What to see in Seoul - a city of spicy cuisine, skyscrapers and ancient markets

main feature Seoul is the absence of street names. In order to get to the desired area, you need to know the local attraction. Thus, the sights of Seoul can not only entertain and broaden one's horizons, but also provide practical assistance. True, there are so many of them that one cannot do without competent planning of time. It is even better to determine in advance the places that are definitely worth a visit. The information below will help you resolve this issue.

Historical landmarks

The city has ancient history. The first settlement in its place arose in the 4th century AD. Therefore, the spirit of the past hovers here. Seoul is an amazing combination modern metropolis and the ancient city. It is better to start acquaintance with the capital of Korea from the historical center, where many ancient palaces and temples are located.

It is here that the “Palace of Radiant Happiness” or Gyeongbokgung (XIV century) is located. It was the main palace of the Joseon royal dynasty. Now it houses the National Folklore Museum. Preserved in its original form main entrance- "Gate of Radiant Change" (Gwanhamun). Their side part was intended for officials, and the central one - for the monarch. Now everyone can feel like a powerful ruler.

It is worth visiting the Changdeokgung Palace (XV century), which, together with the adjacent territory, occupies 45 hectares. 13 palace buildings and 28 garden pavilions have survived to our time. Changdeokgung is surrounded secret garden» (Pivoon), where about 26 thousand plant species grow. The Jade Stream (Onnyuchon) flows through it. Romantic natures will not remain indifferent to a small waterfall, above which you can see poems carved in stone. Deoksugung Palace (XV century) is located in the center of Seoul. This is the only palace in Seoul with Western-style buildings. The ancient royal bridge of Geumcheon has been preserved almost in its original form. Among the pavilions of Deoksugung, it is worth highlighting Sokchonjeon (XX century). Exhibitions of palace treasures are held in its eastern wing.

One of ancient buildings Seoul is Buddhist temple Ponunsa (VIII century). The temple operates to this day. One of the most famous Buddhist monks, Sameen and Sosan, studied here. In the 17th century, they raised an army of monks to fight the Japanese invasion. The largest number of visitors gather in the temple on the birthday of the Buddha, when hundreds of Buddhist pilgrims light lanterns here.

But the most unusual sight in Seoul is the Amsa-dong Museum of Prehistoric Artifacts. Its goal is to reproduce the ancient Neolithic era (7000-1000 BC). In 1925, there were archaeological excavations. As a result, a large-scale colony of primitive people was found. Remains of ancient buildings were also found. The museum consists of 9 dugouts, 2 exhibition halls and an open dugout where own experience one can experience life in Neolithic times.

Modern architecture

Architecture is able to express the culture and customs of a certain people. This statement is absolutely true in relation to the modern architectural sights of Seoul. For example, the architecture of the center of Korean politics is completely designed in the traditional oriental style. This building is called the "Blue House" because its roof is made of 150,000 blue tiles. Each tile was cast individually. The Blue House includes main office, Yongbingwan (guest house), Chunchugwan (Autumn and Spring Pavilion), Mugunghwa Gorge and Seven Palaces.

Most high building Seoul - Yuksam skyscraper with a height of 249 m. The facade of the building is decorated with golden reflective glass walls, which is why it is called the "Golden Tower". At the top of the skyscraper is the tallest observation tower in Korea, thanks to which you can see the whole of Seoul. In addition, the building houses an IMAX cinema, a shopping center, restaurants and a huge aquarium.

One of the most beautiful buildings in Seoul is the bridge, which was included in the Guinness Book of Records. This is the longest fountain bridge in the world (1140 m). It was opened in 2009 and connected the banks of the Hangang River. The jets of this bridge-fountain are directed downwards and to the sides. And its name is appropriate - "Rainbow Fountain" (Panpo).

parks

Among the attractions of Seoul are a wide variety of theme parks. One of the most popular was "Seoul Forest" (Seoul forest park). It is divided into 5 thematic areas:

ecological forest;
wetlands park;
art park;
center for the study of wildlife;
coastal park on the Hangang River.

Each of these zones is divided into separate sections. For example, a center dedicated to the study of wildlife includes a wild plant garden, a butterfly garden, and a gallery garden.

In addition, Seoul has a unique water park"Caribbean Bay" (Caribbean Bay). In this park you can see subtropical plants, stone buildings and shipwrecks. But the wave pool, which allows you to surf, has gained particular popularity. In the "Caribbean Bay" there are even health pools with mineral springs. There are also many exciting rides here.

No less interesting is Everland Park, the largest South Korean Entertainment Center. It ranks 5th in the list of the most visited parks in the world. Everland is a theme park that includes:

Zoo;
Botanical Garden;
snow slides;
car museum;
Glen Ross Golf Club;
Hoam Art Gallery;
sports park.

