Trip to Trendy Seoul
1 cities |
13 attraction(s) |
total distance 25
km
TIPS
Day1
Day2
Day3
Day1: Seoul
5 attraction(s) ·
6 km
2
There are ancient traditional Hanok buildings, galleries, and cafes on the road of Samcheongdong, where modernity and tradition harmonize with each other, forming a unique atmosphere. The tranquil walking paths, galleries, museums, antique shops, etc., make this place full of rich cultural atmosphere.
2
km
3
Gyeongbokgung Palace is the first palace built during the early period of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and has a history of 600 years. It is one of the five grand palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Gyeonghuigung) and features unique palace buildings such as the Geunjeongjeon Hall and the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion. The palace also houses the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum, offering visitors a chance to enjoy sightseeing and cultural experiences.
As a popular tourist attraction in Seoul, the palace's surroundings include the National Palace Museum to the west of Heungnyemun Gate and the National Museum of Art to the east of Hyangwonjeong Pavilion within Gyeongbokgung Palace. The entrance ticket booth can be found after entering Gwanghwamun Gate. For those interested in experiencing traditional Korean culture, they can witness the changing of the guards ceremony. Whether it is exciting or not depends on personal preferences, but it is definitely nice to take a free photo with the guards.
The name "Gyeongbokgung" means "May the blessings of heaven be abundantly bestowed upon this place, and may national affairs thrive." It embodies the aspirations of the founding of the Joseon Dynasty. Completed in 1395 with over 390 buildings at the time, the palace was primarily used as a royal residence and government center until it was burned down during the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1592. It remained abandoned for 273 years until it was restored during the reign of King Gojong. It suffered severe damage during the Japanese colonial period, with some buildings being demolished to make way for the Japanese Governor-General's Office. The palace gradually recovered after liberation and the reconstruction of the South Gate and Gwanghwamun Gate site was completed in 2010. Gyeongbokgung Palace offers guided tours in Mandarin Chinese, departing from the information center inside Heungnyemun Gate at 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, and 4:00 PM daily.
3
km
4
Insa-dong, similar to Shanghai's Tianzifang, is located just steps away from Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is a small area consisting of one main street and a few perpendicular alleys. During ancient times, it was a gathering place for the noble class in Korea. As the Joseon Dynasty declined, many financially struggling noble families sold their antique artworks, turning Insa-dong into an antique street. Today, Insa-dong is home to numerous art galleries, museums, and specialty shops. Walking along the stone-paved streets of Insa-dong, you can feel the history embedded in every brick and tile, experiencing the coexistence of classical and avant-garde Korean culture. Even the Starbucks in Insa-dong has changed its signage to Korean characters, fitting in with the surroundings.
When entering the street, you will find an Insa-dong map on the wall, as well as a tourist information point. Here, you can find the largest number of souvenir stores and unique Korean traditional tea shops in Seoul. Drinking traditional Korean tea in Insa-dong has become a special activity, with a variety of traditional Korean teas and snacks available. The atmosphere here is particularly pleasant, so finding a traditional tea house after shopping is truly enjoyable. In addition, if you want to find some Korean souvenirs that are not available elsewhere, take some time to browse here, and you will definitely not be disappointed. Even local Koreans are not very familiar with the items in Insa-dong. Have you watched the movie "Innocent Steps" starring Jang Jin-young? There is a unique sense of mystery here that is worth exploring.
1
km
5
Cheonggyecheon is an artificial river in Seoul, South Korea, with a total length of about 13.7 kilometers. It was excavated in the Joseon Dynasty to solve the problem of rainwater accumulation in the city. Cheonggyecheon used to be used as a sewer, but it was transformed into a famous international tourist attraction in 2005. It is the second largest tributary of the Han River and flows into the Han River after merging with Jungnangcheon, the largest tributary, in the eastern part of the city.
Day2: Seoul
5 attraction(s) ·
12 km
1
Trickeye is a 3D art museum with branches in Seoul, Busan, and Jeju in South Korea. Its unique paintings and 3D displays attract numerous tourists from South Korea, China, and Southeast Asia. With the expansion and promotion of the museum, it has become a famous tourist attraction in South Korea, attracting 150,000 Chinese tourists every year. Trickeye uses the technique of trompe-l'oeil to create a three-dimensional effect from two-dimensional paintings, giving visitors a vivid visual experience. Visitors can also pose in front of the paintings for fun photos, creating a feeling of being inside the artwork and leaving a lasting memory of this interesting trip. The Trickeye Art Museum consists of the Trickeye Main Gallery, Santorini Gallery, Mirror Maze, and Santorini Cafe. The artworks on display are diverse, with humorous reinterpretations of famous paintings and cleverly presented scenes from everyday life, offering customers the chance to experience Korean classical culture through paintings, which is a major highlight of the museum.
1
km
2
The surrounding area of Hongik University, a famous location in the popular Korean drama "Gentleman's Dignity", is well-known for its delicious restaurants, trendy clothing stores, and vibrant street culture. The art department of Hongik University is also highly respected in Korea, which has greatly influenced the thriving street culture in the surrounding area. Street performances can be seen here every day, lasting well into the night and drawing large crowds. The nightlife scene is also popular, making it a great place to have a lively and energetic night out, especially for young people.
