16 Life Changing Things To Do In Seoul That Will Make You Fall in Love
This post is all life changing things to do in Seoul that will make you fall in love
Whether it’s your first time going to Seoul or you’ve been here before, it can be challenging to figure out what the best things to do in Seoul are. I remember my first solo trip, I wasted so much time doing the wrong things and couldn’t wait to be back.
Well, have no fear, I’ve put together the ultimate guide for the 16 life changing things to do in Seoul including the most unique things to do in Seoul, the best foods like Gwangjang market, and even things to do in Seoul in winter.
I’ve lived here for over 4 months and from amazing luxury spas, to where to find the most incredible seafood, here are the 16 life changing things to do in Seoul, South Korea.
This post is all life changing things to do in Seoul that will make you fall in love
16 Life Changing Things To Do in Seoul
Eat your heart out in Myeongdong
Myeongdong is an amazing place for shopping and also eating! If you come after 3 PM, you’ll see so many stalls of great street food to try including lobster tails, odeng or Korean fish cake, and Tanghulu or rock sugar-coated fruits.
One of my favorite restaurants in Myeongdong is Myeongdong Kyoja, a place with only four items on the menu - amazing dumplings and noodle soup.
2. Explore Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Also known as DDP, this is a gorgeous place dedicated to fostering creativity with its unique architecture, futuristic and fluid lines, and offers events from Seoul fashion week, to beautiful exhibits every year. The area around is a paradise for fashion lovers, and foodies as there are so many boutiques, eateries, and markets. It’s one of my favorite places in Seoul to explore, and one that will leave you breathless.
3. Dress like a Schoolgirl at Lotte World
Lotte World is a one of a kind amusement park that carries the world’s largest indoor theme park and has some of the most unique and coolest rides you’ll go on. There’s a funny little tradition here, where everyone dresses up like a schoolgirl or schoolboy to enjoy the park allowing you to blend in with the crowd of teenagers that go, living through your youth one more time!
It gets incredibly crowded here, so I recommend coming as early as you can and on a weekday! You can rent school uniforms right when you exit the subway station, there are a bunch of shops you won’t miss!
4. Eat The Freshest Seafood At Noryangjin Fish Market
If you want the FRESHEST seafood in Korea, you NEED to head to Noryangjin Fish Market. It works in a unique way too where you pick out your seafood from various shops, negotiate for it’s prices, and then bring it upstairs to the many restaurants that will cook them for you!
Recommendations:
Try live octopus
Get a king crab (way cheaper than you’ll find them in the States or Canada)
Get a fish soup
Check out this video below to see how to order
5. Head to Cimer Spa near the Incheon Airport
THIS HAS TO BE THE BEST SPA IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. I highly highly recommend this place if you happen to have a layover or I’ve even booked long layovers through Seoul just to go to this spa. For only $40, you get a plethora of steam rooms, saunas, pools, slides, and even a virtual spa that is actually as amazing as it sounds.
6. Eat Some Amazing Food At Gwangjang Market
Gwangjang Market is an amazing way to introduce great traditional Korean food. There are so many stalls and so many options to choose from!
Some of my favorite dishes were:
knife cut noodles from the Netflix lady (you’ll know which stall it is because it’s crowded)
handmade donuts near the beginning of the market (also a lot of crowds but 100% worth it)
Hotteok stand (sweet pancakes with brown sugar syrup filling), go to the one with the biggest crowds in the front - this is 100% WORTH it as well!
7. Visit Starfield Coex Library
Perhaps one of the prettiest places in Seoul, this is a free library inside of a beautiful mall in Gangnam. People come from all over to take photos, study, and even grab a cup of coffee. Go early if you’d like to take some great photos as it tends to get super busy!
8. Go Coffee Shop Hopping At The Cutest Coffee Shops
There are SO many coffee shops in Seoul, in fact coffee culture is a huge part of the Korean culture! Here you can find students studying, work meetings, casual friendship meet ups, the cutest cakes, and the best coffees. My favorite ones are the ones that are themed and they’re so delicious!
Here are a few of my favorite ones below:
Urban Space
Fritz Coffee Company
C. Through Cafe
9. Go to a Samoyed Dog Cafe
This was by far one of the CUTEST things to do in Seoul! Just imagined being in a room full of 10+ samoyeds, petting them, feeding them, and watching them play together. Its about $10 USD and there is no timeline on your visit.
Address: South Korea, Seoul, Mapo-gu, Wausan-ro 17-gil, 19-5 겨울이 머무는 집
10. Visit Jeju Island
Jeju Island located only an hour plane ride away from Seoul, is home to the famous black pork, amazing waterfalls, and some of the best seafood you’ll ever have!
I recommend renting a car to explore the island, just make sure you get your international drivers license before you go. 3-5 days is plenty of time to explore the beautiful island.
11. Eat Sulbing
Sulbing is one of the best dessert chains in Seoul! They have multiple locations and open pretty late so it’s the perfect way to end a meal in the winter or the summer. Sulbing has tens of different Korean shaved ices which is a super popular dessert here. My favorite one is the matcha which comes with icecream, mochi, matcha powder, and delicious condensed milk.
12. Eat at the Yukjang Sikdang
This is by far the BEST Korean BBQ restaurant in Seoul to get some delicious juicy pork belly. They have multiple locations all over Seoul and some of the best cuts of meat you’ll ever have. I recommend getting the pork belly, the pork neck, and their cold noodles.
13. Get A Tattoo
This might come as a surprise but most tattoo shops in Korea are underground and illegal. This is because, in Korea, the law permits only licensed medical practitioners are allowed to have a needle. However, there are hundreds of underground artists who are super affordable and have amazing line work. All you have to do is find them on Instagram, send them a message, and pay a deposit. Then they’ll give you a time and address to meet!
My boyfriend ended up getting two tattoos in Korea and they both came out absolutely amazing and were super affordable!
14. Try Soy Marinated Crab
Perhaps one of my all time favorite meals, the soy marinated crabs in Seoul are on another level! They’re juicy, filled with flavor, and super sweet. One of our favorite places to visit was Odarijip in Myeongdong. The crabs also come with rice, seaweed, an assortment of side dishes, and some delicious soup.
Address: 28 Myeongdong 8na-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
15. Go To A Festival!
Music festivals in Seoul are so different from music festivals anywhere in the world. Artists from all over come to play different music and the crowds are so much fun. I went to EDC Seoul back in 2019 and had the most amazing time.
Check out festival dates for events such as: EDC Korea and Ultra Korea,
16. Hang A Lock At Namsan Seoul Tower
They say couples who hang a lock together at Namsan Seoul Tower will stay together, but this is an amazing place to visit even if you’re alone! With breahtaking panoramic views of the city, you can either take a cable cart to the top or walk a small hike!
It’s such a cute destination to visit and I recommend going near sunrise so you can see the cityscape during the day and witness the glittering lights at night.
If you need another list of some amazing places to travel alone, pop over here for more of 7 Of The BEST Places To Travel Solo As A Female
This post was all life changing things to do in Seoul that will make you fall in love
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