Unique sights of Seoul

Each city has attractions that are not found anywhere else. Seoul is no exception! It is impossible to visit the Korean capital and not visit Mount Namsan, located in the center of the capital. Once this mountain was the main point of defense of the city. Now at its top are the Seoul Tower, botanical gardens, fountains and the Namsan Library. You can climb the mountain by stairs or by cable car.

You can go on a real journey through time by visiting the Korean Folk Village. This place is intended to show the daily life of Koreans under the rule of the royal Joseon Dynasty. On the territory of the folklore village there are 260 traditional houses and 30 thousand folklore monuments. Here you can see a farm dance, a traditional marriage ceremony and various folklore games.

Seoul is home to the only oceanarium in Korea. It is divided into 6 thematic zones, which contain 40,000 fish and 600 varieties of other marine life. The oceanarium is built in the form of a tunnel, so giant fish swim right over the heads of visitors. There are also outdoor pools where some species of sharks swim.

To get to know the traditional Korean culture just visit Insadong street. It is a labyrinth of alleys, consisting of galleries, traditional restaurants, tea houses and cafes. Insadong's most famous galleries are Hakgoje (folk art center) and Kana (gallery for up-and-coming artists). Each store on this street is unique. Here you can not only see, but also buy a variety of creations of Korean art. And also try the famous Korean toffee and tortillas.

In 1988, the Olympic Games were held in Seoul. But even now, tourists can plunge into those events by visiting the Museum of the Olympic Games. It is located on the territory of the former Olympic Park. The museum has a special video hall for watching competitions, the opening and closing ceremonies of the games. And in the basement there is a hall where various sports equipment is placed. Any of the visitors can hold a sports bow or a basketball of those times in their hands.

Lovers of original museums will also like the Korean capital. The city has created the world's largest museum of Kimchi (a spicy vegetable snack). It presents the history of the iconic Korean dish in archaeological finds, ancient documents and drawings. This museum is unlikely to leave anyone indifferent, because visitors can try all kinds of this Korean dish.

The listed sights of Seoul are only a small part of what can be seen in the capital of Korea. This city will amaze with its versatility and leave a lot of vivid impressions.

In this material - about the best sights of Seoul. What to see and where to go in the capital of South Korea? Made an overview of palaces, parks, museums and other interesting places.

Seoul knows how to surprise in a good way. Here, in some incredible way, ancient and modern, traditional and futuristic are combined. Personally, I did not have that oppressive feeling that you usually experience in a huge metropolis. Despite its size and population (26 million people), Seoul seems quite cozy. Maybe it's the green parks and atmospheric old quarters in the center?

girls in national costumes on the street

old quarters

And only when you climb to the observation deck and see high-rise buildings to the horizon, you understand how big this city is.

You are unlikely to be able to pass by the capital on your trip to South Korea, because most flights from Russia arrive and depart from here. So it would be nice to set aside a day, and preferably two, for walks around the city. So what to see in Seoul? I marked all the points on the map at the end of the post.

Attractions in Seoul

royal palaces

There are 5 palaces in Seoul, but two of them are the most popular, and they are located nearby, you can walk.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

The most revered in the country, because the royal family from the Joseon Dynasty lived there. It was built in 1394, was partially destroyed by the Japanese several times, but during its heyday the complex consisted of more than three hundred buildings and five and a half thousand rooms.

Gyeongbokgung

There are free tours available in English (11:00, 13:30, 15:30), Japanese and Chinese. The most interesting thing here, in my opinion, is the changing of the guard ceremony with music and a colorful performance.

Opening hours: 09:00 - 18:30 (during the summer months, the rest of the time closes a little earlier).

Admission: 3,000 won for adults, 1,500 won for children.

How to get there: Gyeongbokgung subway line 3.

Changdeokgung Palace

It was here that the last monarch of South Korea lived. In the palace you can see the ancient gates, the oldest bridge in Seoul, the throne room, as well as the so-called secret garden, quite large in area, where several thousand different trees grow.

Changdeokgung

Opening hours: 09:00 - 17:30 (during the summer months, the rest of the time it closes a little earlier).

Admission: 3,000 won for adults, 1,500 won for children. Secret Garden: 8,000/5,000/4,000 won for adults/seniors/children.

Tip: If you want to visit all the palaces and save money, then buy a complex ticket (10,000 won). It is valid for a month, and even includes a visit secret garden in Changdeokgung.

Traditional Bukchon Hanok Village

Between the two palaces is a block of traditional Korean tile-roofed houses called hanok. There are more than 900 houses in this area. They are newly built, and the quarter itself is very touristic, but it is interesting to walk around. Koreans rent traditional costumes (shops nearby are full of offers) and take pictures against the backdrop of houses. You can do the same :)

old quarters

What to see in Seoul - traditional quarters

Opening hours: around the clock

Cost: Free, it's part of the city

How to get there: Anguk subway line 3.