4
km
3
Ewha Womans University (이화여자대학교) is the largest and highly esteemed women's university in the world. The beautiful campus and numerous graceful Ewha girls have attracted many foreign tourists. The scenery of Ewha is famous for its beauty, with vibrant red maple leaves in autumn and blooming cherry blossoms in spring. The surrounding quaint teaching buildings are surrounded by lush greenery, lively and beautiful. If you take a break on the Ewha campus when you are tired of walking on the streets of Seoul, you will discover stone-built school buildings like those in fairy tales, quiet gardens on hillsides, and campus avenues lined with ginkgo trees. The beautiful faces that resemble pear blossoms are enough to make people fall in love with this place. There is a faint romantic and aesthetic feeling in the air of the entire Ewha campus. The university arranges campus guides who are current students, and there are also many unique shops and restaurants around Ewha.
1
km
4
Ewha Womans University Museum was established in 1935. It was originally called Ewha School and was renamed Ewha Womans University in 1948. The university was built to preserve the country's cultural heritage under Japanese imperialism. The museum mainly houses folklore items, woodworking products, ceramics, and other collections collected by professors and students at that time. Several First Ladies, including Kim Yoon-ok, the wife of former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, have graduated from this university.
8
km
5
Introduction: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is a fusion of traditional historical architecture and cutting-edge modern technology. It includes historical sites such as Seoul City Wall and Two Water Gates (265m 8,030㎡), as well as the Dongdaemun History Museum (1,313㎡), Dongdaemun Relics Exhibition Area (4,460㎡), Dongdaemun Sports Field Memorial Hall (339㎡), Event Hall (2,058㎡), Design Gallery (400㎡), and other buildings.
Scale: Total area of 62,692㎡ / Building area of 25,104㎡ / Total area of 86,574㎡
Scale: 3 basements and 4 above-ground floors
Activities: Exhibitions (Seoul Architecture Culture Festival, Bai Nanzhun Show, etc.), events (Hera Seoul Fashion Week, Farmers' Market, etc.), architectural tours, group tours of DDP (20 people or more), free self-guided tours of DDP, children's programs (design playground, workshops, etc.).
Main facilities: Art Center (Art 1 Hall, Art 2 Hall, International Conference Room), Cultural Center (Design Museum, Design Exhibition Hall, Design Path, Museum Cafe), Design Center (Design 1 Hall, Design 2 Hall, Green Rest Area, Design Academic Hall), Dongdaemun Historical and Cultural Park (Environmentally-friendly park with Design Gallery, Dongdaemun Sports Memorial Hall, Dongdaemun History Museum), Harmony Square (a space built for the convenience of visitors to DDP and to enhance the development of surrounding commercial areas, open 24 hours), Design Angle (a complex store offering cultural merchandise, experiential activities, shop-in-shop, etc.).
Day3: Seoul
3 attraction(s) ·
8 km
1
Pear Blossom Cave Mural Village (이화마을) is a small village located on the east side of Naksan Park, built against the mountain. Various patterns are painted on the steps and walls, such as cute Avengers at the entrance, flower-filled stairs, and "little dogs" peering out from the walls of houses. The mural staircase has also been visited by Wang Shizi from the Korean idol drama "Rooftop Prince." Come to the mural village and take some photos!
4
km
2
Myeongdong Cathedral is located in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is a Gothic-style cathedral of the Seoul Metropolitan Archdiocese. The church was opened in 1898 and dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1945, to celebrate independence from Japanese colonial rule, the cathedral changed its name from Jongno Cathedral to its current name. Due to the role of the Catholic Church in Korean society, the cathedral often appears in political events. Behind the church is the Mary's Garden, where organ concerts are sometimes held at noon, and a midnight Mass is held on December 24th each year.
5
km
3
N Seoul Tower is located on Namsan Mountain in the Yongsan District of Seoul, South Korea. It was built in 1975 and opened to the public on October 15, 1980. The tower, standing at 236.7 meters tall, is a famous tourist attraction for enjoying the night view of Seoul.
Originally built as a television transmission tower, Seoul Tower did not attract many visitors due to its outdated facilities and poor service. After CJ Corporation signed a 10-year lease contract with YTN News Channel in 2000 to take over the management of Namsan Tower, they invested 15 billion Korean won to renovate it. On December 9, 2005, the newly refurbished tower reemerged as N Seoul Tower, with "N" representing both the first letter of Namsan and the meaning of "New." The project included the installation of lighting equipment suitable for different seasons and events, as well as beautification of the tower. From 7 PM to 12 AM, six searchlights create the image of blooming flowers in the sky, known as the "Flowers of Seoul."
N Seoul Tower is considered the symbol of Seoul and a must-visit place for tourists. Taking the cable car up to the tower allows visitors to enjoy the panoramic view of Seoul, hang love locks, and experience the unique feeling of dining in a high-altitude restaurant while overlooking the city. The second-floor restroom is called the "Sky restroom" because it offers a breathtaking view of Seoul through the window, attracting many tourists to take a visit. Additionally, the tower has various other facilities, making it a truly multi-purpose cultural space.
The Teddy Bear Museum on Seoul Tower has been closed.
