With motion pictures, music, meals choices and extra, South Korea continues to develop more and more in style with travellers heading to Asia, with many choosing the mega-city of Seoul to expertise a style of what this fascinating nation has to supply.
Seoul is an enchanting metropolis to enterprise via, with the choices of its huge metropolis sprawl catering to all; from purchasing, to eating places, and even mountains throughout the metropolis to traverse. It might all get a bit overwhelming if you happen to haven’t deliberate forward! With that thoughts, we requested our Korea Regional Specialist, Matt, to inform us the easiest way to spend 48 hours in Seoul, together with the the belongings you merely should strive whilst you’re within the capital.
Day 1
When beginning with any capital metropolis, it’s necessary to get a flavour of the historical past – and Seoul definitely has that on provide!
Begin by heading to Gwanghwamun, a protracted well-known stretch of highway and residential to 2 iconic statues of King Sejong the Nice and Admiral Yi Solar-shin. King Sejong, a reputation that you could be hear often all through the period of your keep, is taken into account some of the necessary figures in Korean historical past for his invention of Hangeul, the Korean writing system.
Proceed progressing additional down Gwanghwamun till you attain Gyeongbok Palace. When you’ve timed it proper, you ought to be there to see the altering of the palace guards that happens each day at 10 am. After that, you may enterprise into the palace, however why not do it in model? Within the areas on both aspect of Gyeongbok Palace are plenty of hanbok rental outlets, the normal Korean formal put on. Not solely will you look gorgeous as you wander the grounds, however you may then additionally enterprise into all of Seoul’s palaces freed from cost! Simply bear in mind to not get too snug, as you’ll have to discover time take it again earlier than the agreed deadline.
When you end perusing the palace, head to the east exit and to Bukchon Hanok Village, an space of winding streets crammed with tea homes, treats and conventional buildings (hanoks), best for getting these scenic images that seamlessly mix the outdated with the brand new.
Meandering southwards ought to see you stroll in direction of Insadong and the various outlets on provide there. When you’re searching for your commonplace souvenirs, this could be the place to seek out them. Nevertheless, there are many Ssamziegil, a collection of shops spiralling upwards providing crafts, presents and small cafes. This consists of one close to the summit that’ll have you ever reaching for the bathroom bowl… No significantly, it’s a poop-inspired cafe known as Ddong Café!
After spending your financial savings on souvenirs for these again residence, it’s time to proceed your journey, heading eastwards barely in direction of Jogyesa Temple. Usually, that is the place New 12 months is rung in on December thirty first however, for a considerably hotter and crowd pleasing show, time your go to for Could and you could get to witness a whole lot of dazzling lanterns to have fun the birthday of Buddha.
Heading additional south will finally convey you again to Myeongdong, the place yow will discover a ton of retailers, malls, road distributors and eating places. One specific institution price investigating is Myeongdong Kyoja Kalguksu, an inexpensive, Michelin-star restaurant specialising in knife noodles (kalguksu) in a hen broth, with dumplings and grilled floor pork. No reservations can be found right here, so it’s a case of getting there early and ready in line.
After filling up on meals, head south of Myeongdong in direction of the cable automotive station. Right here, you may journey as much as the summit of Namsan mountain to the enduring Seoul N Tower for round 16,000 Received return. Upon arriving on the base of the tower, there are a selection of choices forward of you. Be happy to soak up the Seoul metropolis skyline from there, or head as much as the observatory deck for an extra price to get a good clearer view.
When you’re unsure on the visibility from up there, merely examine the color of the tower at evening, as a result of it displays the air high quality and thus ought to offer you a superb indicator. Inexperienced is nice, yellow ought to nonetheless be okay, and crimson implies that it’s finest to remain on the backside. When you can’t see it, then both the visibility could be very unhealthy or it’s closed!
You’ll have additionally observed the ‘padlocks of affection’ across the foot of the tower, and you can also place your personal if you happen to so select. Padlocks can be found within the Namsan reward store however, for these considering forward, cheaper ones can be found in Myeongdong. After you end wanting over it’s time to move again down, both through cable automotive once more or one of many buses that head into town.