Temple of Jogye-sa

Buddhist temple of the 14th century, famous for its huge wooden hall, the largest in Seoul.

Opening hours: around the clock

Cost: free

How to get there: Anguk subway line 3.

Cheong-gye-cheon stream

Nice place for walking right in the historical center of the city. The stream bed has been turned into a mini-park with all the infrastructure, paths and fountains.

How to get there: Gwanghwamun subway line 5.

N Seoul Tower and Namsan Park

Enjoying the views of the city from the height of the 236-meter TV tower is a great idea! In addition, there are several restaurants here. Although you don’t have to climb the tower itself, because it already stands on a hill, and the view from here is excellent. Plus save almost $10.

Cost: Tower Entrance 10,000/8,000 won for adults/children

How to get there: Shuttle buses number 3 and 5 from Namdaemun Market.

Seoul City Hall

The new city hall building was built not so long ago next to the old one and literally embodies Seoul's commitment to being green. And although servants of the people really work here, ordinary people the entrance is open, and the atmosphere inside allows you to spend time in comfort. In January-February, next to the city hall, the largest public outdoor ice rink in Seoul, you can have fun and go ice skating.

Old and new city hall buildings

Opening hours: 07:30 - 18:00 (during the summer months, the rest of the time it closes a little earlier).

Cost: free

How to get there: City Hall metro line 1 or 2.

Myeongdong shopping street

One of the most famous districts of the capital, both among locals and tourists, where life is in full swing! There are several shopping centers (and you can buy both consumer goods and quality items), many stalls with street food, cafes, restaurants ...

Mendong street

How to get there: Myeongdong subway.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

A futuristic building in the city's popular shopping area. It was designed by the famous architect Zaha Hadid. If you go around the building, you will find artificial flowers that are coolly illuminated in the evening, the sight is mesmerizing!

Seoul Attractions - Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Seoul forest park

A small but pleasant park in the city center where you can have a picnic, rent a bike and feed the deer from your hand.

Opening hours: around the clock

Cost: free

How to get there: Seoul Forest subway line 2.

Olympic Park

The largest park in Seoul, which was built for the 1988 Olympics. In addition to traditional greenery, here you can see a gallery of modern art and two historical museums.

Opening hours: around the clock

Cost: free

How to get there: Olympic Park Subway Line 5 or Mongchontoseong Station Line 8.

Gangnam area

The most densely populated area of Seoul, which was dedicated to the song of the Korean artist under the pseudonym PSY, gaining millions of views on Youtube a few years ago. Luxurious hotels, bars, restaurants known throughout the country, as well as offices of the largest corporations - all this is here.

Gangnam area

How to get there: subway Gangnam, Samseong on line 2.

COEX Aquarium

The largest aquarium in the capital, located in the COEX shopping center. Here you will see fish and marine life from all over the world: sharks, electric rays, piranhas and many others.

Opening hours: 10:00-20:00

Cost: All-Day Ticket 28,000/25,000/22,000 won Adults/Teens 13-18/Children 3-12

How to get there: Samseong subway line 2.

Lotte World Amusement Park

Biggest indoor park entertainment in the world with museums, an ice skating rink, a huge shopping center and a hotel. Children will like it here more because extreme rides almost not.

Where to go in Seoul? Lotte World

Opening hours: 09:30-22:00

Cost: Full Day Ticket 52,000/45,000/41,000/13,000 won Adults/Teens/Children/Toddlers

How to get there: Jamsil metro line 2 or 8.

Everland Extreme Park

But if you want to tickle your nerves, go to Everland. It is better to choose a weekday, as the park is visited by the townspeople on weekends and it is not overcrowded here. The whole complex is divided into 5 thematic zones, there is also a water park, a zoo, a safari.

Opening hours: 10:00-21:00 (subject to change)

Cost: Full-day ticket 54,000/43,000 won adults/children

How to get there: Bus 5002 from Gangnam Subway Station, Bus 5700 from Gangbyeon Subway Station, Shuttle buses passing through Myeong-dong Station (Exit 2) and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park (Exit 11).

Bukhansan National Park

Koreans love hiking - short and long walks through the mountains lightly, without backpacks (unlike trekking). In that national park to the north of the capital there are all conditions for hiking, take comfortable shoes and clothes, more water and set out to explore different routes, stumbling across old city walls and Buddhist temples along the way.

Cost: free

How to get there: buses 1020, 7022, 7212

Where to go in Seoul and what else to do?

Visit Korean saunas such as Dragon Hill Spa, the complex is located near the train station. Here, as in many similar establishments, you can stay overnight, and it will be cheaper than spending the night in a hotel.

