First days in Seoul

I’s been a week and a half since I got to Korea. I already experienced so much that I don’t remember half of it lol. But still, I can give some recommendations about sightseeing in Seoul!

First things first... Gyeongbokgung Palace:

If I had to recommend one place to go it would be this! I’m a person that enjoys new architecture and history very much. I’ve never seen such a beautifully different place in Europe. Different than castles in Germany or Austria the palace is quite colorful. It’s easy to reach by subway and if you rent a hanbok, entry is free! I haven’t tried that yet but want to do so very soon. Even Koreans enjoy renting a hanbok and taking pictures there as well. I actually saw more Koreans than foreigners the day I visited lol. So don’t be afraid to try it too! There even are free guided tours. The guide made it fun, telling us not just plain history of Joseon dynasty but adding also some interesting side stories of the emperors. If you’re near Gyeongbokgung Palace I also recommend going to Bukchon Hanok Village. It’s very pretty for taking photos! There are even spots where you can see Seoul Tower in the background. It’s a residential area with traditional Korean houses so please keep in mind that there are people living there and be respectful when taking photos!

Seoul Tower:

Actually, this one was a quite spontaneous trip for me. One day I decided to look around Itaewon a bit in the afternoon since everybody seemed excited about this district. When I got there, I figured out that Itaewon must be better at night. Don’t get me wrong! There are cute stores and if you’re looking for some brand names, you’ll be happy here too, but somehow that day I wasn’t as impressed of Itaewon. While scrolling through the map I realized that Namsan and Seoul Tower weren’t far away and decided to go for a hike. I started going up through Itaewons luxurious residential area and ended up at Namsan Botanical Garden. Since the weather was very nice, I took a stroll through the Garden surrounding the Tower. Somehow, I took a quite steep route to the Tower until I ended up at a broad street heading up. That’s the thing: You can also take the bus to the top, but walking is much more interesting and lets you see more stuff, so I strongly recommend walking!

Hiking:

Up until now I’ve only been to Inwangsan, but it was enough to say that hiking in Korea is soo beautiful! Me and my friend started to hike Inwangsan at around 6 pm because we wanted to see the sunset which is around 7 pm (in august at least). There are many ways to go up. Depending on the route it only takes 40 min. The scenery is a bit similar to Saxon Switzerland Mountains but with a different vibe. It’s a great way to get an overview of Seoul if you’re completely new to the city. The view from up there is just stunning!

The Hyundai Seoul:

even if you’re not into shopping, this department store is worth a visit! I’ve never been to such an aesthetic shopping mall so far. The interior is completely white, and they designed the restaurant/cafe area like a garden. They even installed waterfalls that make the whole atmosphere seem like you’re in a futuristic science fiction film. You can also watch out for idol-group events taking place. When I visited there was an Black Pink event going on which made it even more interesting!

Karaoke:

Not quite sightseeing I guess, but still one of the things I enjoyed the most until now. I’m a big fan of singing and in Korea there are a lot of places called 노래방 in Korean. There are international and Korean songs you can choose from. But be aware that there are ones where ordering a drink is mandatory. Just be aware of that fact. I recommend going there with a Korean friend for the first time to check out how everything works. Makes things much more uncomplicated haha.

Hongdae:

Student paradise number one! At evenings it’s even more crowded than at daytime. It’s also the district I’ve seen young people the most so far. Hongdae offers a lot of cute shopping spots like vintage stores as well as nice restaurants and cafes. I also got my ears pierced there for only 5000 Won! That would be around 4€. If you’re trying to find sth, you’ll probably find it in Hongdae. But the best part (at least for me) are the busking performances. It doesn’t matter when you decide to go to Hongdae, you’ll probably see some artists dancing or singing in the streets. Sometimes you will find dance groups with big YouTube channels there or even Korean actors singing. So, paying Hongdae a visit in evenings is a must if you ask me. I’m not really into drinking, but there are many bars as well so I’m sure everyone finds sth there to enjoy.

Namdaemun Market:

I told you that if you are searching for sth you will probably find it in Hongdae. Well, if you are searching to buy souvenirs or daily needs, Namdaemun Market should be your choice! Until now I’ve only been there once but I’ve seen flowers, bed sheets, food, clothing, alcohol, souvenirs, pottery and much more side by side there haha. Don’t be afraid to go into the buildings there too! There often are different floors with different themes. One floor might sell flowers, the next traditional Korean souvenirs. It’s a very good place for window shopping, even if there are no windows. You know what I mean lol.

All in all, my life somehow started to take a U-turn in Seoul. With so much to see and experience I am finally able to take a rest from the sometimes suffocating daily life in Germany. It doesn’t matter what I do in Seoul, it feels kinda special. Finally being able to speak the language I learned for so long feels very refreshing haha.

See u~

Luisa

P.S.: Be sure to click on the pictures to scroll through the gallery and get a short description : )