A K-Culture Lover’s Ultimate Guide to Seoul, South Korea

N Seoul Tower: N Seoul Tower rests atop Namsan Mountain and is located in the center of the city, making it one of Seoul’s most iconic landmarks. Take a cable car up to the mountain and enjoy the panoramic views of this vast urban paradise. Watch the sunset from the observation deck and hang up your own love lock to commemorate your special time in Seoul.

Gyeongbokgung Palace: Visit the Joseon dynasty’s largest royal palace, built in 1395, and experience what life was like as a Korean royal. Join a guided tour, watch the changing of the guards ceremony and spend the afternoon wandering around in your very own hanboks — traditional Korean garments worn for centuries, which you can rent at various stalls outside the palace.

HiKR Ground: This innovative space serves as an immersive and interactive museum where tourists can learn more about Hallyu, aka “the Korean wave.” Each floor is dedicated to different aspects of K-culture. There’s a K-Pop experience zone where you can create content featuring your favorite songs, rotating local artist exhibitions and an information center for domestic attractions. Admission is free!

Han River Cruise: Take a cruise along the Han River and relax as you enjoy the view of Seoul’s skyline. There are different themed cruises that include buffet-style meals and live entertainment — I recommend the Moonlight Cruise to see the Rainbow Fountain Show at Banpo Bridge. On Saturday nights, there is a special Fireworks Cruise.

Lotte World Adventure: Lotte World, Korea’s version of Disneyland, is a must-do experience when visiting Seoul! Lotte World Adventure is the largest indoor theme park in the world, and Magic Island is an artificial island in the middle of Seokchon Lake with several thrill rides and its very own castle. You can rent nostalgic school uniforms for photo-ops and recreate scenes from your favorite K-dramas and variety shows!

Bukchon Hanok Village: Go on a tranquil daytime stroll through this historic village and admire the architecture of the hanoks, traditional Korean homes that were built in the Joseon Dynasty. There are various activities for you to explore, such as making Korean crafts, tea ceremonies and traditional fan dances. There are also many shops and eateries within the area. This is a residential neighborhood, so please be respectful to the locals.

Ikseon-dong Hanok Street: Just a few blocks from the Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung Palaces lies a charming neighborhood known to be the oldest hanok village in Seoul. In order to preserve the heritage, over a hundred hanoks have been converted into a trendy street of boutiques, restaurants, dessert shops, and themed cafés. It’s a perfect place to spend the afternoon.

Learn to cook Korean food with Hello K-Cooking: Junghee Yoon is a local chef who’s passionate about sharing her love of Korean cuisine with visitors. She will take you on a tour of Mangwon Market, then invite you into her lovely home, where you’ll learn how to make various Korean dishes like bibimbap and pajeon! You’ll enjoy three main dishes, accompanied with soup, banchan and makgeolli. Be sure to come on an empty stomach!

Shop til you drop: The shopping scene in Seoul is no joke. You have everything from high-end designer stores in Gangnam to the Lotte department stores and underground shopping center in Myeongdong to the trendy boutiques and affordable street fashion in Hongdae. I brought an empty suitcase just for the K-beauty products, clothes and souvenirs from my trip.

Café hopping: No trip to Seoul is complete without experiencing the café culture. Cafés are a space to gather and socialize with friends, which means they most likely serve food and they’re open late! There are endless options to choose from, and there are some with really creative themes and unique vibes! I could honestly spend several days just café hopping. Check out my recommendations below.

Dining

Gwangjang Market: This market is the oldest and largest traditional market in Seoul and is home to a plethora of food stalls that serve classic Korean dishes. Come hungry and bring cash! Here you’ll find delicacies like tteokbokki, mandu, hotteok, bindaetteok and soy-marinated crab. If you’re lucky, you can snag a seat at Cho Yonsoon’s stall to try her famous kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), which was featured on Netflix’s Street Food: Asia.

Myeongdong Kyoja: This Bib Gourmand-awarded restaurant is a family-operated local treasure right in the middle of Myeong-dong. There are only four dishes on the menu, but they are extremely flavorful and less than $10. Try their mandu (Korean dumplings) and their kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup). Their house-made kimchi? The best I’ve ever had.

bb.q chicken: Chimaek, meaning “fried chicken and beer,” is a staple meal amongst Koreans. Bb.q Chicken is one of the best KFC (Korean fried chicken) chains worldwide. It was also featured on one of Netflix’s top K-dramas, Crash Landing on You. Try the wings with secret sauce!

Yoojung Sikang: BTS used to sit at the same table at this restaurant after dance practices during their trainee days. According to the owner Kang Sun Ja, they ordered the hot stone bibimbap and the grilled black pork belly. Their kimchi jjigae was also some of the best I had during the whole trip. Whether you’re paying homage to BTS or you’re just in search of affordable Korean comfort food, look no further.

Leechadol: This KBBQ restaurant in Gangnam serves high-quality beef and specializes in brisket. All I can say is, this meal is one of the ones I keep dreaming about.

Cafés

Cafe Onion: Stop by this cozy hanok-style café right before you go sightseeing. Take your shoes off and sit on the heated floors as you people-watch, sip your coffee and enjoy your handpicked tray of sweet and savory pastries.

GREEM Cafe: This viral 2D cafe in Hongdae is a must! It was featured on Netflix’s To All the Boy’s I’ve Loved Before and it’s a trendy spot for coffee and taking cute pictures!

Cafe Layered: No better way to start the day than to indulge in dessert for breakfast! This quaint English-themed café is close to the palaces and hanok villages. They have some of the most beautiful pastries — be sure to try their variety of scones and cakes!

Nuldam Space: In this vegan café, you can sip on specialty drinks as you take in the rooftop views of Namsan Mountain and the N Seoul Tower. Purchase a postcard with your order, and you can write a letter to your future self which will be mailed to you in a year.

Cheongsudang Gallery: Tucked away in Ikseondong lies a hanok-style café surrounded by bamboo and a tranquil Japanese-style garden. Try their matcha beverages and freshly baked soufflés and fromage cakes.