Ride a bike along the Han River. Automated bike rentals are common.

Gate in the city center

Mark Twain said: "Only two things we will regret on our deathbed - that we loved little and traveled little" and I agree with him.

Probably, there is no person who would not want, well, at least a little travel. And whoever claims otherwise, in my opinion, is very cunning. The goals for each person are different - to look, communicate, take a break from everyday work, bask in the sun, eat tasty non-traditional dishes, hide from everyday worries, capture moments ...

At the age of 11 I traveled around Europe by bus, at the age of 18 I left for the USA for 4 months to work and rest ( New York, Washington, D.C.), flew to Saipan. Until now, I enjoy every happy moment I brought back with me. I have already spent 2 years in Seoul and I want to recommend that you see this "Asian New York" for yourself.

Reason #0 You don't need a visa.

Since 2014 has been visa regime canceled to South Korea. Provided that the period of stay does not exceed 60 days, and the purpose of the visit is tourism, visiting friends or relatives, a short business visit or transit.

Reason number 1 Getting there is easy and fast - 3 hours and you are already in Seoul (from the Far East of Russia).

Let's start with Incheon - largest Asian airport with a huge duty free (duty-free zone) and a bunch of places to relax in the process of flights. And the most understandable - you can quickly find out where you are, where to go, where to eat, where to rest, unlike the Bangkok (Thai) airport, for example.

Getting to Seoul itself (about 45 km) is very simple: you can take the subway, bus, taxi (this is much more expensive, especially black). You can ask at the INFORMATION counter at

arrival, showing on the map where you need to get. The bus will take you almost to the very place, from the metro you have to walk a little more. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the center by bus or metro.

Interesting:

Remember, in Korea no house numbers. Or rather, they are, but no one is guided by them, each building has its own name. For example "NC Tower II". It is better if you are not staying at a hotel, take from your friends (or the landlord) the address in Korean with the number and name of the house.

Right at the airport we rent a Korean phone, it’s cheaper to call it in Korea or you can chat for free in the Kakao talk application - this is such a chat + phone program (download and install). They give you an iPhone. There is only a deposit left, you return it there when you fly back home. Russian SIM cards will not work in Korea, they cannot be inserted into a Korean phone! Therefore, either expensive roaming on your phone or rented Korean.

In the subway, you buy a card (T-money), put money on it in the machine (the card itself costs 3,000 won, you can put 5,000 won for the first time for travel). How to do it: you need to put the card itself in the card compartment (it is drawn there), translate the interface into English, select the denomination of the amount to put (for example, 10,000 won), send the bill to the bill acceptor and wait while looking at the screen. The whole thing takes up to 2 minutes. One trip costs from about 1050 won (about 30 rubles). The card can be used on the subway, bus, small shops, such as 7eleven. Be sure to swipe the card when entering and exiting the metro and bus.

This is what the card and 5,000 won bill look like.

Interesting:

Line 5 ( light purple) is the world's longest entirely underground metro line (with a long branch - 52.3 km), surpassing the longest Arbatsko-Pokrovskaya line of the Moscow metro by more than 7 kilometers.

All stations are numbered. So it will be easier to find the right one, because. some may share the same English name.

Wikipedia http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incheon_(airport)
Seoul airport website http://www.airport.kr/eng/

Reason #2 Sightseeing – Seoul is a city of 24 bridges, Gangnam Style and a 600 year old royal palace.

What to see and where to go is not a question in Seoul, 2 years is definitely not enough, but you need to try :)
So I advise you to start with a simple http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul

Historic center of Seoul.

Start the walk from the Cheonggyecheon Stream (you can not from the very beginning - it is very very long), go to the symbol of Seoul - Haechi and his house (purple shell),
further ahead of you central square with a fountain
Sejong Velikovo Museum (free but interesting, right below the square)
and finally Gyeongbokgung Palace

Watch the changing of the guard near the central gate to the royal palace.
I guarantee that you will get tired, but there will be many beautiful pictures.

If you have strength left, you can turn right from the gate and walk along the traditional Insan-dong souvenir street.

River walk.

You can start your tour from Building 63 (Yuksam Building), the tallest building with an observation deck inside. It is often referred to as the "Golden Tower". Inside there is an IMAX cinema (I advise those who have not been, a new look at sound and screen), restaurants, a shopping center and a small aquarium. From the observation deck, you can just see a lot of bridges over the Han River.

Then you can go down to the pier (nearby) and take a walk (preferably in the evening) along the Hangang River on a steamboat (you can do it without dinner, it's cheaper) and see the Banpo Bridge + Fountain " moon rainbow"- got into the Guinness Book of Records as the longest fountain on the bridge. Very beautiful.

