Lonely Planet Korea

,

• Publisher: Lonely Planet
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN:
  9781788681797
• Print ISBN:
  9781786572899

Seoul

Sights

Activities

Courses

Tours

Festivals & Events

Sleeping

Eating

Drinking & Nightlife

Entertainment

Shopping

Seoul

%02 / Pop 10.17 million

Why Go?

Fashion- and technology-forward but also deeply traditional, this dynamic city mashes up palaces, temples, cutting-edge design and mountain trails, all to a nonstop K-Pop beat.

Over the last decade, Seoul has also worked to soften its industrial hard edges into an appealing urban ideal of parks, culture and relaxed spaces. But whatever you want, at any time of day or night, this city can provide. An early-morning temple visit could lead to a palace tour followed by tea sipping in Bukchon and gallery-hopping in Samcheong-dong. Soju (local vodka) and snacks in a street-tent bar will fuel you for shopping at the buzzing Dongdaemun or Namdaemun night markets, partying in Hongdae or Itaewon, or singing in a self-service karaoke noraebang. Follow this with steaming, soaking and snoozing in a jjimjilbang (sauna and spa). By the time you look at your watch, it will be dawn again.

When to Go

• Apr–May Blossoming flowers and festivals like Buddha’s Birthday and the Lotus Lantern Festival.
• Oct Go hiking in rustic-coloured mountains and enjoy Seoul Fireworks Festival and KIAF art fair.
• Nov–Jan Wrap up for Seoul Lantern Festival, then hit the ice rink or warm up in a sauna.

Best Places to Eat

AJungsik

ANoryangjin Fish Market

ACongdu

ASamwon Garden

AGwangjang Market

AOnion

Best Places to Stay

AHide & Seek Guesthouse

APark Hyatt Seoul

ASmall House Big Door

AItaewon...

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• Welcome to Korea
• Korea’s Top 13
• Need to Know
• First Time Korea
• If You Like…
• Month by Month
• Itineraries
• Outdoor Activities
• Regions at a Glance
• Seoul
• Around Seoul
• Gangwon-do
• Gyeongsangbuk-do
• Busan & Gyeongsangnam-do
• Jeollanam-do
• Jeju-do
• Jeollabuk-do
• Chungcheongnam-do
• Chungcheongbuk-do
• North Korea
• Korea Today
• History
• The Korean People
• In the Korean Kitchen
• Architecture & the Arts
• The Natural Environment
• Directory A–Z
• Transport
• Language
• Behind the Scenes
• Our Writers