in the palace. Here you will learn all about the Korean culture and history.

National Folk Museum of Korea

Within walking distance (east) is the Bukchon Hanok Village, Korea’s traditional village that dates back 600 years ago. The village retains its charm with crooked alleys and hanoks (Korean traditional architecture) that used to house government officials and royal families.

Bukchon Hanok Village

Take a taxi (or subway) to Kwangjang Market/ Gwangjang Market, a market full of Korean traditional eats. Here you will find bizarre food items such as raw crabs and Beondegi (silkworm pupae). If you are as chicken as us, try some homemade kimchi and Korean pancakes. The market is known to serve a huge variety of Korean pancakes, bindaetteok (Korean pancake made of mung beans instead of flour base) is one of the market’s specialties.

Gwangjang Market – Beondegi

Gwangjang market- Korean pancake

Walk east along Cheonggyecheon River, a once neglected watercourse that became popular after it was rebuilt in 2005. During its restoration water had to be pumped in daily. The artificial constructed river is now one of Seoul’s major tourist attractions and couples’ favourite hangouts.

Cheonggye River/ Cheonggyecheon

You will arrive Dongdaemun Design Plaza, a neo-futuristic landmark designed by Iraqi British architect Zaha Hadid, the plaza hosts many art, design & fashion exhibitions worth checking out for.

Shop around Dongdaemun area, the area has thousands of shops and department stores/malls that operate until 5 am.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza/DDP

If you stay at the Marriott Hotel like we did, Garosu-gil is just along the way back. Garosu-gil is a new hip area for small bars and many, many coffee shops. Have a drink of few before you end your trip.

Garosu-gil

Namdaemun Market rice cake

Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market street fruits

Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market street food

Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market street food

Namdaemun Market

Namdaemun Market rice cake

Namdaemun Market rice cake

Namdaemun market pork knuckles

knock-offs at Namdaemun Market Seoul

JW Marriott Hotel Seoul

Gyeongbokgung Palace

National Folk Museum of Korea

National Folk Museum of Korea

National Folk Museum of Korea

National Folk Museum of Korea

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village

Gwangjang Market – dried fish

Gwangjang Market – Beondegi

Gwangjang Market

Gwangjang Market – raw crabs

Gwangjang Market – kimchi vendor

Gwangjang market street food

Gwangjang market street food

Gwangjang market- Korean pancake

Gwangjang market- Bindaetteok/ nokdujeon

Cheonggye River/ Cheonggyecheon

Dongdaemun Design Plaza/DDP

Dongdaemun Design Plaza/DDP

Dongdaemun Design Plaza/DDP

Garosu-gil

Garosu-gil

Garosu-gil

(photos by Tanya)

Travel- Seoul, South Korea- Namdaemun Market, Namdaemun, Gyeongbokgung Palace, National Folk Museum of Korea, Bukchon Hanok Village, Kwangjang Market, Cheonggyecheon River, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Dongdaemun shopping district, Garosu-gil