Interesting:

If you still decide to go to the cinema in Seoul on your own, don't worry. All films of world distribution (except their native Korean ones) are shown in the original language with Korean subtitles. The most famous and largest network of CGV cinemas (usually occupies from 4 to 10 floors). There are 2D, 3D, 4D…

Namsan Mountain Park and Seoul Tower (N Seoul Tower).

The most famous mountain and the most high point from the Seoul TV tower - Namsan. Inside the tower, which is typical for all Seoul attractions, there is a lot of entertainment, a museum of bears, restaurants, shops. And ... toilets at an altitude of 265m overlooking the city. And downstairs there are benches for lovers - very cool. And you can hang a lock for memory with the inscription "I was here!"

How to get to the TV Tower: A yellow shuttle bus leaves for Namsan Mountain every 5-10 minutes ( Shuttle Buses 02 and 05: Pick up at Chungmuro Subway Station Exit 2, Subway Line 3,4, Station Exit 6

"Tondeipku" 3rd line), and you can get to the top of the mountain without any problems. In addition, as many as three metro lines lead here - the second, third and fifth. Accordingly, you can get off at one of the three stations - Itaewon, Myeongdong or Chungmuro. You can also use the cable car. You can also climb on foot - this pleasure will take about 1.5 hours.

I advise you to go to the NANTA cooking show, it's very cool and great there. A team of chefs-showmen skillfully wields huge knives, cuts vegetables and rushes at the audience. The only thing you can not take pictures during the show. But they like to call Russian and foreign tourists on stage, which is what my daughter-in-law had to experience :) Nantes is famous for not using any language - they just mumble sounds. Gestures, dances and music only.

And also, a bunch of streets with markets, museums and Korean food - Itaewon Street, Insadong, Namdaemun Market. Can I eat national food cheap, buy a bunch of souvenirs, meet Russians)))

It is very spectacular, beautiful and there is a bit of extreme ( roller coaster and attractions). You pay only for admission, all entertainment is free. It is better to go early in the morning - there will be fewer queues and people. There are entire areas just for children, even for them a small roller coaster. Cost from 40,000 won (you can try to find a discount on the Internet for foreign tourists). It is better to choose a weekday - it will be almost 2 times fewer people and no queues for rides.

Also, if you want, go to a huge aquarium in the COEX Shopping Center.

There are aquariums in the form of telephone booths, traffic lights or a hot tub. Lots of different animals, not only fish, jellyfish and turtles. A huge aquarium with sharks and stingrays, as well as a fur seal feeding show. There is a Kimchi museum here, it turns out it's not just spicy cabbage. And a lot of restaurants and shops. The location is also interesting - this is the business district of Gangnam-gu, where there are many skyscrapers and unique buildings.

Can you go to suburb, there are many national towns and villages. There are guided tours. Google to help you.

There is also a trip to DMZ(demilitarized zone) - the saddest area for Koreans, the place of separation of the South and North Korea. But the trip is not cheap, think for yourself.

Reason number 3 Food - I recommend it to all meat lovers or why it is better for vegetarians to relax in India.

Food - yes, this is a separate and huge topic. I'll try to be compact.

Reason #4 To answer the sticky question “Are Koreans 'Asian Jews' or 'Americanized Asians'?

Both are completely true :)

They are almost always cunning and pretend that they do not understand anything. Especially keep your eyes open for taxi drivers.

On the other hand, young people simply love American culture, but they transform it for themselves. For example, favorite place pastime - it's not always clubs (they are quite expensive except for student areas) - but karaoke. Korean karaoke stations are well equipped and there are plenty of them in any area, so finding such “nore-ban”, as karaoke is called in Korean, will not be difficult. Not a single “Korean gathering” is complete without singing. After the Koreans have a bite (after a cafe, a restaurant - they mostly dine there, and not at home), they often go to "nore-ban".

Further, many cinemas have night screenings, which are cheaper than daytime and evening screenings, and usually start at midnight. For example, the time might be 24:20, which means that the session will be today after midnight.

They have a very developed film industry and pop music (“k-pop” is what they call it). It's very specific, but cool. Especially Korean boy's bands.

Black tinted minibuses very often drive around the city, these are mobile centers of stars. A lot of filming takes place on the streets of Seoul, you can see for yourself how the programs are filmed. And also, if you see a Korean with big black glasses, a hat (cap) over his eyes, in a scarf and hiding his face, this is definitely some kind of “star” ... well, or a commoner has done plastic surgery.

They also have the concept of "Dorama". Dorama (from English drama) - television series. Despite the name, dramas are released in various genres - romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, etc.

Interesting:

Although the American way of life was supposed to “corrupt” Korean youth, the traditions of family and relationships turned out to be stronger. In Korea, it is not customary for a guy to meet a girl in public places. Acquaintances mainly take place at work, or during a “blind date” organized by mutual friends. Koreans are very easy to communicate on-line (correspondence, chat rooms, etc.), but when it comes to a real date or meeting, they are very modest).