Day 2
Whereas 48 hours is probably not lengthy sufficient to squeeze in a go to to the DMZ, there are definitely strong choices in terms of understanding a troublesome interval in Korea’s historical past. The Nationwide Warfare Museum close to Samgakji station Exit 12 is an enchanting and sombre exploration of Korea’s previous, with flooring devoted to early historical past, their interval of occupation and the Korean Warfare that brutally divided the nation into the north and south it’s now referred to.
After a few hours within the museum, head north on Line 4 to Dongdaemun – or, if you happen to completed sooner than anticipated, Dongdaemun Historical past and Tradition Park on the station earlier than. On the Historical past and Tradition Park you will see that the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Previously a baseball stadium, it was transformed within the early noughties right into a hub of artwork, design and trend. Whilst you could not have time for all of that, it’s definitely price having a peruse inside. In right here, you’ll discover small craft outlets from native artists and retailers – a singular memento of your time right here.
Barely north is Dongdaemun, and it’s right here yow will discover indoor markets, excellent for garments purchasing on a price range. Enterprise eastwards via the choices that Dongdaemun gives and onto Gwangjang Meals Market. Right here you’ll discover an abundance of road distributors lined below one roof serving up among the most scrumptious snacks Seoul has to supply.
Take a while right here to pattern a number of choices, particularly among the extra well-known snacks equivalent to mung bean pancakes (bindaetteok), fish cake soup (eomukguk) and dumplings (mandu). Do convey money, nonetheless. Whereas there are lots of distributors that do take card, most deal solely in money or financial institution switch.
After filling up, head south of the river on line 3 from close by Euljiro 3-ga station, to the Categorical Bus Terminal. Whilst you is probably not leaving town but, from right here it’s quickest to stroll to Han River Park subsequent to Banpo Bridge. Merely depart the station at exit 8-1 and head straight till you attain the nook with the overpass. Flip proper right here and hold strolling till you attain the park space. As soon as on the park, be happy to have a look round. There are bike rental shops simply as you enter the park to your proper or a number of cafes and eating places on SEBITSEOM Floating Islands. No matter you select, although, be certain to be inside view of the bridge as nightfall attracts close to.
Banpo Bridge is a two-tiered bridge crossing the River Han, with the decrease tier typically changing into submerged throughout Korea’s wet season. Nevertheless, you might be right here for greater than the structure as this bridge can also be residence to the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, a fountain and lightweight present that takes place each evening between April and October. The fountains begin each half hour from 7:30 pm and run till 9:30 pm.
Venturing again northwards on line 3, spherical your evening off in Seoul with a go to to Ikseondong Hanok Village. Whereas this assortment of transformed hanoks, tightly knitted collectively via sprawling alleys is crammed stuffed with vacationers through the day, a go to at evening ought to make for a much less tense and extra distinctive expertise. Depart at Jogno 3-ga station exit 6, flip proper again in direction of the crossroads after which left into the village. You’ll first be greeted by a big collection of Korean BBQ eating places grilling lengthy into the evening. If you’re starting to rediscover your urge for food, why not take this as your alternative to strive one in every of Korea’s hottest dishes? Many of those locations are of fine high quality, so discover a restaurant with a desk and get caught in!
Lastly, end your 48 hours in Seoul at one of many few trendy hanok bars or cafes Ikseon-dong has to supply. Aledang is a private favorite, with its relaxed indoor courtyard and inexpensive collection of craft beers. Nevertheless, if this isn’t your factor, then a number of doorways down is the well-known Nakwon Station Cafe, an aesthetic hanok cafe with rail tracks working via the center of it, providing a collection of positive espresso and truffles to assist spherical off your keep in Korea’s capital.
If Seoul sounds just like the place for you, you then’re in luck! The Dragon Journey visits Seoul on all of our Korea excursions. Go to our web page right here to seek out out extra!
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