By air
Incheon International (ICN), ~50 km; the AREX takes ~45 min
East Asia · South Korea
Seoul, South Korea
Palaces, K-culture and all-night markets
Getting there
Best time to visit
April to May and September to November — mild and clear
Don't miss
Gyeongbokgung
Bukchon Hanok Village
N Seoul Tower
Changdeokgung's Secret Garden
Things to do
Gyeongbokgung in hanbok
Bukchon's hanok alleys
Myeongdong shopping
Evenings in the Han River parks
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: 라성민 · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Layers, comfortable shoes, a transit card
A quieter corner
Ihwa Mural Village above Naksan Park
Questions travellers ask
What's the best time of year to visit Seoul?
April to May or September to November, when the weather is mild and clear.
How do I get from Incheon airport into Seoul?
Incheon International (ICN) is about 50 km out, and the AREX takes around 45 minutes. Pick up a transit card for getting around.
What are the must-try foods in Seoul?
Bindaetteok at Gwangjang Market, Korean barbecue and street tteokbokki.
What are some classic Seoul experiences?
See Gyeongbokgung in hanbok, wander Bukchon's hanok alleys, shop in Myeongdong and spend an evening in the Han River parks.
About Seoul
- Riverside
Where it is
Seoul, the capital of South Korea, straddles the Han River in the north-west of the country, ringed by granite mountains such as Bukhansan, with the port city of Incheon on the Yellow Sea to the west.
History
Seoul, then called Hanyang, became the capital of the Joseon dynasty in 1394 and was enclosed by a fortress wall pierced by great gates such as Sungnyemun. After Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945 and heavy damage in the Korean War, it was rebuilt into a vast modern metropolis and hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1988.
People
Seoulites speak Korean, written in the hangul alphabet created under King Sejong in the 15th century. Hanbok is worn for Seollal, the Lunar New Year, and for Chuseok, the harvest festival, and neighbourhood life revolves around markets, tea houses and restaurants serving kimchi stew, bibimbap and Korean fried chicken.
Known for
- Gyeongbokgung and the Joseon palaces
- The hanok houses of Bukchon
- Korean barbecue and Gwangjang Market's stalls
- K-pop, K-drama and Gangnam
- Hiking in Bukhansan National Park
Did you know?
Cheonggyecheon, a stream that had been covered by a road and an elevated highway, was uncovered and restored as a stream-side walkway through the city centre, reopening in 2005.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.