Naturally, in Korea, a man is more important than a woman, a girl is usually given in marriage and she goes to her husband's family where she is "under the yoke" of her mother-in-law. Only after the birth of a child (ideally a boy) does she have at least some independence. But after 40 years, women here live without working, only for joy: shopping, communicating with friends, “building” a husband. But Korean men, out of grief, love to kiss Soju.

Soju is a traditional Korean alcoholic drink. The volume fraction of alcohol can be from 20% to 45% (the most popular option is 20%). It is made mainly from sweet potatoes or grains. In Korea, it is the main alcoholic drink and has been elevated to the rank of one of the local attractions. There is a soju museum in South Korea.

To be continued …

P.S. I thank my sister-in-law for the help.

What to see in Seoul?

Before I plan my trip, I always do "research" online and articles like this are very helpful in understanding where you are going and what this city has to offer.
Of course, all people are different, so this is my personal opinion on what is worth seeing and what is worth doing in Seoul on the first trip. I hope this information is helpful.

Seoul. Top 1. Gyeongbokgung. Gyeongbok-gung.

Suppose you have only a few hours or one day in Seoul and need to get an idea of the city. In this case, Nastya's article is very suitable for you, she just had a few hours to explore the city and she, like a real travel pro, was able to make the most of this time.

Of course, you need to visit one of the several palaces in Seoul:
Gyeongbokgung Palace (Gyeongbok-gung) is most often chosen. The main residence of the Joseon Dynasty was destroyed during the Japanese occupation, as many architectural monuments of the city and today most of it has been restored.

Ticket price: 3000 ₩.
Open:
January, February: from 9 to 17.
March, April, May: from 9 to 18.
June, July, August: from 9 to 18:30.
September, October: from 9 to 18:00.
November, December: from 9 to 17:00.
Day off: Tuesday.
NB! The latest check-in time is one hour before closing.
The free English tour is available at 11:00, 13:30 and 15:30.

Be sure to watch the colorful changing of the guard ceremony and take pictures with the formidable palace guards.

The palace and the park are striking in their beauty. Its area is so large that people disperse and there is absolutely no sense of presence. a large number people. Very calming scenery beautiful architecture and nature. I think 1.5-2 hours is the average time for this palace.
Directly in front of the palace is Gwanghwamun Square and the Cheonggyecheon Stream starts from it. So, just three attractions in the heart of the city.

There are other palaces in Seoul, I will tell you about one of them another time.

Seoul. Top 2. Insadong. Insa-dong. 인사동.

Insadong is a very picturesque area of Seoul with many traditional Korean art shops, art galleries, antique shops and restaurants.
On Sundays, the Insadong area is visited by about 100,000 people, and all political figures who come to Seoul on a visit must visit this area.
There is a very wide selection of porcelain and lacquered wood items, as well as many small souvenirs.
Also in the Insadong area is the Buddhist temple of Chogyesa (조계사) and the Ssamzigil shopping mall.

Seoul. Top 3. Samcheongdong. Samcheon-dong. 삼청동.
A very cozy, hilly area of Seoul, where there are numerous shops, cafes, galleries. It is very cozy and beautiful here. In October, persimmons had already ripened on the trees, and in the evening it was so pleasant to take a walk, slowly moving from a jewelry store to a clothing store, and from it to a gallery, and then to a cafe. Just take a walk here - feel the city, immerse yourself in it.

There are so many unusual things in the shops, everything is insanely cute and quite affordable.

Behind delicious food be prepared to stand in line, but your expectations will always be met!

Seoul has fantastic food, both street food and coffee shops.

NB: I want to give a little advice: when you arrive in a new city, be sure to go shopping and buy yourself some clothes or accessories, this will help you quickly adapt to the city. In any case, it is better to go to Seoul with an empty suitcase.

Seoul. Top 4. Buamdon. Buam-dong. 부암동.

This is not the most touristy area of Seoul, and you can only get here by bus or taxi (i.e. there is no subway nearby), but this is its charm and charm. Again, small buildings, wires, cafes, hills.

Believe it or not, we went here solely for the cupcakes, yes, yes))) and I do not hesitate to advise you to come to this area, get to it and also come to this fantastic cafe - you will not regret it.

And on the way back, if you are in Seoul in the fall, buy local fruits, for example, absolutely fantastic persimmon.

Seoul. Top 5. Mountains.
Asians love to go to the mountains, they deify them, and if they have a choice: the mountains or the sea, they will choose the mountains without a moment's hesitation. I completely agree with them and advise you to join hundreds of Koreans and climb the mountain.
I offer you two options to choose from:

Option 1: Mount Dobonsan. Dobongsan. 도봉산.

