With the incredible blast that K-pop and Hallyuwood have risen with across the world, it is not unknown that South Korea has become one of the most trending tourist places in the past few years. And out of all the places in Korea, the place that statistically offers the most income with its tourist attractions and idol fandom attractions is Seoul, the national capital of South Korea. This vibrant city that is a blissful combination of an ancient historically vintage vibe and a modern, technologically developed ultra-power city, presents to us a wide range of adventures one would never forget. Below are the five most worthy places you would not want to miss visiting while in Seoul.
- Seoul Tower
Rising to an altitude of almost 500 metres above the city, the Seoul Tower is a communications and observation tower that provides a rather dramatically ethereal view of the city. This tower, from the perch on the side of Mount Namsan, is a pleasant visit especially during the spring when there are cherry blossoms colouring your view all pink.
You will find a few restaurants serving ethnic Korean street food near the four observation decks that you will have to reach through a cable car that whisks you the side of the mountain to the base of the tower. Further on top stands tall a digital observatory for people with height issues to experience a live, 360-degree view through the use of 32 LED screens and cameras mounted at the tower’s top.
- Itaewon
Itaewon, a name that became much famous after the grand success of the K-drama Itaewon Class, is a bustling, lively neighbourhood of Seoul inheriting everything that represents Seoul as the national capital. A locality filled with lit pedestrian streets, Itaewon presents to its visitors a range of shops, cafés, general stores and everything small that made you want to live that teen k-drama life.
If you are in a hurry to get to all the places but do not have the time, this is the place for you. It is a place that beholds the vibe of everything that the Korean retail culture has to offer to its visitors. These streets are forever filled with mini food-vans, snacks, antique shops, street-performers and small karaoke- halls and restaurants that put out best the lifestyle of a native. Moreover, do not miss out on the Gyeongnidan Street across Itaewon as it will be one of the very few places in Seoul to offer international food that ma otherwise prove difficult to find.
- Bukchon Hanok Village
If you are among the ones who are intrigued by the ancient culture and livelihood of a place, Bukchon Hanok Village is a must-visit. This village, a blend of everything ancient and vintage that the Korean culture and history represents, is a remarkable archive of the beautiful Korean architecture. The village is a preserved area with guest-houses, hotels and native resident neighbourhoods that provides a gist of what it must have been like to live in Korea nearly 600 years ago.
The beautiful village stands in central Seoul in the area between the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Changdeokgung Palace. The neighbourhoods encompass the embraced hanoks or traditional Korean houses. A few of these hanoks are now guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts, and a few are museums that can be toured by the visitors. Others are cultural centres showcasing traditional crafts and other historic aspects of Korean life.
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
Initially constructed and established in 1395, the Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of Seoul’s five grand palaces built during the highly influential and historic Joseon dynasty. The palace was destroyed and re-built several times over the centuries until an effort was made to restore it after the Second World War and its ultimate restoration in the 1990s.
Within the palace grounds, one can also find the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum, both places that attract many tourists all around the year. The Palace Museum fascinates many as it beholds a collection of items from the Joseon Dynasty. This palace is a pride to the natives and embarks upon the historic journey of South-Korea.
The chief gate to this Palace, the Gwanghwamun Gate is a home to the changing of the guards ceremony (performed since 1469), which happens daily (except Tuesdays). The gate represents a historic meaning and attracts many tourists due to its importance among the native Korean culture and traditions. There’s a large plaza in front, and the gate sits in front of the vast Gwanghwamun Square which stands to be a home to recurrent political parades, a large subway station, a giant fountain, and some huge statues of the Joseon-era leaders.
- National Museum of Korea
This tremendously beautiful capital of Seoul is also a home to the National Museum of Korea. This Museum that stands tall to be a major tourist attraction especially among those intrigued by the humanities, it portrays the incredible history and artwork of Korea and the ancient Korean culture.
The museum, one of the largest in Asia, is in the city’s Yongsan District. It has remarkably serene collections focusing on archaeology, history and art and involves a huge collection of objects tracing back to more than a million years in the Korean history. One will find ancient and prehistoric artefacts, sculpture, paintings, and other artwork along with a large collection of objects and antiques. Do not forget to visit the Yongsan Family Park nearby, which will later give you a sense of relaxation after the long Museum trail.
