A visit to the 7700-room Gyeongbokgung Palace, in the city’s north, is a must. In the early 20th century, much of the complex was destroyed by Imperial Japan but in the years since, it’s been carefully restored to former glory. Make sure you witness the changing of the guards – it happens every hour between 10am and 4pm daily except Tuesdays. 

If your knowledge of Korean history is lacking, a visit to Bukchon Hanok will provide some insight. It’s a preserved 600-year-old village that’s prized for its architecture and traditional hanok houses that are still occupied. The area is located in the heart of the city, right between Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changdeogung Palace. 

One of the coolest new places to visit in the South Korean capital is Cheong Wa Dae – also known as the Blue House – in the city's historic district, Jongno. Originally built in 1104, the property was used as the country's presidential residence from 1948 to 2022. Now, it has been returned to the people as a cultural and historical landmark for guests to explore.

Korean fried chicken is the Seoul version of KFC and it’s good. Pair the crunchy, juicy chicken with an ice-cold beer like the locals do. For KFC, ttokbokke (addictive spicy rice sticks), bindaetteok (mungbean pancake), all manner of morsels on sticks and, of course, kimchi, head to Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu.

At 236 metres tall, the N Seoul Tower is the city’s second-highest point. It was built as Seoul’s first radio wave tower in 1971 and opened to the public in 1980. Its position, on Namsan Mountain, offers a stunning panorama of the whole city, a view you’ll share with local lovebirds and visitors alike.

For more than 200 years, Changdeokgung Palace was the primary residence of the Korean royal family. It’s the best-preserved of the remaining Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897) palaces but what really sets it apart are its magical landscaped gardens dotted with pavilions and ponds. 

Even if you’re not planning to ascend N Seoul Tower, you should make a trip to Namsan Mountain. It, too, has fantastic city views as well as picnic areas, a restored hanok (traditional Korean house) village and the Namsan Cable Car which runs from 10am to 11pm. 

A world apart from the swanky streets of its Gangnam locale, shake off the concrete jungle and step inside this Buddhist temple to experience Korean life at a slower pace, observing a traditional tea ceremony and wandering through the complex’s 1200-year-old buildings. You can even join a temple stay program, where you’ll sleep in the premises overnight to experience life as a monk – which means a dawn service, meditation sessions and traditional meals.

Cheonggyecheon is a restoration of a natural waterway that existed during the Joseon Dynasty from 1392 to 1910 and was later covered by transportation infrastructure. Today, Seoulites come here to unwind. Dip your toes in the water, admire the outdoor art exhibited on the shores or just use it as a peaceful route between sites like Dongdaemun and Gwangjang Market.

Dongdaemun does the bulk of its trade while most of us are sleeping. This shopping district around the Dongdaemun Gate starts to really bustle between 10pm and 5am and shoppers can find everything from high-rise malls, a Zaha-Hadid-designed fashion emporium and night markets that specialise in fashion.

Korea’s answer to Disneyland, Lotte World Adventure is a giant indoor theme park and an outdoor amusement park called Magic Island. They’re linked by monorail and the complex has malls, a folk museum, a luxury hotel, movie theatres and ice rinks. It’s epic. 

This spicy fermented cabbage condiment is ubiquitous in South Korea – it’s served with fried rice, fried chicken and any traditional Korean dish you can think of. And trust us: you’ll get a taste for it. If you’re worried about having to consume meals unaccompanied by the pungent pickle upon your return home, learn to make it yourself with a hands-on cooking class.

Just 45 minutes by subway from Seoul, Bukhansan National Park covers 80 kilometres and offers spectacular hikes up to granite peaks, some of Asia’s best rock climbing, temples and the Bukhansanseong Fortress, which dates back to 1711.

More than 10,000 stalls selling the essentials of South Korean daily life, from clothing to kitchenware, crowd this vast shopping area. The market dates back to the 1400s and it remains hugely popular. Just go with the flow and get lost in its alleyways – you’ll pop out somewhere!

The Lotte Group, responsible for several items on this list (see Lotte World, Milkis), encompasses businesses as diverse as industrial chemicals and publishing. It began, though, in confectionary and remains the largest candy manufacturer in South Korea. Lotte Mart is a superstore selling aforementioned sweets as well as a plethora of other Korean edible goods. Grab a basket.  

Everland – a magical-sounding place – is an outdoor theme park, South Korea’s largest. It’s divided into five zones: Global Fair, Zoo-Topia, European Adventure, Magic Land and American Adventure. It lays claim to the world’s steepest wooden roller coaster and it’s home to the nation’s only safari experience. 

K-beauty, or Korean beauty, is a thing. There are a plethora of cult brands that originated in South Korea and Myeongdong, a shopping street in Jung-gu, is the place to get your hands on them. Explore brands such as Tony Moly, Missha and Innisfree – and don’t be too polite to ask for samples!

This warming, ginseng-infused chicken soup is known for its nourishing qualities. To make it, a whole chicken is stuffed with sticky rice, ginseng, chestnut and jujube dates and simmered long and slow. The result is tender, falling-apart meat and a delicate but flavoursome broth. Try it at Tosokchon Samgyetang Seoul, an intimate restaurant beside the Gyeongbokgung palace.

Creative Seoulites flock to Hongdae, the irrepressibly cool neighbourhood around Hongik University. Hip shopping spots, a regular arts and crafts market, buzzing clubs and cosy bars can all be found here. There’s even a meerkat cafe, where you can have the only-in-Seoul experience of petting the small creatures while you sip a latte.

There are plenty of good reasons to stay up late in Seoul and Noryangjin Fish Market is one of the best. At 1am, auctions for the day’s fish, squid, crabs, prawns and more kick off, making for livewire viewing. Those who prefer to call it a night a little earlier can visit during regular mealtimes, when 700 different stalls and restaurants serve up the city’s freshest seafood.

Learn more about the history of the Korean War and clashes with Pyongyang at the War Memorial, which houses sombre tributes to the dead alongside artefacts including weapons, tanks and uniforms.

This is the place for K-Pop aficionados. If names such as Girls’ Generation, Super Junior and BoA mean anything to you, hotfoot it down to this five-level shrine to the genre. K-Pop (Korean music performed by manufactured pop bands) is honoured here with a museum (Costumes! Awards! Memorabilia!), hologram performances and, of course, souvenirs. 

13 Reasons You Need to Experience South Korea