With motion pictures, tune, meals choices and extra, South Korea continues to develop increasingly more well-liked by travellers heading to Asia, with many choosing the mega-city of Seoul to revel in a style of what this attention-grabbing nation has to supply.
Seoul is an interesting city to project thru, with the choices of its huge metropolis sprawl catering to all; from buying groceries, to eating places, or even mountains throughout the metropolis to traverse. It could possibly all get a bit of overwhelming in case you haven’t deliberate forward! With that thoughts, we requested our Korea Regional Specialist, Matt, to let us know one of the simplest ways to spend 48 hours in Seoul, at the side of the the stuff you merely should take a look at when 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 for sure has that on be offering!
Get started through 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 you can pay attention continuously all through the period of your keep, is thought of as probably the most necessary figures in Korean historical past for his invention of Hangeul, the Korean writing gadget.
Proceed progressing additional down Gwanghwamun till you succeed in Gyeongbok Palace. Should you’ve timed it proper, you must be there to peer the converting of the palace guards that happens day-to-day at 10 am. After that, you’ll project into the palace, however why no longer do it in taste? Within the spaces on both sides of Gyeongbok Palace are numerous hanbok condo retail outlets, the normal Korean formal put on. Now not simplest will you glance shocking as you wander the grounds, however you’ll then additionally project into all of Seoul’s palaces without spending a dime! Make sure that you no longer get too relaxed, as you’ll have to to find time take it again sooner than the agreed closing date.
Whenever you end perusing the palace, head to the east go out and to Bukchon Hanok Village, a space of winding streets full of tea homes, treats and conventional structures (hanoks), best for buying the ones scenic footage that seamlessly mix the outdated with the brand new.
Meandering southwards must see you walk against Insadong and the various retail outlets on be offering there. Should you’re searching for your same old souvenirs, this could be where to seek out them. Then again, there are many Ssamziegil, a choice of retail outlets spiralling upwards providing crafts, presents and small cafes. This comprises one close to the summit that’ll have you ever achieving for the bathroom bowl… No severely, it’s a poop-inspired cafe known as Ddong Café!
After spending your financial savings on souvenirs for the ones again house, it’s time to proceed your adventure, heading eastwards quite against Jogyesa Temple. In most cases, that is the place New Yr is rung in on December thirty first however, for a rather hotter and crowd pleasing show, time your consult with for Might and you will get to witness masses of dazzling lanterns to have a good time the birthday of Buddha.
Heading additional south will ultimately carry you again to Myeongdong, the place you’ll discover a ton of retail outlets, division retail outlets, boulevard distributors and eating places. One specific status quo price investigating is Myeongdong Kyoja Kalguksu, an reasonably priced, Michelin-star eating place specialising in knife noodles (kalguksu) in a hen broth, with dumplings and grilled flooring beef. No reservations are to be had right here, so this can be a case of having there early and ready in line.
After filling up on meals, head south of Myeongdong against the cable automobile station. Right here, you’ll trip as much as the summit of Namsan mountain to the enduring Seoul N Tower for round 16,000 Gained go back. Upon arriving on the base of the tower, there are a variety 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 charge to get a good clearer view.
Should you’re no longer positive at the visibility from up there, merely test the color of the tower at night time, as it displays the air high quality and thus must come up with a excellent indicator. Inexperienced is excellent, yellow must nonetheless be ok, and purple implies that it’s easiest to stick on the backside. If you’ll’t see it, then both the visibility may be very unhealthy or it’s closed!
You could have additionally spotted the ‘padlocks of affection’ across the foot of the tower, and you may also position your personal in case you so make a choice. Padlocks are to be had within the Namsan present store however, for the ones pondering forward, less expensive ones are to be had in Myeongdong. After you end having a look over it’s time to go backtrack, both by way of cable automobile once more or probably the most buses that head into the town.
Day 2
Whilst 48 hours will not be lengthy sufficient to squeeze in a consult with to the DMZ, there are for sure forged choices in terms of figuring out a hard duration in Korea’s historical past. The Nationwide Battle Museum close to Samgakji station Go out 12 is an interesting and sombre exploration of Korea’s previous, with flooring devoted to early historical past, their duration of profession and the Korean Battle that brutally divided the rustic 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, in case you completed previous than anticipated, Dongdaemun Historical past and Tradition Park on the station sooner than. On the Historical past and Tradition Park you’ll to find the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Previously a baseball stadium, it used to be transformed within the early noughties right into a hub of artwork, design and style. When you won’t have time for all of that, it’s for sure price having a peruse within. In right here, you’ll to find small craft retail outlets from native artists and shops – a novel souvenir of your time right here.
Somewhat north is Dongdaemun, and it’s right here you’ll to find indoor markets, best for garments buying groceries on the cheap. Challenge eastwards throughout the choices that Dongdaemun supplies and onto Gwangjang Meals Marketplace. Right here you’ll to find an abundance of boulevard distributors covered beneath one roof serving up one of the vital maximum scrumptious snacks Seoul has to supply.
Take a little time right here to pattern a couple of choices, particularly one of the vital extra well-known snacks akin to mung bean pancakes (bindaetteok), fish cake soup (eomukguk) and dumplings (mandu). Do carry money, alternatively. Whilst there are lots of distributors that do take card, maximum deal simplest in money or financial institution switch.
After filling up, head south of the river on line 3 from within sight Euljiro 3-ga station, to the Categorical Bus Terminal. When you will not be leaving the town but, from right here it’s fastest to stroll to Han River Park subsequent to Banpo Bridge. Merely go away the station at go out 8-1 and head immediately till you succeed in the nook with the overpass. Flip proper right here and stay strolling till you succeed in the park space. As soon as on the park, be at liberty to have a look round. There are motorbike condo retail outlets simply as you input the park for your proper or a couple of cafes and eating places on SEBITSEOM Floating Islands. No matter you select, despite the fact that, you should definitely 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 incessantly turning into submerged right through Korea’s wet season. Then again, you might be right here for greater than the structure as this bridge could also be house to the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, a fountain and lightweight display that takes position each night time between April and October. The fountains get started each part hour from 7:30 pm and run till 9:30 pm.
Venturing again northwards on line 3, spherical your night time off in Seoul with a consult with to Ikseondong Hanok Village. Whilst this selection of transformed hanoks, tightly knitted in combination thru sprawling alleys is filled filled with vacationers right through the day, a consult with at night time must make for a much less nerve-racking and extra distinctive revel in. Go away at Jogno 3-ga station go out 6, flip proper again against the crossroads after which left into the village. You’ll first be greeted through a big choice of Korean BBQ eating places grilling lengthy into the night time. In case you are starting to rediscover your urge for food, why no longer take this as your alternative to take a look at considered one of Korea’s hottest dishes? Many of those puts are of fine high quality, so discover a eating place with a desk and get caught in!
In any case, end your 48 hours in Seoul at probably the most few trendy hanok bars or cafes Ikseon-dong has to supply. Aledang is a private favorite, with its comfy indoor courtyard and reasonably priced choice of craft beers. Then again, if this isn’t your factor, then a couple of doorways down is the well-known Nakwon Station Cafe, a stylish hanok cafe with rail tracks operating throughout the center of it, providing a choice of positive espresso and truffles to lend a hand spherical off your keep in Korea’s capital.
If Seoul sounds just like the position for you, then you definitely’re in good fortune! The Dragon Commute visits Seoul on all of our Korea excursions. Discuss with our web page right here to determine extra!
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