Seoul (서울) is one of the most recognized South Korean cities for tourism.
This city has splendid places to visit and a lot of history to tell. It is mostly known for its modernity, thanks to the economic boom that originated after the Korean War, which positioned it as the fifth city with the best GDP in the world.
Additionally, Seoul stands out for having a large metropolitan area, being the most inhabited city in South Korea. Modern buildings and contemporary constructions coexist alongside historical sites.
Translation by Laura Fino, Sara Varon and Angie Salavarria
Next, we will present you some of the most recommended places to visit:
Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁)
Among the 5 palaces of the Joseon dynasty, this is considered the main one, currently having more than 600 years of history.
Due to its location north of Seoul, it has been known since ancient times as the “Northern Palace”.
Rebuilt twice, this palace has 5.4 million square feet of surface, with pavilions that provided residence to royalty members such as the king’s mother, foreign dignitaries, and, of course, the king himself.
It also has beautiful gardens with ponds of lotus flowers, and has the famous changing of the guard that takes place at 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m. every day, except on Tuesdays.
Bukchon Hanok Village (북촌한옥마을)
It is located between Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) and Changdeokgung (창덕궁).
This village belonged to the noble class. Although, for some time, it found itself consumed by modernity, one day the government took action on the matter and decided to restore it, reconstructing it with materials more in line with the time in which it was created. Today, their houses are mostly inhabited by coffee and tea shops.
Visiting hours are from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (visits are not allowed on Sundays).
Myeongdong (명동
This is a commercial area located in the heart of the city, which has both brand-name stores, and street stalls, where you can taste all kinds of Korean traditional food. Also, you can find makeup, clothes, toys, and everything you want to buy.
Namsan Tower (남산서울타워)
The Namsan Tower, located in the center of Seoul like most of the previous attractions, was first a communications tower created in 1969. Later on, it was opened to the public, becoming popular not only for the fact of being an attraction, but also for the tour that is made up to the top.
Most of the people that make this tour are usually couples, who end their journey by putting a lock on one of the viewpoints. For this reason, you will find millions of those on its railings and gardens.