From the center about an hour by subway to Dobongsan station and you can start climbing. In advance, you can buy food for every taste, we took fruits and chestnuts, of course, water.

The ascent is easy, so you don't need any special training, but comfortable shoes are a must.

At the foot of the mountain, everything is equipped for tourists: cafes, souvenir shops, toilets - everything is thought out, so that the rise of the wave is comfortable.

But I suggest you climb the mountain not for the sake of the mountain itself, although it is beautiful and the nature is amazing, at the top (but not at the very top) there is a Buddhist temple. Say it's divine magical place- don't say anything. You have to come here, rise and stay - a dynamic meditation of pure water.

Option 2. Bugaksan. 서울성곽.

If you are not very interested in temples, and it was the temple that impressed us so much on Mount Dobongsan, but you prefer history and views from a height, then go to Mount Bugaksan. It is easier to get to it, we went by bus and the peak is located just behind the Blue House.

From a historical point of view, Mount Bugaksan is interesting in that a fortress wall was built on it in the 14th century, protecting the city from invaders and at the same time pointing to its borders. Wall 18 kilometers long this moment restored only partially.

NB: you need a passport to climb this mountain. each tourist is registered for the ascent. We came to the mountain twice, because the first time we forgot to take our passports!

Keep in mind that the toilet is only on the platform for filling out documents and obtaining a pass.
The climb is quite steep and difficult in places, harder than Mount Dobongsan, so I advise you to either stop to rest more often or be hardy and prepared for hundreds of steps.
Of course, on such an ascent, take a light snack and water.
For all your climbing efforts, you will be richly rewarded fresh air and great views.

Days off: Monday (and Tuesday if the holiday falls on a Monday).

Seoul. Top 6. Shopping.
It seems to me that this point deserves a separate post and, perhaps, someday I will write it. But now I’ll just say that shopping in Seoul is a paradise for girls.

Of course, most of the money set aside for the trip can be safely spent on cosmetics. Everyone, I think, has already heard about it and it makes no sense to write about it in detail here. Remember that when you buy cosmetics in a Korean store, they give you a lot of samples ^_^

In addition to cosmetics, here you can buy very interesting clothes and jewelry.

In addition, there are a lot of all sorts of functional things for the home, as well as just an incredible amount of stationery, which appearance goes off scale in terms of cuteness.
The main places for shopping in Seoul:

markets: Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, Gwangjang;
Myeong-dong (Myeong-dong);
Insadong, about which we have already spoken above;
Apgujeong - expensive shops and brands.
Hongdae - small private shops, a lot of vintage, reasonable prices;
Itaewon (Itaewon) - we were not, but many praise;
Gangnam (Gangam) - either for shopping or just to know what the song is about;
Shopping center COEX mall.

PS: when buying cosmetics in Seoul, you will receive samples with each purchase =) I have accumulated decently.

Seoul. Top 7. Food.

Like the previous point, Korean food is a separate topic.

I will definitely make a list of dishes that I would advise you to try in Seoul, but general advice- eat! (Already wrote -) In Seoul, everything is very tasty!

If you don't know Korean, then you will most likely have to avoid restaurants without English menus and pictures, but there are. There is an option - to ask the hotel to write the name of the dishes in Korean and come with these notes to the cafe.

If you will be staying at guest house then ask the hosts to order you takeaway))) it's very popular in Seoul and very interesting as an experience.

Everyone knows that Korean food is very spicy, it's really spicy and really very spicy. So, if you don't like spicy - ………..maybe you will love it? But if you have ulcers, gastritis and other stomach problems, take care of yourself and stock up, just in case, medicines, as it will be very difficult to avoid sharpness.

NB: If you're a vegetarian, then maybe you are. it will be hard in Seoul, because very many dishes either directly contain meat or fish, or are made on their basis (broths, etc.). I can recommend the restaurant for vegetarians and vegans Loving Hut. Address: Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Gaepo-dong 1218-16. They are open from 11am to 11pm and accept cash only.

PS:
Very often in the lists of attractions in Seoul indicate observation tower Seoul Tower and Bukchon Traditional Village.
As for the Seoul Tower, I did not include it in my list, because. We were there and we did not like it for several reasons:

it is quite difficult to get to it;
there were sooo many people and terrible queues, both on the rise and on the descent;
this is the only place in Seoul where we met compatriots ^_^;
at the top of the tower there is a closed observation deck, so the beauty of the view is zero.

Traditional houses in Bukchon are a must see, but since we lived in the Rakkojae hanok, which is located in this area, we didn’t just look at these buildings from the outside, but had the opportunity to live in one of them. So, if you are not planning to live in a hanok, then be sure to come and walk around Bukchon.

