The city of Seoul has many faces. It’s a city made of buildings, but also a magical city made of palaces, ancient buildings, and mountain ranges further north. There are hundreds of reasons to visit Seoul. I’ve listed seven reasons to visit Seoul in this post. 

💘Hiking in the Bukhansan massif. For me, who loves hiking, it was a favorite. I advise you not to tackle it on the first day of vacation, with the fatigue of the trip it is not worth it. Hiking still requires being in good physical condition. We thought that the weekend would be the highway but finally everyone does it at their own pace and there is room to enjoy the climb. Because we do 836m over 3.5km. So 3.5 hours of climbing… There is a beginning part which is accessible to all then begins an intermediate level with steps and finally we finish with the expert level with chains and stakes planted to access the highest point. I do not recommend the last part to people prone to vertigo. 

Several times we woke up to a veil of mist over the city of Seoul that didn’t dissipate much during the day, and we finally realized, with the multitude of masks on Korean faces, that it was pollution. So getting away from it a little to breathe some fresh air is only beneficial. 

Seoul is home to five palaces. Each palace is grandiose and worth a visit. A palace is like a maze of interior streets with a whole mini-city ecosystem. With their architecture, colors, and layouts, these palaces will captivate you. This place attracts both locals and foreigners. You’ll see Koreans and tourists in traditional hanbok attire. The young girls also have their hair done and wear traditional jewelry. It’s simply magical. 

If you arrive during cherry blossom season, you’ll see how a tree can become an attraction during this time of year. Those petals flying, which we can’t capture on video, are magical moments. So what will paradise be like?

Pro tip: Postcards at the palace shop are cheaper and more beautiful!!

Depending on the neighborhood you visit, you’ll be in a different world. For example, if you take photos at the palace, you won’t have the buildings in the background. When you’re surrounded by buildings, you’ll feel like you’re in another city. By visiting Buckchon Village or Hanok Village, you’ll be transported to another era. 

Pro Tip: This is a fairly quiet, residential area. Ensuring that this same quietness is respected is also a tourist’s duty. 

You’ll definitely enjoy walking through Namsan Park with the experience of trying on hanbok and taking pictures with the guards. Then, you can follow the old wall and have a view of Myongdong. This is where you’ll find the Seoul Tower. There’s a sort of glass room with tables and chairs behind the souvenir shop that overlooks Seoul (if it rains), and otherwise the terrace, which looks like the Pont des Arts in Paris, will be perfect. Lovers can hang a padlock and ribbons there.

Insadong is the area of ​​souvenir shops run by locals. In Europe, they are often run by foreigners. You can see people making “the king’s sweet” in Insadong (very good and melts in the mouth) and stock up on unique souvenirs. I tried the red bean-filled donut there. It’s not bad! 

Myongdong is also a shopping district. There are plenty of small eateries where you can eat directly from the stalls. It’s the perfect area to buy food and beauty products: that lip tint you’ve been looking for!

Myongdong is also home to a Daiso store where you can buy local souvenirs without breaking the bank. 

Binsu itself is a necessary and sufficient reason to go to South Korea. It’s a dessert made with ice cream and a seasoning of your choice. Here, we had red bean powder and rice cakes. It’s a must-try during your visit. 

Final words

To conclude this article on Seoul, I would say that Seoul is a modern city, ultra-connected from the airport to all tourist sites. Seoul has many faces: natural and urban, traditional and modern. I would never recommend visiting this country highly enough. 

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