Howdy all! Well today I want to go through a comprehensive list of all the sights that I took in whilst in Seoul. Simple as that really! The city is, well, to be frank brilliant to visit with so much to take in and also good public transportation as well. I will not include Gangnam in this blog, I will do a separate one on that because that alone was a full day, and I’ll also be doing posts on the visit to the DMZ and Lotte World.

Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces and Bukchon Hanok Village

Both palaces and the Hanok Village of traditional Korean homes are must sees. BUT – I’ve already done a post for them so check that out HERE.

Korean War Memorial

This is a must visit in Seoul, and very beautifully done albeit with a huge array of planes and vehicles next to it as part of their museum. I was lucky enough to see some sort of display from soldiers marching and twirling rifles whilst I was there which was kind of cool. Some moving memorials and names of the fallen in the Korean War. It’s free too so it can’t hurt your budget.

National Museum of Korea

This is a very good museum – I’m just not a lover of museums and get bored quickly. Again it is free, in a huge impressive building and it is filled with the sort of things you expect from a national museum – rocks and pots, some amazing art too presented in a modern space. There’s so much to learn about Korea and this is a great place to start!

Namsan Mountain and North Seoul Tower

I have had my fill of towers so I didn’t ascend to the top, but just getting to the top of Namsan Mountain is an adventure. There is this kind of lift (free) that saves you the initial climb to the cable car. It’s slow and there’s a wait but if you’re unfit and slow as I am, well, you’ll still get there in better time than if you chose the stairs!

The cable car is another big one that at a guess takes around 30 people, and they will pack them in! The ride up to the top of Namsan Mountain though allows you to look back at the city of Seoul for some amazing views. At the top, at the foot of the tower, you get a view of Southern Seoul, and then walk 100 metres away for another view of Northern Seoul (which is the direction you’ve come from on the cable car and what you see from the cable car looking back).

On the southern side of Namsan there are trails going down to walk if you have the time, or regular buses as well. The mountain is quite beautiful so not a bad place to stretch the ol’ legs!

Ihwa Mural Village

Up a pretty steep hill, this doesn’t really feel like a village but it is a nice little cute community which is interesting enough to wander for an hour or so. You’ll find a number of murals painted on walls, hence the name, but sadly I believe some have been painted over because the residents, understandably, got sick of the tourists coming for the selfies!

Seoul City Wall and Museum

Seoul has an ancient wall that at one point surrounded much of what is now a significant portion of Northern Seoul. Many parts have been restored over recent decades and you walk sections of it which is kind of fun. There’s also a museum which I think was free or not expensive at any rate where you can learn about the wall. It dates back to the late 14^th century and Joseon Dynasty. It’s right by the magnificent Heunginjimun Gate – definitely worth a photo or two!

Chenggyecheon Stream Walk

A great dusk activity is to walk along the the Chenggyecheon Stream or River. It’s down below street level slightly, it’s a bit of a canal in some ways, and they have done it really well. The buildings surround it, but it’s a little haven in the city of Seoul, I expect even more so in the summer months. The further you walk the more it turns into a more natural river, but as you it explore it you’ll see opportunities to swap sides by crossing on stones, bird life, a little pop-up library, and loads of people just spending time in this cool space. I was there around the time of Buddha’s Birthday and they had lanterns hanging above the river too.

Namdaemun Market

This market was pretty close to where I was staying in the City Hall Area. It involves a lot of streets and few alley ways and there is plenty to buy. Clothes especially and if you are interested in Korean army gear you’re going to be happy. There’s jewellery aplenty too, a lot of gold to be bought and also plenty of food options including an enclosed ‘Noodle Street’ where there are loads of noodle options.

Seodaemun Prison History Hall

Another place you MUST visit when in Seoul, it does showcase a dark history. Built over 100 years ago the Japanese used this mostly to house political prisoners and quell attempts at Korean independence. After World War II South Korea until 1988 endured something of an autocratic regime that used the prison similarly. Today you can walk the halls and see the cells and it’s very well done, and a good place to get a bit of knowledge on Korean history.

Oil Tank Culture Park

Finally we have the Oil Tank Culture Park, located opposite the World Cup Football Stadium. Six huge oil tanks have been converted into an art precinct for exhibitions and even performances. I went inside one still fully enclosed tank alone and it was creepy yet cool. There is a café in the main tank – number six, and a few other things of note. I cool and unique concept.

Thanks for joining me today, that pretty much covers Seoul bar the DMZ, Lotte Adventure World and Gangnam so keep an eye out for posts on those! Take care wherever you are in the world – May the Journey Never End!