Also, I didn’t write out the Jeonggyechon Stream and Gwanhwamun Square separately, since these two attractions are very close to the Gyeongbokgung Palace and it’s impossible not to notice them, it’s logical to visit at the same time with the palace.

Have a good trip to Seoul!

All photos are taken by me (with Canon EOS M) and are my property

Seoul attractions map

Seoul, like most cities in the countries of this part of the world, which have experienced a period of rapid development in recent decades, both economic and technological, resemble a picture from science fiction novels of the last century. It combines the most modern skyscrapers, amazing technical innovations, many of which have not yet reached Europe and America, and ancient pagodas built several centuries ago. In a word, tours to Seoul can be compared with a trip to the future - the way science fiction writers imagined it.

The basis of the historical sights of Seoul are five palaces with difficult names for Europeans, built during the reign of the Joseon Dynasty, which owned the royal throne from the 14th to the 19th centuries. The first and main one is the Gyeongbokgung Palace, which was built at the very beginning of their reign and served as a residence for the rulers. Unfortunately, the palace was destroyed twice during the Japanese invasions of the country, and today only ten of the three hundred buildings that once stood here remain. Now the palace has been converted into museum complex, whose main attractions are the throne room geunjeongjeon and pavilion Gyeonghoeru, built in the middle of the lake, is open to the public throughout the year. The second palace, Changdeokgung, built a little later, is better preserved than the other "brothers" and today appears to tourists almost the same as it was built at the beginning of the 15th century. On the territory of the palace is oldest bridge Seoul, and its backyard, which measures more than thirty hectares, is a luxurious garden with lawns, ponds and trees, some of which have celebrated their 300th anniversary.

Castle Changgyeonggung formally does not belong to the buildings of the Joseon Dynasty, because it was erected at the beginning of the 12th century, when other monarchs ruled the country, however, due to the fact that the rulers of Joseon rebuilt this palace, its construction is also ranked among their merits. Changgyeonggung was no more fortunate than other palaces, but after the restoration carried out in the last century, it looks almost the same as at the time of the reconstruction. Deoksugung Palace is the smallest of the Five Palaces, and in addition, only on its territory there are two buildings in a modern style, erected at the beginning of the last century. Of the almost two hundred buildings that once stood here, about a dozen survived. Today, the palace houses two museums, one of which houses the treasures of the Joseon Dynasty, and the second houses a branch of the Museum of National Art of Korea. And, finally, the last in the list, and, perhaps, in importance is the Gyeonghuigung Palace, which is rightly considered the most beautiful of the five. Unlike other "big five" palaces, Gyeongheegung was built with the terrain in mind, and therefore its buildings seem to have grown out of the ground. Seoulian works in the palace historical Museum, which stores exhibits related to various eras of the life of this ancient state.

Those who want to know what to see in Seoul in order to get even closer to the history of Korea should point their feet to the foot of Namsan Mountain, where the Namsangol Hanok village is located - a kind of museum on the territory of which five traditional Korean houses were erected, in which people of different classes lived - from the poor to the monarchs. Each house is an exact copy of the real homes of Koreans, and in one of them a Korean wedding ceremony is shown every weekend for city guests. Climbing Mount Namsan itself on a funicular, you can visit the modern attraction of Seoul - Seoul TV Tower, - the tallest building in the city, which is also one of the most popular tourist destinations thanks to the observation deck, which offers a panoramic view of the Korean capital. There is also a digital observatory in the TV tower, as well as many restaurants and shops. Sometimes in winter, when air pollution in the city drops below a certain level, the TV tower is illuminated with blue color beams.

Another modern attraction in Seoul is the Yuksam Building skyscraper. On one of the three underground floors of the tower is a giant aquarium 63 sea world and Asia's largest IMAX cinema. The Seoul Museum is located in the same building. wax figures and the highest observation deck in the world. Fans of everything “the very best” should visit the world's largest indoor amusement park Lotte World, which, in addition to attractions, has a skating rink, one of the best hotels Seoul and also ethnographical museum with an exposition telling about the history of the country.

Speaking about the sights of Seoul in particular and the country as a whole, one cannot fail to mention the museum dedicated to the main dish of both Koreas - kimchi. This unique exposition is located in the shopping and entertainment complex COEX, which in itself is an interesting attraction. Here you can feel the fiery sharpness of kimchi on your own taste buds, as well as marvel at the skill of people who made models of this dish so that they cannot be distinguished from real food.

In the evening, when darkness falls on the city, you should not rush to your hotel in Seoul, because it is at this time that the fancy illumination of the fountains on the Rainbow Fountain Bridge turns on. This spectacle is truly mesmerizing and you can look at it for as long as you like without fear of late walks around Seoul, because this beautiful city is also famous for the almost complete absence of crime.